Freight Week 2011 concluded last Friday with Freight Agenda Day. After five very full days, Freight Week finished off in style with a focus on the national land freight strategy and influencing national policy.
Below are some of the highlights from today:
Road, rail and seaports are experiencing enormous growth pressure while governments are struggling to find the money to continually invest. The day examined a more collaborative national approach with industry case studies and presentations from senior policy makers such as the NTC, Infrastructure Australia and the Victorian Department of Transport.
· Edward Donahue, MLC Parliamentary Secretary for Transport opened the day by explaining Victoria’s three key strategies: 1. Metropolitan Planning 2. Growing Freight on Rail and 3. Transport Solutions. He also announced the VFLC new ipad app which is now on sale from the iTunes store.
· NTC CEO, Nick Dimopoulos, warned we are heading into diminishing freight productivity and as a result, we must tackle the “last bastion” – road pricing.
· Ben Newton, Transport Strategy Manager, Woolworths, stressed the importance of planning, restrictions, urban encroachment and uncertainty about future capacity.
· An audience interactive brainstorming session dissolved four key issues: better data, a National multi modal body, better pricing of access and co payment of infrastructure as top areas for future focus.
Politicians, planners and industry are working together to set the priorities for our freight future.
Freight Week 2011 is hosted by the Victorian Transport Association and the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce. Freight Week 2011 is held from Monday 5th to Friday 9th September 2011 at the Melbourne Park Function Centre (Tennis Centre).
To find out more please visit www.freightweek.com.au or contact Lucille Degenhardt, Marketing and Communications Manager, VTA on 0413 010 292.
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