LOBBY group G21 has welcomed significant infrastructure investment across Geelong and the wider region in the federal budget but is disappointed at the snub of Northern ARC and wants better co-ordination between governments to improve Geelong\u2019s rail services.<\/p>\n
Last week, G21 chief executive officer Elaine Carbines said G21 especially welcomed funds for the duplication of the rail between Geelong and Waurn Ponds stations, and the extra federal funding for the City Deal.<\/p>\n
\u201cNevertheless, G21 is disappointed that there was no funding for the much-needed Northern ARC facility in northern Geelong.\u201d<\/p>\n
The City of Greater Geelong council has committed $20 million towards the $61 million health and wellbeing hub and is seeking matching funding from the state and federal governments.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe $20 million committed by the council to the project is a significantly large amount for any local government to find within its budget,” Ms Carbines said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat illustrates just how seriously the council considers the need in the northern suburbs of Geelong.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat area is amongst the most disadvantaged in our region.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is upsetting that the federal government, in a budget spend of over $2.8 billion in our region, could not find $20 million for this much-needed project.<\/p>\n
\u201cDecisions about funding desperately-needed projects such as the Northern ARC should be based on the needs of the people, not on whether it will result in votes on polling day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Carbines said duplicating the railway track between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds was an essential prerequisite to more frequent and more timely services between Melbourne, Geelong and Warrnambool.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout solving the Geelong-Waurn Ponds bottle-neck the Melbourne-Geelong rail-commute mess cannot be fixed. Any form of future fast rail also depends on that stretch being duplicated.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said significantly more funding than $2 billion would be needed to enable fast rail between Melbourne and Geelong.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe state government has already announced plans for upgraded rail services between Geelong and Melbourne. The City of Greater Geelong has also done scoping work in this regard.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe urge all levels of government to work together to achieve the best and earliest solutions for the region\u2019s rail issues. Governments are now finally understanding that inferior rail services are holding Geelong and the region back.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LOBBY group G21 has welcomed significant infrastructure investment across Geelong and the wider region in the federal budget but is disappointed at the snub of Northern ARC and wants better co-ordination between governments to improve Geelong\u2019s rail services. Last week, G21 chief executive officer Elaine Carbines said G21 especially welcomed funds for the duplication of […]<\/p>\n