Taxpayers shelled out almost $1 million for high-capacity train models

Victorian taxpayers were slugged $1m to “meet” a life-size model of the city’s new high-capacity trains while the real project was delayed by two years.

Taxpayers shelled out more than $1 million to “meet” a life-size model of the city’s new high capacity trains while the real project was two years late getting on to the tracks.

The High Capacity Metro Trains installation at Birrarung Marr, in early 2018, ended with a sound and light extravaganza during the White Night arts festival — a $66,000 chunk of the bill.
Invoices released under Freedom of Information — after initially being partially blocked — to the state opposition show David Atkins Enterprises was paid more than $934,000 for the “Meet Your Train” project.
About $70,000 was also spent on virtual reality activities.

David Atkins is a creative events company based in Sydney that has produced Olympic Ceremonies, the World Expo and sounds and light for Crusty Demons daredevil motorcycling.

The final life-size model of Melbourne's new high capacity Metro train on display. Picture: AAP

Opposition transport infrastructure spokesman David Davis said Premier Daniel Andrews was effectively “advertising a ghost train” because the $2.3 billion HCMT project was so late.

“The claim he’s ‘consulting’ is spurious cover for his taxpayer funded self-promotion,” Mr Davis said.

He said the first train on the tracks wasn’t running until late 2020 when it was supposed to begin testing in late 2018.

The virtual reality activities that cost about $70,000 were for the hi-tech headsets and technical assistance.

A video promoting the HCMT project in 2018 shows the activities in action where children could “experience driving the train in a virtual world”.

“I can see they needed virtual reality because they didn’t have the real trains and wouldn’t have for years to come,” Mr Davis said.

Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan. Picture: Luis Ascui

Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan hit back, saying the Liberals had advertised a “made up airport rail project” when in office but now “have a problem with the Government advertising projects that are real”.

“We’re delivering an unprecedented $80 billion program of works that will transform our transport network — and it’s vital we provide extensive public information and consult with the community, so Victorians can have their say on our projects, and stay informed about disruptions so they can plan their journeys,” she said.

The government has also defended the spending as a very small portion of the $2.3 billion project cost.

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