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Category: Government and Politics / Federal - State Issues / Road Transport / Activism and Lobbying / Urban Development and Planning / Business, Economics and Finance

PM offers $10m towards billion-dollar Metro project

Friday, 8 Apr 2016 13:03:40

The proposed route for the Victorian Government's Metro Rail Project. (Supplied: Victorian Government)

The Federal Government is offering $10 million in planning for the Melbourne Metro Rail Project, which falls well short of the $4.5 billion the Victorian Government wants.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the project was promising, but the business case needed more work.

"What is underdone is the way in which we — by that I mean the Victorian Government and the Commonwealth Government — to the extent that we support it, are able to capture some of the very considerable value that will be created in property values from the construction of that infrastructure," Mr Turnbull said.

Victorian Transport Minister Jacinta Allan travelled to Canberra in February hoping the Commonwealth would agree to match the State Government's contribution to the $11 billion public transport project.

Mr Turnbull today revealed details of the Commonwealth's commitment to fund $1.5 billion in infrastructure projects across the state, including a $500 million to upgrade the Monash Freeway.

He has written to Premier Daniel Andrews, calling on the State Government to match the investments dollar-for-dollar.

Where the money is going:

  • $500 million for additional lanes along 44km of the Monash Freeway
  • $350 million for M80 Ring Road upgrade
  • $345 million to regional roads, including $10 million to upgrade the Great Ocean Road
  • $75 million for city congestion
  • $10 million for Melbourne Metro study

Mr Turnbull said the funding allocation would "future-proof" the Monash Freeway.

"It will provide additional lanes along 44km of that vital roadway," he said.

"It is a critical piece of infrastructure in this city."

He said the Western Ring Road was a critical piece of infrastructure.

Mr Turnbull also announced a $220 million upgrade to the Murray Basil Rail project in Victoria's north-west.

During the announcement, Mr Turnbull was flanked by ministers and MPs, including Treasurer Scott Morrison, Environment Minister Greg Hunt, Minister for Major Projects Paul Fletcher, Assistant Treasurer Kelly O'Dwyer and Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announces funding reallocation Photo: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is flanked by ministers and MPs as he announces the reallocation of East West Link funds in Melbourne. (ABC News: Patrick Rocca)

The Prime Minister also said the Commonwealth was committed to the East West Link, despite the Victorian Government dumping the project.

"We will provide and we have provided for the $3 billion we proposed and offered previously," he said.

"But clearly, we need a Victorian Government that's prepared to build it and we don't have one prepared to do that at the moment."

Federal Government playing politics: Victorian Treasurer

Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas said the announcement was welcomed, but the money has always belonged to the state.

"We've always said that this money belongs to Victorians — we always wanted the Federal Government to identify with us new projects that that money can be properly applied to," he said.

"I think despite the method of delivery, what this tells us is that the Commonwealth are now agreeing to that.

"We're happy to work with the Turnbull government on the projects, we've got plenty of projects ready to go including the ones that have been identified in today's media, so we'll work positively with them to deliver these projects."

Mr Pallas went on to accuse the Federal Government of playing politics.

"There is no doubt that there is a high level of political activism by the Commonwealth in the way they deal with this money and the way they select projects," he said.

"You only need to look at the fact that Infrastructure Australia has rated both the Melbourne Metro project and the Western Distributor project as the two highest priority projects in metropolitan Melbourne.

"But it seems for the time being the politics and the proximity of the federal election continues to influence the way that they think and deal with the State Government."

AustraliaPlus


 

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