Rail link key to region’s prosperity

Enthusiasm for the ill-fated freight link has never waned since it was first mooted in 1983 and then abandoned as a bad plan by the state Liberal government of the day.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard sees the line as an important link to the expanding NSW resources sector and this week declared her support for the project, revealing it was one of her government’s major infrastructure initiatives.

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There is no doubt that if funding was made available, a Maldon-Dombarton line would ensure Port Kembla became the second biggest port operation in NSW, helping to secure the Illawarra’s future after heavy job losses in the steel and manufacturing industries.

As Shipping Australia says, it would not only bring benefits to the Illawarra but to the whole of Australia.

But it warns the longer construction is delayed, the less likelihood there would be of picking up the overflow from Sydney’s Port Botany which is running at 80per cent capacity and quickly running out of room.

That’s a good enough reason to get the latest feasibility studies finished as soon as possible.