New Sydney intermodal proposal draws public fire

<table width="499" border="0"> <tr> <td><p>A proposal to build an intermodal terminal on a greenfield site at Menangle just outside Campbelltown in Sydney’s southwest drew a community protest last week.</p> <p>The plan involves part of a 484-ha block of land close to the Hume Highway and the main southern railway line.</p> <p>It is understood private landowners in the area are promoting the development, with no involvement yet from any of the established intermodal players. </p><p>&nbsp</p><p>An observer said the location is good but the plan may be premature because of lack of other industrial development nearby. </p> <p>The State Government should look at purchasing the land to preserve the site for intermodal use in the future, he said. </p> <p>The plan has yet to go before council, and the mayor of Wollondilly shire, Michael Banasik, told the local press that the project should be put before a commission of inquiry. </p> <p>A Commission of Inquiry last year found in favour of an intermodal development for Patrick Corporation in Ingleburn, 20 km further north along the main line. However, infrastructure and planning minister Craig Knowles gave only a partial approval to the plan, drawing considerable public ire from Patrick Corporation. </p> <p>Separately, Mr Knowles’s political future took a dent on Friday evening (April 1), after he was charged with a low-level drink-driving offence on the M5 motorway. </p> <p>Another key transport figure in the government, roads, ports and economic reform minister Michael Costa, faces a vote of no confidence in the New South Wales Labor caucus tomorrow over his political style. </p> <p>Meanwhile, the Australian Financial Review has reported that intermodal developer Austrak may have won a tender to develop a 68,000 square metre distribution centre for Coles Myer next to Austrak’s 600,000 teu a year intermodal site at Somerton, north of Melbourne.</p> </td> </tr> </table> <br />