Committee for Ballarat and its members will not be deterred by the fact that no further rail funding for Ballarat line duplication was included in the 2019/20 Federal Budget.

The people of Ballarat and regional Victoria need to know that this lack of funding is a travesty and one that needs reflection by all levels of governments and political parties.

The facts are that Infrastructure Australia in February 2019 published its Priority List of projects.

The only Victorian Train Priority List project with a 'near term' delivery timescale is the Ballarat Line Upgrade.

The reason for this is that "Infrastructure Australia considers that, on balance, the project will deliver marginal net economic benefits to Australia

The proponent's stated benefit-cost ratio (BCR) for the project is 1.1". So for every $1 spent $1.10 will be returned in productivity. A positive equation.

The project that received funding in the Federal budget was the South Geelong to Waurn Ponds duplication.

"Infrastructure Australia has not included the Waurn Ponds Duplication Stage 2 as a project on the Infrastructure Priority List at this time. The proponent's business case, as currently presented, shows that the costs of the project are likely to exceed the benefits.

The proponent's stated benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 0.6" A negative return on investment.

The key reasons for establishing Infrastructure Australia and Infrastructure Victoria was to independently assess Priority Infrastructure Projects on their merits in order to move away from the politics and election cycles.

In the example of the Ballarat Line Upgrade vs Waurn Ponds Duplication, politics have won the day in this Federal Budget.

Committee for Ballarat appeals to all politicians at State and Federal level to listen and act on the advice of Infrastructure Australia and Infrastructure Victoria for the betterment of our State.

Regional Victoria and Ballarat in this case cannot afford to have short term decisions being made over nation building projects that actually give a return on investment.

Meanwhile Ballarat development suffers.

Reference: Infrastructure Priority List is available at www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au.

 Nick Beale is the Chairman of the Committee For Ballarat