The New South Wales Government has released its Draft Freight and Ports Strategy for public comment as the State moves to deal with the projected meteoric growth in freight over the coming decades.

 

The Australian Logistics Council has welcomed the release of the strategy, saying it ‘charts a positive course’ in improve efficiency and capacity of key infrastructure assets.

 

“NSW’s freight task is predicted to double to 794 million tonnes by 2030 underscoring the need for a long term strategic framework which adopts a whole of supply chain approach to delivering improved productivity levels,” ALC’s Managing Director Michael Kilgariff said.

 

“Underpinning this will be a greater focus on obtaining accurate information about the state of the network and I am pleased the draft strategy acknowledges this as a fundamental starting point to making better planning and investment decisions.

 

“This draft strategy is an important first step – the challenge before industry and government is to now build upon its recommendations and to implement concrete measures that will improve network capacity, reliability and sustainability. “

 

The strategy charts key reforms to major assets, such as Port Botany, specifying how local governments and managing bodies can contribute to significant efficiency gains.

 

“Putting in place appropriate funding and financing mechanisms is obviously critical to the success of this strategy and ALC looks forward to the measures outlined in the strategy receiving priority funding consideration by the NSW Government,” Mr Kilgariff said.

 

A full copy of the draft strategy can be found here