Kwinana Intermodal Terminal unveiled for comment

The Western Australian Government opened the preferred option for a future rail freight hub – the Kwinana Intermodal Terminal – for public comment yesterday.

A primary concern was alleviating heavy vehicles using main roads between Fremantle and the existing freight terminals in the Kewdale-Forrestfield areas, the Government said of the proposal.

There were no immediate plans to start development but planning, including reserving land for the terminal, was essential, planning minister John Day said.

Submissions would be accepted up to until January 30.

“The Kwinana Intermodal Terminal Site Evaluation Final Report . . . discusses location options, concept design and layout for a modern terminal in the style of a freight village," Mr Day said.

“It also identifies the Latitude 32 Industry Zone, between Russell and Rowley roads, as the preferred site for the future new freight terminal.”

LandCorp is to develop this 1,400-ha site, formerly known as the Hope Valley-Wattleup Redevelopment Project, as the state's largest industrial zone.

The terminal concept envisaged a 133-ha core terminal area, abutted by an industry park and supporting land uses, as well as strategic and logistical links with the proposed Kwinana Outer Harbour container facility and the private port proposal at James Point, the Government said.

Mr Day said planning scheme amendments associated with both the private and public port proposals would progress quickly.

It was anticipated that the terminal would primarily service the interstate freight task, with a smaller proportion of the throughput being intrastate.

"The next step is to consider ways to formally integrate the intermodal terminal concept into LandCorp's structure planning for the area," Mr Day said.

The report can be viewed at:

http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/freight/19811.asp