THE future of $225 million set aside for the stalled Frankston train line extension has been thrown into doubt.
The funding was committed to the rail extension by the previous Coalition federal government. Anthony Albanese also supported the project in the leadup to the 2019 election. The full cost to electrify and duplicate the Stony Point line to Baxter was quoted at up to $1.5 billion in a business case completed before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The planned extension of the train line has failed to progress further than the business case. The state government has not committed any money to the extension, which effectively leaves the project dead.
With the rail extension not expected to progress anytime soon, Frankston Council is calling for the project’s committed federal funds to remain in the Dunkley and Flinders electorates.
Last week, councillors approved a motion to advocate for the money to be retained for transport projects in the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula Shire municiplaities.
Frankston councillor Kris Bolam is concerned the lack of progress on the project could see the money allocated elsewhere. “The internal belief both within council and indeed talking to a number of politicians is that this could be justification for the present government to rescind its promise to electrify the Stony Point line and instead have the $221 million reallocated and repurposed for other projects outside of the Frankston municipality. If this happens I think it’s a very disappointing and sad move,” he said.
Bolam told last week’s council meeting that that the $221 million leftover after the business case was “earmarked for the Dunkley and Flinders electorates, therefore it is only reasonable that a meaningful portion remain here.”
“We keep talking about the Nepean Highway redevelopment from Oliver’s Hill to the Mile Bridge. We all know this would cost $40 million – I’d love to get access to some of those monies from that $221 million,” he said. “What about making our roads safer? According to our officers there’s $10 million worth of road safety initiatives still to be done. Federal monies could go towards that. $17 million is required to complete outstanding footpaths and $80 million is required to seal all our roads in Frankston.”
A 90-day review into planned infrastructure projects was ordered by the Labor federal government shortly after its election – the Baxter rail extension was included in the review. Dunkley MP Peta Murphy’s office told The Times that she was still waiting for the outcome of the review.
Internally council has discussed other uses for the committed federal funding if the rail extension does not proceed.