Whittlesea council has moved to strengthen key planning controls in an important step towards delivering the first stage of the Beveridge Intermodal Precinct.
Council has made a submission to the planning minister on proposed changes to the Whittlesea Planning Scheme as part of the precinct development.
The Beveridge Intermodal Precinct, located in the municipality’s north-west, will be a major freight and logistics hub adjoining the existing Melbourne-Albury-Sydney rail corridor, a report to the February 18 council meeting stated.
It will support the movement of more freight rail between Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, and deliver increased productivity, stronger supply chains and reduced road congestion, the council report said.
Council has long been an advocate for the project due to the expected economic benefits, with the precinct forecast to contribute an estimated $2.5 billion annually to the state’s economy.
The precinct will also provide increased employment opportunities in the municipality through the creation of both direct and indirect jobs.
The initial stage – referred to as stage 1a will involve building a permanent rail connection to the rail freight corridor and an interim intermodal terminal.
The interim terminal, to be delivered by the Commonwealth-owned National Intermodal Corporation, will have the capacity to handle up to two 1800-metre interstate freight trains a day.
Planning for stage 1b, featuring the permanent intermodal terminal, and stage 2, comprising the broader employment precinct, will continue throughout 2025.
Council’s submission aims to ensure issues such as transport infrastructure, environmental management and cultural heritage are addressed prior to construction starting this year.
Council wants NIC to upgrade Beveridge Road as part of stage 1a and to contribute to the upgrade of the broader road network, including in the Mitchell council area.
Councillor Christine Stow welcomed the council’s submission, noting that the intermodal hub would be beneficial for the city.
“This is a large development site providing 7000 jobs and opportunities in the northern part of our municipality,” she said.
Mayor Aidan McLindon said it was a “transformative infrastructure project” for the region.
“We are excited for this project to progress to the construction stage and for our community to start reaping the benefits of this substantial investment,” he said.
