Container terminals

3. Build inland container terminals

Aim: A container terminal at Kewdale will ensure that trucks do not have to drive to and from Fremantle just to pick up or return an empty container.

Highlights

More Efficient Truck Operations

Improving the interface between transport modes is seen as a significant opportunity to better manage the impact of trucks on the road network. For example, a container park at Kewdale could reduce truck traffic near Fremantle Port as a result of trucks not having to drive to and from Fremantle just to pick up or return an empty container.

Container Logistics Study

The general issue of improved container freight logistics involves consideration of inland terminals, intermodal facilities and road depots. The Sea Freight Council of Western Australia has undertaken a study of potential improved arrangements for container handling, storage and transport associated with the trade through the Inner Harbour. This Container Logistics Study involved extensive consultation with industry to determine alternative means for transporting, handling and storing containers. The study has focused on the scope for development of intermodal terminals and container parks away from the Port. The potential for establishing an inland container park for local importers and exporters in the Kewdale area is one option being addressed following the study. The study has now been finalised and work on implementation of its findings has commenced.

The Container Logistics Study investigated the potential for improving container storage and movement. It follows on from the Fremantle Inner Harbour Container Movement Study (see Point 4: Make better use of our roads), which identified the container storage and movement at the time of the study.

Regional intermodal terminals

A new rail loop and terminal at Fremantle Port's North Quay is expected to be completed in late 2005. With this new narrow gauge access, rail will be capable of carrying more of Western Australia's regional container traffic to and from the port than previously. To support this potential, the development of intermodal terminals in the South West and in the York region is being considered.

Kewdale intermodal terminal

• The Public Transport Authority (PTA) and Pacific National Ltd are progressing the planning for redevelopment of the Kewdale Terminal. The Master Plan is complete and a Development Application was submitted in November 2004. However, approval has been delayed until environmental issues are resolved. In the meantime, to improve capacity, railway works that do not require statutory planning approval have been completed and a following stage is being designed.

• The Government's requirements to accommodate another rail operator in Kewdale are being addressed by PTA through the preservation of space in the terminal area.

• The possibility of having a direct rail link between Fremantle Port and the Kewdale intermodal terminal has also been identified as a potential means of improving rail efficiency between these points. A direct link would involve constructing an access line off the main freight railway line, into the Kewdale intermodal facility.

• The PTA also commissioned a study by a rail operations consultant to investigate the future capacity of the Forrestfield rail staging area. The study indicated that, in time, further development of the rail system in Forrestfield will be required to accommodate Kewdale back-shunt operations efficiently.

Kewdale-Hazelmere Integrated Masterplan (KHIM)

The Kewdale-Hazelmere Integrated Masterplan was released in August 2006.  Endorsed by the Western Australian Planning Commission, the Masterplan addresses road/rail transport and land use planning issues in the Kewdale-Hazelmere freight logistics precinct for the next 30 years.

For further information on Kewdale-Hazelmere, see the Western Australian Planning Commission website.

A video clip showing the Kewdale-Hazelmere Integrated Masterplan is available in two formats: avi 4.79MB and mov 5MB.

Progress report