While the government looks into a freight and passenger rail line between Canberra and the Far South Coast, it shouldn’t forget about the Maldon-Dombarton line, a university academic said.
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The government recently announced $1 million for a feasibility study for the line between the nation’s capital and the Port of Eden.
“This rail line could potentially provide a new link from Canberra, as a global gateway for passengers and trade, to the Port of Eden, an emerging cruise destination and home to one of the largest fishing fleets in NSW,” state Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
University of Wollongong transport expert Philip Laird said he was “pleased” with the government’s focus on rail but felt the long-talked about Maldon-Dombarton line needed to be revisited.
“As well as that they should be looking at another business case for Maldon-Dombarton to get the approval of Infrastructure Australia,” Prof Laird said.
“That was withheld 18 months ago on the grounds that the previous business case was too weak. I think it’s incumbent on the NSW government to do that again.”
The freight rail line has been put on the back burner by the state government, with its plans for regional transport identifying it as a 10-20 year priority.
“Also, if it’s good enough to have a business case under way to improve Sydney to Newcastle trains we should be having one to improve Sydney to Wollongong trains as well,” he said.
The federal Faster Rail program funded the Newcastle business case but rejected one for Wollongong-Sydney.
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Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
