Aurizon and Qube to build $1.5 billion Moorebank Intermodal Terminal
Australia’s largest road and rail-to-port precinct will start operating in 2017 after the Commonwealth government approved the development of a new terminal at Moorebank in south-western Sydney.
Qube Holdings and Aurizon Holdings, have formed the Sydney Intermodal Terminal Alliance (SIMTA), and signed an agreement with the government to develop and operate the open access freight terminal on a joint precinct that comprises government land and adjoining land owned by SIMTA.
The government will invest $370 million in the $1.9 billion project, with a further $1.5 billion invested by SIMTA.
More shipping containers will be facilitated through the new terminal which will reduce the load on freight trucks on Sydney’s roads, reducing costs to business and creating better environmental outcomes.
Maurice James, Qube’s managing director, said the hub would use “cutting edge technology” for its warehouses and rail links to Port Botany, with warehouses potentially being fully automated in the future.
Subject to approvals by the Commonwealth and state planning and environmental authorities, work on the project will begin this year with the Moorebank intermodal terminal operational from late 2017.
Key dates
- Mid 2015 Concept approval and project approval for the first stage of development on the SIMTA
site. - Late 2015 Construction commences on the rail connection and the first stage of the import-export
terminal and warehousing on the SIMTA site. - Late 2017 Operation of the first stage of the import-export terminal commences.
- Late 2019 Operation of the first stage of the interstate terminal commences.