The NSW Government’s latest re-packaged NSW Freight and Ports Plan, sadly contains no money, or commitment to invest in or progress, the completion of the Maldon-Dombarton rail link.

The Government simply restates that the Maldon-Dombarton project remains on a long ‘to do’ list.

In the meantime, increasing congestion on the South Coast Line will continue threatening the long-term viability of the Port of Port Kembla.

This is clearly explained in the Transport for NSW Final Business case on the Maldon-Dombarton project, which the Berejikilian Government tried to keep secret for years.

The Final Business Case on the Maldon-Dombarton rail link provided very clear warnings that unless the Maldon-Dombarton rail project is started and completed, freight transport to and from the Illawarra will simply grind to a halt in as little as a decade.

NSW Labor has already pledged to invest $50 million in foundation capital for the project and working with the private sector to kick-start the completion of the Maldon-Dombarton rail link.

The Berejiklian Government’s lack of willingness to get behind this project, after the abrupt cancellation of its 2014 Expression of Interest process, flies in the face of wide spread business and community support in the Illawarra, South-Eest Sydney and Western NSW, who all understand the importance of finally getting this project completed.

Comments attributable to Paul Scully MP:

“The Berejiklian Government – like the Greiner, O’Farrell, and Baird Government’s – have never supported the Maldon-Dombarton rail link.

“The project was cancelled 30 years ago by Greiner and has been mothballed ever since.

“Despite warnings that the South Coast Line will be overwhelmed by increased congestion, the Berejiklian Government remains unwilling to invest real money to get the Maldon-Dombarton rail link back on track.

“NSW Labor has $50 million on the table to partner with the private sector to kick-start the completion of the Maldon-Dombarton rail link.

“The future viability of the Port of Port Kembla depends on the completion of the Maldon-Dombarton project.

“The Maldon-Dombarton rail link just can’t continue to remain on a long ‘to do’ list in glossy, photo-filled documents.”