New rail terminal for Sydney - OverseasTrading - Brief Article

Business Asia, Oct, 2001

TOTAL SEABORNE trade handled by Sydney's ports is expected to grow to 28.5 million tonnes by 2004-5 and 50.3 million tonnes by 2024-25, according to an SPC report, "Meeting the Needs of Container Trade Growth in Sydney to 2025".

The Sydney Ports Corporation (SPC) is well on the way to putting in place the infrastructure enhancements to cope with this prediction, in particular container handling capabilities, which are likely to be at capacity within 10 years.

Plans for an $80 million intermodal terminal for Enfield commenced last month, with the aim of providing assistance for Port Botany in handling the increase in container trade.

At present, only 25 per cent of Port Botany's annual one million containers are transported by train, but the Enfield development will increase this significantly.

However, the SPC report says road will remain vital for freight movement, but it is necessary to make use of rail to ease the burden on the road system, and for efficient movement of goods.

Minister for Transport Carl Scully says the new terminal will enable 40 per cent of container freight to leave by rail. "It will also facilitate more effective clearance of freight containers from the port, increasing productivity and capacity of existing port lands," Scully said.

Sydney Port's $41 billion annual trade is expected to grow a great deal over the next 20 years, with the volume of containers predicted to grow by 150 per cent to reach over three million containers annually.

Another important aspect to be considered for the development of the terminal is the potential impact on the environment. The SPC report claims the development of the inland port is "consistent with the Government's environmental objectives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as stated in the `Action for Air' policy document".

Scully says a "rigorous environmental assessment process" would be carried out to deal with any public concerns, including traffic impacts and other planning issues.

"The community and stakeholders will have every opportunity to have their say during the preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement and also after the statement is released for public comment," Scully said.

The SPC intends to submit the EIS as soon as possible, and subject to environmental and planning approval, the terminal should be operating by early 2004.