Not enough trucks to move all the grain in NSW

<p>There were not enough trucks to move the estimated 3m export wheat crop in New South Wales (NSW) Graincorp warned today (Thursday, March 27) in <em>The Land</em> .</p> <p>Graincorp’s managing director, Tom Keene, said trains could deliver 12,000 to 15,000 tonnes of grain a day to Port Kembla, something which road transport could not match. </p> <p>Meanwhile, Asciano, the parent company of Pacific National, which indicated it would withdrawal from grain rail in NSW and Victoria last year, refuted suggestions it was selling its rolling stock for scrap to discourage competitors.</p> <p>Asciano spokesperson Marie Festa told <em>The Land</em> that 200 wagons were scrapped because they were past their &#8220use-by&#8221 date.</p> <p><em>The Land</em> estimated 12 trucks an hour would be needed to get the 3m tonnes of wheat to port, up from the usual six to eight trucks a day in a normal season.</p> <p>Community groups around rural areas and the ports have also voiced their concerns about the extra trucks on the roads.</p> <p>NSW Shires Association president Bruce Miller told <em>The Land</em> that NSW country roads could not handle the increase in heavy vehicles.</p> <p>&#8220Many roads are not designed to carry big tonnages of grain, and there are a lot of concerns from the safety angle,&#8221 Mr Miller said.</p> <p>Asciano late last year said it would withdraw from grain rail in NSW and Victoria because it was losing on average $3m a month from the unreliable business.</p> <p>Since then, farmers have said they were expecting a huge 2008 harvest due to drought-breaking weather. </p> <p>But without a rail operator to get the excess wheat to port, farmers are unsure how their huge wheat crop will fare in regards to transport.</p> <p>The NSW Government has yet been able to negotiate with Asciano or find a solution.</p> <br />