13924 QUESTION on NOTICE — Mr Walsh to Ask the Minister for Public

27/04/2021 Parliament of Victoria Question: 13924 QUESTION ON NOTICE — Mr Walsh to ask the Minister for Public Transport — With reference to the $91 million project to improve train speeds on the Echuca Bendigo line: (1) Has the project been funded by the $1.5 billion provided by the Commonwealth Government to be spent on Regional Rail Projects. (2) When will the project start. (3) How long will the project take to construct. (4) What will the line speed be after the project is completed. (5) What will the travel time be from Echuca to Bendigo after the project is completed. Answer: Last year the Andrews Labor Government fought for the $1.57 billion our state was entitled to, to deliver a much-needed upgrade to every regional rail line throughout the state, including the Echucha to Bendigo line. In December, the Victorian Government had in-principle agreement from the Infrastructure Minister at the time, Victoria's Darren Chester, for the $1.57 billion of funding to be delivered. But the chaos coming out of Canberra has meant the money has stalled. I have written to the fourth Federal Infrastructure Minister in three years to request the release of this money so we can get on with these projects. Once funding is received, the Bendigo Line Upgrade will deliver signalling upgrades from Bendigo to Eaglehawk and from Bendigo to Epsom, and a track speed upgrade from Bendigo to Echuca. The Melbourne Metro Rail Authority (MMRA) will oversee delivery of the Regional Rail Revival, including the Bendigo Line Upgrade. Despite not yet receiving the Federal funding, MMRA is currently undertaking the necessary due diligence to ensure this project meets the transport needs of commuters and communities along this corridor, including planning, scope definition, procurement approach and delivery timeframe. The Bendigo to Echuca Line Upgrade will provide for line speed and travel time improvements on the Epsom to Echuca rail corridor, enabling the line speed to be increased from 80kph to up to 130kph. The Echuca to Bendigo timetable will be developed at a later stage of the project. I encourage the Member for Murray Plains to advocate to his Federal colleagues on behalf of his constituents for the release of the funds owed to Victorians, to enable these works to be undertaken. Hon Jacinta Allan MP Member for Bendigo East Minister for Public Transport Attachments: No Attachments Answer Published Date: 12/04/2018 Question: 13925 QUESTION ON NOTICE — Mr Northe to ask the Minister for Public Transport — With reference to the Gippsland Rail Corridor Station upgrade program: (1) Who was the successful tenderer to upgrade: (a) Traralgon railway station; (b) Morwell railway station; (c) Moe railway station; (d) Trafalgar railway station. (2) Did any businesses located within the Latrobe City municipality tender for: (a) the Traralgon railway station upgrade; (b) the Morwell railway station upgrade; (c) the Moe railway station upgrade; (d) the Trafalgar railway station upgrade. Answer: Traralgon, Moe, Morwell and Trafalgar stations are being upgraded as part of the Regional Network Development Plan. Ace Infrastructure have been appointed to upgrade Traralgon, Moe and Trafalgar stations and Bitu-Mill have been appointed to upgrade Morwell station. The upgrade project was procured as an open tender process to the market. Both contractors will be subcontracting works to local contractors. The following local contractors will be engaged on the project which will generate employment and economic activities in the area for services such as building works, concreting, asphalting, ramp constructions, traffic management and landscaping: Kajo Constructions, Traralgon qon.parliament.vic.gov.au/PARLIAMENT/General/QoN/PROD/qonarchive.nsf/printAllQuestions.xsp 1/15 27/04/2021 Parliament of Victoria T & S Welding, Sale APlus Traffic, Drouin Drop and Leave, Traralgon Fowlers Asphalting, Trafalgar Gippsland Excavations, Drouin Coates Hire, Morwell Hon Jacinta Allan MP Member for Bendigo East Minister for Public Transport Attachments: No Attachments Answer Published Date: 01/05/2018 Question: 13926 CONSTITUENCY QUESTION — Mr Wells to ask the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change — The question I wish to raise is for the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. Minister, what assurances can you give Knox businesses that the government has any plan to ensure reliable electricity supply regardless of the weather? Businesses in my electorate have contacted me following two power outages in recent weeks. The first of these outages lasted two days. One business with 33 local employees was forced to cancel half a morning shift and all of an afternoon shift, sending people home rather that have them wait around until the lights came back on. The business bore the cost of the loss of production that day as well as still needing to cover the costs of the employee wages. The outage was still below the threshold at which the owner could claim insurance, and the business will have to carry those losses in full. Worse still, they experienced another outage the following week. Minister, a huge number of businesses in my Rowville electorate, along with many in the south east, have lost valuable productivity as a direct result of power outages on your watch. Answer: The government's expectation is that all Victorian consumers are provided with a secure and reliable supply of electricity and I have spoken with the heads of all five distribution businesses to re-emphasise the government's expectation that Victorian consumers be provided with reliable power supply. Under the Victorian Electricity Distribution Code, distributors must ensure that their customers have a reliable supply of electricity. Where certain thresholds are met, distributors must make Guaranteed Service Level (GSL) payments to customers. Distribution businesses are also penalised through the Service Target Performance Incentive Scheme (STPIS) established and administered by the Australian Energy Regulator. The STPIS sets reliability targets based on historical performance and financial penalties apply for distribution businesses who fail to meet targets. Hon Lily D'Ambrosio MP Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister for Suburban Development Attachments: No Attachments Answer Published Date: 05/03/2018 Question: 13927 CONSTITUENCY QUESTION — Ms Spence to ask the Minister for Public Transport — My constituency question is for the Minister for Public Transport. What information can the minister provide to update Yuroke residents on potential improvements to bus services in the Yuroke electorate? In October 2016 I was thrilled to provide Greenvale North residents with access to public transport with the introduction of the new 543 bus route. As the minister knows, more improvements are required, particularly in the Craigieburn area, the third fastest growing suburb in the country, qon.parliament.vic.gov.au/PARLIAMENT/General/QoN/PROD/qonarchive.nsf/printAllQuestions.xsp 2/15 27/04/2021 Parliament of Victoria which was ignored by the former Liberal government, with zero improvements provided to services. Indeed the only change the Liberals made to local services was to cut the weekend evening services of the 901 bus, which was diverted from Roxburgh Park shopping centre and railway station. The government is committed to improving services, and I know residents will appreciate an update from the minister. Answer: I thank the Member for Yuroke for her question, and for her ongoing advocacy for improvements in services for her constituents. The Andrews Labor Government is committed to improving bus services across Victoria, and is investing more than $100 million to build stronger, better-connected networks. This includes adding routes and services, creating more direct routes, and increasing service frequencies. I am pleased to confirm that Transport for Victoria (TfV) is currently working with Public Transport Victoria on plans to improve bus services in Craigieburn. I have requested TfV to continue to work to improve bus services for the local community. My office will keep you informed of any future bus service improvements. Hon Jacinta Allan MP Member for Bendigo East Minister for Public Transport Attachments: No Attachments Answer Published Date: 02/03/2018 Question: 13928 CONSTITUENCY QUESTION — Mr O'Brien (Gippsland South) to ask the Minister for Roads and Road Safety — My question is to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, and I ask: has the minister made a formal request to the federal government for funding for the completion of the duplication of the Princes Highway from Traralgon to Sale? In the next 12 months we will have completed the currently funded sections. There are two sections remaining in the Princes Highway duplication, and we need the funding provided by both levels of government to finish this project. It has been going for nigh on 10 years, and we need to get it finished. I understand the project is worth about $165 million. We have a history of this government blaming the federal government for not providing funding, and then we find out subsequently that they have not even asked for it or put forward a business case. We also need this government to commit $33 million in the upcoming budget. So I ask again: has the minister actually asked the commonwealth for funding for this important project? Answer: The duplication of the Princes Highway between Traralgon and Sale is progressing well, with over 30 kilometres of duplication expected to be fully opened to traffic by early 2019. The Victorian Government will continue to work with the Commonwealth Government with respect to funding to complete the duplication of the Princes Highway from Traralgon to Sale. Hon Luke Donnellan MP Minister for Roads and Road Safety Attachments: No Attachments Answer Published Date: 11/04/2018 Question: 13929 CONSTITUENCY QUESTION — Mr Carbines to ask the Minister for Education — My constituency question is to the Minister for Education and Deputy Premier, and the question I seek a response to is in relation to what information can be provided by the minister to my constituents on the master plan progress of Olympic Village Primary School in West Heidelberg.

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