The Maldon-Dombarton freight rail line isn’t a “high priority” for NSW Roads, Maritime and Freight Minister Melinda Pavey.
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This comes after news earlier this week that the federal government is likely to turn its back on the project, after Infrastructure Australia recommended it not fund the freight line.
The Infrastructure Australia assessment said the project “would not justify its costs”.
Now it doesn’t appear the rail line will get any funding from the state government either, as Ms Pavey said it was not required at present.
“The proposed Maldon-Dombarton rail line isn’t a high priority, as existing capacity is adequate to support passenger and freight demand on the Illawarra network,” Ms Pavey said.
The state government’s last major attempt to move it forward was via a call for public sector interest in building it in 2014.
Ms Pavey said “the two proposals received did not meet the necessary criteria” but did not offer any further detail.
Wollongong MP Paul Scully has written to Ms Pavey, calling on the Berejiklian government to get behind the long-delayed rail project.
“The Maldon-Dombarton rail link is the probably the most politically cursed rail project in Australia,” Mr Scully said.
“The dilly-dally shenanigans must end and the curse on this project must be lifted once and for all.”