Toll executive emphasises the need for governments to focus on preserving strategic freight corridors.
Australia’s premier transport and logistics operator has put the onus on government to do more to protect strategic freight corridors from urban encroachment.
Toll Domestic Forwarding Divisional Director Paul Ebsworth says key freight routes need to be preserved and a seamless supply chain created to cater for an efficient freight network.
“Despite their economic importance to the state, many of the strategic freight routes that service Australia’s port are under threat from urban encroachment,” Ebsworth says.
“Governments need to ensure their planning provides for nationally significant economic infrastructure – transport corridors, international gateways and intermodal connections.
“It is important to identify the land use planning decisions that may impede the efficiency of both our current and future freight operations.”
Ebsworth made the comments at the 2014 Intermodal Asia conference in Melbourne, where he also told attendees cooperation between the private and public sectors is essential to secure an efficient freight network.
“An efficient freight network requires governments, operators and users to work together to create a seamless supply chain,” he says.
“Our view of an efficient freight network cannot happen in isolation of appropriate government policy direction and funding.
“This includes encouraging greater private sector investment and public-private partnerships.”