Victoria’s auditor-general in September said the economic analysis surrounding Melbourne’s proposed $8 billion to $13 billion airport rail link lacked “transparency” and that the methodology used created risks that the project’s economic value had been overstated.
Now Infrastructure Australia (IA) has estimated that the airport rail link would lose 40¢ in every dollar invested, and has recommended the project be put on ice:
The Airport Rail is one of the flagship projects in the Andrews government’s infrastructure pipeline, which has ballooned to a record $184 billion. The state business case for the project, released on September 22, says it will deliver a positive economic return of $1.80 for every $1 invested.
