Implementation plans > Integrated Transport > Actions > Action 4

Action 4
Provide for freight and commercial transport

Develop a freight and logistics strategy
Lead agent: DOI
The Victorian Freight and Logistics Strategy will help to increase the competitiveness and integration of the industry. The strategy will provide a framework for infrastructure investment, management, policy and pricing decisions over a 20 to 30 year horizon, to ensure that the freight and logistics network and supply chain systems are capable of meeting forecast trade growth in a sustainable manner. The Strategy will recognise that the freight and the passenger transport systems need to share infrastructure.

Development of the Strategy will involve extensive research and stakeholder consultation. Elements being examined include:

• The Victorian freight task, patterns of movement and trends
• Efficient intermodal and modal operations with a focus on network integration and the removal of major impediments
• Optimisation of strategic land adjacent to the freight transport network
• Freight and logistics processes that are environmentally and socially sustainable
• Effective and on-going dialogue with industry and the community on freight and logistics issues
• The role for Government in freight and logistics
• Development of effective project evaluation and future investment strategies
• Analysis of potential Information Technology benefits to network and industry efficiencies.

Plan for and develop capacity for ports
Lead agent: DOI
Victoria’s ports are key strategic economic assets. For maximum benefit to the Victorian community, they need to operate at the highest levels of efficiency and effectiveness. The Government will ensure that the ports are properly planned, structured and empowered, for commercial operation and in the broader public interest. Work under way and planned to support this commitment includes:

• detailed investigations into deepening the shipping channels to the Port of Melbourne
• new organisation for the Port of Melbourne that integrates water and land management, with a focus on port efficiency in the broader freight and logistics system
• planning for the transformation of the Port of Melbourne/Dynon rail precinct into a world-class intermodal freight terminal
• reviewing the role of the Port of Hastings to prepare for its future part in the Victorian port and freight and logistics system
• strategic land-management planning for all ports
• more stringent safety and environmental standards.

Increase the rail share of freight to ports
Lead agent: DOI
Efficient freight movement relies increasingly on the use of a combination of different transport modes. This requires better integration between transport modes, which in turn involves better use of existing infrastructure and the development of new infrastructure appropriate to the task. As part of this work, the Government is committed to increasing the use of Victoria’s rail infrastructure and helping to ensure it can offer a viable alternative to road for tasks such as bulk haulage and the movement of containers.

The Government and the private sector are working individually and together on initiatives aimed at putting more port-related freight onto rail. These include:

• the reinstatement of rail to West Swanson Dock
• calling for expressions of interest for redeveloping Victoria Dock, including a rail terminal
• investigations into the feasibility of reinstating rail to Webb Dock
• defining a role for government in the development of metropolitan and regional intermodal freight terminals - linking Victorian industries to rail, ports and world markets.