{"id":82962,"date":"2024-07-09T12:01:25","date_gmt":"2024-07-09T02:01:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=82962"},"modified":"2024-07-09T12:07:54","modified_gmt":"2024-07-09T02:07:54","slug":"jacinta-allans-message-is-clear-melbourne-airport-has-missed-its-chance-to-fast-track-rail-link","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=82962","title":{"rendered":"Jacinta Allan\u2019s message is clear: Melbourne airport has missed its chance to fast-track rail link"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Speaking from a suburban shopping mall turned construction site in Melbourne\u2019s east, Jacinta Allan<\/a> made clear where her priorities lie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWorks are powering ahead here,\u201d the premier told reporters in Box Hill, the site of one of six new stations in the government\u2019s electorally popular<\/a> yet contentious and expensive<\/a> Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) project, on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s exactly the project our growing city and state needs \u2013 particularly in the Suburban Rail Loop East corridor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a not-so-veiled dig at the operators of\u00a0Melbourne<\/a>\u00a0airport, who late on Sunday night informed her via text message they would be dropping their opposition to an above-ground station at the airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following morning \u2013 after the airport\u2019s chief executive did the rounds on breakfast radio \u2013 Allan\u2019s office received a letter confirming their position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The letter, Guardian Australia understands, also made clear they hoped the project would be fast-tracked and completed by 2030 \u2013 in time for the opening of its third runway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

State government sources are quick to point out the airport\u2019s plans for a third runway are still being considered by the federal government, and perhaps was the impetus for the operator\u2019s \u201ccompromise\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the timing could not be worse for the premier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n