A new transport and logistics hub located at Northam in Western Australia is “very close” to beginning construction, Big Rigs can reveal.
The AvonWest site, which is located on the Great Eastern Highway about 90 minutes from Perth CBD, aims to boost freight efficiency by slashing road train turnaround times.
Leon Key, managing director of Procon Developments Australia, the developers behind the project, said they are ready to start work but have been held up by red tape.
“I had a meeting last week with the chief of staff at a water minister to try to resolve the issues with the water main servicing the estate,” he said.
“That went really well, and we are expecting to hear back in the next few weeks.
“The issue is with the planning process and the need to go back to WAPC so that the paperwork aligns between the subdivision approval and the approved scheme amendment.
“But we’re very, very close to starting on site.”
Road transportation from the East Coast into Western Australia links to Perth via the Great Eastern Highway.
The freight arrives in trucks which are mostly Restricted Access Vehicles (RAV7), and these are stopped from entering the Perth zone.
Currently, road trains headed to Perth are required to break up at the Road Train Assembly Area in Northam and deliver dog run loads to their final destination in the city, before returning to collect the next load and delivering that, then returning east.
This activity and mandatory rest breaks essentially delays the drivers and linehaul equipment for up to three days at Northam.
“These large vehicles are making up to three return trips per truck on domestic roadways, unnecessarily adding levels of risk, poor efficiency, high carbon impacts and slower speed to market,” the brochure for AvonWest explains.
“The AvonWest facilities can increase speed to market by up to 48 hours by avoiding the need for cross docking in metropolitan Perth and subsequently reduce turnaround time for back loads, potentially adding an extra 20-25 East-West crossings per annum.”
Procon Developments has purchased the existing Main Roads WA Road Train Assembly Area, which is anticipated to double in size to meet growing demand.
The company also plans to establish container servicing, truck maintenance and tyre serving facilities within the 60-acre estate, to provide a full-service support offering to the transport sector.
Key said the AvonWest site will be carbon neutral, putting practices into place to protect the environment.
“We’re trying to create what will possibly be Australia’s first carbon zero transport logistics hub,” he said.
“It’s going to be a renewable energy microgrid, with best practices in regards to green initiatives.”
Next door, the Atlas Fresh Trading Co Northam service station, also owned by Procon Developments, offers a shop, restaurant, toilets and showers, with plans to build accommodation facilities at the location early next year.
“We’re going to be offering fuel, convenience food, and a restaurant menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” Key added.
“We’ll also be building approximately 50 rooms of workforce accommodation on the site.
“That will be after Christmas, possibly February.”