The Maldon-Dombarton rail line doesn’t get a single mention in the NSW government’s draft freight and port plan.
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But a spokesman for Roads and Freight Minister Melinda Pavey said that rail project was outside the time frame of the plan.
The 34-kilometre freight rail line would link the Port Kembla to western Sydney and a number of coalfields.
It’s often spoken about as the solution to the increasing pressures freight transport is placing on the South Coast line.
Yet it didn’t rate a direct mention in the government’s 94-page Draft Freight and Ports Plan, released last week.
However, the report does identify that something will have to be done to manage the freight in and out of Port Kembla in the future.
“While there is sufficient rail capacity in the short to medium term, freight rail access to Port Kembla is recognised by Infrastructure Australia as an initiative of national priority,” the report stated.
Ms Pavey’s spokesman said the Maldon-Dombarton line was omitted because it wasn't appropriate to include it in this draft plan.
... freight rail access to Port Kembla is recognised by Infrastructure Australia as an initiative of national priority.
- NSW government's Draft Freight and Ports Plan
“The Maldon-Domarton line is included in the government’s Draft Future Transport 2056 Strategy,” the spokesman said.
“The Draft Freight and Ports Plan is a document that is focussing on the more immediate future, while the Future Transport strategy has a longer term vision.
“The plans when finalised will align the initiatives following the extensive consultation and feedback.”
The draft freight plan also confirmed the government’s preference for rail over road when it comes to transporting freight.
When it comes to coal, the report identifies a problem with rail congestion that will only get worse with time.
“Coal originating from the western coalfields (around Lithgow) must traverse the shared Sydney Trains metropolitan rail network to reach Port Kembla and Port of Newcastle, thus facing potential path capacity limitations,” it stated.
“This trend is set to continue and will require continuing efforts to ensure separation of this freight task with passenger rail over time.”