ARTC, stevedores and NSW government entities crucial to efficient outcomes
Qube Logistics has fleshed out more of its Moorebank Intermodal Terminal vision at an Australian Securities Exchange presentation in Sydney.
The move comes as the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has formally asked for expressions of interest to deliver stage three of the upgrade to the Port Botany rail line, which will be critical for Moorebank’s efficiency.
“The project will upgrade final segments of the Port Botany rail line to interstate main line track condition allowing heavier axle loads and much more efficient trains to operate in and out of Port Botany – vital to the import/export future of Sydney, NSW and the country,” the ARTC says.
Further inland and following last week’s agreement green light, the situation is that the Sydney Intermodal Terminal Alliance’s (SIMTA) Moorebank import-export rail terminal (Imex Terminal) has gained phase one approval, while phase two is under assessment, as is phase two of the Moorebank Intermodal Company’s adjoining interstate terminal.
Qube’s operational earnings will be through port-shuttle and regional rail services, third-party logistics warehousing and other container services.
It will look to attract importers with national and/or regional distribution centre operations, freight forwarders, third-party logistics operators, express freight and high value exporters with up to 240,000 sq m of gross leasable area (GLA) of existing warehousing already available.
Warehousing will be built on demand and with pre-commitments from tenants
Strong demand already received from third parties for development and funding of warehousing, Qube says.
Much depends on other parties for the success of the venture.
So it is that SIMTA will enter into a rail access agreement with ARTC, which will manage access for Southern Sydney Freight Line (SSFL) Link.
Repairs and maintenance for SSFL Link to be co-ordinated with the ARTC while Qube and SIMTA will work together with ARTC on other areas including capacity and future investment.
The rail interface on four 650 metre rail sidings will involve use of a locomotive side shifter, automated rail-mounted gantries and auto-horizontal transport servicing on-site warehousing and truck interchange areas.
These will aim at delivering “high productivity, maximised throughput, energy efficiency, noise mitigation and safety in operations”.
Qube needs NSW Ports to work with container terminal operators at Port Botany to “promote the efficient use of rail through ensuring that they have the capacity to handle required volumes on rail and meet minimum service”.
It will work jointly with Transport for NSW for road network upgrades around Moorebank, to gain a policy directive to promote modal shift from road to rail and on the process of developing mandatory standards for rail performance at container terminal operations in Port Botany.
Of the spending that needs to be done and the estimated timing for it, the company says there is:
- Precinct enabling infrastructure worth $300 million over five years to 2020
- Imex below rail, $80 million, 2016-17
- interstate terminal, below rail, $110 million 2018-19
- Imex equipment, $170 million, 2016-22
- interstate terminal equipment, $10 million, 2018-19
- warehousing, $800 million, 2017-27 depending on demand.