The Committee for Wyndham is supporting a State Government proposal for Truganina to be the site for the proposed Western Intermodal Freight Terminal (WIFT).
Representatives from the supply chain and logistics industry, Western Melbourne regional organisations including Committee for Wyndham and local councils were briefed recently by the Hon Melissa Horne, Minister for Ports and Freight on the business investment case for the Western Intermodal Freight Terminal (WIFT).
The State Government has identified a site in Truganina as the preferred option for a freight terminal in Melbourne given it “just ticks all the boxes”. The site is located just over the Wyndham/Melton border and will provide significant opportunities for our businesses and residents.
The alternative site which the Federal government is supporting is in Beveridge in the north of Melbourne.
Attendees at the meeting heard that the WIFT is critical to the success of the Commonwealth Inland Rail Project enabling 1800m long, double stacked trains to operate along the corridor without the need for double handling through the existing low tunnel structures.
Minister Horne and her departmental representatives outlined a number of key reasons for supporting the WIFT, including:
- its location close to around 50 per cent of existing interstate freight rail customers
- removing up to 2000 daily truck movements from Melbourne’s inner west when interstate freight is relocated away from the Dynon Terminal
- easier access to the rail freight connections for the significant existing warehousing and logistics companies in the West
- reducing transit times along the inland rail Brisbane to Melbourne, from 33 hours to 24 hours.
- Creation of 2000 direct jobs and many more indirect jobs
The meeting heard that the WIFT provides a key economic solution for producers across Australia’s regions, lowering the door-to-door costs for getting their products to market.
Committee for Wyndham is joining a working group to advocate to the Commonwealth and Victorian State Governments for investment in the WIFT.
Further information on WIFT is here – www.westernfreightterminal.com.au