Council supports Basin Rail campaign

Published on 05 August 2019

Gannawarra Shire Council is supporting Rail Freight Alliance’s lobbying for the Murray Basin Rail Project to be completed.

Rail Freight Alliance’s Save Our Tracks campaign is calling for the largest rail project to be undertaken in the region this century to be completed to its original scope and for the Victorian Rail Freight Network to remain in State ownership and control.

The $440 million project aims to standardise the Mildura to Geelong rail link and provide a direct rail option for the freighting of grain grown in north-western Victoria to the State’s ports.

State Transport Minister, Jacinta Allan announced in June that the project had run out of funds and the government would negotiate with the Federal Government for further funding.

“The Murray Darling Basin Rail project is important to communities in the west of the Gannawarra, as it will involve the standardisation of the railway line the passes through Lalbert and Quambatook,” Mayor Lorraine Learmonth said.

“With Victorian freight volumes predicted to more than double by 2050, it is important that improvements to the rail network in north-western Victoria proceed.

“If this project is not completed, it will result in an increasing number of trucks using the Gannawarra’s road network to transport freight. This will mean an increasing amount of Council funds will need to be used to maintain our roads.”

Residents can support the project by posting their views on social media using the tags #saveourtracks and #springstreet.

For more details on the Save Our Tracks campaign, visit railfreightalliance.com