Opinion–Greg Cameron
The O'Farrell government's'NSW 2021'plan has an objective to"double the proportion of container freight movement by rail through NSW ports by 2020"–from 14%to 28%.The baseline year is 2010-11.
The 28%rail target,if achieved at Port Botany,means more than 500,000 more truck movements a year in 2020–from 1.3 million(in 2010-11)to 1.8 million.In 2030,the 28%rail target will involve 2.9 million more truck movements a year–from 1.3 million to 4.2 million.
Most container trucks use the M5 East.In 2009,the RTA reported that the M5 East was at capacity and was expected to be operating significantly above theoretical capacity by 2016(114%),with performance deteriorating further by 2026(120%).One loaded container truck in the M5 East westbound tunnel is the equivalent of six passenger vehicles and one truck carrying empty containers in the eastbound tunnel is the equivalent of three passenger vehicles.
No road congestion relief will be felt until the NSW government doubles the M5 East,which would not occur until 2023.However,there is no guarantee that M5 East congestion would decline even then because passenger rail capacity will be insufficient for a growing population,which in turn will drive more commuters to use their cars.
It is possible to move 100%of containers by rail if container terminal operations re-locate to Newcastle and a freight rail by-pass of Sydney and Newcastle is built,connecting to Eastern Creek and Macarthur.Metropolitan rail capacity currently used for freight can be re-allocated for passenger services.This will enable more people to switch from car to rail and ease congestion on roads.
In 2010-11,the number of twenty-foot equivalent unit(TEU)containers moved through Port Botany was 2 million.Of these,the number of TEU moved by truck was 1.7 million and,the estimated number of truck movements was 1.3 million(at an average of 1.3 TEU per truck).
In 2020,the number of TEU moved through Port Botany will exceed 3.2 million,assuming the NSW government abolishes the current limit on container movements under legislation currently before state parliament.By 2030,the NSW government expects container movements through Port Botany to reach 7.5 million TEU.
The government's decision to lease out the Port Botany container terminal for 99 years ensures unlimited growth in container truck movements on Sydney's roads and prevents a freight rail by-pass of Sydney.
How does this benefit NSW?(477)
