The Draft Freight and Ports Plan released by the NSW Government today does not mention the Maldon-Dombarton rail project once in a glaring omission.
The 94-page document openly states that freight congestion is becoming a major problem for the Port of Port Kembla and that freight and passenger services on the South Coast Line must be separated, but the one rail project that can help achieve this objective has been left out of the plan.
The Future Transport 2056, Regional NSW Services and Infrastructure Plan released a few weeks ago, mentions that the Maldon-Dombarton rail link is required.
Yet it appears under the Draft Freight and Ports Plan the NSW Government would rather use the road network to transport freight into and out of the Illawarra than prioritise the Maldon-Dombarton rail line.
Wollongong MP, Paul Scully has indicated he will formally make a submission as part of the consultation process for the Draft Freight and Ports Plan to convince the NSW Government that the completion of the Maldon-Dombarton rail link is key to the future of the Port of Port Kembla and the Illawarra’s links to south-west Sydney.
Mr Scully is encouraging all Illawarra stakeholders interested in seeing the Maldon-Dombarton rail project on the agenda to do the same.
Comments attributable to Paul Scully MP:
“The NSW Government just can’t seem to lift the curse on the Maldon-Dombarton rail project.
“The project is mentioned in one transport plan released a few weeks ago, but totally ignored in this plan which deals specifically with freight and ports.
“This is just a staggering and glaring omission on the part of the Minister, the Department of Transport and Infrastructure, and Roads and Maritime Services (RMS).
“The NSW Government in this draft plan is clearly prioritising roads over rail and that is just not good enough for either our road network or for passenger commuters on the South Coast Line.
“This Government needs to get it through its thick head that if we want to see a reduction in freight congestion into and out of the Port of Port Kembla, and improve the capacity of the South Coast Line for commuters, the completion of the Maldon-Dombarton rail link is the main game.”
