The freight sector will employ an additional 235,000 workers and add $131.5 billion to the New South Wales’ economy by 2061, according to a new report.
The report, Delivering Freight Policy Reform in NSW, led by Dr Kerry Schott AO and a three-member panel was requested by the state government in January 2024.
It sets out a clear roadmap of short, medium and long-term actions to ready the state to better integrate freight into transport networks into the future.
The New South Wales Government has accepted the report’s recommendations and requested that Schott carry out further work investigating the barriers and opportunities for moving more freight at night to take advantage of off-peak capacity in the transport system. This would include roads, motorways, rail network, terminals and distribution facilities.
The value of freight to the New South Wales economy is now $74 billion, and the sector employs 330,000 people, according to Transport for NSW data.
The sector’s Gross Value Add (GVA) is expected to grow by an average of $1.6 billion a year to 2061 when it will provide 565,000 jobs.
The roadmap provides short-to- long-term actions to boost productivity including developing a freight master plan to ensure an integrated and long-term approach through enhanced strategic planning for freight, as well as a package of initiatives to increase rail modal shift by improving the competitiveness and efficiency of rail freight.
It also recommends adopting a new port policy regarding container terminals in which the government should not determine the timing or location of any future container terminals but recognise Port Botany remains the key container port for the state.
The report also recommends delivering the Industrial Lands Action Plan, in partnership with Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, focused on strategic land planning for freight purposes and addressing the shortage of industrial land availability.
It recommends the government support a program, in partnership with industry, to promote recruitment to address skills and workforce shortages which are consistently identified as a major risk facing the sector, particularly, in the first instance, heavy vehicle and train drivers as well as seafarers.
The report acknowledges the New South Wales Government’s current review into the future use of the Glebe Island Port and the entire Bays precinct ahead of the metro station linking the area to Parramatta, the CBD and the inner west.
It also notes the role of Glebe Island and freight more generally but highlights that the co-location of homes and freight activity is typically not sustainable.
Any impacts on freight are being closely considered as part of that review.
John Graham, Minister for Transport said the state government is determined to enable the freight sector to reach its potential.
“The movement of freight is fundamental to how we all live our lives, the cost we pay for imported goods and the competitiveness of New South Wales manufacturers and producers,” said Graham.
“Freight arrives at our biggest ports but moves through all our neighbourhoods on the road and rail network.
“Preparing those networks for the drivers of change to freight – especially population growth and technological change – is a big task and this report sets a roadmap to guide us.”
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