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                  Freight hub a step closer Freight terminal a step closer

                  Kwinana Courier, Page: 1
                  Friday, 05 December 2008
                  Ref: 44615893



            THE Latitude 32 Industry Zone in Hope Valley has been backed as the 
            best location to build a major intermodal rail freight terminal.

            The Kwinana Intermodal Terminal report released for public comment 
            last week identified a site in Latitude 32, between Russell Road and 
            Rowley Road, as the preferred location.

            Kwinana Industries Council director Chris Oughton said the freight 
            hub would make transferring goods between trucks and trains more 
            efficient and reduce truck movements on Perth roads.

            "At the moment most of Perth ’s containers are moved by road, 
            creating congestion between the major metropolitan intermodal hub at 
            Kewdale and Fremantle," he said, "Making it easier to get containers 
            on to trains has a series of accumulated benefits, ranging from 
            decreased traffic congestion through to a lower environmental impact 
            because rail transport is more efficient than road transport." 
            LandCorp senior project planner Chris Brady said the project was 
            "still a long way off".

            He said noise modelling would need to be carried out on the planned 
            facility, as that would have the biggest impact on surrounding 
            residents.

            The report identified potential noise issues for residential areas 
            east of the project area, particularly the township of Wattleup, if 
            the terminal was built in its proposed location.

            Mr Oughton described Latitude 32 as the ideal location as there was 
            suitable land, rail infrastructure and road links available.

            Continued page 5

            Kwinana Mayor Carol Adams said council would support the proposal 
            within Latitude 32, as additional noise or traffic would not greatly 
            affe"t residential areas.

            A Planning and Infrastructure l)epartment spokesman said termiiial 
            building costs had not yet been considered. At ti~is stage, the 
            State Government was simply assessing the feasibilit of the propo~aL 
            If it From page 1 proved feasible it would most likely he developed 
            by the private sector, In August. then planning minister Alaiinah 
            MacTiernan said that the consultation process would take about a 
            year. with the facility operatinc by 2015.

            Planning Minister John Day said there were no immediate plans to 
            stact development hut planning for the uro nf the State ’s fi eight 
            netivick was critical.