Rail extension business case ‘Orwellian’

The release of the long-awaited Frankston rail extension preliminary business case shows that woefully inadequate public transport in our region is still not being taken seriously by the state government, says the Committee for Greater Frankston.

The preliminary business case (PBC) was released on Monday 9 November by Alan Tudge, the federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure. It was accompanied by a joint media release from Mr Tudge and local federal MP Greg Hunt. The PBC was prepared by the Victorian government’s Major Transport Infrastructure Authority (LXRP) using a grant from the federal Government.

Committee for Greater Frankston CEO Ginevra Hosking said the business case’s claim that none of the investment options had demonstrated a strong economic case for priority investment was the state government “playing Orwellian games”. “It’s time for the state government to start properly planning to construct this vital public transport project,” she said.

“The failing public transport network between Frankston and Langwarrin is recognised as a nationally significant infrastructure priority by Infrastructure Australia – a top 150 project in the nation.

“But the state government’s indicative preferred option doesn’t even include a local station for the people of Frankston South, Karingal and Langwarrin, effectively bypassing 37,000 Frankston City residents.

“The Victorian government was given $1.5 million of public money to create this report, which purports to be a rapid ‘cost-benefit study’ but it clearly states that actually quantifying the project benefits was ‘out of scope’.

“The Frankston and wider community were expecting their state government to extend the train line to at least Langwarrin with a minimum 15-minute metro service and a dedicated commuter park and ride for at least 1000 cars.

“Taxpayer money paid for this rail extension study. We deserve a full explanation about why this project – so vital to our region – has been stopped dead in its tracks.”

She said the public benefits of the Frankston rail extension had been well documented, widely disseminated through the community, and “strongly supported by our region’s major organisations”.

“The project will radically transform public transport in our region, drive creation of new jobs and improve overall prosperity, reduce congestion on roads, free-up crowded car parks, and make better use of public and private assets such as Frankston Hospital and Monash’s Peninsula campus.

“Major transport benefits that should have been assessed if the report had been done properly include:

1. Connecting 13,500 residents of Karingal, Frankston Heights and Lakeside to Melbourne’s metropolitan train network. It would provide a new Langwarrin station for almost 24,000 residents, and link 160,000 residents of the Mornington Peninsula to Melbourne’s rail network via Baxter station.
2. This would get people to jobs up the Frankston rail line, out of their cars, off congested roads and home sooner. It would also reverse a decline in rail patronage at the southern end of the Frankston line.
3. Providing a new station at Frankston East to benefit 11,000 staff and students at Monash University’s Peninsula campus and Chisholm TAFE as well as 4500 staff, patients and visitors at Frankston Hospital, which is expected to almost double in size over the next decade. The extension would provide six times more Monash students with access to their campus within 50 minutes’ travelling time (Hale, 2018).
4. Freeing up scare car parking in central Frankston so it’s easier to shop and do business.

“The enormous public benefits of extending the Frankston train line to Langwarrin are well known to our community. “The federal Coalition government and federal Opposition obviously understand the benefits as both have already committed to provide an initial $225 million towards its construction.

“It is incredibly disappointing that the state government, in the middle of its biggest-ever infrastructure construction surge, has effectively sidelined the rail extension project. “Just weeks ago, during a parliamentary hearing into the Victorian government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said travel between outer suburbs was more likely to increase. To recover from Covid lockdowns, we need this project now.”

Media coverage

Bayside morning news update: 10 November 2020

Rail extension business case ‘Orwellian’, says advocacy group
Mornington Peninsula Magazine  9 November 2020, breaking news

Rail hopes hit by business case
MP news group, 9 November 2020

THE release of the long-awaited Frankston rail extension preliminary business case shows that inadequate public transport in the Mornington Peninsula region is not being taken seriously by the state government, says the Committee for Greater Frankston. The preliminary business case (PBC) was released on Monday 9 November.

A news release from Flinders MP Greg Hunt said the business case showed running electric trains to Baxter from Frankston could directly benefit residents across “the entire Mornington Peninsula”. “Delivering a metro rail line extension south of Frankston will help open up the whole of the Mornington Peninsula, meaning locals can get to work and get home sooner and safer,” he said.

Committee for Greater Frankston CEO Ginevra Hosking said the business case’s claim that none of the investment options had demonstrated a strong economic case for priority investment was the state government “playing Orwellian games”. “It’s time for the state government to start properly planning to construct this vital public transport project,” she said. “The failing public transport network between Frankston and Langwarrin is recognised as a nationally significant infrastructure priority by Infrastructure Australia – a top 150 project in the nation.
“But the state government’s indicative preferred option doesn’t even include a local station for the people of Frankston South, Karingal and Langwarrin.

Initial moves by Frankston Council were aimed at extending the electrified line south of Frankston to Baxter. This changed once the shire’s then mayor, Cr David Gill, pointed out that Baxter was within the shire and that extra parking and parking trains could only happen on land zoned green wedge (“Councils link up on transport” The News 15/4/20).

“The Frankston and wider community were expecting their state government to extend the train line to at least Langwarrin with a minimum 15-minute metro service and a dedicated commuter park and ride for at least 1000 cars,” Ms Hosking said. “Taxpayer money paid for this rail extension study. We deserve a full explanation about why this project – so vital to our region – has been stopped dead in its tracks.” “The project will radically transform public transport in our region, drive creation of new jobs and improve overall prosperity, reduce congestion on roads, free-up crowded car parks, and make better use of public and private assets such as Frankston Hospital and Monash’s Peninsula campus. “The federal Coalition government and federal Opposition obviously understand the benefits as both have already committed to provide an initial $225 million towards its construction.

Copies of the executive summary are available at infrastructure.gov.au/rail/publications/index.aspx.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 10 November 2020

Baxter rail extension update
9 November 2020, Frankston Community Notice Board

The business case for the Baxter Line extension has finally been released. The costing estimates have come in at an eye watering $1.3b to $1.5b leaving the available funding of $255M well short. All parties are very committed to delivering this project however with such a large amount of funding needed the future of this project is not clear. The report looked at a number of more affordable alternatives however all alternatives have significant shortfalls. In addition the report raises questions about the economic viability of all available options.
Click here to access published summary tables and media releases

https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/…/frankston-to-baxter…