Airport rail link must go ahead: Moonee Valley Mayor
The City of Moonee Valley Mayor, Cr Pierce Tyson, has vowed to fight a further four-year delay to the long-awaited Melbourne Airport Rail Link project, following today’s Victorian Budget announcement.
Mayor Tyson has written to the major shareholders of the airport urging their intervention in an effort to secure the airport rail link’s future.
Treasurer Tim Pallas today stated the Airport Rail Link would be delayed a further four years, due to Melbourne Airport’s demands for an underground station. This would push back the expected date of completion beyond 2033.
Melbourne Airport is owned by Australia Pacific Airports Corporation (APAC), a privately-held corporation owned predominantly by five superannuation / pension funds: IFM Investors, SAS Trustee Corporation, Future Fund, Dexus and Utilities of Australia.
Mayor Tyson said that with Melbourne now the largest city in Australia, new rail infrastructure at Melbourne Airport and Keilor East/Airport West was vital to connect Melbourne’s west, north, and the CBD.
“With our superannuation funds being put towards significant ownership of Melbourne Airport Pty Ltd, Victorians are indirect owners of this public utility,” Mayor Tyson said. “Victorians rightly expect that their retirement savings are being invested in the best outcome for our community – that includes public transport for everyone.”
Until today, the main roadblock to the construction of the $10-billion Airport Rail Link had been Melbourne Airport’s insistence on a below-ground train station at the airport, which was at odds with the preference of both the Victorian and Federal governments for an above-ground station.
In April, the Federal Government appointed a mediator to resolve the long-running stand-off.
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(Issued 7 May 2024)
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