JANE AGIRTAN INDEPENDENT

Last week Victorians witnessed more chaos across Labor’s major projects as the Metro Tunnel faces delays and further cost blowouts, while it was revealed a suburban train station platform was built too short for newer trains. 

This comes amidst ongoing unrest within the Allan Labor Government over the Suburban Rail Loop, with pressure mounting to shelve the project – as global ratings agency Standard & Poor’s singled out the Suburban Rail Loop as a key threat to Victoria’s financial position, as the Allan Labor Government becomes increasingly divided over the future of the project.

• leaked government report warned the Metro Tunnel, which has already blown out to at least $14 billion, could face delays as the Town Hall and State Library stations run behind schedule.

• the twice-promised and twice-delayed Airport Rail Link could face budget blowout of $2 billion, due to the Allan Labor Government pushing construction commencement out to 2027

• electromagnetic interference (EMI) from the Metro Tunnel threatens Victorian health services and could cost Victorians hundreds of millions of dollars to fix.

• eight years after the Allan Labor Government was first informed of threats to health services and looming cost blowouts because of Metro Tunnel EMI, vital equipment at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is still failing to meet acceptable performance standards.

• $164 million has already been spent on relocating equipment from Peter Mac, the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Royal Women’s Hospital, whilst the government was also forced to abandon a proposed $5 billion health precinct near the new Arden Station.

• Ten communities in Melbourne will be the first impacted by the Allan Labor Government as it moves to override community input into suburban tower development.

• The communities in Broadmeadows, Camberwell, Chadstone, Epping, Frankston, Moorabbin, Niddrie, North Essendon, Preston and Ringwood will be the first to bear the brunt of Labor’s reckless planning decisions, with skyscrapers of up to 20 storeys fast-tracked.

• Under the new process, up to 20 storey towers will be fast-tracked within 12 months, cutting the community out of the planning process.