Two giant freight terminals are to be built in Melbourne’s north and west, taking 5500 trucks off arterial roads every day once finished, said the Morrison government ahead of tomorrow’s federal budget.
The commonwealth is committing $1.6 billion to the Beveridge terminal and $280 million for nearby road upgrades, including the Camerons Lane interchange at the Hume Fwy. Another $740 million will be allocated to the Truganina terminal, plus $920 million for a rail connection.
“Victoria is the freight and logistics capital of Australia,” Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher said.
“To maintain this advantage, the delivery of two modern and advanced intermodal terminals in the north and west of Melbourne to support inland rail, as well as east-west freight rail flows, is a priority.”
“Our investment in two terminals and connecting infrastructure will help remove around 5500 truck movements per day from metropolitan arterial roads in Melbourne in the next 15 years, significantly reducing congestion and emissions across the CBD, and improving safety.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said the projects were crucial to maintaining Australia’s success as an exporting nation, ensuring “we have the right infrastructure in place at the end of the line to get these products
The terminals will support 1350 jobs during construction and 550 positions once they are operational, with another 5455 jobs stemming from the associated road and rail works.
Tuesday’s budget will also announce $109 million to upgrade Mickleham Rd and $18 million to reboot the cancelled commuter carpark project at Kananook station, plus $45 million for road improvements between Ballarat and Ouyen and $23 million to upgrade Canterbury Rd.
Australian Logistics Council CEO Brad Williams welcomed the Melbourne Intermodal Terminal Package and said investment in new freight terminals would help achieve modal shift from road to rail and facilitate a nationally connected, efficient and productive freight and logistics sector.
“Investment in intermodal infrastructure is critical to the national economic interest,” Williams said.
“Modal shift is changing the way freight is moved in Australia, including doubling the volume of freight transported on rail between Melbourne and Brisbane from 30 per cent to 62 per cent by 2050 and maximising the efficiency gains from the operation of Inland Rail.
“A coordinated and centralised approach, through the National Intermodal Corporation, should ensure access for multiple supply chain participants and help drive increased efficiency and productivity across all freight modes.”
Williams said this budget commitment is an important step in modernising Australia’s freight network and maintains the focus on delivery of the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy.