Rationale There is a generational opportunity to capitalise on improved freight productivity through expanding and electrifying WA’s rail network. This will allow for greater efficiencies in time and cost, adding competitive to regional comparative advantage. Rail With the development of Westport, a period of renewed nation-building investment becomes attractive in the form of an expanded freight rail network between WA’s ports, to the Eastern States and to the hinterland of WA’s regions. Improved resilience through improved trans-Australia freight; improved productivity and reduced carbon pollution through rail-connected ports and regional gains combine to offer significant national and state growth potential. Rail investment also provides a transport redundancy alternative and mitigates against vulnerability risk as demonstrated by COVID-19 and major flooding. Working with industry to progressively extend freight rail north from Geraldton to the Pilbara cities, as well as inland to mineral districts, such as Wiluna, offers the productivity gains and cost reductions necessary to establish larger settlements and diversify local economies. The capacity to move goods at rates comparable to the rest of the country would normalise the cost of living and doing business unlocking a more normal pattern of investment and growth. These are long term plans to be considered in stages, but much as with the Ghan line to Darwin, it will be necessary to establish all forms of freight transport across WA to fully realise the potential of northern WA. Intermodal Terminals Intermodal terminals (IMT) are critical nodes in supply chain logistics, facilitating freight transfers between modes – ships, trucks and rail. The design of IMTs varies according to the key freight task and local geographic characteristics. There are a number of IMT expansion opportunities across the WA freight network where investment will boost efficiencies, lower costs and open up new opportunities. It is crucial that all hubs – metropolitan and regional – work together in harmony for maximum economic efficiency and benefit. In regard to the Perth Metropolitan region, the development of Westport as the Western Gateway to Australia will include dock-side interoperability to enable rail to ship and truck to ship container transfers. With access for Cape Class vessels, this represents and key point in the network that will require global standard ship to rail and truck loading infrastructure to each land freight mode, to ensure efficient import and export functionality. A new IMT is proposed at Canning to handle empty containers and service the adjacent industrial area. In turn, this connects with WA’s central food wholesale and distribution hub, while Bullsbrook is planned as a future IMT for truck to rail transfers from the northern regions. It will also serve as a future distribution centre for an adjacent industrial estate. This can be linked with the proposed industrial/intermodal precinct at Muchea in the Wheatbelt. With the development of Westport, there is an opportunity to make better use of west to east rail capacity to improve economic resilience, establish Kalgoorlie as an inland intermodal freight hub facilitating freight movements to and from the Eastern States by the most cost-effective freight-mode and to better incorporate the Cape Class capacity of the Port of Esperance into Western Australia’s freight network. Roads The Western Australian and Commonwealth Governments have made unprecedented commitments to future road network upgrades across WA. Roads remain a key element of the freight network; improvements to rail freight through electrification will not negate the need for road freight. The two can simultaneously offer net carbon zero options as the freight network delivers improved options. Consideration of road safety and congestion in urban areas will most likely drive any improvements
18 | WA Investment Prospectus
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