Farmers are urging the swift completion of the Murray Basin Rail Project (MBRP) to enhance freight transportation by rail and reduce reliance on road transport.<\/p>\n
Initially scheduled for completion seven years ago, the project encountered a halt in 2018 due to a lack of funding.<\/p>\n
The advocacy group Ouyen Inc has highlighted that the delay in the MBRP has postponed the development of a freight terminal in Ouyen.<\/p>\n
As diesel prices rise, farmers in north-west Victoria are renewing their calls for the MBRP to be finalized, enabling them to shift their goods from trucks to trains.<\/p>\n
The freight rail initiative was launched in 2015 with the goal of standardizing Victoria’s broad gauge rail system, aligning it with the networks of neighboring states. However, it was interrupted in 2019 when $440 million in funding was depleted, leaving only half of the project completed and resulting in the cancellation of the remaining standardization plans.<\/p>\n
Following the incomplete upgrades, freight trains have been forced to make a 130-kilometer detour to reach export ports in Geelong and Melbourne.<\/p>\n
Deane Munro, a grain grower and member of Ouyen Inc, stated, “Eighty percent of the produce in Sunraysia consists of wines, grapes, fruit, grain, hay, and almonds. All of this could be transported by rail, but currently, it is all being moved via trucks.”<\/p>\n
While the Mildura line has been standardized, the Sea Lake and Manangatang lines remain unchanged, necessitating the use of two different types of rolling stock on the broad and standard-gauge tracks. Munro indicated that this limitation restricts freight train operations on the Mildura line to just three times a week. “For efficiency, these trains need to run daily,” he emphasized, noting the increased number of trucks transporting intermodal freight that should ideally be moved by rail.<\/p>\n
Plans to establish a freight terminal along the Mildura line in Ouyen, backed by private investments, have faced setbacks due to these ongoing challenges. Munro explained, “A local farmer and a significant grape producer from Mildura have purchased the intermodal site, and we have it nearly ready for development. However, we believe spending money on this project is unwise while the Maryborough to Geelong line remains non-standardized.”<\/p>\n
Munro and his organization are advocating for government funding to complete the original MBRP. “It is crucial for the state government to collaborate with the federal government and ensure the project reaches completion,” he stated, adding that Sunraysia is Australia’s top agricultural revenue-generating region, with most of its produce currently transported by road.<\/p>\n
The Victorian government has not yet provided any statements regarding potential funding for further upgrades. In response to inquiries from the ABC about the project and the dissatisfaction expressed by farmers, a government spokesperson noted that efforts are being made to maintain Victoria’s status as the “freight and logistics capital of Australia.” The spokesperson added, “We are increasing rail freight utilization while securing our supply chains and working to decarbonize the freight sector.”<\/p>\n
The MBRP was initially proposed by the Victorian Coalition prior to the 2014 state election, which resulted in a Labor government. With the upcoming election in November, Nationals member for Mildura, Jade Benham, expressed her desire to see the project completed but refrained from making a formal electoral pledge. “No, but I am advocating for it vigorously,” stated Benham. “I am vocalizing this issue to anyone who will listen. The key element here is standardizing the Maryborough to Geelong line, which is essential for efficient rail freight to the Port of Geelong.”<\/p>\n
Benham also pointed out that mineral resources will become available over the next decade, necessitating transportation to the port, and emphasized the importance of avoiding additional traffic on the deteriorating road infrastructure.<\/p>\n
While projects in Melbourne are advancing, regions are lagging behind. The MBRP is part of the Victorian government’s comprehensive infrastructure enhancement plan for roads and railways. However, Munro has voiced his frustration over the government’s decision to discontinue standardization plans for regional freight rail. “Investment in rural Victoria’s infrastructure has been exceedingly low,” he remarked. “It’s time for communities to express their frustration and demand funding for significant infrastructure projects. This is a crucial infrastructure project that Victoria desperately needs.”<\/p>\n
Recent analysis from the Parliamentary Budget Office indicated that regional Victoria, which is home to 25% of the state’s population, received only 12% of the total infrastructure expenditure. In contrast, investment in Melbourne was reported at $19,338 per resident, while regional residents received only $12,348 each.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Farmers are urging the swift completion of the Murray Basin Rail Project (MBRP) to enhance freight transportation by rail and reduce reliance on road transport. Initially scheduled for completion seven years ago, the project encountered a halt in 2018 due to a lack of funding. The advocacy group Ouyen Inc has highlighted that the delay […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7007,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[43,1197,1695,1232,869],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7008","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-australia","category-au-grain-growing","category-au-infrastructure","category-au-rail-transport-industry","category-au-regional-development-and-planning"],"yoast_head":"\n