Short term solutions are continually selected, with governments hiding behind consultant reports who are clearly pandering to the will of the government at the time.

Reduction of the rail line between Castlemaine and Bendigo to a single line with passing loops. 

Hailed as the solution, despite common sense and protests from residents, and now we see the effect of this in the capacity constraints in the line.

The Castlemaine to Maryborough line, is clearly needed to move freight off the road and rail traffic from the metropolitan network and promotes the option for passenger services for a growing Victoria. 

The consultants were clearly aiming for a state of the art solution, not a cost effective trade off investment versus return. Another $2 million wasted.

The Mildura line, to be converted to standard gauge, is clearly another blunder in the making. One day our satellite cities like Mildura will need a fast link to Melbourne and this needs to be provisioned for in any works, which means either keeping the broad gauge line or dual gauging to meet all needs. Where is the vision and long term planning?

Imagine if the London sewer system was not constructed for capacity and growth when it was planned and built? London would have been ripped up three or four times by now due to political stupidity.

Our leaders are driven by the next poll, and it would be a wonderful thing to see their retirement perks linked to the success of their programs over the longer term, making them sit back now and think, rather than grandstanding!

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