The integration of the freight and logistics sector to New South Wales’ Strategic Regional Integration Transport Plans (SRITPs) should be a core priority rather than an afterthought, the Australian Logistics Council asserts.
The SRITPs are being utilised to “plan for sustainable growth in nine regions across the state” according to Transport for NSW, and are “tailored to address the evolving transportation needs and aspirations of regional NSW over a 20-year horizon.
The regions covered are the Hunter, South East and Tablelands, Central Coast, Central West and Orana, Far West, Illawarra-Shoalhaven, New England and North West, North Coast, and Riverine-Murray regions.
While the ALC has welcomed the long-term planning and investment into key regional transport corridors across the state, it has raised concerns that bottlenecks will continue to raise costs due to its focus on passenger mobility as opposed to freight efficiency.
“Freight movement is fundamental to economic prosperity and the functioning of everyday life in the city as well as in the regions,” ALC CEO Hermione Parsons says.
“The plans need to be consistent and integrated.
“A well-designed transport network must serve both people and goods. Right now, this plan leans too heavily towards passenger mobility without fully addressing the critical role of freight logistics in sustaining industries, communities and supply chains.”
The ALC has raised five key concerns regarding the current state of the SRITPs, being freight rail bottlenecks, land-use conflicts, inadequate first- and last-mile infrastructure, regulatory and workforce challenges and climate resilience and decarbonisation.
In addition to its five key concerns, the ALC has also raised concerns about insufficient industry consultation of the plans, and is calling for an immediate review of the program.
“Transport planning that fails to embed freight considerations from the outset will lead to inefficiencies, congestion and economic constraints,” Parsons continues.
“TfNSW is actively in freight planning for metropolitan areas, but this expertise does not appear to have been incorporated in these plans.”
“Strategic freight planning must be evidence-based, nationally aligned, and designed for long-term success,” ALC Head of Government & Industry Affairs Sheena Fardell says.
“Our members operate across road, rail, sea, air and intermodal transport, and they are telling us the same thing.
“A more sophisticated, integrated approach to freight is required.
“Freight logistics is not a secondary consideration – it is the backbone of our supply chains. If we fail to plan for freight today, we will face higher costs, greater inefficiencies and reduced investment tomorrow.”
The ALC’s full submission can be found here.
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