Ports Australia has welcomed the Australian Federal Government's recent budget, noting that it, "recognises that port access infrastructure is a key part of its plan to boost the national economy."
Ports Australia CEO, David Anderson, said the budget made reference to a number of key port access projects, including the ports of Brisbane, Botany, and Gladstone on the East Coast, and Fremantle in Western Australia.
"Ports Australia has been stressing to the federal government the importance of port connectivity in its infrastructure spend, and we are very pleased to see that these key parts of our freight network receive strong recognition in the budget," said Mr Anderson.
Mr Anderson also noted that the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development was seeking to develop effective ways to apply infrastructure spending to leverage private sector participation.
"Port access infrastructure is where we see considerable potential to establish workable funding models with private sector participation. We will continue to work with government to secure these sorts of means to improve our freight networks," Mr Anderson said.
Key port access projects outlined in the budged include the Newcastle Port – Kooragang Island connectivity project, the Port Botany rail access project, intermodal terminal investment in Melbourne and Bell Bay, and a range of rail access and freight corridor projects.
The combined amount of port-related infrastructure spending earmarked by the budget is almost A$2.0 billion (US$1.85 billion). Additionally, other road and rail projects announced as part of a much larger $30 billion (US$27.7 billion) transport package may also have flow-on benefits to ports and facilities around the country.
