A STATE Government taskforce will hear local evidence today for Tamworth to be made a regional freight hub.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The taskforce is in Tamworth to hear from regional stakeholders so it can identify priority locations for the development of 11 proposed new regional intermodal terminals across NSW.
Tamworth is one of four NSW centres hosting the taskforce forums, with the others at Parkes, Moree and Tumut.
It is seeking details on the transhipment of cargo from road to rail and
taking submissions on future requirements, terminal capacity demand and how government could improve and enhance freight movement.
Tamworth region mayor, Col Murray, will be among a council delegation who will press the case for a future hub to be located in Tamworth.
The council has been lobbying for over a year for funding for an intermodal rail terminal at Glen Artney in the Westdale industrial area.
Councillor Murray has previously spoken about how such a container terminal would move a lot of freight from the road network onto a rail route to coastal ports and they’ve pressed their case to both the federal and state governments through local politicians.
He said the hearing today provided the ideal opportunity to showcase how Tamworth was an ideal location for such a facility.
The Regional Intermodal Taskforce will meet at the Tamworth town hall and is expected to take information from council representatives as well as primary producers, transport companies and interested community members.
Cr Murray said the meeting provided an ideal opportunity to show Tamworth as an ideal location for an intermodal terminal – a freight hub where goods are transferred from truck haulage to and from rail.
“We believe that Tamworth should
be given high consideration as a potential site for a new intermodal terminal, given the city’s regional significance,” Mr Murray said.
“Tamworth has the added benefit of having large parcels of land along an existing rail line, close to our airport and major road links, which would be ideal for business and industrial development and support establishment of an intermodal terminal.”
The council said an intermodal
terminal was a strategic location between a freight service user or exporter/importer and a destination, usually a seaport, and it offered customers road and train transport access and shor- term storage.
The taskforce will report back with recommendations to the state government on how to best prioritise development of freight efficiencies and maximise funding to investment into supporting road and rail links.
