Ms VAGHELA (Western Metropolitan) (12:42:18): My constituency question is directed to the Minister for Transport Infrastructure, the Honourable Jacinta Allan. A huge state-of-the-art concrete plant is helping build the Metro Tunnel and creating jobs in Melbourne’s west. The Andrews Labor government has proposed an $18 million purpose-built facility in Deer Park, where 70 workers will be producing concrete segments that will line two 9-kilometre tunnels under Melbourne. As I understand, the Metro Tunnel will create 7000 jobs for Victorians, including work for almost 800 apprentices, trainees and engineering cadets. My question to the minister is: can the minister outline the employment opportunities that will be created as a result of this facility so the residents in my electorate of Western Metropolitan Region can make the most of it?
RESPONSE:
Ms ALLAN (Bendigo East—Leader of the House, Minister for Transport Infrastructure) (14 November 2019): I thank the member for Western Metropolitan Region for her question. The Metro Tunnel Project is committed to ensuring all Victorians benefit from the largest public transport project in the State’s history. A Tunnel Lining Segment Manufacturing Facility has been purpose-built in Deer Park to supply the Metro Tunnel Project with the 56,000 concrete segments needed to line and build the twin nine-kilometre tunnels. The facility will create 70 new jobs in Melbourne’s west, including targeting the recruitment of priority job seekers such as ex-automotive workers, long-term unemployed, Indigenous job seekers and people of a refugee or asylum seeker background. As part of the Sunbury Line Upgrade, being delivered by Rail Projects Victoria, the project will support hundreds of local jobs, including up to 30 full-time positions for engineering cadets, trainees, apprentices and priority jobseekers. The $1.75 billion Regional Rail Revival program is also bringing job opportunities to the western region of Melbourne through the Ballarat Line Upgrade. Ballarat Line Upgrade has created 400 full-time jobs. So far, 1.2 million hours have been worked including 97,000 hours by cadets, apprentices and trainees.