State opposition warns Jacinta Allan to pause works on Suburban Rail Loop

The state government is facing fresh calls to pause work on the Suburban Rail Loop, with the opposition fearing it could face the same fate as the Commonwealth Games.

There are fresh calls for the state government to pause works on the SRL. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Wayne Taylor

The Allan government is facing fresh calls to pause the Suburban Rail Loop, with the state opposition warning the mega project could face the same fate as the bungled Commonwealth Games.

Opposition transport infrastructure spokesman David Southwick said it would be “financially irresponsible” for the government to enter into any new contracts for the $35bn underground tunnel between Cheltenham and Box Hill.

Premier Jacinta Allan on Thursday would not say whether a private partnership would be sought to fund any part of the project.

The Premier is facing fresh claims to pause the project. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Wayne Taylor

But Ms Allan – previously the Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop – said this funding model was not being used for the contracts currently advertised as part of the project’s first stage.

Mr Southwick said the government must delay signing any further contracts.

“This could be a Commonwealth Games mark two,” he said.

“The fact that the state government (could) start tunnelling on the SRL and find out mid-way through that they can’t afford it and literally down tools themselves.

“Again, a huge cost to the taxpayer.

“Whenever you’re going to do these things, you need to do them properly.

“This is all rushing and doing things just to be able to effectively say that they’re delivering something which was their own pet project.”