Uncategorized

Port of Melbourne looks at smarter ways to manage growth

<p>Only one-quarter of all freight container movements in Victoria run at maximum efficiency.</p> <p>Most freight transport involves unnecessary trips and detours, according to a joint study by the Department of Infrastructure, the Melbourne Port Corporation and the Victorian Sea Freight Industry Council.</p> <p>Victorian transport minister Peter Batchelor said these interim trips and broken journeys cost companies significant amounts of money and lead to more truck congestion on the roads.</p> <p>"We have to find smarter ways of moving freight or suffer the consequences of increased truck transport on our roads," Mr Batchelor said.</p> <p>The best way to decrease road freight is to make rail freight a viable alternative, with the government aiming to increase rail’s share of the freight market to 30% by 2010, he said.</p> <p>Of the 3.34m land-based container moves generated by imports and exports through the Port of Melbourne in 2002, only 19% were transported via rail.</p> <br />