New rail tracks, siding and signals are among work under way on a new $55 million intermodal freight hub taking shape at Ballarat, Victoria.
The hub will give tenants of the Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ), specifically George Weston Foods (GWF) and CHS Broadbent, access to the broad-gauge Ballarat-Ararat rail line.
Once complete, it is expected to allow for at least 15,000 containers a year to head to Melbourne Port and more than 300,000 tonnes of grain freighted to GWF’s new flour processing facility, which is nearing completion.
Federal Minister for Transport and Regional Development Catherine King says the BWEZ “is already an economic driver for the region”.
“This new intermodal freight hub will future-proof BWEZ by providing road, rail and future air connectivity all in one precinct,” she says.
MORE RAIL FREIGHT ‘NEEDED’
She predicts it will serve as a “drawcard” for business and future investment for Ballarat.
Victorian Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne says: “Moving more freight by rail means fewer trucks on our roads – improving safety, cutting emissions and reducing wear and tear across our network.”
Minister for Regional Development Minister Michaela Settle says the hub will turn into “an engine room” for the zone.
State MP for Ripon Martha Haylett says it is “fantastic news” for Ripon and western Victoria while MP for Wendouree Juliana Addison calls it “a major milestone for Ballarat”.
Around 100 construction jobs will be created by the project.
Construction work now under way include three kilometres of new rail track, new sidings and 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.
The state government has spent more than $45 million on the BWEZ while the hub is funded by the state and federal governments and should be finished late this year.
MORE VICTORIAN NEWS: NE households face new water bills shock
