A long-running stand-off over the stalled Melbourne Airport Rail project could be brought to a close after the Victorian government flagged a possible compromise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The airport and state government are at odds over whether the planned Tullamarine station should be underground or elevated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The stalemate has pushed back the project’s completion at least four years until 2033 and forced the Commonwealth to appoint an independent mediator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2018, the Victorian and federal governments committed to contributing $5 billion each to the project, expected to cost between $8 billion and $13 billion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Melbourne Airport was part of a consortium the following year that offered up to $7 billion towards an underground airport station and express tracks from Sunshine to Southern Cross, but the offer was knocked back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite suggesting the consortium’s preferred route lacked additional stations, Deputy Premier Ben Carroll has signalled a willingness to restart formal discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“If the offer still stands, we’ll take the money please and let’s get on and build it,” he said on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Seven billion dollars in combination with the $10 billion from the Commonwealth and the state that makes it … a $17 billion project. We’d be able to get it done tomorrow.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the cheque was on the table, the deputy premier indicated the government would even be open to bending to the airport’s demand for the station to be underground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Our preference is above ground but we can look at how they want to fully fund an underground (station),” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Mr Carroll said the government could not let the airport “hold the state to ransom” and noted the potential problems from building underground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“There is a massive amount of infrastructure that would need to be accounted for and expended on,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We can get this done if they stop being intransigent and stop protecting their car park revenue.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AAP has contacted Melbourne Airport for a response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rank-and-file Victorian Labor members passed a motion on May 19 calling on the government to “get serious” about the rail link’s development and for all parties to roll up their sleeves to get the project done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In response, the airport said it remained supportive of a “future-proof” airport rail link and revealed it offered in April to explore potential funding opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The offer was reiterated to government following the May 7 state budget but its requests for a meeting were refused, the airport said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Opposition transport infrastructure David Southwick said he was “not fussed” whether the station was elevated or underground and called on the government to return to the negotiating table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“If you’ve got a willing partner to be able to put some money behind this, then let’s get a deal done,” Mr Southwick said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We’ve got a government that keeps making excuses and kicking the can down the road when it comes to airport rail.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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