Regional Development Australia Limestone Coast looks to rail to combat future freight needs

The production of timber products from the South East is set to more than double over the next decade, with experts looking to rail as a possible solution to huge increases in freight demand.

The amount of manufactured wood products coming out of the South East is tipped to increase by 60 per cent in the next decade, as the booming industry looks at options to avoid a massive freight logjam.

The growth is set to see an 80 to 90 per cent increase on freight demand in the region, with fears being raised on the toll increased trucks and road freight will have on regional thoroughfares.

Regional Development Australia Limestone Coast are hoping to upgrade the old broad gauge trainline between Mount Gambier and Heywood in Victoria to combat the issue.

RDA Limestone Coast deputy chair Alan Richardson said out of the top 50 most populated cities in Australia, Mount Gambier was one of three without a rail system — with the other two only 30 minutes from a rail network.

“If you want to take freight on rail, you would have to take it to Bordertown — that’s close to 200km away,” Mr Richardson said.

Regional Development Australia Limestone Coast Deputy Chair Alan Richardson at the Mount Gambier Railway Lands. Picture: Arj Ganesan

Mr Richardson said upgrading the line would get trucks off the road, lowering the environmental impact of freight as well as reducing wear and tear on the roads.

“The amount of manufactured wood products coming out of the region (is predicted to) increase by 60 per cent by 2032,” he said.

“(That) equates to something like an 80 to 90 per cent increase in the freight task out of the Green Triangle region.”

Mr Richardson said trains would not be coming to the city but to a station at the Glenburnie saleyards.

The project hinges on a proposed upgrade to the Maroona to Portland line, which the federal government has committed $2.2m to investigate its feasibility.

The line is currently running, but is limited to a 19-tonne axle load at 40km/h, meaning it takes roughly six hours to transport goods.

Portland Port Authority Chief Executive Greg Tremewen said the limited rail capacity meant the only way for goods to make it to the major port was through road freight.

“I’m very supportive of improving the rail network whether it’s from Mount Gambier to Heywood or Maroona to Portland — I’m supportive of all avenues of rail to the port of Portland,” Mr Tremewen said.

“There’s only two ways to get to our port, that’s road and rail — effectively there’s no real rail option.”

The disused railway tracks prior to the creation of Mount Gambier's Rail Trail. Picture: Mount Gambier Council

Green Triangle Forest Contractors Group Chair Adrian Flowers said Portland was a critical destination for the Green Triangle region, with rail a possible solution to the resource shortages seen in the trucking industry.

“There’s already concerns in place around ‘where are the drivers coming from? Where are the trucks coming from?,” Mr Flowers said.

“We’re stretched as it is in the road freight industry — not just in forestry.”

Independent Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell said the project would need to work in hand with the Victorian state and Australian federal government.

“It has to be a cross border collaboration and this is where I see the importance of our cross border commissioner,” Mr Bell said.

“These are the projects that they need to be working on — this is a great example of a cross border issue that could have massive benefits for our region as well as Victoria.”