Premier Jacinta Allan has shot down any hope that Victorians could be boarding a train to Melbourne Airport by 2030 despite an apparent compromise by the airport boss.
Ms Allan on Monday failed to guarantee the long-awaited train line will built in the next decade, claiming the airport’s “unreasonable demands” about its terminal station over four years had caused immeasurable delays.
It comes after Melbourne Airport chief executive, Lorie Argus, confirmed it would back down from its preference to build the station underground.
“This is a project that has been delayed by four years because of those frustrating negotiations that pretty much stalled last year,” she said.
“The construction timeline we outlined back in 2019 was a very aggressive one … (and) the completion date there was 2029.
“Here we are in 2024 with years of delay caused by the airport’s ongoing insistence for a more costly … underground station solution.”
Ms Allan also flagged that it was unlikely the original $10 billion budget for the project would be enough.
“With delay does come cost and so this will be something the Commonwealth government will need to work through,” she said.
There are hopes the rail link will get back on track.
The Premier said Ms Argus sent her a message late last night to let her know about the change in position before sending her a formal email this morning.
Ms Allan said further negotiations were needed between the state and federal government and Melbourne Airport to kickstart the project.
Ms Argus said she was prepared to compromise and accept an elevated station because it was time to get on with building the vital project.
“Victorians have waited long enough for an airport rail line,” she said.
“We will work with the Victorian Government to deliver their preferred above-ground station at the airport so the rail line can become reality.”
Ms Argus said passenger numbers were set to soar at Tullamarine this decade, in the lead up to a third runway being added to the site by 2030, and more transport options were needed.
“With an estimated 45 million travellers a year predicted to be using our airport when the third runway opens, the rail link will support a massive increase in passenger numbers and billions of dollars in additional economic activity for Victoria,” she said.
Herald Sun Extract
