The Andrews and Albanese Governments have welcomed the start of major works at a freight terminal in Melbourne's north which will create jobs and take thousands of trucks off suburban roads.
Intermodal Terminal Company CEO Mishkel Maharajwas joined by Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne at the Somerton Intermodal Terminal - a key hub in both the Labor Governments' $58 million Port Rail Shuttle Network - for a sod-turning ceremony as ITC gets on with delivering construction works on the $400 million terminal thanks to significant private sector investment.
The Somerton terminal will increase efficiency as well as safety for producers, farmers, freight operators and exporters.
When at capacity, ITC expects the Somerton Intermodal Terminal to take 500,000 truck trips off Melbourne's roads - equivalent to 454 million truck kilometres. Each year, it will also save 451 million litres of fuel and reduce carbon emissions by 189,000 tonnes.
The terminal is being built at the 45-hectare Austrak Business Park and is forecast to create 190 jobs during construction and a further 50 permanent jobs for Victorians when operational in 2025.
It follows the start of services between the SCT Logistics Interstate Freight Facility in Altona and the Port of Melbourne last month in a major milestone for the Port Rail Shuttle Network.
Port Rail Shuttle Network will enable trucks to deliver or pick up containers from hubs in outer metropolitan Melbourne instead of driving to the Port of Melbourne, which is in turn investing $125 million in new rail infrastructure to cater for these shuttle trains.
As stated by Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne
"The investment by the State and Federal Governments and the private sector into the Port Rail Shuttle Network, enables these major investments to occur which will put more freight onto rail, take trucks off local roads and support exporters."
As stated by State Member for Greenvale Iwan Walters
"This is a fantastic announcement for our freight and logistics precinct and will create new jobs right here in Melbourne's northern suburbs."
As stated by State Member for Broadmeadows Kathleen Matthews-Ward
"This investment in Melbourne's north is great news for our community - supporting jobs on the ground, while also supporting our state's busy freight industry."
