Construction has begun on what will be Australia’s largest logistics hub, the $1.62 billion Beveridge Intermodal Precinct in Melbourne.
The first sods have been turned and key approvals are in place for site preparation works to get underway, paving the way for major construction to start early in 2026.
Located at the southern terminus of the Inland Rail freight corridor, the Victorian Government says the open access Beveridge Intermodal Precinct will reduce freight costs, ease road congestion and boost supply chain efficiency and competition.
The first stage of the project will also deliver the only Melbourne terminal capable of receiving and servicing double stacked Inland Rail trains, targeting mid-2028 operations with capacity for up to 200,000 20-foot-equivalent units annually.
Once operational, double stacked trains will be able to run between Melbourne and Perth, via Parkes in the New South Wales central west.
The intermodal terminal precinct is intended to help shift freight from road to rail, removing 167,000 truck trips from roads each year when the Beveridge Intermodal Precinct is fully developed. Each train pulling into the Intermodal will replace up to 110 trucks.
This modal shift is expected to reduce emissions by 12.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over 25 years and cut particulate pollution by 92 per cent compared to road freight.
Around 500 hectares of land will be preserved for green wedge and other long-term environmental and social benefits.
Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said yesterday: “Today marks a major milestone as the Beveridge Intermodal Precinct moves from planning to delivery.
“As we work to move more freight from our roads to rail, Beveridge will play a key role in marshalling freight from the port and across Victoria, sending it onto destinations across the country via our rail network.
“Strong local supply chains often go unnoticed, but they are vital to ensure goods make it to shelves and shopfronts.”
National Intermodal CEO James Baulderstone said: “The Beveridge Intermodal Precinct is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape how freight moves across Australia.
“We’re ready to deliver a nationally significant project that will not only drive $14 billion in economic uplift in Victoria and create more than 17,000 jobs, but also deliver real environmental benefits, including taking 167,000 truck trips off our roads each year and cutting emissions by more than 12 million tonnes.”
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