Thursday, 12 May 2022

Maryborough rail services

Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (10:19): I was very pleased on budget day to visit Maryborough and to join with local members of the community to celebrate the budget announcement that Maryborough will have more options, with an additional four weekend train services for residents and visitors alike. These additional weekend services will stop at Creswick, Clunes and Talbot and will be scheduled at different times to the weekday services to account for the different needs and preferences of weekend users.

As well as connecting Maryborough to Melbourne and Ballarat, the trains will provide a fabulous opportunity to grow jobs and tourism opportunities for the Maryborough community. I am delighted that our government has been able to deliver the funding for these extra services that will drive tourism and create jobs but also provide additional opportunities for people from Maryborough to head to Ballarat or to Melbourne. I congratulate all of those who have advocated for these new services and look forward to making the journey in the not-too-distant future.