Consultation regarded as key to success of new Victorian Freight Plan
The establishment of Freight Victoria as a dedicated co-ordination agency for delivering the Victorian Freight Plan will help to deliver long-term economic prosperity for the state and ensure Victoria retains the mantle as the freight capital of Australia, according to the Victorian Transport Association (VTA).
The plan has been many months in the making and was prepared in close consultation with stakeholders from the transport industry, including the VTA.
“Freight Victoria and the plan it is tasked with delivering is about much more than just freight,” VTA CEO Peter Anderson says.
“It is about creating greater efficiency and productivity in supply chains which impacts every part of the economy and is fundamental for job creation and growth, which is what we need to be prosperous.”
The VTA is in no doubt that the positives stem from the state government’s consultation process with the freight transport industry when starting.
“Throughout the development of the Victorian Freight Plan, the VTA has been encouraging the government to establish a dedicated authority for freight, so we are encouraged that Freight Victoria has been created as a central point of contact for the industry,” VTA CEO Peter Anderson says.
“With so many things happening in our industry from a regulatory, legislative and infrastructure perspective, it has never been more important that the unique needs of operators are factored early on in decisions being made.”
The association welcomes a renewed pledge to shift more freight onto rail through the creation of new inland freight terminals and a freight precinct adjacent to the Port of Melbourne.
“The VTA has long been advocating for greater intermodal transport solutions and the emphasis on rail freight is a good thing because it will help to alleviate congestion on our roads, which is a significant issue for road freight operators in and around Melbourne,” Anderson says.
“More emphasis on rail freight does not translate into less emphasis on road freight because as I have long said, ships and trains carry freight but only trucks deliver. So, road freight operators should also welcome the plan.”
Other aspects of the Victorian Freight Plan include the business case for Western Interstate Freight Terminal, extension of the Mode Shift Incentive Scheme, investigations into an integrated logistics hub at the Melbourne Markets and Dynon Road, and a review into heavy vehicle driver training and licensing.
“It is encouraging that licensing and heavy vehicle registration have been singled out by the government in the plan because these are areas the VTA has been advocating loudly for significant reforms.
“For our industry’s long-term health, we need to attract new workers, and reforms that create greater skills, competency and professionalism will go a long way to achieving that.”
Read about the VTA’s efforts in driver training reform here
The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) also sees the establishment of Freight Victoria as a significant step in delivering the policy and regulatory outcomes that the freight logistics industry needs.
The ALC expects it to drive a coordinated approach to delivering the planning, infrastructure and measurement outcomes the industry needs to enhance supply chain efficiency and safety for Victoria’s rapidly growing population.
“ALC was proactively involved in advising the Victorian Government on the development of this updated plan, through the Ministerial Freight Reference Group,” ALC MD Michael Kilgariff says.
“The plan released today addresses many of the concerns industry expressed throughout that consultation process.
“Establishing Freight Victoria is a very positive step that will help to overcome one of the industry’s most enduring criticisms – unclear accountability and coordination between different government agencies when it comes to monitoring and measuring the performance of freight networks.
“ALC also welcomes other key elements of the plan that are in line with our continuing advocacy. Of particular note are the plan’s recognition of the need for more reliable freight data, a collaborative approach with local government to address last-mile restrictions on deliveries in urban areas, incentivising the uptake of telematics in all heavy vehicles registered in Victoria, supporting port rail shuttles and developing an effective regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles.”
The ALC notes with approval the plan’s support for crucial existing and new terminal operations.
This “will provide certainty for industry by endorsing the view put forward by ALC and Infrastructure Victoria that the existing Port of Melbourne should be developed to its optimum capacity.
“We similarly welcome confirmation that the Western Interstate Freight Terminal (WIFT) will be developed at Truganina, to align with the completion of the Inland Rail in 2025.”
In a response, like others, that was entirely positive, the ALC holds out the hope for closer state-federal cooperation.
“It is pleasing to observe that Delivering The Goods explicitly acknowledges the importance of developing an effective National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy,” Kilgariff says.
“In fact, many of the issues addressed in Delivering The Goods were raised in Freight Doesn’t Vote, ALC’s submission to the Inquiry into National Freight and Supply Chain Priorities.
“Supply chains do not stop at state borders, so it will be critical that Freight Victoria engages closely with the Commonwealth on the development of the Strategy.
“This will maximise opportunities for improved supply chain efficiency and safety nation-wide.”
The full plan can be found here.