That is the view of Regional Development Australia Loddon Mallee Commitee chairwoman Linda Beilharz, who is thrilled at the recent support the Murray Darling Freight Rail Project and Wedderburn Water Pipeline have received.

Last week the Turnbull government shocked stakeholders by pledging $220 million to the ambitious rail project, which matched the Andrews government’s own $220 million contribution.

The upgrade, costed at $416 million, will standardise gauges to connect the Loddon Mallee region with the important ports of Melbourne, Geelong and Portland.

It will allow trains to carry more freight at faster speeds to the most cost-effective port, helping to reduce costs to producers.

The project will also have the added benefit of removing an estimated 20,000 truck trips to the ports each year.

Victorian Farmers Federation grains group president Brett Hosking said he looked forward to seeing savings delivered to grain farmers.

“For some farmers in the far north west of the state, freight costs can make up nearly a third of their gross profits, so anything to cut this would be welcomed,” he said.

“Moving grain from road to rail is good both for rural communities in terms of lowering truck numbers and for the economy as it is a cheaper way to move freight.”

Already about 30,000 of the 100,000 new sleepers needed between Maryborough and Mildura have been laid.

Mallee MP Andrew Broad said the current network was showing the effects of years of neglect. “I hopped on a train in Donald and travelled all night to Mildura and it was quite scary to see the state of the rail line,” he said.

Also last week the Victorian government committed $80 million to building the Wedderburn Water Pipeline project, which will benefit about 630 properties around the town.

The project, an extension of the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline, will see water drawn from the West Waranga Channel and distributed through 1300km of piping.

Ms Beilharz said the dry conditions meant farmers in the area had been forced to cart water since 2014 to keep their stock alive.

“Building pipelines isn’t just a solution to water carting, or a tonic for hard times,” she said. “Bringing water to the region opens the door to more intensive agricultural practices which will provide a much-needed boost to rural economies.”

Ms Beilharz said the two projects represented a “game-changer” for the Loddon Malle region. “Individually, each of these projects solves problems and creates opportunity,” she said. “But together, they will truly transform our rural landscape and help our communities to thrive. In all we are benefiting from $537 million of infrastructure both state and federal governments in the last five months and that is a fantastic outcome for the Loddon Mallee region.”