Fast rail reference group seeks members

EXPRESSIONS of interest have opened for a reference group on the proposed Geelong Fast Rail project.

Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan visited Marshall and Geelong railway stations last week with Geelong MP Christine Couzens (who will chair the group) and Labor candidate for South Barwon Darren Cheeseman to announce details of how the Fast Rail Reference Group would work.

Ms Allan said the first meeting of the group – comprised of community members and stakeholder organisations – was expected to take place by the end of this month, and Aurecon Jacobs Mott MacDonald Joint Venture (AJM JV) had been appointed to provide specialist advice.

According to the EOI, the reference group is seeking community representatives that live in and around Geelong, with “strong community networks and the ability to represent a broad range of community views”.

In April, the state government announced $50 million for the start of detailed planning work on Geelong Fast Rail and suggested a number of options could be investigated, including the possible electrification to Geelong along the existing rail corridor and new dedicated high-speed rail alignments with new rolling stock.

Ms Allan said the creation of the reference group will mean AJM JV “will have a very clear understanding of what the community’s expecting from this project”.

“These are a really skilled group of technical advisers; they’ve worked on big rail projects before. Those technical advisers will give advice to government on how to deliver a project like this to make sure we get the right alignment, the best linkages, how it can be delivered, and it’ll pave the way for the work on the business case.”

To respond to the EOI for the reference group, head to railprojects.vic.gov.au. Nominations close on Monday October 8.