Construction begins on $518m Ballarat Line Upgrade

A major milestone has been reached for the $518 million Ballarat Line Upgrade in Victoria, with construction works now underway at Hopkins Road in Rockbank.

“We are getting on with the Ballarat Line Upgrade, which will deliver more frequent and reliable train services to people in Melbourne’s booming outer western suburbs, Melton, Bacchus Marsh, Ballan and Ballarat,” Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan said.

Work at Hopkins Road will include the construction of site offices, toilets, storage facilities as well as access tracks that will enable the duplication of an 18-kilometre track between Deer Park West and Melton to begin sooner.

Other works will include removal and relocation of endangered spiny rice flowers and vulnerable large-fruit groundsels, which are both native species, to a nearby location in order to protect the plants during construction.

“These works mark an important milestone for this project, ensuring we are on-track to deliver the Ballarat Line Upgrade by late 2019,” Member for Buninyong Geoff Howard said.

Site investigations are also underway between Deer Park West and Melton to identify essential utility services that will require to be protected along the corridor during major construction works in the coming months.

The Ballarat Line Upgrade will allow much needed extra services during the morning and afternoon peak as well as a train every 40 minutes during off peak for the growing Ballarat and Melbourne communities.

This project will deliver new station platforms, car parking, train storage facilities, and passing loops along the line as well.

Up to 400 jobs will be created during the construction of this project with apprentices, trainees and engineering cadets making up approximately 10 per cent of the total work.

“This project is great for workers and our local economy, and will mean Ballarat commuters get more frequent and reliable services to meet the increased demand,” Member for Wendouree Sharon Knight said.

Source: Premier of Victoria