Western Australia planning to unveil a regional and metropolitan freight strategy by the end of the year
By Brad Gardner | September 22, 2011
Western Australia is aiming to unveil a regional and metropolitan freight strategy by the end of the year to cope with emerging transport challenges.
Transport Minister Troy Buswell says work is well advanced on the strategy and that the state’s government is also working on a moving people plan.
Buswell cites the growing demand on the ports at Fremantle and Port Hedland, which are both tipped to significantly increase the number exports in the coming years on the back of the resources boom.
“We face a significant freight challenge in Western Australia,” Buswell says.
“The moving freight strategy will entail a regional freight plan. That is well advanced. I hope to have it completed before the end of the year. It will involve a metropolitan freight plan.”
He says exports at the Port of Fremantle are expected to double over the next 10 to 15 years, while annual iron ore exports at Port Hedland will go from 200 million tonnes to 495 million tonnes within four to five years.
“We face challenges in dealing with people and we face challenges dealing with freight,” Buswell says.
“When we add a regional freight plan to the Perth metropolitan freight plan, we will have a great plan for the movement of freight around Western Australia.”