Cade Lucas
Rail freight company Pacific National have confirmed they remain in the planning process to build their own freight hub in Little River, despite the state government indicating they will extend the lease on their current base in West Melbourne.
Earlier this month the state government announced their intention to extend the lease on the Dynon rail freight precinct in West Melbourne beyond 2031, potentially allowing Pacific National and other tenants to remain there until 2050.
Pacific National’s current lease at Dynon expires in 2029 and along with delays in the development of the publicly funded Western Intermodal Freight Terminal (WIFT) in Truganina, has been touted as a reason for the company pursuing its own private facility in Little River, a proposal which has drawn strong opposition from local residents.
At a meeting of Wyndham council on Tuesday night, deputy mayor Josh Gilligan moved a motion calling on the state government to clarify their position Pacific National’s Little River proposal and the future of WIFT.
Cr Gilligan argued that if Pacific National’s lease at the Dynon precinct is extended, it would undermine the company’s case for a terminal at Little River.
“There is really no need for the Little River terminal that is proposed, the great big new terminal that will have a profound impact in relation to Little River and will have a profound impact in terms of the incursion of urban development between the growth boundaries of Geelong and Wyndham,” he told the chamber.
Responding to the motion on Wednesday, Pacific National indicated it was still seeking planning approval for the Little River proposal .
“As council requested, Pacific National is preparing an Environment Effects Statement for its proposed Little River Logistics Precinct which it the most rigorous and transparent process for assessing all public and private development proposals for significant infrastructure projects,” said a spokesperson for Pacific National.
“Pacific National acknowledges and welcomes the Victorian Government’s commitment to provide certainty for industry to keep the national supply chain moving.
We will continue to work with the State Government to ensure intermodal rail freight operations in Victoria are secure so we can continue to deliver what matters for our customers and support a terminal solution for Melbourne’s west.”
The state government didn’t address Pacific National’s Little River proposal in its response to council’s motion, but did clarify its position on the Dynon precinct and WIFT, after media reports on Tuesday that the planned freight hub in Truganina had been deferred indefinitely.
“After the Commonwealth’s decision to prioritise the delivery of Beveridge Interstate Freight Terminal (BIFT), we have moved swiftly to ensure that rail freight operations at Dynon can provide sufficient capacity in the short-term,” said a state government spokesperson.
