The State Labor Government will push ahead with the construction of Stage 1 of the electrification of the Gawler rail line despite the Federal Liberal Government refusing to support the project.
Last week Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Stephen Mullighan announced the tender process for the electrification of the Gawler rail line has commenced.Stage one of the project will see the electrification of the line between Adelaide and Salisbury with construction starting in early 2018.
The State Government has fully funded the project at a cost of $152.5 million. Stage One of the project will support approximately 135 jobs per year during the construction period.
Only steel from Australian-standard certified fabricators and mills will be used in the electrification of the line, which will support the likes of Arrium in Whyalla.
The project will also adhere to the Government’s Industry Participation Policy that supports local jobs and local contractors.
Local Member of Parliament, Tony Piccolo said the State Government has been forced to go it alone in upgrading the Gawler rail line.
“Infrastructure Australia listed the electrification of the Gawler rail line as a high priority infrastructure project back in 2008,” Mr Piccolo said.
“We had been promised funding by the Federal Labor Government to electrify the line from Adelaide to Gawler.”
“Sadly that funding was withdrawn by the Federal Liberal Government in 2013.
”It was a sad day both for the State and Gawler when previous Liberal Prime Minister Tony Abbott publicly said on 4 April 2013:
“Now the Commonwealth Government has a long history of funding roads. We have no history of funding urban rail and I think it’s important that we stick to our knitting, and the Commonwealth’s knitting when it comes to funding infrastructure is roads.”
“It is clear that despite Prime Minister Turnbull regularly having his photo taken while on trains, including the Gawler train, he has no interest in improving public transport in South Australia.”
“I was hoping that the Federal Budget would have included funding to complete the electrification of the line.”
“The Liberal Government has clearly turned a blind eye to South Australia in its budget and has refused to support this important piece of public infrastructure.”
“Of the $75 billion the Turnbull Government has committed to infrastructure, $0 has being contributed to the Gawler line electrification or to South Australia,” he said.
Minister Mullighan said he would continue to lobby Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to recommit to this project so that we deliver significant improvements to this busy rail service.