Thursday, 14 November 2024

Murray Basin rail project

Jade BENHAM (Mildura) (17:15): (933) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure, and the action I seek is for him to immediately approve the use of dual-gauge sleepers on the V/Line network before wasting time and a significant amount of money replacing 24,000 concrete sleepers with broad-gauge only sleepers on the Maryborough–Ballarat line, further delaying the actual completion of the Murray Basin rail project. We are aware that the Department of Transport and Planning is currently looking to approve, and are very close to approving, a gauge-convertible concrete sleeper for use on the V/Line network, which would allow that incredibly important freight corridor between Maryborough and Ballarat to be approved, enhancing and actually making the line for grain and rail freight from north-west Victoria to port much more efficient than it is now.

The revised Murray Basin rail project achieved some increase in grain on rail. Mind you, the 2022 bumper crop season did help. But the project has not achieved any of the four government objectives, and 72 per cent of rail freight still goes via our crumbling roads, which is absolutely atrocious. Add to this that more than $100 million in rail-related investment continues to be suspended until the direct rail route via Ballarat to ports is reinstated, which is the line we are talking about now and on which they are about to replace 20,000 to 24,000 concrete sleepers with broad-gauge only sleepers. It makes no sense when the Department of Transport and Planning is looking to approve gauge-convertible concrete sleepers for use on the V/Line network. It makes absolutely no sense. I realise it may not be Labor Party policy to improve the efficiency of this rail network or to invest in regional rail at all, but I ask the minister to consider delaying this project of replacing concrete sleepers with broad-gauge only sleepers until those gauge-convertible sleepers are actually approved for use on the V/Line network so we can do the job once and do the job properly.