IA highlights $18.2bn of key freight projects

By Sam Collyer – www.lloydslistdcn.com.au

The updated list of infrastructure priorities - worth more than $80 billion, with many projects not yet costed - sets out a path to make Australia's international gateways competitive and develop a national freight network.
Infrastructure Australia has prioritised $5.3 billion of port projects, a figure that does not include the Oakajee port development north of Geraldton.
The rail sector has almost $2.9 billion of projects earmarked as priority, although several projects in New South Wales and the Mt Isa-Townsville and East-West rail corridors are not included in that number.
More than $10 billion of projects were identified for the road sector.
New South Wales ($8.2 billion), Queensland ($4.8 billion) and South Australia ($2.6 billion) top the list of States in most need of funding for such projects, though several major projects were not included in the figure.
Federal transport and infrastructure minister Anthony Albanese said the list only included projects that had been "rigorously assessed as having real merit or significant potential".
The Australian Logistics Council welcomed the release of the updated list, believing it essential that a National Freight Network Plan Framework be put in place to handle freight demand.
“The ALC is pleased that Infrastructure Australia has already picked up some of the proposals made by the council," chief executive Michael Kilgariff said.
These proposals included the requirement that port plans have a 20-year horizon, that buffer zones be created around freight corridors and sites and that further investigation be carried out into sharing port information.
Kilgariff also welcomed the support for seeing transport corridors and intermodal facilities as part of a supply chain connected to a port rather than isolated sites.

Michael Egan named new chair of NCIG
By Sineva Toevai – www.lloydslistdcn.com.au

Former New South Wales treasurer Michael Egan has been appointed the new chairman of the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group.
Egan assumed his new role on July 1st, replacing Tony Galligan who has been chairman since 2007.
Galligan, who will remain on the NCIG board as Whitehaven Coal’s representative, said Egan’s wealth of experience would help the port of Newcastle tackle future challenges.
“As the longest-serving treasurer in our state’s history Michael Egan has an unrivalled perspective on the importance of enabling infrastructure such as NCIG to the future prosperity of NSW,” Galligan said.
Egan, who was NSW treasurer from 1995 to 2005, is currently chancellor of Macquarie University and chairman of several boards, including the Australian Fisheries Management Authority Commission.
His previous government portfolios also included state development and energy.

Source: Lloyd’s List Daily Commercial News – www.lloydslistdcn.com.au