Media Releases
RAIL ON THE AGENDA AS NEW FORUM MEETS IN OUYEN
From the Minister for Public Transport
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Local Government leaders from across western and north-western Victoria met in Ouyen today to hear directly from the Brumby Labor Government on the progress of regional rail projects.
Chairing the inaugural Goldfields Wimmera Sunraysia Rail Projects Consultative Forum, Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said it would provide high-level engagement with local government to identify opportunities and maximise benefits from the Brumby Labor Government’s unprecedented investment in the rail network in western and north-western Victoria.
“The Brumby Labor Government is taking significant action to improve both freight and passenger rail in the region, with a number of projects under way, nearing completion or due to begin in the coming months,” Ms Kosky said.
“Local government is one of our key stakeholders and we recognise that ongoing dialogue with local councils throughout the delivery of projects is important to help not only promote the benefits of the projects locally, but also to identify and address issues.”
Ms Kosky said mayors and CEOs from 15 shires throughout western and north-western Victoria had been invited to participate with forums held every four months.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for us to work together with local government to deliver quality rail projects that will benefit regional communities,” she said.
“We have completed the $73 million Mildura Freight Upgrade and invested in more than $38 million of upgrades to silver freight lines including Ouyen to Murrayville, Quambatook to Manangatang, Charlton to Sea Lake and Warracknabeal to Hopetoun.
“All of these silver rail freight lines will be completed in time for this year’s grain harvest.
“We are also returning passenger rail services to Maryborough, with services due to begin in mid-2010.
“It’s an exciting time for rail in western and north-western Victoria and this forum will help keep communities throughout the region up to date as the projects progress.”
Membership of the forum has been extended to the mayors and CEOs of Ararat Rural City, Buloke Shire, Central Goldfields Shire, City of Ballarat, Gannawarra Shire, Hepburn Shire, Hindmarsh Shire, Horsham Rural City, Loddon Shire, Mildura Rural City, Northern Grampians Shire, Pyrenees Shire, Swan Hill Rural City, West Wimmera Shire and Yarriambiack Shire.
Chairing the inaugural Goldfields Wimmera Sunraysia Rail Projects Consultative Forum, Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said it would provide high-level engagement with local government to identify opportunities and maximise benefits from the Brumby Labor Government’s unprecedented investment in the rail network in western and north-western Victoria.
“The Brumby Labor Government is taking significant action to improve both freight and passenger rail in the region, with a number of projects under way, nearing completion or due to begin in the coming months,” Ms Kosky said.
“Local government is one of our key stakeholders and we recognise that ongoing dialogue with local councils throughout the delivery of projects is important to help not only promote the benefits of the projects locally, but also to identify and address issues.”
Ms Kosky said mayors and CEOs from 15 shires throughout western and north-western Victoria had been invited to participate with forums held every four months.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for us to work together with local government to deliver quality rail projects that will benefit regional communities,” she said.
“We have completed the $73 million Mildura Freight Upgrade and invested in more than $38 million of upgrades to silver freight lines including Ouyen to Murrayville, Quambatook to Manangatang, Charlton to Sea Lake and Warracknabeal to Hopetoun.
“All of these silver rail freight lines will be completed in time for this year’s grain harvest.
“We are also returning passenger rail services to Maryborough, with services due to begin in mid-2010.
“It’s an exciting time for rail in western and north-western Victoria and this forum will help keep communities throughout the region up to date as the projects progress.”
Membership of the forum has been extended to the mayors and CEOs of Ararat Rural City, Buloke Shire, Central Goldfields Shire, City of Ballarat, Gannawarra Shire, Hepburn Shire, Hindmarsh Shire, Horsham Rural City, Loddon Shire, Mildura Rural City, Northern Grampians Shire, Pyrenees Shire, Swan Hill Rural City, West Wimmera Shire and Yarriambiack Shire.
