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Wednesday, 17th June 2009

Proposed Route Of $4.3 Billion Regional Rail Link Revealed


Up to six new stations will be built as part of the $4.3 billion Regional Rail Link project which will provide train services to Melbourne’s growing west securing almost 3000 jobs in construction.


Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and Victorian Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky invited the community to have their say on the proposed alignment released today.


“We are determined to deliver this vital public transport project as quickly as possible, with full construction scheduled to start next year,” Mr Albanese said.


“Regional Rail Link is what the Rudd Labor Government’s Nation Building for Recovery strategy is all about. It will put Australians to work today building the transport infrastructure vital to our long term economic prosperity.


“It is a massive engineering project which initially will include the construction of two stations at Manor Lakes in Wyndham Vale and Rose Grange in Tarneit, with land to be set aside at a further four station sites along the line.


“The project will separate regional and metropolitan train services and provide capacity to carry another 9000 passengers every hour.


“Regional Rail Link is partnership project with the Rudd Government providing $3.2 billion for the project with the Brumby Government funding the balance.”


Ms Kosky said a number of bottlenecks where suburban and regional trains intersect would be removed to improve service reliability and allow more trains to operate at the busiest times.


“Regional Rail Link provides capacity for more than 20 extra train services every hour across the Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Werribee, Craigieburn and Sunbury (Sydenham) lines providing capacity for more than 9000 extra passengers every hour,” Ms Kosky said.


“And today, we have released the proposed alignment of the new rail link which secure up to 2800 jobs in construction and provide train services to areas for the first time.


“Of the options considered, the proposed route offers the greatest potential to support the future development of housing, employment areas and freight movements in Melbourne’s west.


“The proposed route will also create much better access to goods, services, jobs, health, and education for residents from Geelong and Melbourne’s western growth areas.


“Regional Rail Link will initially include stations at and leave open the option of creating additional stations in the vicinity of Dohertys Road in Truganina, Davis Road in Tarneit, Sewells Road in Tarneit and Black Forest Road, West Werribee in response to future urban development.”


The proposed route for the Regional Rail Link was selected from a broad range of options through a process that:



  • Considered a range of engineering constraints and benefits;

  • Assessed options against future land use planning needs; and

  • Took into account specialist investigations into engineering design, transport planning, land use planning, flora and fauna, hydrology, geotechnical, cultural heritage, social impact, economic impact, contamination and hydrogeological, noise and vibration, and physical services.


Ms Kosky said that she believes that the detailed planning already underway for the project will maximise the benefits of the Regional Rail Link project across Melbourne’s western suburbs and beyond.


“Regional Rail Link is the first major new rail line for Melbourne’s train network in 80 years. By separating our regional and metropolitan trains, the link will improve the capacity of the whole network and deliver more services to Melbourne’s growing western suburbs,” Ms Kosky said.


“Integrating planning for Regional Rail Link with work to revise Melbourne’s Urban Growth Boundary has meant that these growth areas will have good transport access to jobs, services and recreation as they develop.


Notes:


The proposed route of the Regional Rail Link is one of four Delivering Melbourne’s Newest Sustainable Communities projects.


Integrating these projects has meant that land can be set aside now for the community infrastructure, and road and transport links that will support a forecast 284,000 new households in the growth areas of Melbourne over the next 25 years. Areas of open space and areas of particular natural significance must also be preserved now for everyone to enjoy into the future.


The Government is now seeking public and community comment on each of the projects, which comprise:



  • Changes to the Urban Growth Boundary;

  • Route of the Regional Rail Link; and

  • Route of the Outer Metropolitan Ring / E6 Transport Corridor; and

  • The creation of two grasslands reserves west of Melbourne, as recommended in a draft strategic assessment of the impact of urban growth on biodiversity completed for the Commonwealth Government.


The draft strategic assessment is also available for public comment as part of this submissions process.


People have until 17 July 2009 to make public submissions, either electronically through our web portal or by mail.


Further information about Delivering Melbourne’s Newest Sustainable Communities, including maps, reports, and details of public information open days and the submissions process is available from www.vic.gov.au/planningmelbourne or by calling 1800 090 789.


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Electorate Office

334a Marrickville Rd
Marrickville NSW 2204

Phone: 02 9564 3588

Parliament House Office

Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: 02 6277 7700

Phone: (02) 9564 3588
Fax: (02) 9564 1734
Email: A.Albanese.MP@aph.gov.au

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