The think tank’s discussion paper, released in early July, earmarked the Lower Hunter freight line, along with the east coast high-speed rail, outer Sydney orbital, outer Melbourne ring, Western Sydney Airport rail line, Western Sydney freight line and the Port of Brisbane freight line as strategically important transport corridors that need to be preserved now for future expansion. 

While the Hunter Environment Lobby welcomed the inclusion of the Lower Hunter freight line in the report, spokesperson Jan Davis said she was “disappointed” the paper didn’t address the group’s Hunter RailLink proposal, which would have provided a passenger and freight link between Kurri Kurri, Maitland and Glendale.

“It is important for regional transport planning to identify required long-term transport linkages,” she said.

“Developed over 10 years, Hunter LinkRail utilises existing rail corridors to link the major centres of Glendale and Maitland, providing a freight and passenger route west of Newcastle unaffected by flooding and sea level rise.

“A comprehensive review of long-term rail transport options for both freight and passenger services in the Hunter Region is essential in a Hunter Region transport plan due to be updated by the NSW Government soon.”

In its discussion paper, Infrastructure Australia argued that the federal government could save as much as $11 billion on future costs if it protected the seven corridors that the report highlighted.