Infrastructure Victoria 30-year strategy: Mildura passenger trains left out

Passenger trains to Mildura have been left out of a 30-year draft strategy for Victoria’s infrastructure needs.

Mildura’s train station is currently a hub for coach services. Picture: Glenn Milne

A draft strategy for Victorian infrastructure over the next three decades has not recommended restoring passenger train services between Mildura and Melbourne.

Infrastructure Victoria, which advises the government on infrastructure policy, on Wednesday released the draft for feedback.

The strategy is an update to the 2016 edition, which also didn’t recommend bringing back the trains, axed in 1993.

A number of Mallee projects did make the draft, including a recommendation that drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities be built in the region.

Making social housing suitable for changing local climates, particularly in northern Victoria where public housing cooling is a major issue, was also pushed.

Renewable Energy Zones were given immediate priority, “especially in the state’s northwest” where infrastructure constraints hinder attempts to capitalise on sunny weather through solar.

But passenger rail was absent, with no mention at all in the 274-page main document or a 16-page Mallee brochure.

The 2016 strategy briefly mentioned that returning rail services to Mildura was not recommended because of what the infrastructure body considered a high cost compared to forecast demand.

Infrastructure Victoria instead reported receiving feedback about limited frequency of train and coach services to Melbourne and Bendigo, “particularly affecting residents needing to travel to Bendigo Hospital for healthcare services”.

It also recommended regional transport funding be redirected to local services.

NorthWest Rail Alliance president Christian Mitchell was disappointed passenger trains to Melbourne were left out.

He said it had been 10 years since regional services were last extended, to Maryborough.

“It continues a narrative they want to keep investing in the existing network rather than extending the network,” he said.

Mr Mitchell called on the Victorian Government to get out of a “1990s mindset” and fund the service.

The government recently responded to questions from The Mildura News about train services by talking about the number of coaches to and from Mildura.

Member for Mildura Ali Cupper last week entered into a coalition with the Reason Party in part to pressure the government on passenger rail.

Ms Cupper has called for services to initially be restored by a train marketed at tourists between Mildura and Maryborough, where it would link up with Melbourne-bound services.

Mildura Rural City Council is also advocating for trains to be restored through its Mildura Future Ready strategy.

“Time and time again it’s off the agenda and you get the government touting bus services and things like that,” Mr Mitchell said.

“When you get local government and a local member putting it as part of their policy platform and it gets overlooked, it’s getting taken out of local hands.

“It’s of course very frustrating.”

Infrastructure Victoria recommended the Murray Basin Rail Project be “revised” and for an ongoing rail freight maintenance program to be funded.

Infrastructure Victoria executive director Jonathan Spear said the body wanted to hear from members of the Mallee community to ensure the final strategy reflects their aspirations.

“Timely and reliable access to public transport is essential for people living in Mildura and the wider Mallee region to get to jobs and services within their communities,” Mr Spear said.

“Our draft strategy makes recommendations to the Victorian Government to consider the specific needs of the community when making decisions around improving these local public transport connections, including publishing a statewide transport plan.

“The Victorian Government is improving passenger train services between Melbourne and Swan Hill under the Regional Network Development Plan, and we’d like to see that investment in improving public transport continue.”