Queensland body also welcomes political support for Inland Highway concept
With Queensland in the midst of a plethora of freight and logistics reports, an industry representative body believes the State is on the right track.
The Queensland Transport & Logistics Council (QTLC) sees a ‘four pillar’ economic strategy focused on construction, resources, tourism and agriculture underpinning the shift towards whole of supply chain considerations that has led to more integrated planning of the various components of the state’s freight system.
“Importantly, there is a recognition that supply chain efficiencies underpin industry growth,” QTLC CEO Dr Rebecca Michael says.
The State Government has embarked on a wave of inquiries and reports covering including the Moving Freight Strategy, Queensland Ports Strategy, Sea Freight Action Plan, inquiry into coastal shipping, Commission of Audit Report, and most recently the inquiry in use of rail freight by livestock and agricultural industries.
With the complexities too difficult for the various markets to manage on their own, one theme that has arisen from experiences in New South Wales is the value of supply chain coordination.
“Potentially the discord between policy and commercial imperatives could be reduced with supply chain coordinator that, operating with the broad goals of economic develop and productivity, sought to optimise the relative strengths and requirements of various industries operating within a particular corridor with the capacity of the freight network servicing that corridor,” Michael says.
“The supply chain coordination function is a proven model at Port Botany and the Hunter Valley Coal Chain.
“The function would also cut across the various departments that currently operate in the freight space … improving planning coordination and efficiency.
“We have suggested the use of supply chain coordinators and it was also a recommendation of the recent report from the Parliamentary Committee review of rail freight use by agricultural commodities and livestock.”
On the infrastructure side, the QTLC has been buoyed by political interest in the Inland Highway that it backs.
In recent months, premier Campbell Newman, transport minister Scott Emerson, recovery minister David Crisafaulli and State MP Robbie Katter have all made plain it is on the agenda.
“We are currently conducting an examination of potential routes for an Inland Highway, connectivity to production regions and ports, benefits to industry and broader economic benefits to Queensland,” Michael says.
The QTLC raised it in its Strengthening Queensland’s Supply Chains report last year and is calling it ‘Queensland’s Freight Spine’.
“The Bruce Highway is subject to flooding, closures and conflict between passenger and freight vehicles,” Michael notes.
“With minimal investment, there is a [flood-immune] Type 2 Road Train route through central Queensland that will link the Port of Brisbane to Toowoomba and up to Townsville, with connections to key ports along the way.”