Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 2:47:47 to 2:50:23
Oversight of the Transport Resilient and Capacity Kickstart (TRACK) program, focusing on the first round of rail-specific grants and the development of a green fuel bunkering strategy.
Topics: Infrastructure, Grants administration, Emissions reduction
Speakers: Paula Stagg, Hon Bridget McKenzie, Rachel Parry, Unknown Speaker
kickstart program
>> Yeah, look on um it's a one-year uh it's a one-year program. Um, Senator, the program has just kicked off, so no money has been extended today.
>> Okay. Um, how many applications have you received under round one of uh track open competitive grants program?
>> Paula Stagg, first assistant secretary, surface transport emissions and policy division. Uh, we've had 10 applications.
>> 10 applications. I understand that grants up to $10 million were available under this program with a cap of $26 million for the first round. What happens if more than $26 million worth of eligible and meritorious applications are received?
>> Uh uh it'll be a decision for government, but essentially we expect uh the a competitive process up to the $26 million.
>> Okay. Why was round one restricted to rail projects when maritime was also intended to be a focus for the program?
>> Uh it was to get the program open as quickly as possible. The rail aspects of the program were more straightforward to design. So we launched a rail specific round first to get uh to get the process underway while we continue to design the maritime aspects of the program. Uh and that will be captured under round two.
>> And what commitments do applicants have to provide to qualify for funding under this scheme.
>> Uh essentially the the key measures are around the reduction in uh diesel. Uh so being able to demonstrate mode shift against a baseline uh that delivers uh diesel reductions uh is the primary objective that the applicants have to demonstrate uh so above a baseline um using that financial incentive.
>> Have you completed the assessment of all the applications?
>> No, Senator, that's still underway.
>> When will that be completed?
>> Uh I don't think it's too far away. We're progressing it as quickly as we
can. Sorry, just remind me when this opened the date.
>> Uh, it opened on the 11th of September and applications closed on the 1st of October.
>> 1st of October. So, two weeks of Yep.
>> Yes. And that includes the grants hub process around eligibility compliance checks before the department commences its
>> must be a record for grants hub.
>> We are progressing as quickly as we can.
>> Um, okay. Um just what has the department delivered to date under the $4 million budget commitment to the green fuel bunkering strategy?