Regional mayors urge V/Line link to airport rail

MAYORS and chief executives of Victoria’s 10 biggest regional cities have called on the state and federal governments to ensure the Melbourne Airport rail link includes connections to the regions.

Following the Federal Government’s $5 billion pledge this month to build a rail connection from the CBD to Melbourne Airport, Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) said the line had to connect to regional cities.

RCV chair Cr Margaret O’Rourke said a connection would unlock faster and more frequent services to the regions.

“The Airport Rail Link has the potential to be a truly transformative project for Victoria,” Cr O’Rourke said.

“It must be seen as much more than just a connection between Tullamarine and the Melbourne CBD — it’s a project that can bring enormous benefits for the whole of Victoria, particularly regional cities.”

Cr O’Rourke said delivering high speed rail to regional Victoria was possible through the Airport Rail Link.

“We must capitalise on this once-in-a-generation project by ensuring airport rail is connected to the wider V/Line network,” she said.

“The route must connect into the regional network and the best way to do this is via a new train hub at Sunshine, which would link to our major regional centres.

“If the right route is selected, this project has potential to change the way people live and work in regional Victoria. It will go a long way to helping rebalance the state’s population from Melbourne to our regions.”

The RCV is a regional advocacy group made up of mayors and chief executives from Victoria’s 10 biggest regional centres, including Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Horsham, Latrobe, Mildura, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Warrnambool and Wodonga.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has pledged $5 billion for the rail link project, and hopes it can start by 2020.

The project will need a State Government investment, and Premier Daniel Andrews signalled he would constructively with the Federal Government.