Freight industry representatives have met with Minister for Ports David Hodgett and Minister for Public Transport and Roads Terry Mulder at the inaugural Ministerial Freight Advisory Council Round Table to discuss key directions for the sector.
Both ministers confirmed the government will soon release a detailed Victorian Freight and Logistics Plan and the round table plays a key role in finalising industry input.
Addressing the round table, Mr Hodgett said the government’s highest freight priority was ensuring availability of port gateway capacity.
“It is a fantastic opportunity to have all of the key industry players in one room, with one common objective, to provide the insight and direction required to maintain and increase Victoria’s competitive edge,” Mr Hodgett said.
“As the Minister for Ports I’m proud to say the government has a clear strategy for increasing port capacity to meet expected demand for containers, the most rapidly growing and valuable of all the port trades.
“Action is well and truly under way in this regard. We’re expanding capacity at the Port of Melbourne with the $1.6 billion Port Capacity Project and we’ve begun the process of creating additional capacity at the Port of Hastings by allocating $110 million to progress planning for Victoria’s second container port.
“We’re also improving our inland freight network through the $28 million Transport Solutions initiative to support Victoria’s growing regional export market which leads the nation in agricultural exports, accounting for 29 per cent of all food and fibre exports.
“We know Melbourne has excellent road and rail links connecting the port to the city and beyond, standing it apart from other Australian ports. This will be enhanced further with the construction of the East West Link, which will provide a great boost to our freight network.
“It is absolutely essential that we continue to invest in our freight and logistics network, and gathering key industry representatives together today gives us the engagement opportunities to ensure the sector continues to thrive,” Mr Hodgett said.
Mr Mulder said the government’s initiatives were aimed at maintaining Victoria’s leadership in the nation’s freight and logistics sector.
“The government has declared itself an unequivocal supporter of the freight industry and we are determined to maintain the competitive edge we have built up over several decades,” Mr Mulder said.
“Last year, the government established the Ministerial Freight Advisory Council to ensure business had a seat at the table and that a mechanism was in place for high-level advice to be provided on matters relating to freight and logistics.
“Meeting with the key industry players through today’s round table is an invaluable way to address challenges within the industry and plan how we can best capitalise on Victoria’s competitive advantages in freight and logistics.
“Through our focus on freight we have already delivered the first stage of the Geelong Grain Loop upgrade, upgraded and reopened the Rainbow to Dimboola Line for grain export, delivered the Wimmera Intermodal Terminal and Iluka Mineral Sands rail siding, as well as starting construction on the Echuca to Toolamba line for rice export and the Warncoort Crossing Loop.
“The government also reconfirmed its commitment to the freight and logistics sector in the 2013/14 State Budget with over $500 million for roads projects that will benefit freight. This includes WestGateBridge maintenance and funding for the East West Link which will forge links to the Port of Melbourne and Melbourne airport, meaning huge benefits to freight networks.
“Combined with initiatives such as the Moving More with Less initiative to improve truck movements throughout Victoria and planning for the development of key metropolitan intermodal terminals to feed Victoria’s ports and interstate freight, we are implementing a smooth-running and decentralised system geared for efficiency with less intrusion on inner Melbourne networks,” Mr Mulder said. (138)
