The agricultural centre in north-west Victoria has candidates under pressure over ageing rail.
Transport – whether it is public or privately-owned, passenger or freight – continues to be a key issue in the Victorian election.
That’s not just in Melbourne where the big ticket infrastructure projects are to be built, but also in regional areas such as Mildura.
That community in the remote north-west of the State is urging its local candidates to advocate greater investment in the rail line connecting Mildura to Melbourne.
Freight rail still exists (passenger services ceased in 1993) but users say substantial investment is needed to standardise and upgrade the ageing infrastructure. They warn it will require more than the $220 million funding commitment already committed by the incumbent government.
“The ideal scenario would be standard gauge, 23-tonne axle weight loading [allowing] speeds of 115km/h, so that when we connect with the national grid,” Wakefield Transport managing director Ken Wakefield told the ABC’s local bureau.
“The existing funding… falls short of that.”
Whether it is public or privately-owned, passenger or freight transport, every candidate and almost every voter appears to have an opinion on what the winning party should be doing.
While most of the talk has been centred on new infrastructure options for the city of Melbourne, regional Victorians have also been urging their local candidates to improve their connections with the rest of Victoria and beyond.
Current MP for Mildura Peter Crisp says the existing funding plan will fund the most vital components of the wish list.
“That upgrade is vital for moving our high value horticulture, our grain and our mineral sands to port and to market,” he says.
Labor candidate for the seat Shane Roberts says his party does not have any specific policy on Mildura rail but claims it already has “runs on the board” when it comes to freight.
“We spent billions on regional rail, including implementing the Fischer review, which has upgraded many local freight lines,” he says.