Freight Rail, Market Sectors

Freight infrastructure investment set to streamline supply chain

Hopkins NTC

A number of government freight infrastructure projects are the subject of an Australian Logistics Council report on how to enhance them to be more “freight friendly”.

Australia’s overall freight volumes are expected to increase by 35 per cent by 2040 and, as such, more streamlined supply chains are needed.

The report, Help Us Deliver, released in late October, sets out how targeted infrastructure investments can enable the freight network to continue operating efficiently and safely.

“The dedicated professionals who make up our freight logistics industry work tirelessly to deliver about four billion tonnes of goods around Australia each year, which represents 163 tonnes of freight for every Australian,” ALS CEO Kirk Coningham said.

“However, our growing population, rising levels of congestion and decades of inadequate planning for freight movement are making the task harder.”

As such, the report sets out several opportunities to enhance existing infrastructure projects to make them more “freight-friendly”.

“We have also identified a number of new projects that we believe should be supported by the federal government in order to enhance the performance of key trade gateways, stimulating export and employment growth.”

The projects discussed in the report include ensuring that the Fishermans Bend redevelopment project enables efficient access to the Port of Melbourne by connecting Webb Dock to the freight rail network; supporting the construction of a dedicated freight rail link from Inland Rail to the Port of Brisbane; and, upgrading the rail track between Tarcoola in South Australia and Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.