DEPARTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE ANNUAL REPORT 2004–05 Annual Report 2004–05 27 October 2005 Peter Batchelor MP Minister for Transport John Lenders MP Minister for Major Projects Theo Theophanous MLC Minister for Energy Industries and Resources Marsha Thomson MLC Minister for Information and Communication Technology 80 Collins Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 www.doi.vic.gov.au Dear Ministers Annual Report 2004–05 In accordance with the provisions of the Financial Management Act 1994, I have pleasure in submitting for presentation to Parliament the Department of Infrastructure’s Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2005. Yours sincerely Howard Ronaldson Secretary Department of Infrastructure i Published by Department of Infrastructure 80 Collins Street, Melbourne © State Government of Victoria 2005 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the Provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 Authorised by the Victorian Government, 80 Collins Street, Melbourne ISSN 1441-4805 Printed by Finsbury Green Printing, 46 Wirraway Drive, Port Melbourne ii Secretary’s Foreword In 2004–05, the Department of Infrastructure (DOI) and its • Rail services to Ararat began in July 2004 as part of the agencies contributed to achieving a number of significant Government’s commitment to reintroduce country government outcomes and objectives. passenger services. • The Austin Health Redevelopment and Mercy Hospital for • The Vermont South Tram Extension was completed, with Women Relocation project was completed in mid-2005, services starting in July 2005, thereby extending with both hospitals fully operational at their co-located coordinated tram and bus services between East Burwood site. This is Victoria’s largest joint hospital project. and Knox shopping centre seven days a week. • Construction began on EastLink, Australia’s largest • Marshall Railway Station was completed and was urban road project, with 40 km of freeway-standard serviced by Melbourne to Warrnambool trains from road, 17 interchanges, the State’s largest ever bridge April 2005. construction program and the latest electronic tolling • VicRoads completed upgrades of Narre system. Warren–Cranbourne Road and the Eastern Freeway • The Telecommunications Purchasing and Management (Springvale Road to Park Road) and made substantial Strategy (TPAMS) was successfully negotiated. Victorian progress in the planning and construction of a large government departments’ telecommunications costs will portfolio of State and federal road projects including: the be almost $200 million lower over the next five years Albury/Wodonga Bypass, Geelong Bypass, Pyalong (assuming the same pattern of use), making the Bypass, Plenty Road duplication and Moorooduc introduction of new programs, such as the provision of Highway works. fibre optic broadband to all schools, possible. In addition, • The Linking Melbourne: Metropolitan Transport Plan (MTP), more than $100 million worth of ICT infrastructure will be which provides for an integrated approach to the delivered across Victoria. planning of road and public transport services, was • The first sections of the Regional Fast Rail (RFR) project released in November 2004. This plan is now guiding were completed in mid-2005. Services between Corio investment decisions and service improvements across and Geelong on the Geelong line, and between the network. Watergardens and Sunbury on the Bendigo line, are now • A much-needed new Smartcard-based ticketing solution operating with a new state-of-the-art automatic signalling for the public transport system is being progressed, with system and rebuilt tracks. By mid-2006, all elements of a planned introduction in 2007. the RFR project will be complete, with improved services and a new timetable. • DOI successfully negotiated a vital new infrastructure project to address one of the major road congestion • Australia’s first synchrotron building was completed in bottlenecks in Melbourne – the Calder Freeway–Tullamarine February 2005. Machine components are currently being interchange – without additional funding from government. installed, with the handover of an operational facility expected in 2007. • DOI was close to finalising a significant agreement with the owners of Hazelwood Power Station in the Latrobe • The safety-net price path agreed with energy retailers for Valley to cap greenhouse emissions while securing a the 2004–07 period operated successfully in 2004–05. continued affordable electricity supply for Victorians into This agreement delivers real price reductions in electricity the future. services, constrains gas prices and promotes greater competition in the retail energy markets. By 2007, • Rail Access legislation, promoting increased rail freight Victorians will be paying up to 5.6 per cent less in real access and competition, was enacted in May 2005. terms for their electricity than they were paying at the • The Melbourne Port@L Board substantially prepared time the price path was agreed. a draft development strategy for integrating the port • Work on the Spencer Street Station Redevelopment was and the adjacent freight transport facilities, including the progressed while the station remained functioning and Dynon rail precinct, into a single world-class intermodal trains kept running. The main station works will be largely hub. The draft strategy will be completed early in the complete by the end of 2005, with final completion in new financial year. mid-2006. iii DOI Annual Report 2004–05 • The contract for the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds • the Yarra Precinct Pedestrian Link is nearing completion redevelopment was signed in June 2005. The • extensive planning has taken place to provide for redevelopment will be completed in time for the 2006 effective traffic management and public transport to all Royal Melbourne Show. events for visitors and residents. The opening and • Victoria developed a Rail Safety Bill which will be closing ceremonies present particular challenges. introduced into Parliament in the Spring 2005 session. While the Games are taking place, we must also Key features of the Bill include: safety duties for a range continue to provide for the ongoing requirements of of rail industry participants; a strengthened rail safety business and commuters accreditation regime; and the establishment of the Office • security of critical infrastructure is being carefully of the Executive Director, Public Transport Safety. Victoria planned, to provide protection and aid emergency has also been working with the National Transport management. Commission and other jurisdictions to develop model national rail safety legislation. Many large, complex and significant projects across Melbourne and Victoria will come to fruition during 2005–06, • The Flinders Street overpass has been demolished the largest being RFR services and the Spencer Street and work has started on the construction of a Station redevelopment. The Government will continue to new intersection at Flinders and King Streets, invest in the Country Train Safety System to provide transforming Melbourne CBD’s west end. Once the benchmark safety standards for our passenger rail system. new intersection is finished, work can begin on extending the Melbourne Aquarium. Other complex projects which will be progressed during the year include: • Tram services on the Docklands Drive Tramline Extension to New Quay began in January 2005. • the Melbourne Convention Centre development • In April 2005, works began on the Craigieburn Rail • the Dynon Port Rail Link Project, which will extend electrified metropolitan services • the return of passenger services to Mildura and from Broadmeadows to Craigieburn and provide a new Leongatha railway station for Roxburgh Park. • the Dandenong public transport corridor planning and • The final of 59 new Combino trams entered service in feasibility studies, to develop options for a better, longer November 2004, bringing the total fleet of modern, low- term outcome for transport along this congested corridor floor trams to 95. In addition, 197 older trams have been refurbished and works to improve the safety and • trial dredging in Port Phillip Bay, to determine the reliability of Melbourne’s historic W-class trams were significance of environmental risks involved with completed in January 2005. deepening shipping channels serving the Port of Melbourne and to better inform a decision on whether • Most of the new X'Trapolis and Siemens trains also to proceed with the project entered service during the 2004–05 financial year. • bus contract reform, which is vital in terms of commercial • DOI ensured that redevelopment work at Melbourne negotiations to ensure value-for-money and the delivery Central shopping complex caused minimal disruption of improved bus services where they are most needed to users of the underground loop railway station, and that improved access to the station was provided as • Dandenong Transit City, which should spur significant part of the redevelopment. commercial investment in Dandenong At the end of 2004–05, one of the immediate challenges is to • improved route and demand-responsive transport ensure that we are ready for the 2006 Commonwealth services in regional Victoria by working with local Games. As part of this work: communities to better marshal government and community resources. • the Commonwealth Games Village is nearing completion • the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre Stage 2 is entering its final phase iv As the Secretary of a Victorian