The Federal and Victorian Governments have agreed to progress planning on the proposed Western Interstate Freight Terminal (WIFT), a facility with the potential to ease congestion around the Port of Melbourne and take more than 700,000 trucks a year off the city’s roads.
According to the federal government, the development of the terminal would complement the capital works programs that are currently rebuilding more than a third of the 10,000-kilometre interstate rail freight network.
An intermodal facility in Melbourne’s west has the potential to achieve better integration with other modes of transport, including ports and roads.
The Western Interstate Freight Terminal pre-feasibility study is being funded by the federal ($3.5 million) and Victorian ($1.5 million) governments. If given the final go-ahead, the project would build an interstate terminal and freight precinct at Truganina in Melbourne’s west as well as a link to the Interstate Rail Freight Network.
Currently, interstate containers bound for distribution in Melbourne are railed to terminals adjacent to the port and then trucked to the outer suburbs. An intermodal at Truganinia would do away with the need for interstate trains and trucks to come into the port precinct.
Victorian Public Transport and Roads Minister Terry Mulder said the WIFT would reduce freight traffic through the inner west potentially removing up to 2,000 truck movements from the precinct every day.
“The WIFT would reduce truck movements in Melbourne’s inner west, open up land side capacity for the Port of Melbourne, Australia’s largest container and general cargo port, and enhance Victoria’s reputation as the nation’s freight and logistics hub,” said Mr Mulder.
“And with forecasts showing interstate rail freight through Melbourne will triple by 2030, it is important to plan now to ensure the right infrastructure is in place to meet demand.
“The WIFT makes sense. It closes one of the biggest missing links in Victoria’s interstate rail freight network and improves efficiency by freeing up the rail and road capacity in this inner city precinct allowing freight to be distributed from outside of the CBD.
“Efficiency is gained by making better use of road and rail connections and reducing the time and length of truck trips. This will have the twin benefit of reducing bottlenecks in inner Melbourne and reducing truck trips from inner urban areas.
“The Government is committed to growing freight on rail and projects like the WIFT will improve liveability for the community by promoting the use of rail while at the same time providing real economic and environmental benefits.”