Page 6106 - Week 14 - Thursday, 8 December 2011
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(2) Does the Government have any plans to investigate or to develop an intermodal freight facility for Canberra.
(3) If further investigation is to be done in relation to part (2), (a) what will this involve, (b) what are the timelines and (c) how will it differ from the investigation already done through the Rail Master Plan.
(4) If the Government has decided not to proceed with a freight hub, what is the rationale for this decision.
(5) Is the Government aware that suppliers for the Cotter Dam project wished to deliver materials to the ACT by rail, but the lack of an intermodal freight hub made this too difficult; if so, can the Minister provide details of these incidences, including the number of suppliers and the amount of materials involved.
(6) What other examples is the Government aware of in which suppliers have inquired, or expressed a preference to transport materials to the ACT by rail, but the ACT’s lack of freight facilities has made this too difficult.
(7) Can the Minister provide any assessment the Government has done of the relative environmental benefits to the ACT of rail freight compared to road freight.
(8) Has the Government made a submission to the Federal Government regarding the development of High Speed Rail; if so, (a) when was this submission made, (b) did the submission express a preference for the location of Canberra high speed rail station, and what was this preference and (c) can the Minister provide a copy of the submission.
Mr Barr: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) The Government is currently considering a number of issues relating to the East Lake development. Decisions on these issues are expected to be made in the first quarter of 2012.
Pending the outcome of the Government’s decisions ESDD will be in a position to finalise the draft Planning and Design Framework for the urban renewal of the East Lake precinct. The draft framework will include clarification of the future land use intentions for the area, including key performance indicators for the achievement of an innovative showcase of sustainable development, the expansion of commercial and retail areas, new community facilities, and the proposed arrangement of public transport and rail station facilities.
(2) There is an intermodal (rail to road) terminal located at Kingston, however it has not been operational for a number of years. Action 23 in the draft Transport for Canberra policy is “Develop and release an ACT Freight Strategy”. Intermodal terminals will be considered as part of this strategy.
(3) The Railway Master Plan and planning direction for East Lake will inform the development of the a strategy.
(4) Not applicable – see 3 above.
(5) No.
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