Business leaders back $400m Botany rail scheme

THE Federal Government has committed $400 million to the duplication of the Port Botany freight rail line — taking up to 900 trucks off the congested roads each day.

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BAYSIDE business leaders have welcomed the Federal Government’s $400 million commitment to the duplication of the Port Botany freight rail line — taking up to 900 trucks off the congested roads each day.

Treasurer Scott Morrison will announce the scheme in the Budget tomorrow. It has been described as a huge win for the port and those who live and work near it.

The move will ensure Port Botany continues to grow.

The project, which will start in financial year 2018/19, will involve the duplication of the 2.9km freight line between Mascot and Botany.

Not only will the improvements ease jams on the rail line it will also free up congested roads which have long frustrated residents and businesses.

NSW Ports CEO Marika Calfas said it would also secure future growth at the port.

She said, at present, 440,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) of freight each year travel by rail from the port.

Their target is to transport three million TEU by rail each year.

The port estimates the new line, along with freight terminal improvements, will take 900 trucks off the roads around Port Botany every day — or 328,500 a year.

Scenes like this could be a thing of the past with the duplicated rail line.

“It is good news for all Sydneysiders,” Ms Calfas said. “More than 42 per cent of items inside Sydney’s houses have entered the country via a container at Port Botany.”

Marcus Dwyer, of Bayside Business Enterprise Centre, said it was great news.

“The port is incredibly important in the area, so this is great news,” he said.

“It will also benefit residents and businesses ... infrastructure like this will have dramatic flow- on effects across the Sydney basin. This should be welcomed and applauded.”

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said it was a”vital upgrade” to ease Sydney’s congestion woes.

He said it would also enable passengers from Sydney Airport to get home sooner and safer.

“Every single additional train with containers along this rail line takes 50 trucks off the roads,” he said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the $400 million for the project today. Picture: Peter Rae

“The goal is to increase the rail share of this Port Botany port, this container port from just under 20 per cent to 40 per cent and we’re seeing big growth in the port as well.

“This is future-proofing the port. This is the type of investment we need to make to ensure our economy remains strong.”

Maroubra state Labor MP Michael Daley urged the government to get to work as soon as possible.

Maroubra MP Michael Daley said the work needs to start as soon as possible. Picture: Danny Aarons.

“I’m pleased that the Federal Government has returned the money to duplicate the Port Botany line, money that Labor had committed back in 2013 that the Liberals took out of their first budget,” he said.

“I hope that they get to work immediately, because Gladys Berejiklian still doesn’t have a connection from the WestConnex to Port Botany, which means our roads are only going to be more and more congested.”

Heffron state Labor MP Ron Hoenig said every container off the road meant a healthier economy.

“The duplication of the rail line is critical ports infrastructure that has been outstanding for some 40 years now, indeed the importance of rail freight efficiency was identified by the Kirby and Simblist reports in the 1970s,” Mr Hoenig MP said.

“Every container taken off the road, and onto rail, means not just a safer, cleaner community, but a healthier state economy This re-announcement of a re-announced re-announcement is very welcome indeed”

The work is estimated to be finished in 2025/26 financial year.