MULTI MODAL AUSTRALIA RESPONSIVE PROJECT UPDATE (MARP)

The Transport and Logistics industry (T&L) operates in an environment where adaptation to change is fundamental to long term survival and success. As we look into the future, our operating environment will be facing some significant challenges in the form of peak oil, carbon taxes, increased congestion of our road networks, and large increases projected in the overall freight task.

Federal and State Governments are responding to these challenges through infrastructure investment and review of policy and strategies relating to freight networks that will accommodate future change. Industry must also respond to these challenges through the utilisation of infrastructure and the translation of Government policy and strategy into corporate actions.

The Queensland Transport and Logistics Council (QTLC) in collaboration with the Victorian Freight and Logistics Council and the WA Freight and Logistics Council have commissioned Strategic design + Development (Sd+D) to provide consultancy services to the Multimodal Australia Responsiveness Project (MARP).

The MARP report on the analysis of the responsiveness of sea and land transport modes to catering for the growing interstate freight to and from Melbourne and Melbourne - Brisbane is now available. It focuses on the current and future opportunities associated with multi-modal approach amid concerns by the freight councils about future road infrastructure capacity and service interruptions affecting freight.

Key finding are that in order to deliver a truly responsive transport infrastructure, attention is need to
Upgrade infrastructure (road, rail, hub, port) to improve service quality and increase capacity
Regulatory and governance reforms to achieve seamless interstate operations
Affirmative policy action to reduce barriers to opportunities for rail and sea freight to increase market share; and
Development of awareness in the freight industry and within government of multi modalism as a viable option.

The report is available on the following link http://www.vflc.com.au/html/s02_article/article_view.asp?art_id=1007&nav_cat_id=227&nav_top_id=97

It is envisaged that the report will act as a tool for ongoing discussion on optimising intermodal supply chains.