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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2024
City News Metro Tunnel cost blows out by $837 million
● Danny Pearson, Transport Infrastructure Minister ■ Cost of the Metro Tunnel rail project has blown out by $837 million, pushing the total bill beyond $15 billion. Danny Pearson, Transport Infrastructure Ministe, said late last week that theVictorian State Government had reached a deal with the project’s builders to cover ballooning construction costs. Tthe Cross Yarra Partnerships consortium is to cover a similar amount. The Age newspaper reported: “The increase brings the total cost of the project to the state to $13.48 billion, compared with $10.9 billion when first announced in 2016. “The total cost of the project is even higher, as much as $15.6 billion, with the remainder borne by the builder, CYP. “The CYP consortium previously matched an extra government payment of $1.37 billion. If CYP matches the extra $837 million tipped in by the government yesterday, the revised price tag for the tunnel will be about $15.6 billion.” Mr Pearson said the government could not have predicted the significant material and labour-cost inflation caused by COVID19 and the war in Ukraine when it first budgeted for the project in 2016.
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‘PEPP’ TEAM AIMS FOR PORT PHILLIP
● At back: Levi Silcox and Chris Schwarze. Front: Michelle Di Donna, Serge Thomann, Sabina Sablock, Janet Di Silva, Beverley Pinder. ■ A high profile team, dubbing themselves as “We can represent each individual ward with ‘People Empowering Port Phillip’ have their its unique issues but with an overall vision for sights set on taking control of the St Kilda-based Port Phillip. muncipality at this month’s Council elections/ “As individual councillors, we may not agree The ‘PEPP’ team has seven independent on every issue, but we can benefit from each of nominees for the a group of independents with a our lived experiences to form an independent, genuine community focus and deep long stand- informed view, without having to conform to ing connections to Port Phillip. party lines or idealist agendas.” “By bringing independent voices together, we Beverley Pinder is standing for Albert Park can foster collaboration, respect and a shared Ward. A City of Port Phillip resident for more commitment to our city’s future - without the than 30 years, Beverley is a former City of divisiveness and agendas along political lines Melbourne councillor (2012-20) where her work that can hinder a council’s ability to effectively focused on greater community consultation and address and act on the needs of our local com- consideration of place, culture and purpose. munity,” a PEPP representative said. “She brings commitment, highly developed “It’s time for a council that prioritises col- skills in collaboration, empathy and smarts to a laboration and mutual respect for our commu- precinct she loves,” says the PEPP wensite. nity to bring about real positive change to Port Serge Thomann represented City of Port Phillip. Phillip from 2008 until 2016 as Councillor and “We’re a diverse group with a wide range of Deputy Mayor, where he was instrumental in expertise in business, council and community stopping the commercial centre proposed for who are passionate about our community. the Triangle site
Nicholas Reece can’t escape links with Labor
● Nicholas Reece ■ City of Melbourne Lord Mayoral hopeful Nicholas Reece is finding it impossible to shake off his links with the Labor Party. He previously held a number of roles in politics, including as secretary and campaign director of the Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch) and as the director of strategy to former Prime Minister Julia Gillard. He was State Secretary and Campaign Director of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Labor Party, Senior Adviser to Premier John Brumby, Senior Adviser to Premier Steve Bracks, and Adviser, Policy Unit, Leader of the Opposition Kevin Rudd. Cr Reece’s campaign for election as Lord Mayor is being handled by former advisers to ex-Labor Premier Daniel Andrews. They include Adam Sims, Andrews’ exchief of staff Lissie Ratcliff, her deputy Jessie McCrone and strategy director Ben Foster. A competitor to Cr Reece, Arron Wood, a former Deputy Lord Mayor, last week denied that he was linked to the Greens. Team Reece said that Mr Wood had a Greens candidate on his ticket, and had distributed preferences accordingly.
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