Illawarra MPs Sharon Bird and Stephen Jones have welcomed the announcement by Transport for NSW to tender for specialist teams to undertake surveying for the Maldon to Dombarton Rail Link.

Transport for NSW has advertised for specialist services to survey land boundaries and topography and identify any underground utility services along the partially completed rail line.

The Maldon-Dombarton rail link will have a great effect on growth in our region and I welcome this next step towards making this project a reality Member for Cunningham, Sharon Bird said.

The Federal Government has allocated $25.5 million to Transport for NSW under the Nation Building Program to undertake these planning and pre construction design studies, and it is fantastic to see this progressing Ms Bird said.

This rail line will link Port Kembla directly to the Main South Line at Picton, which will greatly improve freight access for the Illawarra region Member for Throsby, Stephen Jones said.

These teams of specialists will follow on from the current engineering and environmental investigations already taking place and will locate existing track, fauna crossings and adjoining roads to provide an accurate map of the corridor Mr Jones said.