This is in addition to $5 billion already committed under Malcom Turnbull’s Coalition Government in 2018.
The new funding will go towards works at Sunshine Station, west of Melbourne’s city centre, which will provide a critical link in the new airport rail line.
Of Australia’s three largest cities, Melbourne is the only one that doesn’t have a rail link between the CBD and the airport, with the SkyBus currently the only direct public transport option into town.
The Prime Minister announced the additional funding at yesterday’s Future Victoria event, co-hosted by the Herald Sun and the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“Whenever we talk about missing links in Melbourne infrastructure, the conversation goes to airport rail,” he said during his keynote address.
“This vital project – in all its various incarnations – has been delayed for far too long.
“Melbourne Airport needs a rail link. Melbourne needs one.
“We are locking in this investment now, because we want to lock in a start date,” he said.
In response to the new federal funding, the Victorian Government has brought forward its funding for the airport rail project and the state’s premier, Jacinta Allan, said works would begin next year.
However, at yesterday’s Future Victoria event, the premier said the timeline for the overall project would need to be reset. With works at Sunshine Station expected to be complete in 2030, the airport rail link looks unlikely to be complete before the end of the decade.
Previously the project has been delayed by a disagreement with Melbourne Airport who wanted a below-ground station at the airport. In July last year, the airport relented and gave its consent to an above-ground station.
However, last May, while the disagreement was still holding up the project, the state government said the rail link would be “at least four years delayed”.
