For some, questions remain why Goulburn missed out to Dubbo on getting the facility to build the new rail fleet.
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They say the decision smacks of political pork barrelling to shore up the Dubbo seat for the Nationals.
But Member for Goulburn Pru Goward has scotched such suggestions, saying the State Government’s decision to locate the facility there was all above board and nothing to do with politics.
The State Government announced last Thursday they had signed a contract with Spanish company Momentum Trains for the $2.8 billion project to design, build, finance and maintain the new regional rail fleet at a new purpose-built maintenance facility in Dubbo.
Up to 200 jobs will be created during the construction phase, with 50 ongoing permanent jobs there.
The contract includes the construction of the new rail fleet, which is comprised of 10 regional intercity trains, nine short regional trains and 10 long regional trains, as well as the establishment of a rail maintenance facility. The new fleet will replace the ageing XPT, Xplorer and Endeavour trains.
“We are not a corrupt government. We have had high economic growth because we handle money properly,” Ms Goward said.
“If we were to award a $2.8 billion contract to a town on the basis of political interest, whether I was in more danger politically than Troy Grant or whatever, then I think that would be a misuse of process. I think it would frighten the business community investing in NSW and of course it could well end up in the misuse of taxpayer’s money.
“It is just too much money and too much is at stake to interfere with what is a technical process.”
She said she had spoken to Deputy Premier John Barilaro many time about this.
“He said they did a number of studies and every study brought Dubbo up number one,” she said.
”I am going to take Mr Barilaro at his word on this, and that is that due process was followed and it was not awarded on the basis of political favouritism and that to do so would have been corrupt.
“I would have loved this to have come to Goulburn – goodness, I would have been crowing about it from the rooftops – but it didn’t.”
The Australian Workers Manufacturing Union (AWMU) labelled the announcement to build the fleet at Dubbo as “absurd” and claimed it was a case of pork barreling.
“The decision to build a rail facility there is a blatant attempt to pork barrel the electorate of Dubbo, where the Nationals are under threat from a strong Independent candidate,” a AWMU spokersperson said.
The spokesperson said Goulburn should have been in contention for it.
“The Goulburn Railway workshops currently perform maintenance on locomotive and wagon fleet. It could easily be converted into building the Regional Rail Fleet,” they said.
In 2017, former General Manager of the Chicago Freight Car Leasing facility Bob Giola told the Goulburn Post: “Absolutely, in my opinion, Goulburn could have done it and it would have been a better location for it.”
Meanwhile, Goulburn Labor Candidate Ursula Stephens said “Goulburn workers have missed the jobs train.”
“This shows that the Liberals have no faith in local workers,” Dr Stephens said.
“The local Liberals should have gone in to bat for our community and fought for local workers. They either doesn’t think local workers are up to scratch, or they just aren’t up to the job of representing our community.
“It is only for political reasons that it will be located at Dubbo. There is only one train service going out there. This is to prop up Troy Grant, who copped a backlash over his stance on the greyhound ban.”
