National prize to Horsham freight hub
Friday, 14 October 2011
Horsham Rural City Council was last week presented with the 2011 Economic Development Partnerships Award at Economic Development Australia’s national awards ceremony in Adelaide. Council was presented with the award in recognition of its close partnerships with the government and private sector partners who have worked together to develop and fund the Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal.
Economic Development Australia is the national professional body for economic development practitioners. It represents over 400 members who work in local, state and federal government, regional development bodies and the private sector.
The Victorian Government alone, contributed over $3.3 million through Regional Development Victoria's Infrastructure Fund.
“One of the unique things about the Freight Terminal is that it brings together local, state and federal government direct involvement and funding as well as significant investment from private sector partners. We knew that the extent of the partnerships required, and the fact that the project is going so well, would place us in good stead,” said Council’s General Manager of Corporate Services and Economic Development, Mr Tony Bawden.
The project required the development of close and complex working partnerships with both federal and state government agencies, adjoining Councils, a major grains company ‐ Viterra, rail authorities, landholders and the Wimmera Development Association.
“Economic Development Australia’s recognition of the partnerships formed around the Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal is even more proof that working together is one of the things we do best in the Wimmera,” Mr Bawden said.
Mr Dean McQueen, Viterra’s Executive Manager Grain commented, “We congratulate Horsham Rural City Council on receiving this Economic Development Partnerships Award from the National Awards for Economic Development Excellence.”
“Viterra has been a strong supporter and partner of the Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal, providing both financial and in‐kind support,” he said.
“The council did a great job in bringing all the relevant groups together to ensure the success of this project.”
“We look forward to utilising the new Freight Terminal following the construction of our adjacent $10 million grain receival facility at Dooen,” said Mr McQueen.
This investment and new facilities at Dooen, along with the Intermodal Freight Terminal, will create a more efficient supply chain for container and bulk exports, and be an asset for the region for years to come.
The Wimmera is one of the world’s largest grain, pulse and oilseed growing regions and exports approximately 60% of the annual total harvest through ports in Melbourne and Adelaide. The Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal will double the storage and handling capacity of the current freight terminal and will dramatically reduce on-road transport, as up to 22,000 containers per annum will be transported by rail (currently 10,000 per annum).
Future development of the site include plans for a Distribution Centre for the Wimmera region which will include a bulk loading facility, a distribution centre, warehousing facilities, a trucking depot and associated rail freight businesses in a planned new business zone. Council have allocated funding to commence planning work for the precinct adjoining the 34 hectare site and the design of the container terminal also allows for a future bulk loading facility in later stages.
