Jacinta Allan strikes agreement with Melbourne Airport to advance Melbourne Airport Rail
A three-way agreement between the Allan and Albanese governments and Australia Pacific Airports has been struck to roll out Melbourne Airport Rail but a number of issues are yet to be ironed out.
Victoria
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Melbourne Airport Rail is a step closer to becoming a reality, with the airport and Allan government reaching a long-awaited agreement to work together on the vital project.
The momentous decision comes as key issues regarding the design of the above-ground station, land acquisition, compensation and the scope of works for the project remain unresolved.
The Albanese government, Allan government and Australia Pacific Airports (Melbourne) will on Thursday sign a Memorandum of Understanding, committing to work “collectively, in good faith” to finalise the path to construction and deliver the project.
A steering committee led by senior officials from each organisation will also be established to progress the works.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last month injected an extra $2bn into the project to overhaul Sunshine station and upgrade messy western suburbs rail lines, taking the total federal commitment to $7bn, in an attempt to supercharge early works after years of delays.
Mr Albanese revealed the cash splash exclusively at the Herald Sun’s Future Victoria event last month.
“This is a done deal,” Mr Albanese said during a radio interview on Thursday. “It’s ready to go.”
Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said many Victorians had spent a lifetime hearing of a rail link to the airport.
“Today we are telling them that we will work together in good faith to get it done,” Ms King said.
“We want to keep this project moving which is why we brought in an independent mediator, why we’ve been acting on his recommendations and why we’re investing to make it happen.
“MARL will enhance the resilience and reliability of the transport network, better connecting Melbourne’s growing population to where they live, work and play.”
But Opposition infrastructure spokeswoman, Bridget McKenzie, demanded the federal government explain why it had taken so long for the parties to agree to work together following the conclusion of the “so-called mediation process”.
“It has taken almost a year for the three parties to sign a memorandum agreeing to ‘work together’ and to establish a committee,” Senator McKenzie said, adding there were still no timelines for the works to commence.
“The government needs to explain to the people of Melbourne why there has been no progress over all those months.”
Victorian Transport Infrastructure minister Gabrielle Williams said the project would pave the way for faster and safer journeys for passengers across the state for decades to come.
“We are getting on with delivering the first stage of Melbourne Airport Rail, reconfiguring freight, regional and Suburban tracks between West Footscray and Albion to make space for this important new rail link,” Ms Williams said.
“After a decade of neglect from the federal Coalition government, it’s great to have a partner in Canberra that can find Victoria on a map and invests in important projects that will keep people moving.”
Melbourne Airport chief executive Lorie Argus said it was pleased to work with both governments to progress the project, which will increase transport options for passengers and staff.
“This Memorandum of Understanding formalises the compromise we made in July last year to help airport rail become a reality,” Ms Argus said.
The Airport Rail Link project has been stalled for years due to a long-running dispute between the Victorian government and Melbourne Airport, and the state prioritising the controversial Suburban Rail Loop first stage from Cheltenham to Box Hill.
A mediator – who was last year appointed to resolve the standoff over the location of the station at Tullamarine – baulked at the airport’s demand for it to be underground.
The Allan government, which has allocated $5bn to the airport link, will also fast-track $2bn of its existing commitment for the Sunshine station upgrades.
A completion date is yet to be agreed on but it is unlikely passengers will board trains to Tullamarine before 2033 – four years later than planned.
Originally published as Jacinta Allan strikes agreement with Melbourne Airport to advance Melbourne Airport Rail
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