Members
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Buloke
Central Goldfields
City of Ballarat
City of Melbourne
City of Wodonga
East Gippsland
Gannawarra
Glenelg
Greater Shepparton
Hindmarsh
Horsham Rural City
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Latrobe City
Loddon
Mildura Rural City
Moyne
Northern Grampians
Pyrenees
South Gippsland
Southern Grampians
Swan Rural City
Urana
Warrnambool
Wellington
Yarriambiack
Established
The Rail Freight Alliance is made up of 24 rural,
regional and metropolitan municipalities,
Victoria and Southern NSW. The Alliance was
first formed in 1997 due to growing frustration
with the lack of rail connectivity both within
Victoria and with the neighbouring State's; and
the lack of investment in Victoria's antiquated
19th century rail freight system.
To advocate for more freight on rail
Why Rail over Road?
• Reduced damage to the Local Road Network
• Reduced congestion in Melbourne and on the highway
network
• Improved road safety – fewer truck accidents
• Much lower freight costs over economic distances
• Much better environmental performance
• Better social connectivity (to medical treatment,
education, leisure, sport for rural and regional
communities) via passenger trains
• Smaller land footprint than equivalent road network
(eg huge freeway ) interchanges
To Advocate
• Rail standardisation of all key freight rail lines,
where it is economic to do so.
• Upgrading of same.(Higher axle loads, better
level crossings, lower journey times, better
signalling)
• A competive,independent and Open Access
regime.
• A seamless freight logistics that will facilitate
movement of bulk freight by rail rather than road.
Alliance Activity
•
•
•
•
•
•
Rail Freight Governance Options for Victoria
VRAR Submission
GLTF Submission (draft)
Murray Basin Infrastructure Strategy
Victorian Freight & Logistics Plan Submission
Member of the MBIRA Executive (representing
Victoria)
• Conference October 10th 2014
Why Rail & Local Government ?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Job Creation and retention
Industry Diversification
Support for Primary Production local economy
Product to Port
Residential Amenity
Reduce Truck movements on Local Roads
Road Safety and Congestion
Gippsland Intermodal Freight Terminal
•
•
•
•
•
•
After 1999 Private Operator no longer viable
2004 Latrobe Council purchased 64 hectare site
2004 – 10
Lobbied for a secure lease at the site
Engaged all stakeholders and created an EOI
Council maintains ownership of the site.
Dooen Freight Hub
• Relocated from Horsham
• Investment from Regional Councils
• Located close to Viterra
Logic
•
•
•
•
Wodonga Council purchased 604 hectares
Secure anchor and additional tenants.
National Training and Skills Centre
Fatigue Management Centre and Trailer
Exchange
The Mildura Line
•
•
•
•
220 Million commitment from the State Government
Business Case due 2015
Regional Transport Groups and State Government.
A collective approach has the potential to transform
transport for Victoria
Transport Needs
Why Rail is important for Victoria?
• Massive growth in freight expected (from 2
million containers through the port to 7
million by 2035)
• Road congestion requires rail investment
• Metro Freight Terminal network needs to be
developed Truganina (WIFT), Lyndhurst &
Somerton
• Better access needed to Hastings, Gippsland
• Metro and rural councils must work together
• Reid Mather
• Executive Officer
• Ph: 0428 772 264
• [email protected]
• www.railfreightalliance.com