The Victorian government has confirmed it has paused the delivery of a new interstate freight terminal in Melbourne’s west as it instead focuses on the delivery of another new terminal.
This month the state government changed website information about the upcoming Western Interstate Freight Terminal (WIFT) in Truganina, situated in Melbourne’s west.
“This terminal would be needed to ensure Melbourne continued to have the interstate rail freight terminal capacity it needed into the future,” the website says.
“Since then, a few things have changed.
“The Commonwealth has endorsed the recommendations of an independent review of the Inland Rail Project that prioritised delivery of a new terminal in Beveridge in Melbourne’s north, ahead of delivery of WIFT.”
This announcement means the Victorian government is instead beginning work on progressing the Beveridge Interstate Freight Terminal (BIFT) while the private sector progresses its own terminal developments across Melbourne.
The role of these private terminals will be to primarily handle interstate freight alongside the import and export container trade.
Alongside the delay of the WIFT, interstate rail freight operations in the Dynon precinct has been extended beyond 2031 to deliver certainty for the industry.
“While the WIFT remains a priority for the Victorian government, its delivery will be deferred until when it’s needed,” the government says.
“The government will now look at protecting land at Truganina for WIFT, this process may also help unlock land not required for WIFT for industrial development in the short term.
“The department will continue working with key stakeholders as the planning process is determined to enable the protection of land at WIFT.”