VFF Grains Group president Ashley Fraser calling on the Victorian Government to match the $5 million dollar planning commitment to ensure the project delivers a standardised network.
Mr Fraser said the Federal Government support was a positive step forward for the $440 million rail upgrade, which is entering its fifth year.
The project, which is half finished, is focused on improving rail connectivity between farming communities in the Murray Basin and ports in Portland, Geelong and Melbourne.
“It is crucial that Victorian farmers and the agriculture industry have the means to efficiently and affordably transport their produce from paddock to port and market,” Mr Fraser said.
“As long as we continue to operate on two separate rail gauges in Victoria, farmers and industry will continue to bear the costs of an outdated and inefficient network.
“The Victorian Government must simply now come to the table and match the Federal Government’s $5 million dollar planning commitment for the standardisation of the network.
“The Sea Lake and Manangatang lines must be converted to standard gauge as originally promised, we can’t accept anything less and have been waiting far too long.”
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said these enhancements would deliver significant benefits for regional communities, businesses and jobs.
The Murray Basin Rail Project involves upgrading 1055 km of rail track and converting the track from broad gauge to standard gauge.
Mr Fraser said transparency was needed on the future of the project and a hard deadline as to when it would be completed.
“We need visibility on the assessment of the entire project as well as a timeframe for its full completion,” he said.
“For a project that’s entering its fifth year, we need to see there’s a finish line in sight.
“The ball is firmly in the court of the Victorian Government and they need to deliver what was originally promised.”
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