Deputy Premier and WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti believes the new $25 million Kenwick Intermodal Terminal (IMT) will take thousands of trucks off local roads, improving safety and reducing congestion across Perth’s south-eastern suburbs.
The long-anticipated freight transfer facility, located adjacent to the Roe Highway Logistics Park, officially opened on Monday with the Deputy Premier, Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King, Federal MP for the local area Matt Keogh, and other community representatives in attendance for the significant milestone.
The terminal is designed to streamline freight operations by providing a key transfer point for cargo moving between rail and road transport and promises to reduce truck traffic on local roads significantly.
It’s expected the facility will handle approximately 200,000 freight containers annually, moving by rail between Fremantle Port, the future Westport, and Kenwick, which is anticipated to reduce truck journeys on the surrounding roads by an estimated 135,000 each year.
Speaking at the terminal’s opening ceremony, Deputy Premier Saffioti highlighted the advantages of shifting freight to rail for Perth’s southeastern corridor.
“We had a bold agenda when we got elected, and that was to increase the amount of freight onto rail; we started at 15 per cent in 2016/17, and that’s now at 20 per cent. This intermodal facility will help support the next big step, and that is to the 30 per cent,” she said.
“Hundreds of thousands of shipping containers can be moved via rail through this facility, freeing up our road network and establishing a logistics hub to support our state’s long-term freight transport needs.”
Each day, five to seven trains, some up to 700 metres long, depart from Fremantle Port, handling approximately 400-500 containers that carry mostly agricultural products like malt, grain and everyday imports.
The State Government said relocating Arc Infrastructure’s rail freight operations to the new Kenwick facility is crucial to free up the Bellevue terminal in Midland for expanding passenger services on the Midland Line and the assembling of 246 new C-series railcars expected over the next decade.
With a focus on safety and job creation, Federal Member for Burt Matt Keogh spoke about the significant impact the facility will provide to the local area.
“As someone who regularly uses Roe Highway, anything that takes trucks off that road is a benefit for our entire community,” he said.
“It means that journeys will be faster, it will remove congestion, make it safer for people to go about, getting to work, getting to school and being able to participate in the community.
“This facility and the industrial park behind it are a great wealth generator and job generator for our community.”
The Kenwick (IMT) received funding from Arc Infrastructure WA, contributing $15 million, along with $5 million each from the Australian Federal and Western Australian Governments.
Currently, all fully loaded containers transported between Fremantle Port and the Kenwick IMT are eligible for a partial rail subsidy from the State government aimed at making rail freight more cost-competitive.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, and Local Government Catherine King praised Western Australia’s efforts in the development of the Kenwick Intermodal Terminal, believing it will enhance Australia’s economic productivity.
“Not only does it boost productivity and supply chain efficiency to support the WA economy, but it also reduces congestion on our roads and minimises heavy vehicle activity around the Perth metro area, providing safer, smoother journeys for the entire community,” she said.
“To have more freight on rail is an aim that we have right across the nation, and I’m very pleased WA once again is doing the heavy lifting when it comes to its share.”
Excess soil from the Forrestfield-Airport Link project was used as fill for the Kenwick site, a method the State Government claims was a safe, efficient and sustainable approach to material management.
