Member for Ballarat, Catherine King, says she thought cuts to a proposed regional rail hub project by the Coalition was ‘an April Fool’s joke’.
In last week’s budget, it was announced the Federal Labor Government would spend $2 billion on upgrades to Sunshine Station, which would also connect to the future Melbourne Airport Rail Link.
It’s understood the Coalition will still improve the station and redirect money saved by axing Labor’s plan to other Victorian road and rail projects.
Ms. King says without the major station upgrade; Melbourne’s Airport Rail is not viable.
“I commissioned a report early in the last year having a look at what are the things that need to get done to unlock Melbourne Airport rail [and the] Sunshine precinct was one of those,” she said.
“Cutting that means Melbourne Airport Rail is dead.”
“Untangling the network, particularly for those of us who live in Ballarat, Bendigo or Geelong is critical to improving our rail service.”
