Initiative one of five Kilgariff names as needing to be brought to fruition to handle NSW freight growth
August 8, 2013
New South Wales must count the Hume Highway high productivity vehicles (HPVs) trial and continuing its infrastructure recycling initiative as matters of the highest urgency, the Australian Logistics Council (ALC) says.
Speaking at the NSW Transport Infrastructure Summit today, ALC Managing Director Michael Kilgariff points to these issues as amongst the five most important for the State Government to deliver with a view to increasing freight efficiency.
Kilgariff nominated Sydney infrastructure as crucial to the well-being of the national economy and put the finalisation of the NSW Freight and Port Strategy at the top of his list.
“Sydney is the most critical link in Australia’s domestic and international supply chains, with most of our freight either originating, passing through or ending up in Sydney,” he says.
“When Sydney doesn’t work, Australia doesn’t work and the implications hit the freight logistics industry up and down the supply chain.”
Kilgariff describes the West Connex project as a “once in a generation opportunity to prepare for future growth at Port Botany”.
On HPVs, he emphasised the safety and efficiency outcomes that have already been recognised.
“A Hume Highway trial was highlighted in the National Land Freight Strategy as a priority and we look forward to governments undertaking it,” he says.
He noted Roads Minister Duncan Gay’s announcement last week granting B-triples greater access in western NSW, and says the ALC would like to see that extended to the Hume.
“The NSW Government should announce the date the trial is to commence, and if there is to be further delay, why is it so,” Kilgariff adds.
The need for progress on the Moorebank Intermodal Terminal was seen as crucial.
“Moorebank is a priority infrastructure project and its timely development is critical to boosting efficiency and increasing productivity in the Sydney freight market,” he says.
“ALC would like to see the entire site developed ‘englobo’ using a whole of precinct approach that maximises the value of this valuable infrastructure asset.”
Also exercising the ALC’s mind is the need for a second airport in Sydney at Badgery’s Creek.
