The Andrews Labor Government welcomes the real infrastructure partnership being offered by Federal Labor, following it’s $2 billion commitment to Victoria’s biggest public transport project – the Metro Tunnel.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan today joined Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten at the future Anzac Station, where the station roof is taking shape using locally sourced steel and concrete.
Later this year, two Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) will be lowered into the ground through the excavated Anzac Station box on St Kilda Road and will excavate towards South Yarra, where the new tunnel entrance will be located.
The TBM will then be retrieved at South Yarra, dismantled and trucked back to Anzac Station where they will be reassembled to excavate towards the southern edge of the CBD near Town Hall Station.
For years Victoria has been ignored by Canberra, with the Commonwealth spending millions of dollars of Victorian taxpayers’ money on transport projects in Sydney instead.
The Metro Tunnel will enable more than half a million additional passengers across Melbourne’s train network to use the rail system during peak periods, every week. By building five additional underground stations, passengers are set to save up to 50 minutes a day travelling where they need to go.
If Federal Labor are elected, this investment means the Victorian Government will have a real partner in Canberra, so we can get on with delivering our massive pipeline of infrastructure our city and state needs.
Not only will the Metro Tunnel deliver more trains, more often, it’s also creating nearly 7,000 jobs, including hundreds for apprentices and trainees. To date, cadets have worked more than 130,000 hours on the project and over 100 tertiary students have been getting experience, working on the project.
Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“This is what a real partnership looks like – with real investment in the projects that Victorians voted for and need.”
“Whether it’s building the Metro Tunnel now or planning for the Suburban Rail Loop – it’s about getting people where they want to go and taking cars off the road.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan
“This is the biggest build Victoria has ever seen – delivering real road and rail projects that will transform our city and state and we’re ready and waiting for a real partnership with Canberra that Victorians expect and deserve.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020