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Roderick

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Thurs.20.5.21 Metro Twitter
Aircraft: No ramp access to platforms until late 2021 (pedestrian-underpass works).
Flinders St: still with a lane closed for tunnel works.
12.46 Pakenham line: Major outbound delays (an ambulance requirement). Trains may be held at available platforms.
14.59 Frankston line: Major delays (police near Cheltenham).
- 15.03 clearing.  Trains are moving, but may travel at lower than usual speeds in the area.
- 15.37 Still major, ad still clearing.
Back to St Albans in 1969, as this formerly-quiet level crossing became one of Melbourne's most dangerous, with two deaths and more than 60 near hits from 2006 until it was removed in 2016 by lowering the line below the road. The level crossing was removed at the same time as the crossing at nearby Furlong Rd, and new stations at Ginifer and St Albans were built as part of the project. Walking and cycling paths were also built parallel to the rail line.
- The new station shown was built to reduce the community costs of the level crossing. It had been on the other side of the crossing and every suburban train had to cross the crossing twice. Relocating the station vastly reduced the times the crossing was shut.
- Sadly, this didn't work anymore when the suburban service was extended to Watergardens & the community cost of the level crossing shot up.
18.05 Pakenham/Cranbourne/Frankston lines: Delays (fallen debris on tracks near Hawksburn). Outbound delays up to 10 minutes & citybound delays up to 20 minutes. Trains are departing from altered platforms Richmond - Caulfield.
- 18.33  Delays clearing; trains are now departing from regular platforms.
19.05 Upfield line: Major delays (a trespasser near Moreland). Trains may terminate/originate at intermediate stations.
- 19.08 clearing.
Buses replace trains Epping - Mernda from 20.50 until the last train (works).
Buses replace trains Ringwood - Lilydale from 22.30 until the last train (level-crossing works).

Big Build’s transport blowouts are costing $5m a day. Timna Jacks and Clay Lucas May 20, 2021
Victoria’s budget for big transport projects has blown out by almost $4 billion in just two years, but the Andrews government has defended the rapid jump in construction costs as comparable with those in the rest of the world.
Upgrades to the state’s road and rail networks and commuter car parks face multimillion-dollar blowouts as the government forges ahead with its $80 billion transport Big Build.
Some of the new Metro trains sitting unused in a specially built Pakenham East rail yard.CREDIT:JOE ARMAO
The troubled $2.3 billion High-Capacity Metro Trains program faces a $67 million cost overrun and mounting delays.
Just seven of the 65 new Chinese-built trains are now in service; the original schedule planned to have at least 37 on the rails by August this year.
Dozens of trains are sitting unused, while they get tested at the Pakenham East rail yard.
Within the past 24 months, Labor has added $3.8 billion in spending on rail and road construction.
video Victorian budget 2021 - here's what you need to know State political reporter Sumeyya Ilanbey gives an overview of the Victorian budget for 2021.
Treasurer Tim Pallas said the blowout – averaging $5 million a day more than the government intended to spend – was something being replicated across Australia.
On top of the blowouts, a quarter of its projects worth more than $100 million are not being built within their expected deadline.
“The more [construction work] we put into the market, the greater heat we put into the market,” he said. “But I would say in my defence it’s not just [Victoria], it’s NSW and Queensland too.”
Opposition transport infrastructure spokesman David Davis slammed the government for the overspend, saying the budget was “where the financial chickens start to come home to roost”.
Treasurer Tim Pallas on Thursday.CREDIT:JOE ARMAO
Transport and cities expert Marion Terrill, of think tank the Grattan Institute, said the figures were just “a progress report, not the final answer” on the full scale of the transport spending. She called for greater transparency on changes to the price tags and construction timelines of major projects.
But Monash University senior lecturer in Australian politics Nick Economou said the government was taking advantage of historically low interest rates and was currently “immune” from a major voter backlash about transport spending.
That would probably change if the economy went sour or construction works started to seriously hamper people’s commutes, he said.
“Anyone who has ever done an extension on their house would know that budgets blow out,” Dr Economou said. “The danger is if the state government was in a crippling recession and had these blowouts going.”
In the budget handed down on Thursday, Labor said the pandemic had “created some uncertainty”, linking this to the cost blowouts.
The government had already revealed its Metro Tunnel had to be bailed out, handing $1.37 billion more to the private consortium building the rail project.
Bidders in the most expensive road project in Victorian history, the $15.8 billion North East Link, have had to be reassured they will not carry all the risk of building the complex tunnel under the Yarra and a massive widening of the Eastern Freeway.
Bids to build the road were received a year ago, but the process was reset during the pandemic.
video Vic State Treasurer Budget speech Treasurer Tim Pallas gives State Budget speech.
The cost of several regional rail upgrades has also surged, by about $330 million, while duplication of the Cranbourne rail line blew out by $15 million to include a bike path. The cost of building 11,000 new and upgraded station car spots jumped by $263 million.
Suburban road projects also blew out by $127 million on upgrades of Hoddle Street, Yan Yean Road, Hallam Road and the second stage of Plenty Road
The government has spent less than forecast on the West Gate Tunnel tollway in the city’s west.
It faces at least a two-year delay because of an impasse over where to dump 3 million tonnes of contaminated soil. The project was originally planned to be finished next year, but Transurban, the government’s partner in the project, now says it won’t open until at least 2024.
Mr Pallas confirmed on Thursday that no further funds had been allocated for the project, suggesting the government does not expect to provide any extra money to cover the cost blowout.
The road was originally costed at $5.5 billion. The figure jumped to $6.7 billion but is now predicted to rise even further – potentially by more than another $3 billion.
“We have a contract, it’s a fixed-price contract, and we’d expect that the contractors, Transurban and their joint-venture partner, honour the terms of that contract.”
To see how its cost blowouts compared with the rest of the world, the government commissioned its Office of Projects Victoria to compare its over-budget projects with equivalents overseas.
It surveyed 379 projects worth more than $500 million and found a third were late and more than half had cost blowouts of more than 59 per cent.
RELATED ARTICLE Victorian budget. As it happened: Victorian budget 2021: Mental health, hospitals and paramedics the big winners as Treasurer reveals state budget
<www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/victorian-budget-2021-big-build-s-transport-blowouts-are-costing-5m-a-day-20210519-p57td3.html>
* Why is the responsible Minister never held accountable? Every project has a huge cost blow out and delays. So the "teflon Minister"!
* Liberal's David Davis bleating again.
Federal Liberal Government are now not going to build a number of the railway carparks they promised at the last election. Because of planning problems and Frydenberg providing an unrealistic amount of funding.
NSW Liberal Government tram project completed one year late and $1.3billion over budget. Original cost estimate $1.6billion. So almost a 50% blowout. Stage 2 of project cancelled.
London's Crossrail project orginally due for completion December 2018, then delayed to September 2019. Now supposedly will be completed late 2021. Three years late and over $7billion overbudget.
Similar issues with the expansion of New York's rail network.
Governments everywhere believe the fairytale put forward by those experts planning these project. These so-called experts propose a timeline and cost estimate based on the project proceeding with "the wind in its sails". Which never happens.
Home renovators will tell that with your first estimate of time and cost, you should double it and add another 10% to get close to what will really happen.
The rot started when Napthine and his Liberal mates signed a sneaky little deal for East-West Link at the last minute after calling the election.
* This says it all really "Active transport No major cycling or pedestrian upgrades this year, despite a new government target for 25 per cent of trips to be on foot or bicycle by 2030 under the new Climate Change Strategy." A government of hot air (they like cars that create hot air) and meaningless targets.
* This is where I have a problem with this budget. These blow outs are labour related and have always been a problem with Labor Governments. Unions simply hold these companies to ransom. This is in my opinion how unions funnel money back to Labor Governments. As to their comparison to other cost blowouts well, wouldn't trust that report either.
* It used to be that Labor had vision but couldn't manage finances, while the Liberals could manage finances but were utterly lacking in vision and compassion. The only thing that has changed is the Liberals can no longer manage a budget either.
* Not to worry, a majority are still standing with Dan.
* Which government does better? Which private company does better?
* Bleatings from Liberal's David Davis. Again.
Federal Liberal Government not going to build all the railway carpark because of planning problems including Frydenberg not providing realistic funding.
NSW Liberal Government tram project completed one year late with cost blow-out of billions.
In London Crossrail original completion date December 2018, extended to September 2019 & now supposedly late 2021. Three years late & nearly £4 over budget.
Similar problems with New York's expansion to its Metro.
The price & deadline provided to governments by the experts is always based the project being completed "with the wind in its sails". That is, with everything going perfectly smoothly.
Anyone who has done home renos soon learns to take the estimated time and cost, double them and add 10%. Then might just be right.
* With a background banking Corporate Australia, Budgets and Cash Flow Forecasts are precisely that. Estimations. In practice a raft of circumstances impact
Contractors tendering tender at estimated break even or below to “win” the Contract - relying on variations and on completion on time therefore incentive payments to achieve profit
Assays are random and it is not until you actually start the project that complications can surface particularly with underground works
The old story is how do you save money when renovating?
Don’t renovate
But at the end of the day the benefit is what is delivered - because what is being delivered is there for the rest of time and in 2020 dollars
Imagine if these projects were attended at the time the City Loop was constructed
How cheap would that make the asset today?
The trouble with the City Loop was that it was not built to accomodate double decker trains
If that was the reason it was Fool’s Gold
We build these assets for the future
And future generations will thank our foresight
These are major projects so a 1% over estimated cost runs to the dollar amount it does
It is all relative
Plus it generates employment and employment skills from planning to completion
So another benefit
It is a pity we are not seeing the same commitment from the Federal Government which instead is relying exclusively on monetary policy and the RBA injecting liquidity into Capital Markets with its repurchase program
These projects may even lead to wages growth, finally pleasing Lowe and his Board at the RBA after years of banging on
Look at the Tour of Italy and the road systems - and they do not even race on the main roads
* Nothing new to see here All around the world and in other Australian states transport infrastructure projects have cost blow outs! Go ask the LNP NSW Govt how there George Street trams went? It would be unusual if many these projects didn't have cost over runs.
* Really the big build has and will always be JUST A BIG CARPARK...
* So significant cost blowouts are now normalsed! Everyone else is doing it so its OK? Accepting a low value outcome is no way to run anything let alone record infrastructure spending. Very poor contractual oversight and management.
* Looking forward to the construction of the Rail Loop around Melbourne.
* So a blow out o much needed public transport is serious yet multi billion costs;
Massive blowout on the latest US fighters is nothing.
Massive blowout on the French submarines
Are allowed to just "add through he keeper"?
* CFMEU look no further
* "Just seven of the 65 new Chinese-built trains are now in service" It's only the shells produced over there, same 60% content local build content, as the Xtraps with shells from France.
* So just because cost blowouts "... was something being replicated across Australia." makes it OK then. In my book no, just makes Victoria as bad as the rest.
"Transport and cities expert Marion Terrill, .... called for greater transparency on changes to the price tags and construction timelines of major projects.". Good luck with that. One thing Labor is good at is not showing Victorians the true state of affairs.
“We have a contract, it’s a fixed-price contract, and we’d expect that the contractors, Transurban and their joint-venture partner, honour the terms of that contract.” - time will tell how that holds up. Once again I doubt the public will find out.
"It surveyed 379 projects worth more than $500 million and found a third were late and more than half had cost blowouts of more than 59 per cent." - so two thirds were not late and 41 per cent did not have cost blowouts. So an obvious fail for Victoria then.
If Labor ever took responsibility and apologised to the people of Victoria rather than blaming everyone or everything else that at least would be something but I doubt that will ever occur.
* The rot started when Dan casually blew half billion on the East West Link.
* You mean 1.3 Bil?
* It was actually $1.2 Billion. It is not Dan's money and that is how he treats our money.
* The Victorian governments GOLD Standard project cost blowouts, what an absolute disgrace. How are they getting away with it?
* Govt mismanagement of taxpayer monies...it is a sport for those in power...zero accountability, that's how...
* Because we can see the results
* “ To see how its cost blowouts compared with the rest of the world, the government commissioned its Office of Projects Victoria to compare its over-budget projects with equivalents overseas. It surveyed 379 projects worth more than $500 million and found a third were late and more than half had cost blowouts of more than 59 per cent.” And how much did the report cost to justify the government’s overspend? Good ploy to deflect, though. The difference is everywhere else has been in lockdown for the best part of 12 months.
* Nice graphics but at the end of the day, CoVid has catastrophically impacted the progression of projects. Why is this an issue?
* Hard to tell if you're being serious here? Believe it or not, money doesn't grow on trees...it needs to be paid back at some point in time. Covid hardly stopped the construction sector so the blind Danny followers can't really use that excuse...
* What a convenient answer, ignoring the truth. The blow-outs had been forecast before the pandemic, there just delayed finalising who was paying.
* Poor leadership, poor management & poor ole community
* Yeah right - poor leadership! During a pandemic. Hows your mob going?

‘$5 all-day brekkie’ a sign of tough CBD times as free public transport off menu, Tony Moore May 20, 2021
It’s almost lunch at Brisbane’s Stock Exchange Hotel and the pub, surrounded by skyscrapers containing city offices, is almost empty.
This famous Brisbane pub opened in 1863 and weathered the impacts of the 6 o’clock swill, roadside breath testing, 1980s rock’n’roll and pokies, but is badly struggling with COVID-19.
The legacy of COVID-19 is fewer city workers to keep inner-city business trading successfully.CREDIT:TONY MOORE
Today, cheap lunches, televised sports and lunchtime trivia vie for the few Brisbane CBD office workers.
Further down Charlotte Street, the hole-in-the-wall coffee shop Henry’s Coffee Bar offers $5 “all-day breakfast” to attract customers.
The Queensland division of the Property Council of Australia on Thursday asked the Queensland government to introduce a “short, sharp shock” of free public transport to encourage workers back to a city where CBD office occupancy has slumped to 60 per cent.
The government said no, because public transport patronage is now 70 per cent.
In Brisbane’s Charlotte Street, the hole in the wall Henry’s Coffee Bar is offering $5 all-day brekkies to attract customers.CREDIT:TONY MOORE
Traditionally, Brisbane’s CBD enjoyed an occupancy rate of more than 85 per cent, the Property Council’s Queensland deputy executive director Jen Williams said.
It is now stagnating at 60 per cent as some employees work from home on Mondays and Fridays.
“Brisbane’s CBD had 87 per cent occupancy pre-COVID and now we are sitting at 63 per cent at the moment,” Ms Williams said.
The group launched a campaign of small incentives on Fridays to encourage people to work in the city once more.
But they want the Queensland government to offer free public transport for a short period “to break the habit” of working from home.
“We would like to see that here in Brisbane as well, because we know one of the biggest challenges is that people are choosing to work Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and they are driving in,” she said.
“We need to get people back onto public transport and flatten out the working week.”
The Stock Exchange’s new manager is Stephen O’Brien, who has arrived since the Brisbane Catholic Archdiocese took over the hotel and removed its poker machines.
The pub’s lease has been bought by the Brisbane-based Raw Group.
Stock Exchange Hotel manager Stephen O’Brien says free public transport is needed to lure workers back to the CBD.CREDIT:TONY MOORE
The hotel is still trading at about 25 per cent of its pre-COVID-19 clientele, despite no community transmission of COVID-19 since December 2020.
“It has just dropped off a cliff, literally dropped off a cliff,” Mr O’Brien said.
“It is really reliant on the corporate base in the area here and businesses around here just don’t have as many staff.”
Stock Exchange Hotel closed in mid-December during the COVID-19 enforced shutdown and made significant changes upstairs and to its lunch menu, before reopening recently.
Mr O’Brien also would like the Queensland government to offer a short period of free public transport.
“Free public transport, just for a short while. Just getting them in here would be very handy,” he said.
Tommy Mai opened the small Henry’s Coffee Bar in Charlotte Street about 18 months ago and his trade was hit almost immediately by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nearby, the relatively new Elizabeth Street Arcade is virtually deserted at ground level.
Mr Mai noticed office workers returning to the city only last month.
Tommy Mai began Henry’s Coffee Bar in Charlotte Street in 2020 and immediately his trade sank to 40 per cent. Only last month he noticed city workers return.CREDIT:TONY MOORE
“We have been dramatically impacted for more than a year,” he said.
“It was down under 40 per cent this time last year. But now it is about 75 per cent of what we were.”
Mr Mai laid off staff and worked at the cafe himself through COVID. Now, he thinks the city’s leaders need to help.
“Just provide some better, easier access to the city. Provide some incentives to small businesses to encourage workers back,” he said.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey said new incentives would be announced in coming weeks.
“We announced last year that we will freeze public transport fares for 2021 to encourage more commuters back onto the network,” he said.
<www.smh.com.au/national/queensland/5-all-day-brekkie-a-sign-of-tough-cbd-times-as-free-public-transport-off-menu-20210520-p57to5.html>
* Free public transport might encourage some who drive to the city to switch transport modes but it won’t make any difference to those choosing to work from home.
* What does the Council expect was going to happen. You shut down the bridge which was the only way to get into the CBD from areas like West End, South Brisbane, etc, flooded more cars onto already over crowded roads, shut down lanes for barely used bike lanes and creating massive delays and congestion and when you finally to get into town, the parking companies gouge you $85 to park for more than 5 hours. And yes, get it, public transport, but we are being asked to get into the city and spend, not really convenient with a couple of young children, a pram and handsful of parcels. Bottom line, the Council caved into a minority, who are actively avoiding the bike lane in Elizabeth Street (and yes, first hand knowledge as my office is in Elizabeth Street) with the vast majority still riding in the traffic lanes. This Council has done everything possible to give people an excuse to NOT go into the city.
* I doubt that the price of public transport has much to do with why people prefer working from home. Why would the government help counter a trend that makes good sense in so many ways. I do not recall the CBD property owners tossing in a few dollars to support public transport in their good years.
* Times change and sometimes businesses fold because of it - video rental stores; taxi companies? While there are negatives for CBD businesses surely there are positives in other areas - suburban cafes and restaurants; less traffic and congestion? If your only hope of getting patronage is by having a captive audience then perhaps your business model was always on shaky ground?
* Sorry to hear of the unfortunate circumstances of the Exchange Hotel. It certainly has seen a lot over the years, but one of those was not the "6 o' clock swill" which never existed in Queensland. Trading hours were altered to 8am to 8pm for the period 1923 to 1941 when they reverted to 10am to 10pm. Some confusion may lay in the fact that hotels (in Qld) were actually compelled to open their public bars between 4.30pm and 6pm, for most of WWII. They could remain open until 10pm if the publican so wished. At times. emegency measures limited the closing time to 8pm, but a blanket 6pm closing never existed in this state, ever.
* Oh how times have changed. How about this. Come back to the office on Monday, or, be sacked on Tuesday.
* Oh hang on I commented assuming as I was on the Age...we were discussing Melbourne. How silly of me. Brisbane - get used to it and stop talking about office workers as 'them' like 'they' are cattle. The first thing to note is 'office worker' is not a job. Each and everyone of 'them' is doing a job that used to be done more easily from an office. Now it can be done just as easily from home. Find out what most of 'them' actually do for work and why 'they'd' want to come into the CBD to do it. Secondly why don't people want to catch public transport? Could it be because they've realised that catching colds and flu and covid are enabled by being on it for hours? And the same applies to a shared indoor space like an office, a bar, a pub, a club, a cafe, a cinema, a restaurant, a shop? How are you going to show you've thought about ventilation? How are you going to show people the social side is good for them and worth the risk? Go forth.
* 5 dollar brekkie! Party like it's 2009. This is like the good old days again - it used to be common to have all day 5-7 dollar breakfast throughout the CBD and the inner north and south. Then we started to be known as a 'brunch' city, got inundated with social media pplz and bam! 20 dollar all day Breakfast appeared. Honestly most of these gloom and doom articles just point out that things are actually more pleasant out there than they have been in years.
* "they want the Queensland government to offer free public transport for a short period “to break the habit” of working from home." I'm sure the property council would. However, people aren't working from home out of habit, many people simply prefer working from home, and now employers have been forced to try it are finding employees are just as productive and employers don't need to pay for overpriced CBD rents. Feel sorry for the small businesses, ultimately the rents in the CBD are going to have to come down to reflect the lower occupancy.
* This is not a problem that is going away with a short-term 'fix'. Employees are seeing the benefits of not having to commute 5 days a week. They gain productive time for self-care and are finally getting that work/life balance that has been touted for several decades. Why would they want to come in for a $5 all day breakfast? There is permanent change happening to business, and the CBD is going to need to rethink how it will handle this new change in the long-term. I do work in the CBD and get about 1 day a month work from home. There is still plenty of choice for food/coffee/retail outlets for the current population of workers. The bubble has burst, unfortunately.

MAY 20 2021 UK sets up Great British Railways
<www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7262323/uk-sets-up-great-british-railways>

Whopping cost blowout of Victorian projects revealed in budget. Matt Johnston May 20, 2021 382 comments
As Victoria embarks on another unprecedented building blitz, the whopping billion dollar blowout to the state’s ‘Big Build’ projects has been revealed.
Propaganda video: Metro tunnel cross passages commence Work is well underway making the 26 cross passages in the Metro Tunnel to allow emergency services and passengers to move between the twin tunnels
Mega infrastructure projects in Victoria have had $3.8bn worth of budget blowouts in the past two years, as the state embarks on another unprecedented building blitz.
Treasurer Tim Pallas revealed $90bn — or $1.9bn a month — will be spent on new roads, rail, schools and hospitals over the next four years, fuelling the state’s economy.
Mr Pallas said the spending was more than four times what it was early last decade and was necessary for the state’s future, but conceded this would put “greater heat” into the market.
The Herald Sun can reveal the top project overruns of the past two years were $1.37bn extra for the Metro tunnel, $735m for tram infrastructure upgrades and $429m for a new prison in southwest Victoria.
Transport experts have warned pumping too much construction work into the state at the same time could cause industry traffic jams and cost increases.
But the treasurer insisted the government’s efforts to invest in skills, provide access to raw materials, and change its contract processes, would reduce that risk.
Construction on the Metro Tunnel.
The Mordialloc Freeway project is now halfway to completion. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie
He said the state’s total capital project pipeline was worth $144bn, while 177,000 jobs had been created through the state’s big build over the past six years.
“The government will continue to attend to what are the underlying causes associated with the escalation of price and risk,” he said.
“Those challenges will continue as we continue to invest more and more in the capital that this growing state needs. To do anything less than that I think would compromise the future.”
Opposition transport infrastructure spokesman David Davis said the state’s poor project management was contributing to blowouts.
He said the budget was “where the financial chickens start to come home to roost with literally dozens of transport infrastructure projects blowing out”.
“The cost blowouts on key projects total billions individually with smaller projects in the tens and hundreds of millions.
“Everywhere you look rail and road infrastructure projects have blown out because the Andrews government can’t manage these projects.”
Upgrades on the Monash Freeway will total $351m.
Work on the $440m Murray Basin Rail Project. . Picture: Zoe Phillips
Thursday’s state budget included a suite of social infrastructure spending in areas such as health and education.
There was $507m for mental health units, 10 new community hospitals, and $1.4bn for new or improved schools.
A massive pipeline of transport builds is already in the works, including a $15.8bn North East Link between the Eastern Freeway and the M80 in Greensborough, and an $8bn-$13bn airport rail link.
Those projects are not yet contracted but are in contingency funds.
Mega projects worth more than $100m have been hit by the worst cost rises, with smaller projects holding up better.
Budget papers show that 117 mega projects have been hit by $3.8bn in blowouts in two years, with a quarter having timelines altered.
Of a total 1141 state-funded capital projects, the net rise in costs has been $3.6bn, which puts some projects under budget, offsetting taxpayer pain from bigger projects.
The overrun for the Melbourne Metro Tunnel, which was contracted for $11bn but is to cost $13.7bn, was revealed late last year by the government after it agreed to share the bill with project builders.
A bigger bill looms on the West Gate Tunnel, which was to be finished next year at a cost of $6.7bn but now looks unlikely to open before 2024.
Mr Pallas said the state was not budgeting for that because we “have a contract”.
“It’s a fixed contract and we expect that the contractors, Transurban and their joint venture partner, honour the terms of that contract,” he said.
$735m will be spent on a E-class tram infrastructure program. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
Two railway station car park programs are being consolidated and expanded. Picture: Andy Brownbill
On broader construction industry congestion, Mr Pallas said there was “massive infrastructure investment going on right across the eastern seaboard of this nation”.
But he said shifts in government actions should offset blowout risks, including by better scoping projects.
“Early engagement with proponents (is crucial), the sort of thing we are starting to apply to our level crossing removals, with our North East Link,” he said.
“The second thing we need to do is give greater supply and certainty around resources.
MAJOR FUNDING BLOWOUTS IN THE PAST TWO YEARS
Metro rail tunnel: $1.37bn
A new cross-city rail project with 9km twin tunnels connecting South Yarra to Kensington. Five new underground stations will also be created, while capacity across the network will be increased to enable more train services. 
E-class tram infrastructure program: $735m
Upgrading the tram network across parts of Melbourne to enable the biggest and most accessible trams to operate. Some stops along selected routes need to be removed or lengthened, with the aim of boosting the number of people using public transport. 
Chisholm Rd Prison: $429m 
A new maximum security jail at the Barwon South West Prison Precinct to cater for an explosion in prison numbers. Once built, the new facility will house up to 1248 criminals with more than 650 staff recruited. 
Monash Freeway upgrade: $351m
Extra lanes along 36km of the Monash and Princes freeways, including between Warrigal Road and EastLink inbound, EastLink to Springvale Road inbound, and Clyde Road to Cardinia Road in both directions. 
Station car parks: $264m
Two railway station car park programs are being consolidated and expanded, including the promise to build 11,000 new and upgraded spaces for commuters. A separate federal government pledge to build more car parks has blown out by $88m. 
Murray Basin Rail: $244m
A freight rail line upgrade in Victoria’s northwest that was supposed to enhance 1055km of tracks. Has been plagued by major delays and funding shortfalls and is jointly funded by state and federal governments. 
Mordialloc Freeway: $148m
A new link between the Mornington Peninsula Freeway and the Dingley Bypass in Melbourne’s southeast. On track to open this year, and is supposed to reduce congestion and save motorists up to 10 minutes in either direction. 
New youth justice centre: $141m
A 140-bed facility to house young offenders in Cherry Creek near Werribee. Will create a mental health unit, as well as beds for remand and sentenced criminals. Includes a continuous 6 metre-high wall around the perimeter. 
“Additionally we need to put more and more effort and emphasis into ensuring that we have the skills necessary.
“Finally, the state needs to recognise that we need to have a flexible approach to the way that risk is managed based on each and every project.”
Global credit ratings agency S&P raised concerns on Thursday about the amount of debt being taken on to fund infrastructure, but said “infrastructure plans will help economic growth and address future infrastructure needs”.
More Coverage
Why cost of major projects is blowing out
Your five-minute guide to the state budget
Metro Tunnel’s mega budget blowout
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/whopping-cost-blowout-of-victorian-projects-revealed-in-budget/news-story/b9cc0eb3f241092ec5168e40dd6f3d3e>

Victorian state budget 2021: Five-minute guide.  May 20, 2021 147 comments
A new levy, mental health, sport, transport, education and more. This is what the state budget means for you and your family.
video: Jobs for Victoria the backbone of the 2021 state budget
THE ECONOMY...
JOBS AND RECOVERY...
MENTAL HEALTH...
EDUCATION...
TRANSPORT
– $3.2bn for public transport services and infrastructure, including $986m for 25 new trains to be built in Ballarat, $613m to improve reliability of V/Line train services and $368m to get the new fleet of Next Generation Trams onto tracks
– $386m for a new Road Safety Strategy to deliver new safety technologies and infrastructure upgrades.
– $265m to plan, upgrade and maintain suburban, rural and regional roads across the state
A V/Line train travelling through North Melbourne. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie
SMALL BUSINESS/TAX...
HEALTH...
WOMEN AND CHILDREN...
SPORT...
AGRICULTURE...
CITY REVITALISATION...
TOURISM...
ENVIRONMENT
– $250m to protect environment and improve health of waterways and Port Phillip Bay
– $46m for Australia’s first zero emissions vehicle subsidy program
– $20m to make Victoria a leader in low-emissions agriculture and combat drought
– $8.4m water infrastructure to optimise efficiency
BUSHFIRES...
More Coverage
$342bn in spending
new levy on businesses with more than $10m in wages nationally
<www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/victorian-state-budget-2021-fiveminute-guide/news-story/dc326c53c1205144fdddff99daa889f8>

Thurs.20.5.21 Melbourne 'Herald Sun' Level crossing work is six months early. KIERAN ROONEY
A KEY truck route and traffic snarl in Melbourne’s southeast will be given a major boost when a level crossing is removed six months ahead of schedule.
The South Gippsland Highway crossing in Dandenong South will open in August, instead of in 2022, after crews were able to bring forward work on the project.
About 31,000 drivers travel through the congested area every day, which has become a major bottleneck because it connects to booming manufacturing regions. But motorists are also in for 22 days of pain when the road closes at the crossing from July 16 to August 6 while crews work to finish the job. Detours will run through Frankston-Dandenong Road and the Dandenong Bypass over this time.
Bringing forward the closure will allow a new road bridge to be built ahead of schedule and reduce disruptions to the Pakenham line.
Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said Dandenong South was a big manufacturing and employment hub in the state.

Thurs.20.5.21 Melbourne 'Herald Sun' Victorians say gas is crucial prerequisite. TOM MINEAR

Thurs.20.5.21 Melbourne 'Herald Sun' Letters:
* STUPID Melbourne City Council promoted its graffiti culture and now wonders why the city is covered in vandals’ filth.