Rail yards on slow track

RAIL experts have urged the State Government to get on with building the Waurn Ponds stabling and maintenance yards — a project announced more than two years ago with the potential to create 130 jobs.

The Andrews Government allocated $115 million for the Waurn Ponds depot in the 2015/16 State Budget, but more than 800 days later the facility is still in limbo.

Rail Futures president John Hearsch, who leads an independent group formed to advocate sustainable rail solutions, said the stabling yards were needed now more than ever.

“The government announced that 2½ years ago,” Mr Hearsch said during a recent Deakin University expert panel addressing regional rail issues. “We really need to get on with that project ... we need it very soon.”

Mr Hearsch said the project, which was originally touted as providing 100 construction jobs and 30 ongoing positions, would be a “very important job creator”.

When Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews first announced the stabling yards in May 2015 as part of a $257 million investment in new regional rail carriages and infrastructure, he and State Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said the project would improve regional train services.

“This investment of more than $250 million will provide better regional train services, and help create nearly 200 jobs,” Mr Andrews said in his 2015 statement.

The Waurn Ponds depot was also supposed to offer local education opportunities, with the government pledging to work with The Gordon on developing apprenticeship programs for the next generation of train and tram engineers.

When contacted by the Geelong Advertiser this week, a spokeswoman for Ms Allan indicated the government was still committed to the “critical” project.

“The new maintenance and stabling facility near Waurn Ponds is critical infrastructure needed to house and maintain a growing fleet of new VLocity carriages for the regional network,” the spokeswoman said.

It’s understood Public Transport Victoria has conducted surveying, geotechnical work and cultural heritage, flora and fauna investigations across Waurn Ponds to identify a viable build site.

The Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources and PTV are also reportedly consulting with land owners in the area.

Mount Duneed farmer Stan Larcombe has previously expressed his chagrin with State Government efforts to compulsorily acquire about 35ha of his 455ha farm in order to build the facility.

G21 Geelong Region Alliance chief executive Elaine Carbines has urged locals to “pressure politicians” to find faster solutions for regional rail issues.

“We’ve been too complacent about it,” she said.