Port Botany link to container park fails Sydney Gateway planning hurdle
Any solution to container transport access between Port Botany and its main container depot will need a separate project to the Sydney Gateway, state department Transport for NSW has confirmed.
The withdrawal of ramps to allow truck access to and from the Cooks River Intermodal Terminal and attendant container park from Sydney Gateway plans has united often disparate industry bodies, with six of them presenting a united front calling for their reinstatement.
While not ruling out the possibility of the ramps being built in future, Transport for NSW reiterates that they could not at present be justified on cost grounds and the issue would need to be examined in a different business case.
Read the industry grouping’s position on the Sydney Gateway ramps, here
“Sydney Gateway did consider an early concept for access ramps onto/off Sydney Gateway at Canal Road for cars and truck with and without tolling,” a departmental spokesperson tells ATN in a statement.
“Traffic modelling studies were carried out to determine the impact of any proposed Canal Road ramps on the local and surrounding road network.
“The future transport and general traffic benefits were low by comparison to the estimated costs of constructing the ramps and acquiring additional land from Sydney Airport and the Commonwealth.
“Based on these studies, a decision was made not to progress with the Canal Road ramps and these are not part of the scope for Sydney Gateway.
“Following feedback from the freight industry, Transport for NSW and Roads and Maritime have been working with industry (Australian Logistics Council) throughout 2019 to explore options for a dedicated heavy vehicle access onto and off Sydney Gateway at Canal Road.
“We welcome further feedback from industry and have received submissions on this issue from the Container Transport Alliance, Australian Logistics Council and Shipping Australia. These are being considered as part of our planning and design process.
“While Canal Road ramps are not part of the Sydney Gateway scope or funding package approved by the NSW Government, its design will not preclude ramps at Canal Road being incorporated at a later date.
“Any future ramps would require a separate business case with funding, and approvals from Sydney Airport and Government.”