Infrastructure Australia’s fourth annual report has noted the National Ports Strategy as a key area for future focus
The National Ports Strategy’s implementation has been highlighted as a key focus in Infrastructure Australia’s fourth annual report to the Council of Australian Government [COAG].
The 2012 Progress and Action report, released Friday, says Infrastructure Australia’s primary focus over the next 12 months will be the National Ports Strategy’s implementation, and determining priority supply chains to improve productivity from mine to port.
“The National Ports Strategy recommends the development of long term plans for each major port’s jurisdiction, region and precinct,” the report says.
“Implementation of these plans needs to be driven by supply chain stakeholders and not merely by governments.
“For their part, governments should acknowledge the critical importance of ports as places for freight and trade through: their inclusion in planning activities such as city strategic plans; simplifying streamlining and, where necessary, accelerating approvals; and ensuring that road, rail and land corridor plans appropriately support ports.”
The report says that in anticipation of COAG’s endorsement of the strategy, Infrastructure Australia has begun consultation with key stakeholders.
Stakeholders include the Minerals Council of Australia, National Farmers Federation, and Ports Australia.
Port Kembla, New South Wales and Queensland’s Port of Gladstone will be used as planning pilots.
Australian Logistics Council [ALC] managing director Michael Kilgariff says he hopes the Progress and Action report will motivate COAG to formally endorse the National Ports Strategy as well as provide its official response to the COAG Road Reform Plan feasibility study.
“ALC, like Infrastructure Australia, is keen to progress these issues, but in order to maintain momentum we need leadership at the national level and so we call on COAG to provide its response to these two reports,” Kilgariff says.
The Progress and Action report identifies five projects recommended for project development funding:
– Port Botany and Sydney Airport Transport Improvement Plan
– East West Link
– Integrating Sydney’s motorway network – network charging
– Transforming the Pilbara: Pilbara Cities
– Western Interstate Freight Terminal – Melbourne
There are five projects on the priority list as ‘Ready to Proceed’:
Brisbane Cross River Rail – core project (BCR 1.34; $5.31b)
– Melbourne Metro Stage 1 (BCR 1.3; $TBC)
– Victorian Managed Motorways Project 1 – Monash Freeway, High Street to Warrigal Road (BCR 11.5; $14.3m)
– Victorian Managed Motorways Project 2 – Monash Freeway, Warrigal Road to High Street (BCR 6.9; $100.7m)
– Pacific Highway Upgrade (BCR 1.5; $6.4b ($2010 real)