EDITORIAL | Rail terminal back on track
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THE Victorian Labor government has confirmed it will contribute funding to the $22 million Logic rail terminal.
Regional Development Minister Jaala Pulford yesterday approved an undisclosed amount of funding to ensure the rail hub will go ahead almost a decade after the former state Labor government contributed $4 million.
Money initially committed by the former Bracks government sat in limbo before it was re-directed to the nearby truck stop at Logic.
SCT Logistics has pieced together a deal with the Andrews government in recent days that will see it spend $39 million on its rail operation, including $22 million at Logic.
A government spokeswoman said the level of state assistance was commercial-in-confidence, between the government SCT Logistics, and cabinet-in-confidence.
“When government negotiates investment attraction assistance with the private sector it is important that these can be undertaken in confidence,” she said.
Labor made a similar investment in a construction company in Melbourne’s west last week, which will generate 100 new jobs.
Last year The Border Mail revealed details of discussions between the former state Coalition government and SCT Logistics over funding for the Logic facility.
It was reported the state government was being asked to contribute about $7 million to cover the earthworks required to prepare the site.
The funding didn’t materialise before the state election in November, which the Coalition lost to Labor.
Former Labor premiers Steve Bracks and John Brumby supported plans by Wodonga Council to create Logic in the early 2000s.
SCT Logistics will build a rail facility at Altona and 118 jobs are expected to be created in Wodonga.
“The new hub will create a significant number of new jobs, benefiting local communities in and around Wodonga for years to come,” Ms Pulford said.
“It is absolutely clear that this project would not have proceeded in Victoria, particularly the Wodonga component of the investment, without the assistance of the Labor government.”
Wodonga Council declined to comment.
