(12 August 1998)
The Federal Minister for Transport and Regional Development, Mark
Vaile, today announced membership
of a "Rail Projects Taskforce that will examine ways governments can
assist the private sector develop a network of very high speed trains
throughout Australia.
To be headed by Committee for Melbourne chairman, Jack Smorgon, the
high profile group will also consider ways in which the Federal Government
can facilitate construction of commercially-viable rail freight lines
through regional areas to major ports.
The proposals to be considered include extending very high speed
train services to Melbourne and Brisbane, the Alice Springs-Darwin link
and an inland "rail bridge" from Melbourne to Darwin, linking to Brisbane
and Gladstone.
Other members of the committee are:
Rod McGeoch, Chairman of the Committee for Sydney
John White, CEO Visy Industries
Denis Byrne, Denis Byrne and Associates, adviser to Surat Basin/Dawson Valley coal
development projects in Queensland
Peter McGregor, Associate director, J.B. Were Corporate Services
Ron Finlay, Principal, Finlay Consulting. Advisor to several rail projects, including the
New Southern Railway serving Sydney Airport.
John Morshel, Non-executive director Westpac, CSR, Comalso and Tenix. Previously managing
director of Lend Lease
Mr Vaile said the breadth of experience each person brings to the taskforce reflects the
complex nature of the undertaking.
"These are the 'midwives' of what the Prime Minister, John Howard, has
labelled the 'rebirth of rail' in Australia," Mr Vaile said.
Specifically, the seven-member group will advise on:
- the scope for private sector investment in rail
- unwarranted barriers to private sector investment
and what governments could do to remove those barriers
- external benefits and costs associated with
projects that are not appropriately taken into account by the private sector
- other issues relevant to assessing the role of
government in such proposals.
The group will advise on such proposals as the Melbourne to Brisbane VHST
link - of direct potential benefit to regions such as Albury/Wodonga,
Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Lismore and the Gold Coast.
Inland rail proposals have been put forward by consortia where they
believe there is commercial opportunity. If the proposal wins a go-ahead
the regions of Albury/Wodonga, Wagga Wagga, Parkes, Toowoomba, Longreach,
Mt. Isa and Darwin would benefit.
"Formation of the committee accords with the Prime Minister's directive to
the Federal Government's Special Projects Coordinator, Bob Mansfield, that
private sector expertise be deployed to develop guidelines and
recommendations for a nationally coordinated approach to private rail
projects," Mr Vaile said today.
"Past practice of developing discrete State-based rail networks - each
with its own technologies and operating standards - have impeded the
efficiency of interstate rail services," he said.
"This is not the approach on rail governments should adopt into the
next century. The Rail Futures Taskforce will help set the new
direction.
"This Federal Government's national transport vision is one free of
State boundaries and differences where passengers and freight can move at
lightning speed in complete safety.
"Ideally, this should capitalise on federal initiatives to facilitate
development of interstate rail services, including:
- standardisation of the rail
gauge linking all mainland capitals, and
- development of rail access arrangements whereby
ownership of the existing interstate track is vested in a publicly-owned
company and made available to private sector trains using the track in
competition with government rail services."
The Rail
Projects Taskforce held its inaugural meeting in Sydney today and is
expected to report back within six months.
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