Leading intermodal logistics firm, SCT Group, officially opened its newest refrigeration facility this week.
The Western Australia temperature controlled cross dock and storage facility at its Forrestfield site is a $45million investment built to improve the security of the supply of goods to the region.
Opened by the Deputy Premier and Minister for Transport, Rita Saffioti, the new facility will support government objectives around improving supply chain resilience for West Australia, and help ensure the state’s consumers are protected from the shortages in supermarkets and essential supplies such as those experienced in 2022.
“The new state of the art facility encompasses the arrival, dispatch and storage of refrigerated product by rail at its doorstep creating a buffer to future disruptions on the east-west rail corridor”, SCT’s Managing Director Geoff Smith said at the official opening.
“It uses advanced logistics technology to respond to market demand, and ensure inventories cover potential future interruptions to freight supply”.
Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti underlined the contribution that the investment makes to the West Australian Government’s Supply Chain Strategy.
“I want to congratulate SCT on their investment and delivery of this new facility. Our Government has been engaging closely with industry to build supply chain resilience and projects like this are critical to supporting multi-modal responsiveness to supply chain disruptions.”
The Deputy Premier also focused on the support provided to more than 100 WA businesses which will access the new facility.
“The Project will drive greater efficiency and cost-competitiveness for WA business, while its contribution to increased rail services will greatly enhance access to markets on the eastern seaboard”.
The project also reflectsSCT’s rising commitment to WA.
Since commencing WA operations in 1975 and establishing the Forrestfield Intermodal Hub in 1999, the company has invested more than $500 million in infrastructure and dedicated rolling stock to service the West Australian market, transporting over five million tonne of freight across Australia each year.
“We supply around 40 per cent of WA’s fast moving consumer goods into food and retail markets, and have grown to seven, 1.8 km-length rail services a week into WA”, Smith said.
“This project will support a range of our long-term WA customers including major retail, manufacturing and primary production”.
The new investment will also bolster State and national decarbonisation efforts by making rail freight a more attractive option.
“SCT’s activities equate to the removal of 73,000 truck movements through Perth and across the Nullarbor each year,” Smith concluded.
“This investment broadens the range of products that can be viably transported on rail, and is a crucial part of the company’s long-term commitment to West Australia.”
