Local businesses, transport and logistics companies, primary producers and local government representatives from throughout the districts were among more than 60 people who attended the recent Regional Intermodal Taskforce stakeholder meeting in Parkes.
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The Coventry Room of the Parkes Shire Library and Cultural Centre was the venue for the meeting which was attended by Local Member for Orange Andrew Gee, representatives from the Port of Newcastle, NSW Ports, the Port of Melbourne and the Australian Logistics Council.
The Taskforce comprises former army chief, Lieutenant General (Ret’d) Ken Gillespie (Chair), Mr Jock Laurie (former National Farmers’ Federation president) and Mr John Turner (former Shadow Minister for Roads).
The Taskforce has as its aim to independently assess the fitness for purpose, financial viability and sustainability of existing and planned logistics intermodal terminals in regional NSW.
Recommendations are then made to the State Government on how it should support the future development of these terminals.
Lieutenant General (Ret’d) Ken Gillespie gave a presentation at the meeting outlining the methodology the Taskforce will be using to assess the regional intermodals - a multi criteria analysis which looks at a number of indicators and assign ratings ratings to each intermodal.
Following the presentation, the Taskforce accepted questions from attendees - many of which related to the inefficacies in the supply chain, especially in regards to rail and access to ports.
Following the meeting, Mayor Ken Keith hosted the Taskforce during a tour of the Parkes National Logistics Hub.
“It was a wonderful opportunity to show the Taskforce the importance of the Hub which was established in 2001 by FCL,” Cr Keith said.
“They have since been purchased by Linfox who are still running a successful business which plays an integral part of their business supply chain.
“SCT is another business operating in the Hub since 2006 - sending products from the eastern States to Perth.
“Currently they are running two trains a week and are looking to expand this service.”
Cr keith went on to say that the Parkes National Logistics Hub is operating, is fit for purpose, is viable and sustainable.
“The Hub is playing an integral role in how freight is moved around the country,” Cr Keith said.
“It also has the potential to move freight to the ports and once the melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail is developed, will become an important node which will facilitate development and help supply efficiencies to the supply chain,” Cr Keith said.
