Premier tours freight hub site

THE $55m intermodal freight hub being built at Mitchell Park was the focus of a visit to the region by Premier Jacinta Allan last week.

The major project is on track with an aim to create more jobs, transfer more freight by rail, drive down emissions, and place Ballarat more prominently on the state’s freight transportation map.

Scheduled for completion by the end of this year, the hub is expected to be a critical part of the Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ), providing site tenants George Weston Foods and CHS Broadbent access to the broad gauge Ballarat-Ararat rail line.

Regional development minister and Eureka MP Michaela Settle, Premier Jacinta Allan, transport and regional development minister and Ballarat MP Catherine King, City of Ballarat mayor Cr Tracey Hargreaves, Wendouree MP Juliana Addison, Ripon MP Martha Haylett and state ports and freight minister Melissa Horne on site at the developing $55 million Intermodal Freight Hub. Photo: Evie Lamb.

More than 300,000 tonnes of grain annually are expected to be transported to George Weston Foods’ new flour processing mill that is also being developed on the site.

The new rail infrastructure is expected to support the movement of about 15,000 containers a year to the Port of Melbourne with capacity for future growth.

The Premier, federal infrastructure, transport and regional development minister and Ballarat MP Catherine King, state ports and freight minister Melissa Horne, state regional development minister and Eureka MP Michaela Settle, Ripon MP Martha Haylett, Wendouree MP Juliana Addison and City of Ballarat mayor Cr Tracey Hargreaves toured the site at 13 Cargo Way last Friday.

George Weston Foods’ Steve Kennedy discusses progress on the new flour processing facility and the $55 million Intermodal Freight Hub while leading a site tour for visiting state and federal MPs including Premier Jacinta Allan (far right). Photo: Evie Lamb.

“The Ballarat Freight Hub is creating local jobs now while building freight infrastructure Victoria needs to grow our economy into the future,” Allan said.

About 100 local jobs are being supported during construction, with Taylor Rail Australia delivering the track and civil works package.

Works include 3km of new rail track, sidings, mainline tracks, signalling, maintenance access to Liberator Drive, lighting, CCTV, fencing, drainage, footpath infrastructure and decommissioning of the Ring Road level crossing and pedestrian crossing.

More than 300,000 tonnes of grain annually are expected to be transported to George Weston Foods’ new flour processing facility which is nearing completion alongside the new $55 million Intermodal Freight Hub at Mitchell Park. Photo: Evie Lamb.

“Moving more freight by rail means fewer trucks on our roads, improving safety, cutting emissions and reducing wear and tear across our network, Horne said

The state government has put in more than $45m to open up commercial land at BWEZ, building on a $30m partnership with the City of Ballarat.

The intermodal freight hub is jointly funded by the state and federal governments with each contributing $27.75m.