CARRUM Liberal candidate Donna Bauer has conceded that $450 million may not be enough to complete the extension of the Frankston line to Baxter.
The project, which would involve electrifying the line and duplicating the track, has received $225 million in funding from the federal government, while state Liberals have pledged to match that funding if elected.
However, state candidate Ms Bauer told a Frankston Council organised candidates’ forum on 31 October that “it is going to be a staged project”.
“We know that Mornington Peninsula Shire and council actually want to continue the project down their way as well. It will be ongoing, there is 8km that will be electrified along the exiting Stony Point line. Initially we may just get to Langwarrin, and not get all the way to Baxter.
We’re very interested to see the business case. But I think that to say we’re waiting on a $3 million business case, now’s the time, put your money behind it. We’re heading into an election in a very marginal seat, we’ve already committed $225 million here, if we need more money, and if I get the privilege of being your next member for Carrum, I’ll lobby for more money.”
Ginevra Hosking from the Committee for Greater Frankston has called on state Labor to commit to the project.
“Many people in our region think the extension is guaranteed to be built. It’s not. The Liberal Party at federal and state levels, and federal Labor have said that they will fund the project if they are elected, but the Victorian Labor government has yet to jump on board,” she said.
“Our fear is that unless the Andrews state government commits to building the project, the Frankston rail extension plan will languish and the $225 million of Commonwealth funding allocated in the May budget will be lost.”
The Labor state government is conducting a business case into the project to work out the exact cost before any commitment is made.