A new freight terminal in Sydneys south-west will take 3,300 trucks off Sydney roads every day and create thousands of jobs for the region.
Today the Government is announcing its intention to call for tenders from the private sector to design, build and operate an intermodal terminal at Moorebank.
The Moorebank Intermodal Terminal project will see a rail link constructed from Sydneys busy Port Botany to a new freight terminal and warehousing facilities at Moorebank.
This will enable freight to be more efficiently transported by rail, providing much-needed relief for Sydney drivers.
In future years, the Moorebank site will also be expanded to include an interstate freight terminal.
Moorebank is the ideal location because of its close proximity to major connecting routes such as the M5, M7 and the Southern Sydney Freight Line, and has been assessed by independent firms KPMG and Greenhill Caliburn as the most appropriate location for an intermodal terminal.
Key to the project is a commitment that it will be open-access, which will ensure the best-value outcome for the project.
In addition to helping Sydney commuters, the Moorebank Intermodal Terminal project will deliver significant dividends across the entire Australian economy: more jobs for south-western Sydney and savings for Australian businesses.
Its anticipated 1650 full time jobs will be created during construction, and a further 1,700 people could be employed in the Liverpool region once the project is up and running.
Forecasts suggest the Terminal would see an injection of $135 million a year into the economy of the south-western Sydney alone.
Australian businesses that utilise Sydneys port will also benefit through reduced freight costs and diesel emissions.
The Moorebank Intermodal Terminal will contribute significantly to productivity, and investing in such critical infrastructure is part of the Gillard Governments plan to boost the productive capacity of the economy.
Private sector operators for the project will be selected through an open and competitive tender process.
The tender process will be managed by a Government Business Enterprise, to be established, and which will include an experienced private sector Board with a strong commercial focus.
Subject to planning and environmental approvals, the open-access Terminal will be open for business in 2017.
More information on the Moorebank Intermodal Project Terminal, including the KPMG and Greenhill Caliburn assessments can be accessed at www.finance.gov.au