New battle in Melbourne Airport rail war over station placement
Premier Jacinta Allan says there are a “number of issues” to work through as the fight over Melbourne’s Airport rail link intensified amid fresh demands about the Tullamarine station.
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The war over Melbourne’s airport rail link has intensified amid fresh demands for an underground station at Tullamarine.
The rail link was due to open in 2029 but remains under review as the federal government tries to rein in cost blowouts on a $120bn national building pipeline.
The Victorian state government wanted to build a cheaper overground railway station option that would stifle development at the airport for decades.
Premier Jacinta Allan on Wednesday said the push to move the Airport Rail project underground was one of “a number of issues” that were being worked through.
“That was not the only issue that was under consideration as you can appreciate,” she said.
“Those negotiations have at times been frustrating and have caused an element of delay.”
Melbourne Airport chief executive Lorie Argus said she wanted the state and federal governments to go with the more expensive option for the delayed project that’s at risk of being mothballed.
“We are very passionate about the rail station, but we are also very passionate about getting the right rail,” Ms Argus, speaking at the Australian Airports Association national conference, said.
“So we do hope there’s an opportunity to continue to advocate for an underground station at the airport.”
Ms Argus said an airport rail link was “critical” as Melbourne was set to become Australia’s biggest city within a decade.
Federal Transport Minister Catherine King has put the $10bn Melbourne Airport Rail Link into a review, which was yet to be released.
Ms Allan said no decisions would be made on the project until that federal government infrastructure review landed on her desk.
“There are three parties to that project: the federal government, the state government and the airport,” she added on Wednesday.
“We need to let the federal government’s review process conclude before we can progress any further discussions on that project.”
The airport rail link was planned to take passengers from the airport to the city through Sunshine in Melbourne’s west.
More than $700m was spent on early works for the project but it is now expected to be delayed for several years.
The Victorian government has been pushing ahead with its pet project, the controversial $125bn Suburban Rail Loop.
The first section of that track between Cheltenham and Box Hill was due to cost $35bn.
Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie, the opposition infrastructure spokeswoman, said Melbourne deserves an airport rail link.
“For too many years a Melbourne airport rail link has been subject to delays and indecision. It’s time to get on and build a rail link that will deliver travellers safely and quickly to their destination,” she said.
“Catherine King needs to intervene to broker a sensible outcome between the airport and the state government who have been at loggerheads on this project for too long.
“The rail link needs to meet the needs of airport passengers not the State Labor government political priorities. The current design does not take into account the master plan approved by Catherine King.”
Ms King said earlier this month the project was “very important” for Victoria.
“I think we’re the only airport that does not have a heavy rail link or a rail transport link to it,” she said.
“It is an important project but it is delayed because we haven’t finalised where the planning is for that.”
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said on Tuesday that the Suburban Rail Loop was a priority project.
Ms Allan, when Transport Minister earlier this year, blamed Melbourne Airport for delays in the build earlier this year.
“It has been challenging to negotiate with the airport about how the project will be delivered on the land that they lease from the federal government to run the airport,” she said on ABC Radio in April.
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