Freight and Logistics Council of Western Australia

Freight and Logistics Council of Western Australia

Notes from Meeting of 29 November 2012

Fremantle

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Among the key issues raised at the meeting were:

·  The Cockburn Coast development and possible impacts associated with the freight rail service through the area.

·  Bunbury Port’s future development plans.

·  Containing truck numbers at Fremantle Port.

·  Updates on North West road issues.

·  Current land use planning initiatives.

·  Planning for new Outer Harbour facilities at Fremantle.

·  Business continuity preparedness at WA ports.

Freight and Logistics Council of Western Australia

Meeting 29 November 2012

Fremantle

ACTION SHEET

·  Liaise more closely with LandCorp on future land developments impacting on freight.

·  Work with Bunbury Port on land access issues.

·  Discuss ports business continuity systems at forthcoming Ports WA meeting.

Freight and Logistics Council of Western Australia

Notes from Meeting of 29 November 2012

Fremantle

NOTES OF MEETING

Those present included:

·  Fred Affleck, Chairman;

·  Greg Martin, National Transport Commission;

·  Ian King, WA Road Transport Association;

·  Peter West, Ports WA;

·  John Oliver, Alcoa;

·  Jim Stevenson, Intermodal Group;

·  Chris Leatt-Hayter, Fremantle Ports;

·  Reece Waldock, Director General of Transport;

·  Eric Lumsden, Director General of Planning;

·  Paul Scott, CBH Group;

·  Doug Morgan, Main Roads WA;

·  Mark Brownell, Freight and Logistics Council; and

·  Glenda Galipo, Freight and Logistics Council

Guests included:

·  Luke Willcock, LandCorp;

·  Serge Famiano, LandCorp;

·  Neema Premji, Bunbury Port;

·  Kevin Schellack, Bunbury Port; and

·  Steve Beyer, Department of Transport.

Agenda Item One: Opening Comments

Fred Affleck welcomed members, deputies and guests to the meeting. He thanked Graeme Wilson for chairing proceedings at the last meeting. Apologies were recorded from Steve Moir, Kate Wang, Menno Henneveld, Andrew Mencshelyi, Paul Larson, Darren Rawson-Harris, Steve Martin, Bob Pearce and Graeme Wilson, the majority of whom were represented. The notes of the last meeting were confirmed, as was the fact that the actions from the meeting had been taken or were progressing.

Agenda Item Two: Presentations

Cockburn Coast Development

Fred Affleck noted that the Council had taken a strong interest in this development because of its potential to impact on the Fremantle Port freight rail service. LandCorp was responsible for progressing the development and so it was useful to receive an update at this meeting.

Luke Willcock said that LandCorp was leading this development as the key land-owner in the region. He confirmed that the Government had decided in 2009 to house 10,000 people in a new development on the Cockburn Coast. Notwithstanding, LandCorp was highly conscious of the strategic importance of the freight rail line running through the area and had taken all steps to protect it. Luke said that only a small proportion of the residential development would interface directly with the rail line and moratoriums would be placed on titles drawing owners’ attention to the trains and their potential effects on adjacent properties. Design Guidelines would soon be released in draft for public comment, and when enacted by the City of Cockburn, they would be enforceable by Cockburn Council. (A copy of Luke’s presentation is attached to these notes.)

Chris Leatt-Hayter commented that Council-enforced Design Guidelines could be ineffective due to the regular change of personnel in local government. Serge Famiano said that design guidelines would be enforceable because they would be included in Local Structure Plans. Luke Willcock added that Development Applications to the City of Cockburn would come through LandCorp, where they will be checked for compliance.

Fred Affleck said that some of the imagery associated with the public report on the latest Structure Plan displayed on the City of Cockburn website was misleading and did not accurately portray a heavy freight rail operation. The LandCorp representatives acknowledged this and said that the imagery would be changed.

Eric Lumsden commented that there was a need for governments to be pragmatic with issues such as freight noise and ensure that industry operations would not be unduly constrained by community concerns. He said that the only fail-safe means of protecting industry was to enshrine requirements in the Metropolitan Region Scheme and local Town Planning Schemes. Steve Beyer noted that Cockburn planning was based on maximum noise levels rather than the average levels called for under State Planning Policy. He said that maximum noise levels should have statutory backing.

Greg Martin referred to the Metropolitan Freight Strategy being developed by the Government and suggested that the initiative should give rise to a defined freight network that could be appropriately protected. The Fremantle Port rail line should have prominence in the network.

Fred Affleck said that industry concerns such as those being voiced about the Cockburn development would arise regularly and that the Council would like to work more closely with LandCorp to try and address concerns before they progress. Luke Willcock agreed that this would be worthwhile.

Bunbury Port

Kevin Schellack (CEO of the Bunbury Port Authority) made a presentation on Bunbury Port that included detail on:

·  current port facilities and trade levels;

·  projections of future trade and required infrastructure;

·  major planned port works, such as the diversion of the Preston River; and

·  port access requirements.

A copy of the presentation is attached to these notes.

John Oliver raised the issue of channel depth. He said that with the predicted increase in vessel movements, this could become an issue. Kevin Schellack said that dredging was occurring currently to restore the channel to its former depth. Thereafter additional pilots and tugs would ensure optimum use of the channel. Reece Waldock commented that a recent funding decision by the Government would assist ports faced with major infrastructure issues.

Neema Premji mentioned that the dualing of the rail line into the Port and Stage 2 of the Port Access Road each needed to be completed with some urgency. Moreover, these projects needed to line up and the resultant corridors protected through appropriate land use planning. She suggested that the Council may be able to assist in this respect.

Agenda Item Three: Working Group Reports

Transport Operations Working Group

In Graeme Wilson’s absence, Ian King reported on the recent meeting. He said that some attention was given to truck numbers at Fremantle Inner Harbour, where he said that preliminary results from the latest annual survey appeared to show a fall in truck productivity. However, the container terminals operators had agreed to support improvements to the Vehicle Booking System with a view to containing truck numbers in the future. Ian instanced the planned fee on side-lifters as evidence of the stevedores’ commitment to encouraging higher productivity.

The meeting also discussed North West developments. These included progress with the establishment of the OSOM Unit, fly-in fly-out traffic wardens for the Pilbara Region and proposed accreditation for road pilots.

Freight and Land Use Planning Working Group

Fred Affleck reported that in its recent meetings the group had focussed on the Cockburn Coast development and improvement of Planners’ awareness of the requirements for freight efficiency in planning of and potentially incompatible land uses. This would include publication of a ‘Blue Book’ as a reference guide for planners and assistance to tertiary institutions to enhance planners’ educational programs. He said that the Freight and Land Use Planning Working Group would be meeting soon to establish a detailed plan for this ‘Blue Book’ project, and that this would be reported to the Council at its next meeting.

Agenda Item Four: Other Matters

Outer Harbour Planning

Reece Waldock said that the planning for the Outer Harbour was being progressed within the planning portfolio to ensure that related decisions were reflected in the Metropolitan Region Scheme. He noted that a major consultancy had been let that would examine Outer Harbour options and present recommendations to the Government. A new facility could be available during the early 2020s.

Port Business Continuity Management

Fred Affleck said that the Office of the Auditor General had recently published a report on its examination of the business continuity plans at a number of ports in Western Australia (Summary Report at http://www.audit.wa.gov.au/reports/ pdfreports/insert2012_11.pdf). This had raised concern about lack of preparedness by some ports. Because this had implications for the whole logistics system, it should be noted beyond the port sector. It was agreed by the Council that the Chairman should discuss the matter at a forthcoming meeting of the Ports WA Council.

Media

Fred Affleck noted that recent media coverage of discussion within the Council had the potential to create misleading impressions of the Council’s position on matters it discusses. He reiterated that the Chairman should be the sole point of contact for media enquiries about all aspects of Council business.

Agenda Item Five: Closing Comments

Fred Affleck thanked members, deputies and guests for their time and input. He noted that the next meeting would take place on the afternoon of 20 December. There being no other comments, the meeting was closed at that point.