Freight and Logistics Council of Western Australia

Meeting 26 July 2012

Fremantle

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Among the issues discussed at the meeting were:

  • planning for the FremantleOuterHarbour;
  • the development of BunburyPort and surrounding access;
  • managing vehicle movements through FremantleInnerHarbour terminals;
  • heavy vehicle congestion on the North West road network;
  • coastal shipping into the Pilbara;
  • the development of a reference document for local government land use planners; and
  • progress with managing over-size over-mass road movements.

Freight and Logistics Council of Western Australia

Meeting 26 July 2012

Fremantle

ACTION SHEET

  • Council to assist with discussion on best practice for landside operations associated with new port facilities in FremantleOuterHarbour.
  • Reece Waldock to brief the Council on the policy framework for newFremantleOuterHarbourdevelopments.
  • Continue discussions with BunburyPort about developing and protecting access for new trade growth.
  • Develop an options paper for coastal shipping services into the Pilbara.
  • Progress the “Blue Book” reference document for local government planners.

Freight and Logistics Council of Western Australia

Meeting 26 July 2012

Fremantle

NOTES OF MEETING

Those present included:

  • Bob Pearce, Forest Industries Federation (Chairman);
  • Graeme Wilson, Port Operations Task Force;
  • John Oliver, Chamber of Minerals and Energy;
  • IanKing, WA Road Transport Association;
  • Peter West, Ports WA;
  • Mike Poore, CBH Group;
  • Reece Waldock, Director General of Transport;
  • Chris Leatt-Hayter, FremantlePorts;
  • Greg Martin, National Transport Commission;
  • Menno Henneveld, Main Roads WA;
  • Martin Mileham, Department of Planning;
  • Mark Brownell, Freight and Logistics Council; and
  • Glenda Galipo, Freight and Logistics Council.

Agenda Item One: Opening Comments

Bob Pearce welcomed members and deputies to the meeting. He noted Fred Affleck’s absence. Other apologies were from Jim Stevenson, Steve Martin, Darrin Rawson-Harris, Andrew Mencshelyi, Eric Lumsden, Paul Larsen, Stephen Moir and Kate Wang, a number of whom were represented. The notes of the previous meeting were accepted and it was confirmed that actions had been taken or would be progressed at this meeting.

Agenda Item Two: High Performance Vehicles at FremantlePort

Bob Pearce said that this issue was a complex one with a number of operational, strategic and community dimensions. The matter is under discussion within Government. As these discussions are ongoing, it was felt premature to proceed with the planned briefing on the matter from consultant SKM. Fred Affleck will progress the matter with the Council as related discussions develop.

Agenda Item Three: Planning for the Fremantle Outer Harbour

Martin Mileham referred to his Minister’s recent media statement announcing a major examination of the FremantleOuterHarbour issue. The large amount of associated work that had already been conducted on the issue was acknowledged and this formed the focus of the new examination. A consultant would be commissioned to analyse this past work, identify gaps and provide a comprehensive assessment of the various development options for the OuterHarbour. Advice would be available to the Government by mid 2013 and during that period the WAPlanning Commission would not progress Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS) amendments in the area.

Reece Waldock added that the OuterHarbour development would be locked into the MRS system, ensuring that land use supported port activities. This was a new approach and fundamental to successful port development. He noted that the planning study would assist the Government make a final decision as to which of the various development options in the OuterHarbour to progress. Current policy thinking saw 2020 as the year to have new port facilities available. Reece added that discussion was still needed as to how the port would best work in terms of its land-side operations. He suggested that the Council would be able to assist with that discussion. Reece also offered to provide a briefing to the Council on the policy framework the Government was working within to progress OuterHarbour development. This was agreed.

Graeme Wilson commented that the proposed approach would be welcomed by industry as giving some certainty to the issue. He said that when a final decision is taken on theOuterHarbour option, there would need to be an interim InnerHarbour plan to ensure that full capacity is reached there. Chris Leatt-Hayter agreed and commented that Port Botany was capped at 3.2 million TEU because of community considerations despite the fact that leading industry figures put terminal capacity at 8-9 million TEU. He said that there needed to be major change in current operational and commercial practices to ensure that Fremantle was not similarly constrained. Reece Waldock noted that the port rail service and the High Street issue would be locked in shortly. The rail service was currently taking 80-100,000 trucks off the road. This figure could be quadrupled as rail grows towards its target of 30 per cent of a rapidly increasing trade base. Related, the Victorian Government had recently decided to subsidise rail at MelbournePort and consideration was being given to a similar initiative at Port Botany.

Agenda Item Four: Working Group Reports

Transport Strategy Working Group

In Steve Moir’s absence, John Oliver commented on the recent meeting of the Working Group, which had been joined by Kevin Schellack, the Chief Executive of Bunbury Port. John said that the meeting was informed about the strong trade prospects for Bunbury. These revolved around growth in present trades, together with new trades such as urea, grain and coal. Port throughput could double in the next 4-5 years as a result of these developments. John said that the group was impressed by the Port’s planning to meet the needs of trade growth. However, there was a clear need to identify and protect inland corridors serving the Port. The Council could play a helpful supportive role in this process and associated funding discussions. John added that the alignment of the Port’s long term strategic planning with that of the local Region Scheme and Town Planning Scheme was most impressive and could serve as a template for other ports.

Transport Operations Working Group

Graeme Wilson reported on a recent meeting of the Working Group that had been joined by Adam Holland, who runs the DP World terminal at FremantlePort. The focus of discussion had been on improving efficiencies at the port-land interface in Fremantle. Adam’s view was that a fundamental barrier to improvement was the number of small road transport companies serving the Port. He said that less than 10 per cent of carriers ran significant operations. Terminals were constrained in restricting truck entry and had to rely on time and price levers to achieve efficiencies. Night running was a key initiative and was being promoted. Similarly, additional charges on trucks with side-lifters and the discouragement of manual bookings would bring efficiencies. DP World was also keen on building rail volumes, commensurate with the forthcoming extension of the rail line through to their terminal.

Graeme said that the other issue discussed at the meeting related to congestion on the North West road network. The rapid growth in heavy road transport was causing road safety issues, especially with the interaction between road trains and over-dimensional loads. Much of this problem was caused by narrow shoulders on the Great Northern Highway and was exacerbated by the inadequacy of pull-off areas and the poor standard of the pilot service. Reece Waldock commented that longer pull-off areas were being examined at present and that industry would be consulted about their location and cost. Menno Henneveld added that the pilot system was being reviewed as part of the current work on over-dimensional loads.

Mark Brownell commented on several other initiatives being pursued by the Working Group.

Discussions were being held with the Department of Transport to ensure that the communications strategy associated with the coming into force of Compliance and Enforcement legislation next year was broadened beyond heavy road transport. All aspects of freight movements down to small courier vehicles would be impacted.

A briefing on the Australian Marine Complex was being organised to better understand the current model and investigate the potential to handle a greater number of over-dimensional shipping movements unable to use FremantleInnerHarbour. There would be a related presentation at the next Council meeting on the development of general cargo facilities at Port Hedland.

Finally, legal advice had been sought as to whether State or Federal legislation prevailed over intrastate coastal shipping. Reece Waldock said that this was an important area and felt it would be useful to develop some options for coastal shipping into the Pilbara. This was agreed.

Freight and Land Use Planning Working Group

Martin Mileham commented in Fred Affleck’s absence on the recent meeting of the Working Group. He said that the focus of discussion had been on the production of a reference document for local government planners that provided guidelines for decisions involving freight. An interim name of the “Blue Book” had been given to the document. It would build on the recent Department of Planning document “Integrated Transport Guidelines” and would be a stand-alone ‘one-stop-shop’ for freight related planning matters.A brief would be drawn up for the production of the “Blue Book” and a consultant commissioned to develop it.

A recent discussion with the UDIA had suggested that the whole issue of land use planning for freight should be approached from an urban amenity viewpoint. This had been agreed and would be reflected in the “Blue Book” and in related public comments. Such an approach was consistent with the key Government document“Liveable Neighbourhoods”.

Agenda Item Five: Other Business

Over-Size Over-Mass (OSOM) Developments

Menno Henneveld reported on progress with developing the OSOM unit within Main Roads WA. He said that despite a number of early problems, the unit was still on schedule to be fully operational by the end of the year. In progressing towards that date, an IT system linking Main Roads and Police will be functional by 3 August. This will allow the seamless coordination of permits and escorts for the first time. By the second week of September, all of these functions will be co-located and conducted from the one physical centre. Horizon Power will co-locate at that time. Western Power will not physically move, but a new arrangement will be instituted where Main Roads is the sole interface with the power authority rather than individual operators. Accommodation is being sought at present that will house not only the new OSOM unit, but also the rest of the Main Roads Heavy Vehicle operation. Finally, a senior Main Roads officer is being placed in the Pilbara with specific responsibility for heavy vehicle movements.

Other Business

Mike Poore asked what progress had been made with heavy haulage permits and national standards. Reece Waldock said that WA would maintain all current standards and there would be no reduction in concessional loadings in this State.

Agenda Item Six: Closing Comments

Bob Pearce thanked members and deputies for their time and input. He noted that the next meeting was on 30 August at the same time and place. There being no other matters for discussion, Bob closed the meeting.

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