Construction on all six stations for the first stage of the controversial Suburban Rail Loophas begun, with the Allan government warning “there’s no turning back”.
Despite the opposition pledging to scrap the major infrastructure project if they win government and a shortage of funding from the federal government, Premier Jacinta Allan on Tuesday said “great progress” was being made on the suburban rail line.
Ms Allan, speaking from the tunnel boring machine launch site in Burwood, described the commencement of construction as a “great milestone”.
Ms Allan is forging ahead with the Suburban Rail Loop despite a major funding shortfall. Picture: Wayne Taylor
“There is up to 1000 people already working here across those six sites across Suburban Rail Loop East. By 2026, that number will have increased to 4000 and at the peak of the project, there will be 8000 people working on the Suburban Rail Loop project,” she said.
SRL Minister Danny Pearson said all major project contracts would be signed by 2026.
This is despite the federal government refusing to commit to further funding for the project beyond an initial $2.2 billion pledged by the Prime Minister at the federal election.
The project is estimated to cost $200bn by 2084, according to the Victorian Parliamentary Budget Office.
The state government has set aside $11.8bn for the $34.4 billion first stage and is still chasing up an extra $9bn from the Commonwealth and major funding through value capture.
Mr Pearson refused to be drawn on what might happen to the project if Commonwealth funding does not roll in.
Construction has begun on all stations for the first stage of the controversial Suburban Rail Loop. Picture: Supplied
“That’s a hypothetical question,” he said.
“There’s no turning back.”
In Heatherton, works on the first tunnel access structure will begin this week and in Box Hill crews will soon begin construction on a temporary bridge to keep traffic moving while the project tunnels underneath Whitehorse Rd.
In Glen Waverley, Clayton and at Monash University, crews are continuing to relocate utilities and other services in preparation for the construction of underground stations, while early works press on in Cheltenham.
The first tunnelling contract for tunnels between Cheltenham and Glen Waverley was awarded last year.
Source: Heraldsun
