Planned Darwin-Melbourne inland railway and gas pipeline backed

5/7/97

Transport Minister Eric Charlton today backed a plan by a Brisbane-based company to build a high-speed inland railway and associated gas pipeline from Darwin to Melbourne.

The $10 billion project is headed by Brisbane accountant Everil Compton, who wants to complete the project by the year 2003.

"This complements what Western Australia is pushing for on the east-west rail link, and that is an upgraded high speed service which can deliver freight and passengers more competitively," Mr Charlton said.

"We should be looking to upgrade and hook onto the Melbourne/Darwin high speed line giving us a truly continental state-of-the-art service."

The proposed pipeline and railway would share an inland corridor from Melbourne, through Shepparton, Dubbo, Toowoomba, Emerald, Mt Isa and Tennant Creek to Darwin. Trains would travel at speeds of up to 300 km/hr and cross the continent from north to south in 24 hours. The pipeline would carry Timor Sea natural gas to Melbourne.

The company, Australian Transport and Energy Corridor Pty Ltd, had on its board National Party president Don McDonald, former New South Wales Liberal Party president John Valda, and former Labor senator and now corporate lawyer Stephen Loosley. Accounting firm KPMG and National Australia Bank executives were also on the board.

"I fully support this private enterprise concept, which might well provide the nation with the impetus we need to develop a national state-of-the-art rail network for both passengers and freight," Mr Charlton said.

"This is a bold project and it is the sort of initiative this country should be supporting. Australia needs to develop a national rail system which can move people and freight at greater speed and efficiency.

"We have to address the whole rail issue in this country as a matter of urgency and that is why I initiated the national rail summit to discuss the issues in a co-ordinated way. Each State is currently assessing its needs and requirements and we will put everything on the table at the summit later this year."

The Melbourne-to-Darwin proposal carried the alignment through the hinterland and through some of the east coast's most productive agricultural and mining regions.

"I am seeking a full appraisal of the concept which on the surface looks to have enormous merit and might just stimulate new thinking on the nation's rail needs," Mr Charlton said.

Media contact: Doug Cunningham (08) 9321 7333