STATE Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan will consider a report calling for the return of passenger rail to Horsham.
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Earlier this month Horsham and Ararat rural cities and the Southern Grampians, Glenelg, Northern Grampians, Yarriambiack, Hindmarsh and West Wimmera shires released a feasibility study into public transport.
The report stated that a return of passenger rail service to Horsham and Hamilton is not only feasible but vital for the community.
Horsham Rural City councillors voted last week to present the report to Ms Allan during a deputation to Melbourne.
A spokesman for Ms Allan said the Public Transport Minister welcomed the study.
“We part funded it and have already implemented some of its recommendations," the spokesman said.
"With more people using public transport in regional Victoria than ever before, we know we need to keep investing in better trains, infrastructure and services - and that's what we're doing.
"We'll consider this report, along with the Regional Network Development Plan and the advice of Infrastructure Victoria, in determining our ongoing investment in better public transport in Western Victoria and across the state."
The Regional Network Development Plan, released in 2016, was backed by $1.3 billion in state government money to deliver the plan’s short term priorities.
Member for Lowan Emma Kealy has called on the state government to use $370 million from the $9.7b long-term lease of the Port of Melbourne to deliver passenger rail for western Victoria.
“The Nationals fought hard to secure an allocation from the Port of Melbourne sale to be used in country Victoria so we know Labor have the money and is able to invest in regional rail services in Western Victoria”, Ms Kealy said.
“The money available from the Port of Melbourne sale has given the Government a once in a lifetime opportunity to bring our rail infrastructure and services into line with the rest of the state.
“If Labor doesn’t invest $370m from the Port of Melbourne sale into Western Victoria’s rail lines, we may never see rail return to the region and population across Western Victoria will continue to decline.”
Ms Kealy said the state government had spent $10.5 on Melbourne’s rail system, so $370m was a reasonable ask.
“It’s time they lifted their eyes from Melbourne and invested in country Victoria”, Ms Kealy said.
“Improved passenger rail services across Western Victoria would significantly boost employment and tourism, and will better connect many of our isolated rural communities.
“$370m is not too much to ask from this city-centric Labor Government, especially since we know the money is there.”
A spokesman for Ms Allan said the minister’s office would formally respond to the recommendations in a Infrastructure Victoria's report by the middle of the year.
“Any further funding for public transport improvements in western Victoria and across the state will be announced in the upcoming state budget,” the spokesman said.