Construction works at Moorebank Logistics Park have begun as part of the Moorebank Intermodal Project (MIP), which aims to improve Sydney’s freight future and logistics network, and provide economic benefits.
The project will inject more than $11 billion of economic benefits over the next 30 years and create more than 6,800 jobs.
“This is an enormously important day for the freight and logistics sector, here in NSW and right around Australia. It’s also one that has been a long time coming,” said Michael Kilgariff, ALC Managing Director.
“The indisputable advantages of the Moorebank Intermodal Terminal (MIT) for our industry have been discussed for over a decade. The project was included on Infrastructure Australia’s Infrastructure Priority List, has the support of the NSW and Federal Governments, will create some 6,800 jobs and deliver $11 billion in economic benefits.”
“Our growing national freight task demands more efficient road and rail connections from ports to intermodal facilities. Moving more freight to rail – where it makes commercial sense – can help reduce road congestion, improve environmental outcomes and reduce queuing times in our ports.
“The Moorebank facility will unleash these benefits for Port Botany, and for Sydney’s heavily-congested M5 corridor. It will also help achieve the NSW Government’s objective of boosting rail freight to and from Port Botany from its current 18 per cent to around 30 per cent, as well as NSW Ports’ target to move 3 million TEU by rail by 2045.”
Mr Kilgariff said the ALC has long argued that building a reliable, national network of intermodal facilities is central to boosting rail’s contribution the national freight task, which the National Transport Commission estimates will grow by 26 per cent over the next decade alone.
“It’s thus encouraging to witness other intermodal developments in NSW, including Aurizon’s operations at NSW Ports’ Enfield Intermodal Logistics Centre, and Pacific National’s significant upgrade to its facility at Chullora.
“Pursuing the development of similar intermodal facilities in other jurisdictions will be a key element of the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy being developed by the Federal Government, as recommended in ALC’s 2016 election priorities document, Getting the Supply Chain Right.
“ALC congratulates all those who have helped to progress Moorebank to this stage, particularly Moorebank Intermodal Company and Qube Holdings. We look forward to working with them, the NSW and Federal Governments and other stakeholders to make sure this project succeeds in delivering real improvements in supply chain efficiency,” Mr Kilgariff said.
