INDUSTRY body the Australian Logistics Council says the Infrastructure Priority List released by Infrastructure Australia highlights need for investment in freight projects.
ALC chairman Philip Davies said it was essential Australia made infrastructure investment decisions based on sound principles and evidence-based assessments.
“In the past, the Infrastructure Priority List has helped to build support for investment in critical freight infrastructure projects which are now being undertaken, including Western Sydney Airport, Inland Rail, the Moorebank Intermodal Terminal and more recently the Port Botany freight rail duplication, which was supported in the 2018 Federal Budget,” Mr Davies said.
“It is especially pleasing to note this year’s list again includes the development of a National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy as a high priority initiative.””
Key freight-related initiatives in this year’s list, include:
- Upgrading Chullora Junction to enhance Sydney’s freight rail network;
- Building the North East Link in Melbourne to alleviate traffic congestion;
- Pursuing a dedicated freight rail connection from Inland Rail to the Port of Brisbane;
- Enhancing capacity and traffic flows on the Mitchell and Kwinana Freeways in Perth;
- Completing the upgrade of the Adelaide North-South road corridor to enhance capacity and efficiency of freight movement to the airport and port precincts;
- Investing in road and rail improvements on the Burnie to Hobart freight corridor;
- Implementation of the Advanced Train Management System on the ARTC network; and
- Establishing a national electric vehicle fast-charging network to overcome ‘range anxiety’ among freight logistics operators.
“Australia must do everything possible to eliminate capacity constraints in our freight networks if we wish to succeed in an increasingly competitive global market. Securing investment in these priority projects will help to deliver that outcome,” Mr Davies said.
The Infrastructure Australia priority list can be viewed here.
