NSW continues to grow its rail mode share- now close to 20%- while Victorian rail mode share sits around 10%.
Following engagement with both the State Government and the State Opposition, Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) welcome yesterday's policy commitments from the State Opposition, the Liberal National party, to revitalise freight rail to Victoria's Ports.
The Hon. Peter Walsh MP, Leader of the Coalition, has made the following commitments:
· Immediately revive the Port Rail Shuttle project, developing a network of suburban intermodal terminals to improve freight efficiency and productivity;
· Invest $20 million in a four year extension of the successful Mode Shift Incentive Scheme (MSIS) to take trucks off our country and suburban roads
· Provide $1.5 million for a feasibility study to assess options for a rail link to connect Webb Dock with the freight rail network
· Establish an industry working group to advise on new industry innovations in the freight and logistics sector, with a focus on further maximising efficiencies in freight movement
The extension of the MSIS (a funding scheme that subsidises "freight on rail") has been a long-standing position of FTA/APSA, as indicated in our letter to the Hon. Minister Jacinta Allen MP, and is one of the few policy items that seeks to balance out the cost competitiveness between road and rail.
The funding of a Webb Dock rail connectivity study is also an important development. Shipping lines continue to look towards bringing bigger ships into Melbourne and Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) remains the only container terminal that can host the larger vessels.
Victoria's major exporters will welcome these developments and we hope that the Government will be able to match these commitments.
It is anticipated that the Victorian Freight Strategy will be released soon.
FTA/APSA look forward to working with both parties in the lead up to the State election later this year.
Travis Brooks-Garrett - FTA / APSA