Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics Hub gets government boost

Wagga Wagga City Council is one step closer to developing the Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics (RIFL) Hub, following the $14.5 million funding announcement by Minister for Regional Development Simon Crean.

Council had been pursuing funding for this key piece of regional economic infrastructure as part of the Federal Government’s Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF), with success achieved in Round 2 in June 2012.

Funding for the $60 million project is primarily from the Federal Government, the council and private industry, with the council’s investment reaching nearly $20 million.

In order to cement the remaining private sector investment, Wagga Wagga City Council is currently calling for expressions of interest (EOI) from companies interested in developing and operating the container terminal. Interested parties can find the EOI documentation at www.tenderlink.com/wagga.

The RIFL hub will provide vital freight consolidation, logistics support and rail transport services for businesses throughout the Riverina and Murray regions. The Riverina and Murray regions continue to experience strong growth in manufacturing and primary industry outputs and a consequent increased demand by businesses for rail freight services. The project also enjoys strong support from ARTC and the broader business community.

The nearly $60 million project involves the construction of new major rail and road infrastructure and a container freight terminal. The rail infrastructure comprises of a 5 km master siding that is being constructed within the rail corridor, and two additional rail spurs that connect the container terminal to the master siding.

The RIFL hub will operate under the principles of open access, and the rail infrastructure approach, which centres on the 5 km master siding, will ensure the long-term viability of the terminal by catering for future increased train lengths. The terminal design itself also ensures economic train and container operations. The road infrastructure includes a rail underpass and new link roads connecting the RIFL hub to the Olympic and Sturt Highways.

The RIFL hub’s location is ideal as it sits on an 80-hectare site reserved for rail-related industry, within a 300-hectare industrial-zoned greenfield site at Wagga Wagga’s Bomen Business Park, only 10 km from the city centre. The RIFL Hub Project will further stimulate investment at Wagga Wagga’s Bomen Business Park with strong interest shown from road freight businesses and companies in the grain and bulk commodity sectors wanting to co-locate with the new terminal.

Opportunities to establish customs facilities are also being explored for the site.

Wagga Wagga’s mayor R Kendall reiterated the economic stimulus potential of the project: “As a result of its development, Wagga Wagga will continue to be able to build on its ideal geographic location to attract large-scale industry that requires freight transport and distribution to be cost-effective.”

Source: http://www.tandlnews.com.au/