TWELVE months after committing $220 million to the Murray Basin Rail Project, the Federal Government has officially signed off on the funding.
Federal Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester last week approved the Commonwealth’s contribution, which matches the State Government’s $220 million allocation announced in 2014.
The Murray Basin Rail Project will standardise and upgrade the Mildura, Manangatang and Sea Lake lines and standardise the Murrayville line.
State one has already been completed, including upgrades to the Mildura to Maryborough and Hopetoun to Murtoa lines, with more than 175,000 new sleepers installed.
Stage two involves the conversion to standard gauge of the Mildura to Maryborough line, as well as the line between Ouyen and Murrayville. Both lines will close for five months from August this year.
Stage two also includes the reopening of the Maryborough to Ararat line, which has been closed for more than a decade.
Stage three – most pertinent to this region – involves standardisation of the Sea Lake and Manangatang lines, which converge at Korong Vale before running to Geelong. These lines will close for five months from March 2018.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to standardise and repair freight rail in western and northern Victoria, and make it more efficient for farmers to get their product to port,” Victorian Nationals leader Peter Walsh said.
The funding was delivered through the Federal Government’s $3 billion Victorian Infrastructure Investment Package.
Federal Member for Mallee Andrew Broad said the rail upgrade would improve freight efficiency for producers in the Wimmera, Mallee and Mildura regions.
“Approximately $3 billion worth of food, fibre and minerals is exported from the Murray Basin annually,” he said.
“These works will provide measured improvement in productivity and connectivity, and significantly enhance international competitiveness of Murray Basin producers.”
