Cade Lucas
Campaigners seeking to reduce the number of trucks on inner west roads have welcomed the creation of a new container park on the old Melbourne market site on Footscray Road.
On Friday the state government announced it had signed a 42 year lease with the Port of Melbourne for the 29 hectare site which will be used to store empty shipping containers.
Empty containers are currently stored at a number of sites across the inner-west, resulting in a high volume of trucks on nearby streets transporting them back and forth to the Port of Melbourne.
President of the Maribyrnong Truck Action Group (MTAG) Martin Wurt said the move would reduce truck traffic.
“It’s something that’s been talked about since the market was vacated back in 2015 and it’s a welcome announcement,” Mr Wurt said.
“This will give us a purpose built depot where those containers can be kept and it makes perfect sense to have it right next to the port.”
Truck traffic has been a hot button issue in the inner west for years and it’s hoped having a container storage facility so close to the waterfront will reduce the number of trucks traveling through suburbs such as Footscray, Yarraville, Seddon, Tottenham and Brooklyn.
Port of Melbourne chief executive Saul Cannon said the close proximity would have other benefits too.
“For a city port in Australia’s soon-to-be largest city, the site’s strategic location and proximity to existing port functions enables a strategic transformation of the port precinct that will enhance supply chain efficiencies, reinforcing Victoria’s position as the freight and logistics capital of Australia.”
The equivalent of 14 MCGs – the new site is anticipated to increase capacity at the Port of Melbourne by up to one million 20-foot containers a year.
“This is a great deal for Victoria – we’re getting more trucks off local roads, increasing the amount of freight the Port of Melbourne can handle, boosting trade and the economy, while strengthening Victoria’s supply chains,” added Ports and Freight Minister Melissa Horne.
The Melbourne market site is currently being used in the construction of the Westgate Tunnel which is expected to further reduce truck volumes when it opens next year.
