ALC sits on the Moorebank fence

Date: 11.05.2012

Australia’s peak logistics body bets each way on Moorebank intermodal terminal proposals from the Federal Government and SIMTA

By Sean Muir | May 11, 2012

Australia’s peak logistics body is betting each way on Moorebank intermodal terminal proposals from the Federal Government and the Sydney Intermodal Terminal Alliance (SIMTA).

Despite the Federal Budget’s multi-billion dollar commitment to the proposed logistics hub in Sydney’s west, the Australian Logistics Council (ALC) has refused to rule out support for a competing proposal
to be operated by
the private
SIMTA consortium comprising Qube Logistics and QR National.

Following an ALC statement congratulating the Federal Government on its budget commitment, ALC Managing Director Michael Kilgariff revealed to SupplyChain Review the SIMTA proposal may still be the better option.

"We haven’t really gone with the government perse," Kilgariff says.

"Really what we have done is recognised the fact that we are happy with the government is focussing on the long term needs of freight both in Sydney and nationally, because Moorebank has national impact not just NSW impact.

"We don’t necessarily think that one should be developed at the expense of the other."

Kilgariff says if the SIMTA site was ready to go the ALC would support it being given the green light.

But he says if the government can develop its site as quickly and as economically efficiently as SIMTA then it should also be progressed.

"We recognise it (the government’s proposal) is for a larger site, with potentially better access to the rail link, so from that perspective we are supportive of the government doing everything
it can to get
the project
moving," he says.

"But SIMTA
is
saying it can get
its proposal
up and running now."

"We are just saying we need this site sooner rather than later."

"If SIMTA’s stacks up from a cost benefit point of view than obviously we wouldn’t want to be opposing it."

Kilgariff says the key ‘inland port’ needs to be developed in a way that maximises its potential.

He says the key to this is developing the entire site ‘englobo’ as a strategic transport hub that uses a whole of precinct approach to maximise the use of such a rare and valuable asset.

"ALC’s desire to see this important transport hub developed expeditiously in such a way that maximises efficiency and productivity, recognises its key strategic location near the M4, M5 and Port Botany rail freight line, and the important role it will potentially play supporting the national freight effort, which is expected to double by 2030 and almost triple by 2050," he says.