Coalition MP lashes out at as divisions emerge over Melbourne Airport Rail project
As a decision nears on the design of Melbourne’s long-awaited airport rail link, a Coalition MP has warned the state government that the lower-cost option is not the right solution for Victorians. This is why.
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Melbourne’s Airport Rail has sparked an internal battle within the federal government, with a group of MPs and cabinet ministers divided over a looming decision to build the project without a tunnel between Sunshine and Southern Cross Station.
Coalition members representing regional Victoria are increasingly concerned the state government’s preferred version of the railway will be approved.
They believe leaders have already agreed to build a lower-cost version of the rail line that runs through the Metro Tunnel despite objections raised by some senior Victorian Liberals.
Opponents of the proposal believe country Victorians could miss out on the full benefits of V/Line improvements and fast rail if new tracks are not built through a new tunnel corridor.
In a scathing attack on the plan, senior Nationals MP Damian Drum said politics was winning out over long-term interests.
“This has got to be a project for the future,” he told the Herald Sun.
“This is not the project to compromise on.”
The Member for Nicholls said if no new tracks were added trip times would blow out while regional areas continued grow.
“This is not the project to say, let’s just do a cheap one,” he said.
“Wallan will continue to grow, Seymour will continue to grow.
“They will all grow into the future. Just like all the places out to Bendigo or Castlemaine will grow.
“So these train lines are just going to get busier.”
The Herald Sun understands some federal Nationals and Liberals in Victoria have pushed the federal government to up its spend and get the option they see as better for the regions.
It comes after a group of state Labor MPs last month sought an assurance from Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan the project would improve services in Melbourne’s west.
A state government spokeswoman said there were no announcements to make.
“We’ve been working closely with the Federal Government on the best design that will get people to and from the airport quickly with minimal interchanges,” she said.
“We’ve been clear that all options being assessed will stop at Sunshine for connections to Victoria’s major regional rail lines – Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo.
“We’re also working closely with the Federal Government on options for Geelong Fast Rail.”
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