Hume City Council debate underground railway station for Melbourne Airport
The council are set to weigh in on the controversial issue which has split the state government and Melbourne Airport.
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Hume City Council is seeking support from a heavyweight federal politician as they look to have their say on the controversial railway station at Melbourne Airport.
The council will vote on whether the to write to Maribyrnong member and former Labor leader Bill Shorten over the debated issue.
The motion – which will be introduced by Cr Jack Medcraft – wants to ‘implore’ Mr Shorten to intervene against the state government’s plan to build the proposed railway station at Melbourne Airport.
However, the motion wants to see the station get to all terminals underground to avoid leaving users facing the elements as they go to and from the airport.
“The reason I am putting it up is that [Transport Minister] Jacinta Allan has basically hijacked the whole system and decided she’s going to put the a railway line above the ground,” he said.
“The thing is, she never consulted with that with Melbourne Airport.
“We’re talking about an airport that is probably the biggest and best in Australia and she wants to put a third-world country railway line through.”
Council officers have made their position clear on the issue, suggesting the area will benefit the most from an underground station.
“Undergrounding the rail link will provide future opportunities to provide a world class visitor and customer experience at the Melbourne Airport, including retail experiences, which will provide this rail link with the potential to be a work class rail connection, supporting a world class international air terminal at the Melbourne Airport,” the officer’s comment read.
Mr Shorten has publicly supported the proposed station at Keilor East – which would see City of Moonee Valley residents linked into the rail network – but is yet to comment on the elevated railway station at the airport.
“What I am saying to Bill is if you want to have a state of the art, internationally acclaimed airport, you want to have it so when people catch that train they don’t have to go outside and navigate all the passengers and everyone,” Cr Medcraft said.
“We want to have a state of the art railway terminal … I am going to be fighting for that because it is in my ward.”
The motion comes after the Melbourne Airport spoke out against the state government’s preference for an above ground station.
The Dan Andrews-led party has suggested their plan to build the above ground station will save significant money for taxpayers and allow construction to be faster than the underground tunnel option.
However, as the controllers of the airport, believed users would benefit from the alternative underground station.
“Melbourne Airport’s preference has been, and remains an underground station, which provides a superior passenger experience, safeguards for future connectivity and is appropriate for Victoria’s international gateway,” they said in a statement.
“It is important that the new rail station works for all airport users, not just those who arrive by train, and that it is a station all Victorians can all be proud of.”
The state and federal governments have committed $5bn each for the rail link.
Bill Shorten’s office was contacted for comment.
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