‘Blockers and knockers’: Premier Jacinta Allan hits back at claims Labor ignoring parts of state with Suburban Rail Loop

Burgeoning outer western, northern and south eastern suburbs risk being ignored, with a $35bn Suburban Rail Loop line set for middle Melbourne, Opposition Leader John Pesutto says.

Booming outer suburbs set to gain 1.1m extra people by 2036 risk being “neglected” while a $35bn rail line is built under middle Melbourne, Opposition Leader John Pesutto says.

The Herald Sun revealed on Tuesday that the first major works contract for the Suburban Rail Loop East, which will connect Cheltenham to Box Hill, had been signed for $3.6bn.

That deal would see a 16km tunnel dug from Cheltenham to Glen Waverley in Melbourne’s middle suburbs, and locks the state into building the first stage of the 90km SRL designed to eventually connect radial rail lines between Cheltenham to Werribee.

Mr Pesutto said the cost of the first stage, estimated at $30-34.5bn, was a mammoth investment in one rail line that would put the squeeze on growth area needs.

A $3.6bn contract has been inked, for work on the SRL. Picture: Supplied

Mr Pesutto pointed to the government’s own planning department forecasts, which show more than 1.1m people will move or be born into outer western, northern and southeastern regions by 2036 — the year after the SRL East is due to open.
“Labor is neglecting growth areas in the northern, western and south eastern suburban corridors of Melbourne, as well as our regions, which are facing urgent infrastructure challenges,” he said.
“While these areas desperately need more schools, hospitals and public transport, the SRL is a financially reckless and irresponsible project that will burden generations of Victorians with hundreds of billions of dollars of debt while not addressing our real challenges.”

Premier Jacinta Allan defended the cost of the build of the first stage of the SRL, which she said she was confident would stay within the $30-35bn envelop previously set, which had been designed to factor in “escalations” that are likely up to when the line opens in 2035.
She declined to estimate the full cost of the SRL between Cheltenham and Werribee, which experts say would be more than $120bn based on heavy rail tunnel and construction costs.

A render of the Suburban Rail Loop. Picture: Supplied

On Tuesday, the Commonwealth’s infrastructure advisory body released a report warning of skill and material shortages that would put further pressure on major project budgets and timelines, but Ms Allan said investments in TAFE and taking workers through the Big Build pipeline should reduce forecast pain.
The Premier also hit back at suggestions Labor was ignoring parts of the state, and said the government was upgrading regional rail lines and infrastructure in Melbourne.

“We’re seeing plenty of blockers and knockers … when it comes to the Suburban Rail Loop,” she said.
“There are plenty of people for their own — mostly political — reasons (who) want to stop the Suburban Rail Loop.
“What that is saying to communities in Burwood and Glen Waverley and Box Hill is that you don’t deserve better rail connections.”

“People who are wanting to stop the Suburban Rail Loop are saying to these communities, ‘you might as well stay stuck in your car, you won’t be able to get access to good housing’.”

Transport and Cities program director at think tank the Grattan Institute, Marion Terrill, said there was always a risk the SRL would crowd out other projects, pointing to the decision to abandon a Geelong fast rail project and pause the Airport Rail Link.

“This is really taking a generation’s worth of infrastructure funding and investing it all in one project,” she said.