MALDON DOMBARTON

              Before the September 2013 federal election, the outgoing government was prepared to allocate $50 million towards advancing completion of the Maldon Dombarton rail link.

            However, in a wide ranging speech focussing on rail freight made by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, the Hon Warren Truss MP, on 28 November 2013 at an AusRAIL Conference in Sydney, no mention was made of the Maldon Dombarton link.

            WTC hopes that this was an oversight, and that the new federal government be prepared to match the offer, in full or in part, of the outgoing government, to allocate $50 million towards advancing the Maldon Dombarton link.

            As above, we would also like the NSW Government to show more interest in completing this 35 km rail link.

NSW FREIGHT AND PORTS STRATEGY

           Throughout 2013, WTC had been watching with interest the development of a NSW Freight and Ports Strategy, and supported the submission lodged in February 2013 by Neighbourhood Forum 5 of Wollongong City Council in response to a draft strategy. The draft strategy had scope for a marked improvement as it proceeded to a final version, not only for the Illawarra, but the state of New South Wales as a whole.

            It appears that the NSW final Freight and Ports Strategy, released in late 2013,  gives priority to heavier trucks (such as B-Triples on the Hume) as opposed to increasing rail freight productivity and competitiveness.

            However, the Queensland Freight Strategy released in 2013  has as its first set of priorities getting more freight onto rail. The 2013 Victorian freight strategy has a Mode Shift Incentive Scheme. 

            For related comment, see

https://theconversation.com/too-many-loads-on-our-roads-when-rail-is-the-answer-24118

             Wollongong Council Neighbourhood Forums 5 and 6 at its meeting of February 2014  requested: 

1          Rail improvements for better safety, reliability and speed of passenger and freight services:

i           a commitment from the NSW Government to make a financial contribution to expedite completion of the Maldon Dombarton rail line;

ii          as per the original consent condition for Port Kembla Inner Harbour, 20 per cent of all car imports to be moved by rail from Port Kembla.

2          Road freight improvements:  

i         bulk haul trucks to pay more than their road system costs not less and to cover their social and environmental costs, this to include a surcharge on all road deliveries of bulk coal and grain to Port Kembla and quarry products passing through Wollongong to Sydney;

ii          the timing of the Mount Ousley Road grade separated access to Fairy Meadow and the University of Wollongong ;

iii         upgrade the Appin Road to Campbelltown.

3.         Noise mitigation

More efforts to reduce truck noise arising from heavy trucks using the F6 and the Mt Ousley Road.

4.         Mode Shift

  The introduction of a Mode Shift Incentive Scheme into New South Wales, similar to the Victorian one.

5.         Transport Strategy

   Advice as to when the previously promised Illawarra Region Transport Strategy is to be released. 

MORE TRUCKS FOR MT OUSLEY

            In January 2014, the NSW Department of Planning and lnfrastructure gave approval for Hansons for their Bass Point Quarry Project, with the option of more quarry trucks on the Mt Ousley and other roads. 

            If this was not enough, an approval was given in February 2014 for Boral to put more quarry trucks on our roads from their Dunmore Quarry. 

            Cleary Brothers also want more quarry trucks on our roads. The only concession to motorists who use the Mt Ousley and other roads and people who live near the roads is that the three quarry operators shall co-fund and "cause to be prepared an independent Cumulative Traffic Impact Study. The study must be undertaken by a suitably qualified traffic consultant, … be commissioned by 30 June 2014, and completed by 31 October 2014 and is to:

*  include a comprehensive assessment of current and future projected cumulative traffic impacts of the three quarries on the classified road network, undertaken in consultation with the RMS; and

*  identify any reasonable and feasible measures that can be implemented to minimise the traffic and road safety impacts of quarry trucks on Mount Ousley Road, and the likely cost of implementing these measures.

            WTC would suggest that the Cumulative Traffic Impact Study should have a steering committee comprising not only the industry and RMS but also a representative from Wollongong City Council and the community.

            Also in January 2014 Scott Corporation was meeting New South Wales authorities in relation to the use of A-double style heavy vehicles in the NSW Illawarra region for coal haulage. WTC would ask that full consultation with Wollongong City Council and the community take place before any approvals are given, and that any trials are for a small number of vehicles only.   

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WOLLONGONG NEEDS MORE THAN $100 million

         Minister for the Illawarra the Hon Greg Pearce MLC was in Wollongong on 15 July to confirm the region would only receive $100 million for the long term lease of Port Kembla, for which some 90 applications had been received.

         There are three good reasons for increasing this amount which was on offer in 2012 when there was still an opportunity for the NSW Government to lease Port Kembla separately from Port Botany. 

Firstly, Port Kembla has been leased with Port Botany, likely delaying a container port for this region by a decade.

Secondly, an unexpectedly high amount of $760 million was received for  the long term lease of Port Kembla.

Thirdly, Newcastle is now to receive $340 million for the lease of its port, of which up to one half of this amount  will be spent on rail works.  

          The value of a container facility at Port Kembla to the Wollongong region was estimated in the year 2000 to be $400 million.

         In the meantime, there is a growing case for completion of the Maldon Dombarton rail link. This includes Boral seeking to put more quarry products on Mt Ousley and other roads because their rail freight operator, Pacific National, has been unable to secure an extra freight path on the Wollongong to Sydney train line.

         There is a good case for the NSW Government to at least double the compensation to the Illawarra and to apply the increase to help expedite the completion of the Maldon Dombarton rail link.

News Postings

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/07/15/3803234.htm

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/1580677/budget-illawarra-the-loser-as-newcastle-wins-huge-chunk-of-port-cash/



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Is it good for Wollongong that Mr. Nick Whitlam chairs the boards of both Port Kembla and Sydney Ports?

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In late February Treasurer Mike Baird and Roads and Ports Minister Duncan Gay announced the appointment of Nicholas Whitlam as Chairman of Sydney Ports Corporation.

This was in addition to his role as Chairman of Port Kembla Port Corporation.

Mr Baird said in a statement  “I’m sure his experience will be invaluable in his new role, as the Government prepares for the long term lease of Port Botany and Port Kembla.” 

In 2003 the NSW Carr Government released a NSW Ports Growth Plan. This set the scene for moving car imports to Port Kembla and an inquiry held by a NSW Legislative Council Committee. Their 2005 Final Report into Port Infrastructure in NSW gave recommendations, including “that the NSW Government consider completion of the Maldon to Dombarton line…”

This report also states  "that a container terminal at Port Kembla could potentially contribute $400 million to the regional economy." In todays terms this is over $500 million.

However, if the NSW Government leases Port Kembla and Port Botany to the same private sector company, there would be a reduced incentive to develop Port Kembla as a container port.

Quite simply, a common owner or leaseholder of both Port Kembla and Port Botany is likely to continue to use Port Botany as a sole container port for as long as possible. In this case, development of Port Kembla to handle containers and completion of Maldon Dombarton would be delayed.

In this case, the promised contribution of $100 million to regional infrastructure should be increased to regional value of a container port at Port Kembla. That is $500 million.