MDC acknowledges huge investment in rail

Mildura Development Corporation (MDC), along with the Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry, congratulate the Victorian Coalition Government on its significant announcement of $220 million dollars towards the upgrade and standardisation of the Mildura rail line.

This investment will see an initial $41 million invested in upgrades to both the Mildura to Maryborough and the Hopetoun to Murtoa rail lines. A business case for the full Mildura to Geelong standardisation will then be finalised by the end of this year, with the entire project to be completed by 2018.

MDC CEO, Chris Crewther, said that “The $220 million dollar investment for the upgrade and standardisation of the Mildura rail line is a huge win for the Mildura region and all the towns along the line. It will have an enormous positive impact on the regional, State and national economies”.

​MDC noted that it had strongly advocated for investment in the rail line over the last few months, in partnership with Council and others.

Mr Crewther said that “Mildura Development Corporation has been advocating for investment in our rail line for a number of years and has been working hand-in-hand with Councils, parliamentarians, community groups and others to see an outcome. We have fought tooth-and-nail over the past few months to see the upgrade and standardisation included in this year’s State budget, and it was fantastic to then see our hard work rewarded with the announcement over the weekend”.

Mr Crewther added that “In November last year, MDC’s Chair, Chris Ellis, and I met with Mildura Rural City Council Mayor Cr Glenn Milne and Deputy Mayor Cr John Arnold to discuss how best to push for rail investment given the upcoming State election. MDC then suggested that a meeting be instigated between the five Mayors along the Mildura-Maryborough rail line and the Minister for Transport, the Hon. Terry Mulder MP, at which a business case briefing would be presented as to the benefits of an upgrade and standardisation versus the detriments of not investing. Both MDC and Council then approached the Minister’s office and the Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp MP, to put together this meeting, which was then successfully held in April 2014”.

​“MDC then drafted a business case briefing, which was finalised by Council and then presented by the Mayoral delegation to Minister Mulder. This meeting provided a powerful message that rail investment would not only benefit the Mildura region, but towns right along the Mildura rail line. I then met with Department of Transport representatives in both Mildura and Melbourne to continue to push the benefits of rail investment”.

The upgrade and standardisation of the Mildura line is also the first step to achieve both the return of passenger rail and the transcontinental link, as recognised by the Deputy Premier, the Hon. Peter Ryan MP, during the announcement on Saturday.

Mr Crewther said that “The upgrade and standardisation of the Mildura line will have an immediate benefit for freight, but is also the first stage to achieve both the transcontinental link and the return of passenger rail, particularly aiming towards national passenger rail services that would link Melbourne to Mildura, Broken Hill and beyond”.

“Saturday’s announcement also justifies the $200,000 transcontinental link pre-feasibility study undertaken by MDC’s predecessor, the Sunraysia Mallee Economic Development Board, a number of years ago. What’s more, it is a coup for advocates of the transcontinental rail link, including John Irwin, and the many community members and organisations pushing for a return of passenger rail, such as the NorthWest Rail Alliance. There is no dream too big for the Australian people if we put our mind to it”.

​Mr Crewther added that, “If the transcontinental link itself is built, it will be a boon for Mildura, making it a nationally significant freight hub for the transportation of goods across the country given that goods would be transported to, from and through Mildura from ports in Portland, Geelong, Melbourne, Darwin, Perth, Sydney and Brisbane”.

Mr Crewther also acts as the Mildura region’s observer on the Executive Council of the Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI).

Mark Stone, CEO of VECCI, added that “VECCI welcomes the State Government’s announced Murray Basin Rail Project and upgrades to country freight rail lines. These projects will facilitate the movement of freight around the state and enhance north-western Victoria’s access to the ports of Portland, Geelong and Melbourne for export opportunities. This is a positive outcome for the agribusiness sector, including the grain industry, and VECCI has been calling for enhancements to rail on behalf of our members and regional business.

MDC now calls on the Victorian State Opposition to match the commitment made by the Victorian State Government. MDC will also continue to push for the $5 million plus funding required for a full feasibility study for the transcontinental link and the return of passenger rail.
 
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For further information please contact the Mildura Development Corporation:

Chris Crewther, Chief Executive Officer

Phone: 03 50220722 | Mobile: 0421 077 727

Email: chris@milduraregion.com.au | Web: www.milduraregion.com.au