Geelong Fast Rail could hit funding slowdown

FASTER train travel between Geelong and Melbourne could be heading for a funding slowdown, with reports the state government is considering pausing the infrastructure works and a local Liberal senator calling on the federal Labor Government to confirm $2 billion in spending.

Construction on Stage 1 of the project, which would include a new track dedicated to regional services between Werribee and Laverton, was expected to start this year subject to relevant Victorian and federal planning, environmental and other government approvals.

The state government has been flagging for weeks its that coming 2023/24 budget would contain significant cuts, and reports emerged this week that Geelong Fast Rail and Melbourne Airport Rail were among the major infrastructure projects that would have their construction timelines pushed back.

After years of negotation and promises, then-Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison and Premier Daniel Andrews jointly announced in November 2020 their governments would each put $2 billion towards Stage 1 of Geelong Fast Rail.

The eventual travel time would be reduced to about 50 minutes – a reduction of up to 15 minutes on the present journey and considerably higher than the 32-minute journey touted by the then-Coalition federal government when it revealed a $2 billion budget commitment in 2019.

On Wednesday this week, Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson called on Corio Labor federal member Richard Marles and Corangamite Labor federal member Libby Coker to “come clean on whether the Albanese Government intends to axe the $4 billion Geelong Fast Rail project”.

“With government sources reportedly claiming that faster train services between Melbourne and Geelong were ‘no longer a priority’, it is incumbent on the Albanese Government to be honest with working families in Geelong and Melbourne’s west.”

In response, Ms Coker said: “We understand the significance of the Geelong fast rail to the region and we continue to talk to our colleagues about why this project is so important. The Australian Government will continue to work with the States on this project, and I will always advocate to get the best outcomes for our communities.”

The federal and state budgets will be handed down on May 9 and May 23 respectively.