AN HISTORIC government and private partnership has brought rail freight back to Rainbow.
The crumbling Yaapeet line, which runs through Rainbow, was wrecked by the January 2011 floods but the Victorian Government and GrainCorp agreed on an $8.3 million project, with the government contributing $5.3m and GrainCorp $3m to fix the line.
Government upper house member for Northern Victoria, Damian Drum, hoped the co-operative funding agreement was a model that could work for investment across the country.
"The bottom line is that we, as a government, can't fund all the infrastructure projects," he said.
"This model, where funding is targeted together with private sector investment, is a great result for everyone, and it's a good use of tax-payers money."
Mr Drum said the government saw rail as an efficient means of moving large volumes of grain.
GrainCorp storage and logistics general manager Nigel Hart congratulated the State Government for its work.
"The project is a great example of a positive partnership between government and business, and we'd like to acknowledge the Victorian government's commitment," he said.
"Rail has advantages for communities in that it is better for the environment, lower cost to port through its increased efficiencies and it is safer for local communities, with less road freight traffic about."
He echoed Mr Drum's sentiments in hoping the joint funding arrangement could be a blueprint for further improvements in key rail lines in need of improvement across the State.
The future of the formerly threatened Yaapeet line is now assured, with the line awarded 'silver' status under the categories recommended by the 2008 Fischer report into Victorian rail freight system, with gold lines the major priority for funding.
VFF spokesman Rob McRae said farmers were delighted to see the line reopened and a more efficient supply chain put in place.
The catchment area along the Yaapeet line down to Dimboola can contribute up to 150,000 tonnes of grain a year.
