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Victorian Freight Plan Update - submission

9 July 2024

Victorian Government - Update of the Victorian Freight Plan
Victorian Freight Plan Update - submission

The Committee for Greater Shepparton (C4GS) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Update of the Victorian Freight Plan – Discussion Paper.


C4GS recognises the role the Victorian Freight Plan can play in delivering critical infrastructure, growing skills and workforce, supporting the state’s transition to net zero, and, importantly, delivering a freight and logistics capability that mitigates cost of living challenges for consumers across the nation and supports our competitive advantage in international markets.


Greater Shepparton is one of Australia’s busiest freight hubs with a wide range of freight activity with around 25% of Victoria’s heavy vehicles registered in Greater Shepparton dozens of freight operators and an extensive array of service providers and vehicle retailers.

Freight activity ranges from localised daily activity by farm and industry, to the movement of supermarket staples and premium exports across the nation and to export ports. The region is home to world leading companies and iconic brands including SPC, Bega, Unilever, Continental, Noumi, Milk Lab, Campbell’s Soups, Pental, White King, Huggies, Furphy, Flavorite, Saputo, and Kagome.


In preparing this submission, C4GS sought feedback and ideas from members who are freight providers, have freight imbedded in their operations and from members providing services to the freight sector. This included a survey comprising the questions posed in the Discussions Paper.


The feedback from members identified several consistent themes and directions. Road maintenance and its impact on already increased operating costs was the number one concern. Increased repairs and maintenance, reduced fuel efficiency (higher emissions) and extended routes and detours highlight the challenges for regional operators moving perishable and time critical product within and from regional areas.


With ambitious emission reduction targets, there is a need to move on multiple fronts simultaneously. C4GS welcomes incentives to assist freight operators change over their fleet, however the current cost of low emission vehicles (as much as five times the cost of the equivalent heavy vehicle) and the pace of infrastructure roll out means this is not an immediate and practical option for many – and especially regional - freight operators. Our submission identifies some immediate opportunities however the investment in road maintenance and network improvements such as regional bypasses that eliminate the stop-start movement of freight through the heart of regional cities like Shepparton can reduce emissions and freight costs for all road users and should be a priority for state and federal governments.


C4GS urges caution with expanded Government involvement in the sector – and particularly in a region where even short trips involve interstate movements, and harmonisation and jurisdictional differences are obvious. From Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreaks to pandemics and floods, Greater Shepparton’s freight operators have current and practical experience with managing supply chain disruptions. C4GS encourages national, state and local governments and emergency management engage with regional industry to ensure these regional needs and experiences inform government planning.


At the time preparing this submission there are multiple Victorian and Federal government consultation processes that impact on this Plan as well as the future of northern Victoria. There is no other location where these various water, energy, freight, migration and food security topics intersect as intensely and with such possibilities. C4GS welcomes the opportunity for these matters to be addressed collectively and with the involvement of C4GS members and the broader community.


C4GS extends an open invitation for DTP to work with us to engage with local industry and freight users to inform the development of the plan and its impact on regional Victoria.

Click here to read the full submission

Office:

144 Welsford Street,

Shepparton 3630

Mail:

PO Box 603

Shepparton 3632

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We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country and recognise their continuing connection to the land, water, air and sky; culture and community. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

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