Harper Sercombe
Works have begun on Somerton’s $400 million freight terminal.
The site, which is expected to open in 2025, is set to take 500,000 trucks off the roads, significantly reduce carbon emissions, and create over 1500 local jobs.
The significant investment by the Intermodal Terminal Company (ITC), which is backed by Aware Super, is the first of its kind.
On July 10, industry representatives were joined by government officials and stakeholders to officially launch the works.
“[It’s the] first privately funded, independently owned and operated intermodal terminal in Australia,” ITC chief executive Mishkel Maharaj said.
“Rail freight is the lifeblood of our supply chain.
“A win for industry, win for our supply chain and a big win for taxpayers.”
The site will create approximately 400 jobs during construction, 90 ongoing full time roles and a further 1500 indirect jobs for locals once in operation.
Ports and Freight Minister Melissa Horne said the works beginning are “an absolutely fantastic milestone in this important project”.
“The benefits to the community are immense, by taking trucks off local roads, reducing carbon emissions and of course being able to move freight efficiently,” she said.
The $400 million investment from ITC and Aware Super is on top of a $16.9 million investment from the state and federal government towards the development of a train line connecting Somerton to the Port of Melbourne.
This freight terminal also supports the state government’s commitment to move more freight by rail to port through their port rail shuttle network.
“[The port rail shuttle network has] absolutely got the backing of the private sector, and that is what makes these projects work, we recognise that freight is going to triple over the next 20 years, and being able to shift it onto rail is so important,” Ms Horne said.
“Every dollar that an exporter saves getting freight in and out of the port of Melbourne, is a dollar back into a regional economy.”
The minister said this project would not compromise the government’s plans of building a new intermodal terminal in Beveridge.
