Fw: Mon.31.10.22 daily digest archive

[Roderick Smith]

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Roderick

Mon.31.10.22


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Mon.31.10.22  Metro Twitter
Flinders St: still with a lane closed for tunnel works.
Because of tunnel works, Degraves St subway at Flinders St is closed until 2024. No platform transfer via Degraves St subway. Passengers should use Elizabeth & Swanston St entry/exits.  Campbell Arcade remains closed to 2024. Platform  interchange via that subway was available until mid 2022.
Bell: No lift access to platforms until Oct 2022, while works continue around the station precinct. A shuttle bus will run from Bell to Preston and Thornbury.  [the station opened on 5.9.  October is finished, with no mention of when access became available].
Hurstbridge line: Buses replace trains Heidelberg - Greensborough until the last train (works).
5.00 through to 19.00 Buses replace trains Frankston-Stony Point (an equipment fault), adding 25 minutes.
5.00 Buses replace trains Frankston - Stony Point due to an equipment fault. Allow an extra 25 minutes for your journey.
- Baxter?
16.10 All lines: Delays clearing after a police action.
Lilydale/Belgrave/Alamein lines: Buses replace trains Burnley - Box Hill/Alamein from 20.25 until the last train (maintenance works).  Change at Camberwell for Alamein shuttle.

Melbourne traffic is worsening, and politicians are to blame.  Susie O'Brien December 11, 2017 57 Comments
IF you think Melbourne’s gridlock is rapidly going from plain hideous to absolute hell, just think what it’s going to be like by Christmas Day, writes Susie O’Brien.
video: Bernard Salt on transport congestion for Future Melbourne Demographer Bernard Salt on transport congestion in Future Melbourne
MELBOURNE’S gridlock is rapidly going from plain hideous to absolute hell. We no longer just have a weekday peak, but a weekend peak as well that seems to last from 8am Saturday to 7pm Sunday.
A few days ago, it took us half an hour to travel a kilometre or so from Watsonia in the northeast and up on to the Metro Ring Road. It was 2pm on a Saturday.
The same thing happened the next day when we were crawling along the Tullamarine Freeway on the way to Essendon, going 25kmh an hour for about 5km. That was 5pm on a Sunday.
In both cases, there were absolutely no reasons for any delays. No accidents, no roadworks, no breakdowns, no lane closures.
Melbourne’s weekday peak hour traffic has now extended to the weekend. Nicole Garmston
Just crappy roads that have not kept up with the demands of a rapidly growing, modern city.
Just imagine what it’s going to be like by Christmas Day. If you want to get somewhere for lunch on time, you’d be well advised to leave before breakfast.
And don’t even think about trying to get to the beach on Boxing Day — you won’t hit the sand until well after dark.
A report by Infrastructure Victoria shows the average speed during the morning peak will drop to only 31kmh in coming years, even with all the billions of dollars promised on infrastructure upgrades.
Although that doesn’t sound too bad, it’s been a while since I’ve gone that fast during most peak times.
Experts predict that within two decades, half of all car trips in Melbourne will be significantly affected by congestion. I’d say it feels like this future is already here.
It’s all very well for planners to say building more roads just leads to more congestion, but what’s the alternative? Our politicians are so backwards, we don’t even have a rail link to the airport, so we can’t count on them to come up with clever solutions.
Traffic jammed up on Punt Rd, between Victoria St and Bridge Rd. Picture: Sarah Matray
Here are some of my transport pet hates:
ROADWORKS that close lanes and hold people up even when no work is being done. Why are we still going 40kmh instead of 100kmh?
ROADS in transition that are unsafe because of all the conflicting line markings and merges;
LACK of certainty over the traffic patterns: I can leave the CBD at 5.15pm some days and be home by 6pm. Other days, I leave at 7pm and it still takes an hour;
MILLIONS spent on road upgrades that don’t make things better. There’s a stretch of road coming out of Yea which has been upgraded but is now 80kmh;
A REFUSAL to consider options such as dual lanes which go into the city at peak morning times and out of the city in the afternoon. Many major roads are chockers one way and empty the other, and yet this is never discussed;
ROADWORKS that take years instead of months for no good reason. Swan St Bridge is a good example. It’s a tiny $30 million project that’s just been delayed five months because the original plans were wrong. Now there are signs up saying: “Four lanes, thank you drivers”. But it had four lanes in the first place before the so-called upgrade, so that’s hardly a big improvement; and
WHY not have more extended clearways to open up major roads to traffic at peak times? I know shoppers hate it, but if we keep going the way we are, no one’s going to be able to get anywhere, let alone the shops.
Traffic banked up on Hoddle St. Picture: Mark Stewart
So, what can be done? A congestion charge is a popular solution which might work for those who have a choice about where they go and when, but it’s only going to make commuters who have little say about their movements poorer and more annoyed.
Those who live in the outer suburbs which are badly serviced by trains and buses don’t need extra charges to make it harder to get to work.
Half of those making suggestions clearly don’t use our roads. Staggering our work start times doesn’t make sense given that our peak already starts at 6.30am. The Eastern Freeway is bumper to bumper by 7am in the stretch leading up to Hoddle St. The same goes for the evening peak, which now starts at 3pm in many places.
Consultants continue to come up with solutions, but many of the best ideas have been around for years, such as a rail link along the Eastern Freeway to Doncaster.
Even the existence of a rail link isn’t always the answer; often commuters have nowhere to park at stations, or can’t be sure of getting on packed trains at peak times.
There is also a complete lack of co-ordination, which means a one-lane blockage because of a crash can almost bring half the city’s arterial roads to a standstill.
It’s time frustrated Melburnians put our political parties on notice. The next state election must be fought on roads. We need to get Melbourne moving again.
11.12.17 www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/susie-obrien/melbourne-traffic-is-worsening-and-politicians-are-to-blame/news-story/f1761b22313c474558019c16844935c1
* The real elephant in the room is decentralizationWe need policies to encourage the growth of suburban business/commercial hubsAs well as growing the ring cities around Melbourne - Geelong, Ballarat, BendigoEven Seymour and Morwell/TraralgonWe are far too Melbourne-centricWe need far more people working in/commuting to these other areas
* we have a Government obsessed with continued expansion of the existing traffic corridors, forcing all cross city traffic onto the same paths. Failure to complete the ring road, cancelling the east-west link, political pork-barrel choices for level crossing replacements, no effective plans for rail expansion & poorly conceived PPP initiatives that we all pay for as contractors get rich.
* There is not one answer to Melbourne's rapidly growing road congestion problems. Here is one of mine.Provide significantly more parking at selected suburban railway stations for rail commuters and make them transport and commercial hubs. 
* Surely this was obvious to the gifted planners who have been forcing us to use public transport? Holding 2 thoughts in the brain at one time perhaps is beyond the capabilities of them however!
* A congestion charge only works if you have adequate public transport to take up the slack. Our public transport system is currently all but maxed out. How many peak hour trains are currently running over safe capacity with people crammed in like sardines? Ditto with the trams. Putting a congestion charge in would just cause the public transport system to melt down more than it already does.
* People talking over annoncements.Or in the "Quiet Trains." Even 2 4 6 and 8 etc, seats away. (And on the phone too, shouting!)

Fri.28.10.22 Melbourne 'Herald Sun'. Flinders St ballroom.  NUI TE KOHA
ARTIST Rone has unveiled his love letter to postwar Melbourne and tribute to its blue-collar workers.
His immersive exhibition, Time, brings to life a lost era of Melbourne's sewing rooms, typing pools, public libraries, school houses, pharmacy stores and more.
It opens at Flinders Street Station ballroom on Friday, and runs until April.
"I want people to feel like they're walking through a movie of forgotten Melbourne," said Rone, born Tyrone Wright. "I want to take them on ajourney."
He created "little narratives, but not a complete story" for each of the exhibition's 12 rooms. Set decorator Carly Spooner sourced thousands of items to give each scenario detailed authenticity.
Rone said Time also honoured blue-collar workers of mid-century Melbourne who worked in the city's factories, offices and shops.
His grandmother worked as a seamstress on Flinders Lane in the 1940s.
"You see the rooms as one giant workforce, but you also see each desk has personal items, giving every space little personality," Rone said. "They're all stories about community and coming together."
He said he was honoured to show at the ballroom. "It's the most epic building I'll ever work in, so I pulled out all the stops," he said.

Knox Council fuming after federal government axes key road, rail projects.  Kimberley Seedy October 31, 2022 Knox Leader 35 Comments
The state Labor candidates in the outer east have not commented on the federal government’s decision to cut millions of dollars in funding for key road upgrades.
A plan to spend $50m upgrading Napoleon Rd in Rowville has been scrapped.
State Labor candidates in the outer east have not commented on the federal government’s decision to scrap millions in funding for road upgrades in the outer east.
The Herald Sun revealed $110m for the Wellington Rd duplication, which stretches across the Liberal-held seats of Aston, Casey and La Trobe, is being scrapped by the federal Labor government because it is now estimated to cost $640m.
The planned $50m upgrade of Napoleon Rd between Lysterfield Rd and Kelletts Rd in Rowville has also been scrapped along with a $475m rail line to link Monash University’s Caulfield and Clayton campuses (the first stage of Rowville Rail).
Knox Cr Darren Pearce successfully moved a motion at last Monday night’s council meeting that the council write to local Labor candidates for the seats of Bayswater (Jackson Taylor), Rowville (Mannie Kaur Verma) and Monbulk (Daniela De Martino) in the upcoming state election asking them to disclose their position on the funding cuts before the start pre poll for the election.
Knox Leader asked each of the candidates the following questions:
What is your response to Cr Pearce’s question?
Were you disappointed to see the funding cut for these projects?
Will you lobby the federal government to reinstate the funding?
Do you think Wellington and Napoleon roads need upgrading?
Does Rowville Rail deserve funding? Do you want to see it happen?
Do you think Knox residents will benefit from the Suburban Rail Loop?
The candidates responded as follows:
Jackson Taylor, Labor candidate for Bayswater (current MP)
Jackson Taylor MP speaks in the Legislative Assembly at Parliament House in Melbourne in 2020. Picture: James Ross
“I’m proud to be a strong voice in the Andrews Labor Government for transport projects in Knox.
Locals in Bayswater have made it clear to me that we need to continue to deliver infrastructure investments for the east – we’ve removed two level crossings in Bayswater, delivered funding to fix the Alchester Village and McMahons Road intersections, making them safer for locals, and if we’re re-elected we’ll deliver a $60 million upgrade to Boronia station.
Only Labor is building the North-East Link, massively overhauling the Eastern Freeway and delivering the Suburban Rail Loop and Airport Rail.”
Mannie Kaur Verma, Labor candidate for Rowville
Mannie Kaur Verma.
“The Andrews Labor Government is delivering the infrastructure projects that matter to the Rowville community.
Labor is delivering Stage 2 of the Monash Freeway upgrade – which includes adding new lanes between Warrigal Road and EastLink – and $30 million to upgrade the Burwood Highway and McMahons Road intersection in Ferntree Gully.
Only Labor will deliver the road projects to make journeys quicker, easier and safer for locals in Rowville.”
Daniela De Martino, Labor candidate for Monbulk
Daniela De Martino.
“The Andrews Labor Government is delivering to improve the road and transport infrastructure that locals have made clear are important to them.
The Belgrave Line will be level crossing free from the city to Ferntree Gully – three have already gone and a fourth is underway – and Labor is building a new multi-deck car park with 640 spaces at Belgrave station, as well as delivering 30 new carparking spaces at Upper Ferntree Gully station.
Labor will build the state-shaping Suburban Rail Loop to link every major rail line from Frankston to Werribee via the airport and will deliver $30 million to upgrade the Burwood Highway and McMahons Road intersection in Ferntree Gully.
Only a Labor Government will deliver the infrastructure Victorians need to get home sooner and safer.”
Outer east “shafted” by funding cuts
Knox Council said in a statement Melbourne’s outer east had “been shafted” by the federal government, which had axed major road and public transport infrastructure projects desperately needed to improve safety and ease congestion.
Mayor Cr Susan Laukens described it as a massive blow for Knox and surrounding communities.
“These projects were intended to upgrade two of the worst roads in Knox (Napoleon and Wellington) and deliver critical public transport services,” Cr Laukens said.
“The state of major roads in Knox is a disgrace. Daily our residents are reporting costly damage to their cars from hitting potholes.”
Would you prefer to see Knox roads upgraded or the Suburban Rail Loop built?
Knox roads 92%
Suburban Rail Loop 8%
Cast your vote
She said successive governments had failed the Knox community.
“We’ve been promised a public transport solution since 1969 and we’re still on a promise,” she said.
“Just before the election the federal government pledged $6 million to begin planning for the trackless tram between Caulfield station and Rowville.
“The money earmarked for Rowville Rail was never enough but it should at least be quarantined to deliver on that business case if it stacks up.”
Aston federal Liberal MP Alan Tudge announced in 2019 $50m to duplicate Napoleon Rd Rowville.
Cr Laukens said the certainty of commuter car parks in Boronia and Ferntree Gully was also under a cloud with a third of the promised car parks being dumped.
Cr Pearce said it was “unfathomable” why the federal Labor government had chosen to kill off the funding for the projects.
“To me this was an act of political bastardry,” he said.
“What it says is, to the voters of Aston, you returned a Liberal MP (Alan Tudge) – here’s the payback, we’re pulling the funding.”
Cr Pearce said voters deserved to know if the state Labor candidates agreed with the federal Labor decision to cut the funding or not.
Cr Marcia Timmers-Leitch said although the decision to withdraw the funding was “incredibly disappointing” she couldn’t support Cr Pearce’s motion because of the “very targeted political nature” of it.
Cr Laukens said she also didn’t feel it was the right way to get the council’s message across.
More Coverage
$50m upgrade announced for Rowville road
PM ripping up our road and rail projects
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/outer-east/knox-council-fuming-after-federal-government-axes-key-road-rail-projects/news-story/73a8dd6968ac98b88775267154feb63a


31.10.22 Consider delaying Melbourne Airport rail link, Infrastructure Australia advises.  Patrick Hatch October 31, 2022.  103 comments
The federal and Victorian governments have been urged to consider delaying construction of the Melbourne Airport Rail project until there is enough passenger demand, and they are more confident of not blowing the $13 billion budget.
Federal advisory agency Infrastructure Australia also said the project needed to consult more with Melbourne Airport, which was blindsided by plans for an elevated “sky rail” station instead of its preferred option of an underground station.
An artist’s impression of a proposed elevated rail station at Melbourne Airport when a new link to the CBD is built.
The state and Commonwealth governments have each committed $5 billion for the long-awaited airport rail, which will start major construction next year and run from central Melbourne to the airport in 30 minutes when it opens in 2029.
But in an assessment of the rail link’s business case released on Monday, Infrastructure Australia found more work was needed before federal money was poured into the project, which has a budget of $8 billion to $13 billion.
“The strategic need for Melbourne Airport Rail is strong and there will be long-term benefits,” the assessment says.
Related Article An artist’s impression of a new elevated station to connect the $13 billion airport rail link to Melbourne Airport. Airport ‘sky rail’ station $1b cheaper and faster to build, says transport minister
“However ... we recommend further work is undertaken to improve certainty of the cost estimates, cost escalation risk, and outcomes of stakeholder engagement, particularly with Melbourne Airport.”
Developing the infrastructure to meet the needs of Victoria’s growing population is a top concern ahead of the November 26 state election, according to voters The Age spoke to for its Victoria’s Agenda series.
Infrastructure Australia – an independent government advisory body required to evaluate the merits of projects seeking $250 million or more in federal funds – previously backed Melbourne Airport Rail during its early stages.
But its latest assessment was to exclude it from its priority list, which identifies significant projects that would deliver the best value for taxpayers.
The assessment says there are strong reasons for progressing with the rail project, which would improve Victorians’ living standards by easing road congestion and delivering better travel options, health and environmental benefits.
The construction of Victoria's Suburban Rail Loop will be shelved and $34.5 billion will instead be put into fixing the state's struggling health system.
But a key issue is that Melburnians will keep driving to the airport until the recently widened Tullamarine Freeway reaches capacity around 2036. That “undermines” the project’s short-term benefits and would result in low passenger volumes for the first 10 years of operation, the assessment says.
Delaying the project to align with the Tullamarine reaching gridlock, while also giving Victoria time to confirm its scope and building costs, would “reduce risk and maximise the return for taxpayers”, it says.
The Airport Rail is one of the flagship projects in the Andrews government’s infrastructure pipeline, which has ballooned to a record $184 billion. The state business case for the project, released on September 22, says it will deliver a positive economic return of $1.80 for every $1 invested.
But those benefits could be “significantly overstated”, Infrastructure Australia said, with its own assessment showing the project would lose 40¢ in every dollar invested.
“The economic benefits of Melbourne Airport Rail do not outweigh its economic costs at this time,” the assessment says.
Infrastructure Australia’s concerns echo those raised by the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office last month, which blasted the government for using generous “discount rates” and “wider economic benefits” to calculate the financial merits of its pet transport projects in business cases, which did not support “fully informed investment decisions”.
Infrastructure Australia also says the business case was limited because it only examined one solution for the project – a shared rail line with Metro services running from the CBD via Sunshine – and did not consider viable alternatives that may cost less.
On Sunday, Premier Daniel Andrews rebranded the Airport Rail project, consolidating it in his flagship Suburban Rail Loop. The government has pledged to build the contentious loop’s first $35 billion section, running from Cheltenham to Box Hill, while the opposition plans to ditch it and prioritise health spending.
An Andrews government spokesperson said: “Others have talked about a rail line to Melbourne Airport for decades – the Andrews Labor government will get on and deliver it.”
State Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan and federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King were contacted for comment.
What are your plans to deal with population pressures in Melbourne and the regions?
Video Victorian Liberals vow to drop $34.5b Suburban Rail Loop to fund healthcare
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See all stories
www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/consider-delaying-melbourne-airport-rail-link-infrastructure-australia-20221031-p5buel.html
Yet another example of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
With another widening planned for the freeway and it being overwhelmed in 2036 we actually have an opportunity to get an efficient mode of transport installed in time.
It is well known the airport owners hate anything that will reduce the massive profits from the car parks. Any excuse will do. Their current treatment of public transport where route buses are hidden 1+km away demonstrates this perfectly.
Airport trains work well for dense cities where normal car traffic is a nightmare and public transport services the entire city well. Think Hong Kong, Tokyo, London. Australian cities are much more spread out, car traffic to the suburbs, whether private or taxi, is still manageable, and public transport doesn't serve the suburbs well enough for an airport traveller arriving after a long day with luggage. Keep the $billions in our pocket and expand the skybus network, and provide priority to public/hired transport on the freeway.
Ah, so that explains why Australian infrastructure is seriously lagging compared with similar nations. Absolutely zero vision when it comes to infrastructure needs and having to play catch up while populations explode = more commuters, cars and visitors. Which is what will happen if there is a delay to starting any rail project - by the time they realise “oh yes, we need this after all” it’ll again be just too late and a frustrating, lengthy mess for airport users.
It is unthinkable that a city supposedly - and proudly? - aiming for a population of 8 million by 2050 wouldn’t have a rail link. Having lived in London for years, I enjoyed the many rail options for getting to and from main airports (that’s airports - plural - with an S). Car/cab was a last resort.
If they are doubting the viability of the current project then perhaps they can quickly propose some other solutions as this WILL be needed - it’s already well overdue.
Three competing concurrent projects providing competing routes to the airport- 1. Airport Rail 2. North East Link 3 . SRL north. Great way to undermine the business case and waste taxpayer money.
Why would any one catch a suburban train to the city and then another train to the airport. Only business people travelling to CBD meetings and backpackers will use it. I can think of better things to do with $13b.
The reason we have institutions like Infrastructure Australia is to stop poor investment decisions.
Most people are not financially sophisticated enough to know what a white elephant the airport rail would be.
The consequences of borrowing tens of billions of dollars for a project with low utilisation against inflation would be disastrous.
30 minutes is too long, this needs to be a direct link, the Sunshine route is a time waster.
If it's agreed to defer construction then everyone should regard it as a permanent deferment. We get to this stage of planning and some flunkies say "yeah, nup".
Do these people have shares in Transurban or the airport or the company that operates Skybus?
BTW, Dan and Jacinta, operating standard suburban trains to the airport will be a disaster. Arguments about luggage clogging up the aisles and entry, especially at peak travel times. Needs carriages with luggage racks near the doors. Not everyone is going to travel with carry-on only.
Just build it. Build it right. Operate it right.
Victorian Governments have an average tack record (pun intended) in linking rail to major facilities. If one looks back into the 1960's, the Bolte/Thomspson Government agreed to extend the rail line from Huntingdale station on the Pakenham/Cranbourne line to Rowville up North Road via Monash University and VFL Park. This was when the capacity of VFL Park was to be 160,000. Of course, this never happened.
There should be a train line running to Tullamarine Airport by 2032- preferably via the Sunshine mega-station. The improvement in tunnelling technology and the use of elevated rail should continue to be utilised to deliver the project; the projected population of Melbourne by 2050 more than justifies the expense of the build.
For decades Victorians have demanded for a rail link to their airport. It's madness that until this day we have to drive or just catch the sky bus. How bout putting more public transports in the meantime then? Why make it so expensive just to get to the airport?
I wonder if there will be reduced seating on those trains? All those suitcases have to go somewhere.
Who are these people standing in the way of such an essential & needed rail link to the airport? Obviously they always drive to the airport - perhaps as passengers in a limo! No understanding of the ordinary people who have to take Skybus. Even Perth has an airport rail link.
Maybe they are giving apolitical advice?
What's wrong with Skybus? It's direct, frequent, affordable, has space for luggage, is more secure (with the driver right there), and for those who are traelling to/from the suburbs (not the CBD), there are direct suburban services. In fact, it's big advantage over rail is that you don't have to go to/from the CBD to get to the airport.
What rubbish...... Melbourne Airport was never 'blindsided'.....
Privately owned Melbourne Airport's priority 1 is to maximise profits from maximum car parking.
Melbourne Airport will exploit every option to delay and thwart the rail link to protect massive profits. .... Whilst claiming to be 'fully supportive'.....
The longer you wait the more it will cost, n hat 13 billion will blow out. I find the lack of demand in Melbourne argument curious, Brisbane already has an airport train, have I assumed wrongly that Melbourne Airport is more busy than Brisbane? The costs of parking at the airport will mean that many people won’t drive to the airport, but say cab to their nearest train station. If you are departing or arriving at the wee hours then you would still drive or cab to the airport.
The Brisbane rail link costs $20 to use - families and people needing to go anywhere other than the CBD find it cheaper and more flexible to use taxis / Uber.
The cost of the Airport Rail Link has reached astronomical levels. No wonder Infrastructure Australia cannot see a positive benefit/cost result from the current plan via Sunshine and Albion. A much cheaper option would be a new rail line west from Broadmeadows through mostly open territory to enter the airport precinct from the north. About 7 kilometres long and could include an intermediate suburban station.with large park&ride. Based on the Mernda extension of the South Morang line of a similar length that cost $800million less than a decade ago, this line would cost no more than $2billion today. Airport trains could operate as semi-express services via North Melbourne, Essendon and Broadmeadows, as part of a suburban train plan also incorporating trains north to Craigieburn and Wallan. With the Upfield line extended and reconnected to the mainline carrying part of the overall service also. This Airport service would not operate at a premium level and should have normal Met fares. The most modern suburban rollingstock would still be used with extra luggage storage provided.
Regional travellers to the airport from north east Victoria and southern NSW would have one interchange (Broadmeadows) airport access. A Sunbury-Airport express bus could serve northern Victoria; while Geelong and Ballarat passengers would interchange at North Melbourne or Southern Cross. A journey time of not more than 35 minutes would be possible.
Infrastructure Australia is dominated by economists, traditionally haters of transport projects.
An IA recommendation to defer has to be taken with a grain of salt.
However, the design pushed forward by Labor is so shoddy than any delay should lead to an improvement. Forget about direct tunnels and monorails, just engineer rail via Sunshine properly.
Put a reliable train service in and I will choose it over taxi or Uber every time - the valuable thing is knowing how long it will take to get there, and the variability on the Tullamarine is already annoying. The reason I rarely use Skybus is because it is subject to exactly the same traffic.
Good luck to people coming from the outer south and eastern suburbs trying to get on to a normal commuter train with all their luggage - I see a lot of fights ensuring!
No wonder the Andrews govt is dragging their feet on this dud project!
People do it all over the world...
I fly from Tulla maybe once a year. I pack a wheelie suitcase, a carry-on bag and a small backpack or manbag. I walk from my place to the bus which goes to the city or Box Hill station, then walk maybe 3-400m to Southern Cross and take a Skybus. All very easy - no problems with my luggage on the bus or train, and def no fighting.
I'd use an airport train every time if there was one.
The airport rail should be built. In my view without the suburban rail loop. Why would anyone drive and park at the airport when you could train it so readily. A great boon for our visitors too.
Just build the originally envisaged spur line from Roxburgh Park station for probably a 1/4 of the price. With modern signal systems the Craigieburn line could handle it.
We don’t care about cost-benefit here in Victoria. We’re socialists. Money is no object.
Look at the board members of Infra. Australia and tell me they would have any idea on real world solutions to what the average person is subjected when using transport. These people would still be debating the merits of steam trains if they had a chance.
Rail sounds good in theory but who will use it? Not families who can take a taxi for cheaper rates. Not people who live or are visiting the suburbs, where you need to get to the city first. Only half the business -people in the city, because for them everythng is tax deductible and probably not their money anyway. So you're left with half the business people visiting the CBD, backpackers and tourists staying in the city. Not worth the billions to replace more versatile buses.
If ever built it will become the biggest white elephant in Victotia's transport history!
Not the people paying a fortune to park their cars at the airport or parking places? Not the country people who have to travel past the airport into the city then pay again for a bus to take them back to the airport?
I’ve used overseas and interstate railway to airport and it’s brilliant.
For heavens sake just extend two nearby tramlines to the terminal area, can be done quickly and cheaply.
Trams are slow and small for people with lots of luggage. But couldn't we just have a rail link from the airport to nearby Broadmeadows station so trains could travel to/from the city as part of the usual Broad meadows line services? No need for a dedicated line all the way to the city. Works in London!
Why would I ever drive a car to Tullamarine if there was a train? The demand is already there.
Why would you ever take a train to Melbourne Airport if you could go by car?
Why would you ever take a car to Melbourne Airport if you could go by train? Far more comfortable and reliable. Better for the environment too.
Less stress, no traffic, no expensive parking, no chaotic drop-off at the departure ramp.
If that is unconvincing, maybe take a drive out there and back during peak traffic and tell me the benefits.
It should have been part of the transurban and citilink deal. Missed opportunity for them as well as us.
Melbourne is a second rate airport because of the difficult to navigate transport.
A premier was more interested in cobbling a deal than getting some world class infrastructure. Less than no vision.
The same blah blah blah we have heard for 50 years!!! Just build the thing ... I know it will cost the airport $$$$ from people not using their grossly overpriced carpark .... but just build it... and don't charge like wounded bulls to use it!
Heathrow to London, Fantastic! Anywhere in London!
No, not that great. I do speak from experience.
I have a feeling this won’t happen again.
Maybe we have to wait for another 40 years!
Do it once and do it right.
Well, the current plan is pretty hopeless.
If u delay it, cost will blowout even further, not rocket science, people initially may not use use it, but if u don’t build it, no one will use it.
In time numbers will grow
Sydney, Brisbane and now Perth all have direct rail connections from their respective CBD's to their major airports.
The new Western Sydney International Nancy-Bird Walton Airport will have a direct connection from day one.
Time for Melbourne to get on board!
The SRL should be built as an elevated railway. Much cheaper than underground
Good luck Infrastructure Australia. Dan Andrews protested accountability and using institutions such as yourself to drive non partisan decisions, but since becoming Premier, he knows more than all experts and scientists. His infrastructure spending is based on no business decisions, helps out private rent seekers like Transurban and has money spent in marginal seats instead of where the transport plans and planners say the money should be spent.
Unfortunately, Victorians all cheer for lack of good governance management and will elect him again for a third time with an even bigger margin!
WOW - thats impressive from the 'new' Infrastructure Australia. - insightful report details and issues with the airport rail. Imagine if they were provided detail of the SRL ... ah no need the Albo govt just blindly handed over $2, 200, 000, 000 but el superimo is after $11, 000, 000, 000 from Albo... guess that may wait until Infrastructure Australia is given access to the SRL planning ... no not just the coaster and the logo... surely there is actual costings ? Oh the auditor general has some - thanks.
When I went to Melbourne aiport a few months ago I ended up catching a taxi as otherwise I had to catch a bus, tram and then hike to the bus station at Spencer St. Too hard. I would have been more inclined to catch PT if a rail option was available with an easy transition between train services. On my travels I caught the train from and to the Athens airport multiple times, from the Rome airport and to the Palermo airport. The trips where between 35-45min. The ticket in Athens was 10 euro. It was a super easy and convenient way to get around despite the trains stopping at all stations. I would use the train to the airport as long as the price is reasonable ($15) and service is reasonably frequent (30min min).
Omg, you cannot be serious. Commuting in/out of Melbourne vs other similar size cities is an embarrassment. Just build it and they’ll come.
Not building a train because we just spent money on a road is a terrible take.
It's the Victorian way. Offer a crap public transport system and pump money into roads, roads, roads. The level crossing removals project is a good example of another roads project.
I can’t wait for it
I live around the corner from my train station
So easy to get there on the train
By car it can be a slow snarl and is no guarantee of getting there in a timely way
Just build the damn thing
What… is this not the SRL- Airport Link…. That Dan announced yesterday re Sunshine Station Big Build!!!!
Is it really necessary? I've been able to get off an international flight, clear customs, collect bags and hop onto the Sky Bus and be at Spencer St in an hour. $8-13 billion dollars is a lot to replace the bus.
Yes. Its necessary
The bus is appallingly uncomfortable and not very accessible. And it gets stuck in traffic. Worse for carbon emissions too.
I'm a huge fan of Skybus, but traffic is going to increase massively and it will affect Skybus.
People don’t go to the airport too often in general but I am a frequent user as a fifo worker - happy with skybus but it’s overpriced- need to build a new train for western suburbs commuters that doesn’t go to the airport and a light rail that does - most people wouldn’t use the train to airport because they take taxi or friends and family drop off and pick up or go to long term parking as so cheap
There should be a tunnel from Spencer St station ... come on, let's correct the historical mistake, and give Southern Cross back it's more meaningful name ...
There should be a tunnel from Spencer St to Sunshine.
A tunnel would make sense for the airport line, for the new Metro trains, and for VLine services.
A tunnel from the CBD to Sunshine would be a game changer.
How about an East-West tunnel bypassing the city?
Oh dear dog *no* - we've been dithering about this for decades. No more wasting money on yet more reports, no more consultant-based time-wasting exercises, just build the damn thing already!
I don't care if the station is in the basement, on a flyover, or a 5 minute walk through dense snake-infested jungle. I don't care if the recently widened car sewer isn't at "capacity" yet. I just want sane way to get from the airport to the city and vice-versa that doesn't involve driving or being shoe-horned into an slow, uncomfortable, swaying and all too often over-loaded bus.
Fine that you want it, but how many others do?
I fly interstate twice a month. It would be useless to me.
Sydney and Brisbane have airport rail and they are mostly empty.
Most people will never use it. Eg business people who get cab vouchers, regional Victorians, those in the north and western suburbs and just about everyone else but we all have to pay.
I would rather keep my $5,000 and take the bus.
I’ve used the train from the Gold Coast to the airport and it is busy and runs regularly.
I have used the Sydney rail link multiple times to visit family and go to events around Sydney and it's FANTASTIC. I would use a rail link to Melbourne Airport rather than drive a car. I've tried the Skybus several times but hate it(crowded and expensive) and it is most definitely not for anyone with a pusher, wheelchair or mobility walker whereas a train would be suitable for all of these.
I have been on a Sydney train that stopped at Domestic Station and about half the train-load seemed to alight. It's the most reliable way of going to and from the Sydney CBD. A few weeks ago I used the Brisbane Airport train, and while less busy than in Sydney it was well used.
I use both . Always found them fairly well patronised .
wait what. Are you saying the business case needs more work? The federal govt in its haste to pour money into Victoria (is there an election on) might not have consulted enough. Hold the project back - its not on the infrastructure priority list? Really?
This is definitely needed now. How can Melbourne be the only city in the world with an airport in the top 100 busiest that doesn’t justify a rail link. This makes far more sense than the rest of SRL. I would look at Infrastructure Australia’s modelling because it sounds unsound.
So the system is working the way it should :)
Depressing suggestion, designed to line to pockets of the consultants who will undoubtedly recommend more endless inquiries and studies into cost benefit analyses... . Just build the bloody thing.
Plus Skybus will lose its niche market (+profits). That's a vital consideration.
Just need to connect Sunbury to the airport and run V/line though there. Use the V/Line service as an express from Footscray or sunshine to the airport. Fixes issues with amount of trains running between Sunbury and Sunbury as well. No need to worry about patronage then, just jump on the V/Line which will already have passengers. This will also mean all passengers on things Bendigo line have direct access to the airport as well. You’d think the ex transport ministers electorate is Bendigo.
surprise surprise. Would love to know where City Link, and Melbourne Airport parking fit into this planning.
Even tinpot cities have an airport rail link. 2029 is too far away.
Milan is hardly a tinpot city and it doesn't have a rail link to its airport.
Is this why the Andrews government chose yesterday to rebrand MARL to SRL?
NO!! This project has been delayed for 30 years. Let's get it done already. Melbourne is a major international destination with no decent cost efficient and timely transport to the airport.
Sorry, try fifty years.
Infrastructure Australia has officially become irrelevant
So happy to have more cars clog up the roads, drive up pollution etc??????
They will mostly be electric so don't worry about the pollution part
So it's been cleverly delayed 50 years awaiting the advent of electric vehicles!
The best air/rail connections are where you walk off the plane and onto the train. So elevated is a better solution here. Anyone familiar with the SFO/BART/Caltrain connection will agree.
So Infrastructure Australia thinks it is not worth having a rail option to the airport until such time as the freeway is so choked that people are forced to use it! An interesting perspective. Any chance they might consider the environmental benefits of having a train service not to mention avoiding the outrageous cost of parking.
According to the Airport Rail busines case, its benefits are not just in decongesting the Tullamarine Freeway, it's also other roads. For example, airport traffic comprises 20% of traffic through the Citylink tunnels. And with the growth of the northern suburbs I don't believe the Tullamarine Freeway will stay congestion free until 2035.
Rememebr the 1960s when the Federal govt refused to allow international flights except into Sydney ..seems Canberra is still blind
If you are going to charge over $20 for a one way trip, of course its going to get low patronage!
Make it $5 one way, no need for a higher frequency than every 15 mins ex. Southern Cross St (yes - Southern Cross) and it will be popular.
Exactly. In Barcelona the airport stop is treated like every other suburban stop, no extra fares charged.
just build it,
but with a station design able to handle through trains when the loop finally arrives, whenever that may be.
IA has provided some sound advice. I wonder what the new federal government will do given its insistence that IA become all-but-the-Oracle in everything infrastructure?
What's wrong with Skybus? It's direct, frequent, affordable, has space for luggage, is more secure (with the driver right there), and for those who are traelling to/from the suburbs (not the CBD), there are direct suburban services. In fact, it's big advantage over rail is that you don't have to go to/from the CBD to get to the airport.
Low patronage worries?
Who wants to commute to the airport and then have to park the car in the LT carpark?
Who doesn't want to pay $100 taxi fares to get to Tulla?
Who doesn't want to get more cars off the road?
Who doesn't actually give a rat's about the tollway?
Build it and they will use it.
So instead of long term car park I:
-Taxi, Uber or get dropped at local station with luggage.
- Squeeze into Metro train with luggage
- Haul luggage from Metro to airport train
- Haul luggage from airport station to check in
Sounds awesome.
Sounds like you haven't travelled much internationally. At Tokyo's Narita Airport nearly everyone from the terminal used by Jetstar heads for the train station, then transfer to other trains within Tokyo . Lots of passengers on Tokyo's subways have a suitcase.
Surely having more cars off the road is a good thing.
No doubt Minister Allan will need to consult with someone who will provide the words she will speak in return. Let's all make sure we continue to refer to it as the Melbourne Airport Link cause that's what it is!
Our Dear Leader Dan only heeds Infrastructure Australia advice when it suits his agenda.
Melbourne airport is a private company which makes a fortune from parking.
The last thing the airport wants is a train line.
What a load of rubbish, they must have a connection with Sky Bus.
Melbourne is 3rd world when it comes to transport infrastructure for tourists.
I wouldn't say that, Bob. I remember we took the train from CBD to Broadmeadows and then son said: mam, we could walk! I don't think so I said. We crossed a street to where a big shopping mall was and loads of cabs. Of course, we had to laugh at Canberra's "Railway station", which is nothing more than the waiting room till a coach takes you to Yass junction!
Don’t delay Dan. He doesn’t let detail get in the way of spending public money.
31.10 https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/hundreds-of-darwin-bus-services-cancelled-as-drivers-quit-due-to-escalating-violence-and-anti-social-behaviour/ar-AA13y5yz

An hour and a half to drive 3km — why is traffic so bad in Melbourne's outer suburbs?  Margaret Paul and Rosanne Maloney Monday 31 October 2022
Key points:
Heavy congestion is rife in Melbourne's outer suburbs as cars are often the only way to get around
An urban research professor says the city's fringe needs more public transport
Some communities and housing estates have started their own bus services
That's frustrating enough — but once he's made it onto Donnybrook Road, he simply joins another queue.
Sometimes, it's so bad he has to wait for more than an hour to get from there onto the highway, where he joins a daily traffic jam of cars from neighbouring developments.
It's a frustration that's common across Melbourne's booming outer suburbs, where experts say growth is far outpacing infrastructure, especially when it comes to transport.
Pollsters say voters in the outer suburbs feel neglected because of a lack of services, an issue that may cost votes at this month's election.
Mr Najmeddine lives in Kalkallo, a suburb just off the Hume Freeway that was home to just 105 people in the 2016 census.
The population ballooned to 6500 in 2021.
His estate, Cloverton, is home to more than 2000 residents, and has one road in and out.
Construction on a second road started this week, and is due to be finished in mid-2024.
Locals say recently installed traffic lights to allow traffic on to Donnybrook Road do help, sometimes, and some have welcomed a promised slip lane, but many say the real issue is the traffic on Donnybrook Road itself.
Mr Najmeddine said the daily traffic gave him — and other residents — plenty of time to think.
"Sometimes you do get thoughts of, 'did I make the right move buying here?'"  he said.
"That does come across sometimes, because there's more frustration than there is ease when it comes to taking kids to school, driving to work, all the peak-hour stuff that people are doing in the estate — it is quite frustrating."
He said he liked the neighbourhood, but everyone was frustrated by the lack of services, including walking paths, shops, connections to the train station, and especially the traffic.
"I can't imagine for the life of me if there was an emergency that was to happen and an ambulance needs to come in and come out,"  he said.
His wife, Athirah Basalamah, allows at least 45 minutes to take their daughter Madinah to school in Donnybrook, which is just 3 kilometres away.
"The quickest I can do is half an hour, but it took up to an hour and a half one day," she said.
She said the traffic affected her every day. She makes sure she does all the shopping during the school run, to avoid unnecessary trips.
Residents are also frustrated at a lack of access to public transport.
The only bus comes every half hour — even at peak times — and does not service the back of the estate, meaning some residents have to walk half an hour to get to the closest stop.
Donnybrook train station is just across the Merri Creek, but there is no pedestrian access, so most people drive there.
Roads not keeping up with 'phenomenal' growth in outer suburbs
RMIT's Centre for Urban Research associate professor Andrew Butt said those experiences were pretty typical for the booming outer suburbs, particularly in the north and west.
"The growth in those places has been phenomenal — the infrastructure in those places simply is not keeping up,"  he said.
He said the outer suburbs were home to Victoria's busiest V/Line train stations, including Tarneit and Wyndham Vale in the west, and Donnybrook and Wallan in the north.
Last month, the government announced $200 million for the next stage of planning a new train station at Truganina, and a new station for Tarneit West, to be built by 2026. 
Mr Butt said those suburbs needed metropolitan train services.
"Many of these suburbs are still running on V/Line services that were built and timetabled for peri-urban communities, not for new growing suburbs,"  he said.
He said the poor standard of public transport was pushing people into cars, and frustrating voters across the outer suburbs.
"That legacy of promise and undelivered promise, dotted lines on maps for new infrastructure, really right now is hitting its limits, it's hitting the point where people in these suburbs are really under stress," he said.
Housing estate starts its own bus service
Down the road from Donnybrook, Merrifield housing estate faced similar transport issues when it was first built in 2015.
There were no buses in the area and its developer MAB Corporations heard residents were finding it difficult to get around.
"There was no clear plan or time frame for the government to deliver a service," MAB's general manager of communities Matthew Planner said.
As a solution, the company started its own private bus services, taking Merrifield residents from the estate to nearby shops and trains.
"We wanted to bridge the gap where we could,"  Mr Planner said.
"It was about trying to open up the possibilities in terms of the destinations they could get to."
While it may have been a solution for Merrifield residents, those keeping a close eye on Melbourne's growth zones said key transport infrastructure in new developments shouldn't be left to chance.
The National Growth Areas Alliance's chief executive Bronwen Clark said governments had a greater role to play.
"The key solution is for the state government to plan and deliver public transport options as people move into new suburbs," Ms Clark said.
"We just can't have people and families moving in and waiting 10 years for the first bus."
Some bridging the transport gap themselves
In Melbourne's west, Manjit Singh's community was facing a similar problem.
For some Sikh worshippers, the nearest bus stop to the Khalsa Shaouni temple at Plumpton in Melbourne's outer west was a 40-minute walk.
Mr Singh, a temple leader and volunteer, said a private bus service was the only way to ensure elderly residents were able to socialise and join the community.
"The elderly won't be able to make it here unless we get people to go in their own cars to pick them up," Mr Singh said.
"If there is a bus service, they can come to the temple, they can help out, they can socialise, they can get to meet old friends as well."
Land transport disadvantage expert, Associate Professor Janet Stanley, said isolation was a key issue communities faced without better bus networks.
"Without the access, there's an increase in exclusion," Professor Stanley said.
"People who are excluded from society aren't doing well."
Professor Stanley said expanding bus services in the outer suburbs would reduce the disadvantage caused by poor transport connections.
"It gives opportunities for people to meet other people, to be part of your community, to actually get to work,"  she said.
"The answer is to have regular 20 minute bus service around neighbourhood areas.
"People can just go to a bus stop and know that a bus will come very soon and they know they can get home again."
Not too far from the temple in Melton South, the state government does run an on-demand bus service called FlexiRide.
It also operates in Tarneit North, Woodend, Croydon, Lilydale, Mooroolbark, Rowville and Rosebud.
The bus is booked through an app and allows people to get picked up from anywhere within a designated area and transported to a nearby hub such as shops, train stations and schools.
In Melton South alone, it transports around 700 people a week — but the temple is just outside the designated pick-up area.
While Mr Singh's community will continue to use a private bus to bridge the gap, he wants to see the government expand the service to his community.
"I think it would be really good for the community overall, not just people coming to the temple," he said.
"It's about helping people get around a bit more."
The major parties have made promises to voters in the outer suburbs ahead of the election.
video. Residents queue each day just to get out of Cloverton estate in Kalkallo.
On a good day, Ramy Najmeddine's weekday commute starts with a 20-minute wait just to get out of his housing estate in Melbourne's outer north.
Ramy and Athirah stand in the kitchen with their family, getting ready for the day. Ramy Najmeddine's family has to organise their schedules around frustrating local peak-hour traffic. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)
Cars queue on a road under overcast skies.  Extreme congestion is a major problem across Melbourne's sprawling outer suburbs. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)
An aerial view of cars packed into a suburban development.  From the air, the snaking line of cars in the estate at Kalkallo becomes clear. (ABC News: Peter Drought)
Madinah and her sibling play on the floor in a living room.  It takes 45 minutes by car for Madinah to get to her school 3 kilometres away. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)
Ramy Najmeddine gets into his car.  Many residents in the outer suburbs have no choice but to travel by car on busy roads. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)
What issue is important to you this state election?
A woman prepares to step out of a bus.  The Khalsa Shaouni temple now offers a private bus service. (ABC News: Peter Drought)
Manjit Diwali stands in a room filled with bright decorations.  Manjit Singh says the private bus service is the only way some people can get to the temple. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)
Women in colourful clothing stand around a table preparing food for Diwali celebrations.  Without well-serviced transport, many in the outer suburbs cannot connect with their community. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)
A sign reads 'Welcome to Merrifield'. As Melbourne's population grows, the number of developments on the city's fringe are increasing. (ABC News: Peter Drought)
Don Dissanayake sits in the driver's seat of a bus.  The state government offers a flexi-service bus in Melton South. (ABC News: Peter Drought)
A bus parked on a suburban street.  The flexi-bus service does not extend to the temple. (ABC News: Peter Drought)
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-31/victoria-roads-traffic-kalkallo-melbourne-outer-suburbs/101585202

https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/melbourne-airport-rail/about/project-overview Saturation propaganda

The rail loop rebrand is no accident as spin over substances reaches a peak.  Matt Johnston October 31, 2022.  115 Comments [almost all are political sniping]
When Daniel Andrews stood straight faced and rebranded his mega rail loop SRL Airport it was a meme-worthy manipulation of facts.
video: There is ‘nothing more important than people’s health’: Vic Liberal leader Victoria’s Liberal party leader Matthew Guy says there is “nothing more important than people’s health” ahead of the state’s election....
Politics and spin over substance reached a new peak in Victoria this week.
Premier Daniel Andrews stood with a straight face and rebranded the bipartisan Melbourne Airport Rail Link as part of Labor’s Suburban Rail Loop.
This was “SRL Airport”, Andrews and his chosen successor as premier, Jacinta Allan, said.
A nationally significant project was reconceptualised as a gateway to the ‘burbs, as part of Dan’s special project.
Why did Andrews and Allan do this?
For a start, the government is desperate to remind everyone it is building SRL – which it sold in 2018 as a 90km loop between Cheltenham and Werribee.
It wants to convince the world that the airport rail link was part of that plan, and that the “loop” is intact.
Opposition transport infrastructure spokesman Matt Bach calls that gaslighting.
Public Transport Users Association spokesman Daniel Bowen, the human antithesis of spin, called it an attempt to piggyback on to a popular project, sharing a satirical meme saying: “did you know if you combine wine and dinner you get winner?”
More subtly, Dan is trying to convince voters that Matthew Guy – who wants to shelve the first stage of the SRL from Cheltenham to Box Hill and put money into Victoria’s crumbling health system if premier – is somehow against airport rail.
The Andrews government is now trying to convince the world the airport rail link is part of SRL. Picture: Simon Dallinger
No doubt a shonky social media campaign is already announcing that “only Labor will build SRL Airport”.
The manipulation of facts has always been a forte of this premier.
Now it’s meme-worthy.
The job of selling the SRL as a “loop” will start to get a bit trickier down the track, but that – along with Victoria’s finances – will be someone else’s problem.
Take a Broadmeadows passenger heading to Werribee.
According to the government, that passenger would be able to get to Tullamarine from Broadmeadows via “SRL North” in a couple of decades.
At that stage, “SRL Airport” would also be built, with an elevated station on the south side of the airport.
That elevated structure prohibits other lines – such as SRL North – connecting into the same station.
This means our Broadmeadows friend would need to traipse between stations to board a train towards Sunshine.
At Sunshine they would need to change train again, to get to Werribee on a planned new line.
The alternative, of course, would have been to promise a stand-alone rail tunnel from Tullamarine to Werribee, which would have been unaffordable and unachievable.
Good policy looks to have dictated why that idea was junked.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/the-rail-loop-rebrand-is-no-accident-as-spin-over-substances-reaches-a-peak/news-story/14170682129b24f95f6c6e6dc361aa0a

Victoria’s construction pipeline should be ‘more realistic’ in future.  Rachel Eddie October 31, 2022.  12 comments [mainly polical sniping]
Treasurer Tim Pallas concedes Victoria’s capital works program may need to be “more realistic” to cope with challenges in the construction industry and avoid debt blowouts.
Pallas issued the warning as he released the mid-financial-year budget update, projecting the state would return to the black in 2026 with the expected surplus upgraded to $894 million.
Treasurer Tim Pallas.Nine
“Not for existing projects, but for new projects, we’ll have to have more realistic assessments around the industry’s capacity to deal with projects and the timelines by which they can deliver them,” he said.
Infrastructure Australia on Monday urged the federal and state governments to consider delaying the $13 billion Melbourne Airport rail project over potential cost blowouts and low patronage.
The Victorian Auditor-General’s Office has also warned the state government that if major projects continued exceeding their budgets, “further additional unplanned debt will occur or the announced capital program may need to be curtailed”.
Pallas said cost overruns were “relatively modest”, adding an average 4 per cent to total costs last year, worth $5.8 billion, considering the price of materials increased 20 per cent or more and workers were in short supply.
Most of last year’s blowouts were from the West Gate Tunnel toll road, which has almost doubled in price to nearly $10 billion, and will eventually be paid for by private firms.
Pallas acknowledged the increases were not “inconsequential numbers”.
“For future projects, we have to look at the capability of the industry to absorb the volume of work that we’re doing,” the treasurer said.
“We will continue to monitor and manage our capital works program with a weather eye to the capacity of the industry to get new projects away.”
Victoria is investing an average $21.6 billion a year in infrastructure over the next four years, with $184 billion in capital works projects already under construction or commencing this year.
The Age has been surveying readers to help inform coverage of next month’s state election as part of the Victoria’s Agenda approach. Readers expressed concern about project mismanagement leading to cost overruns and adding to net-debt projections.
One reader, Suzanne, aged 65-74, said the state could save billions by managing projects properly, while Peggy, aged 45-54, said nobody seemed to care that projects were blowing out so badly.
The price tag of the Suburban Rail Loop is also likely to increase. The government in 2018 claimed it would cost a total of $50 billion, but the Parliamentary Budget Office said the first two stages could cost $125 billion. Labor has rejected that analysis.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said Premier Daniel Andrews was a “financial vandal”, while he said the Coalition had been “fairly modest” in its announcements.
“We only committed to policies that are modest, reasonable and sensible,” Guy said.
He has committed to auditing all projects valued at more than $100 million to minimise waste if elected, a policy recommended by the Grattan Institute and the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office.
The Coalition would shelve the Suburban Rail Loop if elected to divert the cash into health.
Pallas said auditing every major project “would mean cuts and closures that would hurt Victorian families and put our whole economic recovery at risk”.
Marion Terrill, transport and cities director at the Grattan Institute, said major projects were those most likely to breach their estimated cost.
She said major projects should be avoided unless the need had been clearly identified by an independent body.
Victoria’s budget position is expected to be $1.8 billion worse than projected this financial year, on track for a $9.7 billion deficit in 2022-23, despite higher than expected payroll and land taxes. Pallas said that was partly due to $500 million worth of flood recovery support.
He said the budget update confirmed the government’s staged plan to get the budget on track was working, after massive spending to insulate Victoria from the pandemic, and accused the opposition of planning cuts.
Election funding pledges by policy area ALP LNP
Economic affairs $1.0B $3.7B
Education $2.7B $1.5B
Environmental protection $0.0 $37.3M
General public services $25.0K $314.4M
Health $3.8B $6.4B
Housing and community amenities $0.0 $30.0M
Public order and safety $0.0 $8.0M
Recreation, culture and religion $68.8M $442.6M
Social protection $50.0K $4.8M
Taxation $0.0 $63.0M
Transport $710.0M $13.2B
Source: pbo.vic.gov.au
Related Article Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas. State deficit forecast blows out by $1.8b as spending arms race ramps up
Related The Metro Tunnel project is likely to be $240 million more expensive than planned this year because of financial impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, the budget update said, having already exceeded its cost forecast by more than $2.5 billion.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/victoria-s-construction-pipeline-should-be-more-realistic-in-future-20221031-p5buay.html

Series https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/victoria-s-agenda-20220915-p5bifl.html

Andrews’ rail rebrand throws everyone for a loop.  Charlotte Grieve and Kishor Napier-Raman October 31, 2022 — 5:00am
What’s in a name? Well, when you’re a politician cutting a ribbon it matters greatly what’s on the plaque. But for reporters – let alone the public – it can be difficult to keep up.
So it was on Sunday when Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Transport Infrastructure Minister and less-popular premier-in-waiting Jacinta Allan took a bit of licence with nomenclature.
Premier Daniel Andrews making an announcement on Sunshine Train Station yesterday.Scott McNaughton
At first, Andrews seemed not altogether certain which line the improved Sunshine Station he was spruiking would be on.
He referred to it both as the Airport Rail Link – as the project has been called for four years – and something called the SRL Airport. What is that?
Well, the SRL bit we can help with. It doesn’t stand for “Sorry this is Really Loose”; it’s the acronym for the Suburban Rail Loop.
Despite the name it’s a long way from a loop – it’s a line through the eastern suburbs that the government is promising to build and which might one day snake across the north and into the west.
To do that will cost somewhere between $50 billion and $125 billion, but frankly it seems so far away who’s really counting at this stage. For now, attention is on the $36 billion bit of the not-a-loop line which Andrews is pushing hard.
Less keen are the Matt Guy-led Liberals who think they’re onto a rare winner (yes, it must be that time of the decade) to brand the whole thing as an indulgence, and are pledging to spend the money on other things.
So here we were on Sunday when the term “SRL Airport” pulled into the polling station. It was debuted alongside something else called “SRL East”. What? They’re now different legs of same project?
From our partners
Why? Why is this necessary? Won’t someone think of the new polar fleece jackets with updated logos?
Allan, or “Jay Ay” as Andrews calls her, sigh, made it very clear through repeated mentions that Airport Rail Link is gone and SRL Airport is in.
She also had a lash at the Liberals for failing to deliver an upgrade of the Sunshine Station when they were in government.
You know, a major redevelopment like the one Labor promised in 2018 but is battling allegations from locals it’s going to dud them on.
But what’s in a name?
https://www.theage.com.au/cbd/andrews-rail-rebrand-throws-everyone-for-a-loop-20221030-p5bu53.html

Hemmes in race for massive CBD development above new train station.  Matt O'Sullivan October 31, 2022.  76 comments
Entertainment tsar Justin Hemmes is teaming with property giants Lendlease and Mirvac to bid for the right to build a major high-rise precinct above a new underground train station in Sydney’s CBD.
Merivale, the billionaire’s hospitality group, is part of a consortium vying to build two skyscrapers – each over 50 storeys – as well as the Hunter Street station, which will be a critical part of the $27 billion Metro West rail line from the CBD to Parramatta, handling thousands of commuters every hour.
Sydney Metro, the government agency overseeing the rail project, will shortlist bidders for the over-station development within weeks, which is set to include bars, restaurants, shops and offices in the towers, and pedestrian tunnels linking the station to Wynyard and Martin Place stations.
The underground station and the planned towers on Hunter Street, which will be among the tallest in Sydney, will form one of the most significant developments in the CBD this decade and be the catalyst for a major renewal of public space in the surrounding area.
Under the government’s request for tenders, bidders need to show that they will substantially improve the surrounding area and create a unique precinct.
Multiple sources said Merivale was bidding with Lendlease and Mirvac, and described the pub baron’s plans for a tower up to 51 storeys on the corner of Hunter and George streets as breathtaking. Under the early plans, pedestrians would be able to walk from street level to the building’s covered terraces.
The other tower, which will be up to 58 storeys, will be built on a site on the corner of Hunter, O’Connell and Bligh streets, part of which is owned by Mirvac.
Both towers will serve as entrances to the underground station, which will have the busiest city-bound platform on Sydney’s rail network once the new Metro West line opens in 2030.
Merivale has been buying up properties on George Street near its well-known Ivy bar complex – close to the site of the proposed tower – as well as other parts of the CBD in recent years.
Hemmes revealed plans four years ago to knock down the Ivy and erect a $1.5 billion skyscraper and entertainment precinct.
However, the government’s move early this year to seek interest from the private sector to build the station and develop the towers above is said to have altered Merivale’s plans.
Merivale, Lendlease and Mirvac declined to comment.
Apart from the Merivale consortium, sources say global investment giant Brookfield, which redeveloped Wynyard station and the buildings above, is also vying for the Hunter Street development. Brookfield also declined to comment.
Ministerial diaries show Merivale met senior government ministers several times late last year, including Premier Dominic Perrottet in December to talk about “CBD revitalisation”.
Two months earlier, the company discussed its unsolicited proposal for an “entertainment precinct” with then planning minister Rob Stokes.
Internal documents – dated from 2020 – show Sydney Metro believed a range of developers and landowners might be interested in acting as a “precinct development partner”, including Lendlease and Mirvac. The latter had an option over the commercial air rights for 33 Bligh Street, which is part of the area earmarked for the station’s eastern entrance and tower.
The documents obtained by the Herald reveal the agency estimated in 2020 that the Hunter Street station would cost $640 million, making it one of the most expensive to build along the 24-kilometre route of the underground rail line.
Sydney Metro said in a statement it was working with multiple tenderers through the first stage of the procurement process, after initial bids were received in August.
The agency described the model used to deliver the project as a “first-of-its-kind approach which will revitalise a critical part of Sydney’s CBD”.
“We aren’t just delivering a station – we will deliver a precinct,” it said.
The two proposed skyscrapers, in red, above the metro train station will be up to 58 storeys high.City of Sydney
A skyscraper up to 51 storeys to be built on the corner of George and Hunter streets will serve as one of the entrances to the metro train station.Brook Mitchell
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/hemmes-in-race-for-massive-cbd-development-above-new-train-station-20221027-p5btgx.html

Letters to the Editor October 31 2022
* Neglect of basic infrastructure will cost the Barr govt votes
After wiping the blood from my wife's face and recovering from my bout of shaking, I spluttered in anger at the ACT government's neglect of basic footpath maintenance.
The long-term maintenance demands of city paths, roads, schools, public housing and mental health don't generate headlines, photo opportunities or sound bites like shiny red trams, yellow machines shifting mounds of earth, ruminations about new stadia or a convention centre, and trumpeting progress on addressing current social issues.
The city centre may be "vibrant and cosmopolitan", but the suburbs are increasingly neglected, grubby, worn, and dangerous.
As one of Barr's 'fuddy-duddies' I am weary from negotiating obstructed footpaths with their cracked concrete and shifting slabs.
Thanks are offered to those who deserve better government: the high-vis guys who hurried to help me raise my wife to her feet; the customers and staff of Mawson's Lil Milk Bar for their concern and assistance; and the superb staff of the Weston Creek Walk-in Centre who repaired my wife's damage far more efficiently than the government maintains its infrastructure.
* No joking matter.  Keith Hill is right, don't even think of draining the lake lest someone in authority takes you seriously and makes it happen (Letters, October 26).
At the moment, someone in authority can sanction the construction of an antiquated tram with an eye-watering price tag, which will require 60,000 cubic metres of fill to raise London Circuit, causing disruption to life and traffic in Civic for two years.
Draining the lake may seem like a picnic by comparison.
* WILL RATES COME DOWN?  It was heartening to hear the federal government is going to kick in for Canberra's tram. I can't wait for the reduced rates notice.
www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7960607/neglect-of-basic-infrastructure-will-cost-the-barr-govt-votes