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Melbourne Airport is increasingly standing alone in its push for an underground train station, with the Federal Government’s mediator and the TWU both siding with the state government’s above-ground solution.
In his report, mediator Neil Scales, who was appointed to end the long-running stoush over the delayed project, said the project remains “viable and necessary” and that it is “possible to find a solution to the location of the station”, according to Transport Minister Catherine King.
“The report made three main recommendations, including that the Commonwealth and Victorian Government proceed with “no regrets” work at Sunshine Station to transform it into a major transport hub and capitalise on the early works already completed for the Melbourne Airport Rail Link,” the minister said in a press release.
“The Commonwealth will commence discussions with the Victorian Government on the proposal to upgrade capacity at Sunshine Station, with funding to be formally considered once costs and scope are finalised.
“The report recommended that refreshed modelling work be undertaken on the timeline for capacity of Tullamarine Freeway. I have instructed my Department to scope this work.”
While the report recommended against further consideration of an underground station – the preferred solution of Melbourne Airport, over the state government’s above-ground station – a spokesperson said the airport is still committed to the underground solution.
“Melbourne Airport was working in good faith with the Victorian government on its preferred above-ground station until it abandoned negotiations in April 2023 and referred the project to the Federal Infrastructure Review,” the spokesperson said.
“We look forward to working with the Commonwealth and State governments to leverage existing business cases that resulted in world-class underground stations, including at Western Sydney Airport.”
Danny Pearson, Victoria’s Minister for Transport Infrastructure, has backed the report’s recommendation, with the state government saying its position has been vindicated.
“The report makes clear what we have said from the start — Melbourne Airport’s demand for an underground station does not stack up. It will involve greater disruption, take almost two years longer to deliver and cost taxpayers billions more,” he said.
“Upgrading Sunshine Station is a crucial part of the project and we know that it will deliver massive benefits for Melbourne’s growing west.”
The Transport Workers Union, which represents both air and ground employees at Melbourne Airport, labelled the airport as “obstructionist”, with branch secretary Mem Suleyman calling for the urgent commencement of works on the rail link.
“With an independent mediator now making clear recommendations, it’s up to Melbourne Airport to get out of the way of works commencing and decide whether they want to forever be known as a greedy car park operator, or an airport authority that will do the right thing by workers and travellers,” he said.
“This is a vital and long overdue public transport network that will support the aviation workers airports, airlines and the public rely on to get to work.
“The time has come for both parties to get back to the table and engage in mature dialogue to get this project moving as soon as possible.”
Speaking to Melbourne’s radio 3AW, Minister King said that if the airport insists on an underground station, it needs to present a business case, with all of the costings and work on the project so far being based on an above-ground solution.
“If the airport really says the only viable option that it wants to be brought forward is an underground station, it now needs to do the work,” she said.
“We’ll need to submit that business case to Infrastructure Australia and then the Victorian Government and the Commonwealth will obviously have discussions about what further investment might be possible.
“But they’ll need to do that, and we’ll get on with the work of getting Sunshine station ready and making sure the corridor’s ready for when this is settled, that we can get on with it.”
The state government in May confirmed that the rail link would be delayed by at least four years due to the long-running spat over the station model.
