Intermodal Information Meeting with Senator Eric Abetz

12^th of November 2014

Senator The Hon Eric Abetz

Leader of the Government in the Senate

Minister for Employment

Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service

 

Dear Senator Abetz,

 

Thanks very much for speaking with me yesterday at Wattle Grove. Here are the particulars that I promised – email to NSW MPs, as below, and submission, enclosed.

To summarise, a container terminal at the Port of Newcastle would pay for a rail freight bypass of Sydney by railing containers and general freight. This would allow 100 per cent of the Sydney rail network to carry passengers by removing all freight. Sydney Airport’s short parallel runway would be extended to 4000 metres by relocating displaced facilities to the Port Botany container terminal site, which would be used for airport purposes.

 

While building an intermodal terminal at Badgery’s Creek, the rail freight line would be built between Glenfield and Badgery’s Creek to receive containers from Port Botany until the rail freight bypass from Newcastle was completed in around 10 years. The Moorebank land would be used for a better return to residents and taxpayers, as proposed by Liverpool City Council.

 

The ACCC said that the hidden provisions in leasing arrangements for Port Botany and Port of Newcastle may be unlawful and could be unenforceable.

 

The solution, which I have communicated to all of the parties, is the relocation of container terminal operations from Botany to Newcastle. The investors are able to improve their net returns by participating in the railway line and terminal projects and the two government benefits by achieving superior employment outcomes through planned economic development in outer western Sydney and regional NSW.

Container trucks would be removed from Sydney’s roads to be replaced by lighter trucks that would distribute goods between warehouses at Badgery’s Creek and destinations throughout Sydney.

 

The program benefits all Australians and requires no funds from government. Government participation is sought in relation to the process of acquiring land for the bypass corridor and in allowing the Badgery’s Creek buffer zone land to be used for an intermodal terminal.

 

Regards,

Greg Cameron

Florey ACT 2615

 

Copy:

Mr Craig Kelly MP

Ms Melanie Gibbons MP

Cr Ned Mannoun

Cr Peter Harle

 

Note: This  meeting was organised by the Federal Member for Hughes; MP Craig Kelly.

 

Media Coverage here:

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/south-west/senator-eric-abetz-will-fight-his-own-government-to-kill-the-moorebank-freight-terminal/story-fngr8hxh-1227120794951?nk=d416ae990b852c637fb491938cfc673a

Liverpool City Councils’ campaign to move the Intermodals to Badgerys Creek Airport site:

http://www.liverpool.nsw.gov.au/council/the-liverpool-area/moorebank-intermodal

Business case Document here:

Badgerys Creek – The Ideal Location for an Intermodal