Strathbogie Shire Council Mayor Cr Amanda McClaren has welcomed news that Strathbogie is now one step closer to realising the establishment a freight intermodal terminal at Mangalore Airfield with funding approval under the Federal Government's Inland Rail Interface Improvement Program.
The Federal Government announced Strathbogie was successful as part of the first round of expressions of interest for the Interface Improvement Program. Cr McClaren said that if this project is progressed through to completion, it will see the efficient transfer of freight between road, rail and air as needed and truly boost economic growth for our Shire.
A total of 16 proposals were assessed as eligible under the Program and have proceeded through to the next stage of the process. Strathbogie was one of two successful regional interface improvement projects in Victoria.
Whilst the program does not provide or guarantee funding for projects, a strategic business case will support Strathbogie to make a case for further government investment to progress this exciting and important project.
"We are excited that we have been allocated specialist advisors from an Ernst and Young Australia-led consortium to further develop our ideas into robust business cases and feasibility studies," Cr McClaren said.
"Developing these business cases provides an opportunity to assess the costs and benefits of improving connections between Inland Rail and the producers and communities alongside it.
"We have been strongly advocating for this terminal for many years and to see it take a step in the right direction is very pleasing."
For Strathbogie Shire, the proposed freight intermodal would allow the efficient transfer of containerised and bulk commodities between road, rail, and air transport modes and will also facilitate the transfers of commodities between broad- and standard-gauge rail tracks.
"Should this multi-million dollar project advance further, it is likely to attract significant commercial investment at the site."
The project has the potential to generate a large number of local jobs as well as greatly improve access to low cost transport for Victorian producers and manufacturers as well as improvements in freight delivery times.
Photo: http://mangaloreairport.com.au/
