BUILDING AN INTEGRATED TRANSPORT NETWORK— FREIGHTThe ACT Government’s vision is to deliver an efficient, safe and sustainable freight network and services for a growing ACT and regional economy and community while protecting urban amenity and freight access and reducing the emission intensity of the freight transport industry.

Building an Integrated Transport Network – Freight provides a clear direction to the freight industry, governments and the community to ensure the ACT has a sustainable and productive freight transport system at the local, regional and national level. It forms part of the ACT Government’s complementary approach to build an integrated transport network that supports the government’s broader economic, social and environmental objectives.

WHY HAVE A FREIGHT STRATEGY?When we purchase items off the internet, fill our cars with petrol, order flowers or build a house, we expect it to be delivered smoothly and without delays. This is essential for daily living and reflective of modern life in Canberra.

Although we don’t often think about how freight arrives and where it is stored, its distribution has implications for road congestion, noise, land use and safety. Freight movement therefore needs careful consideration and long-term planning.

The bulk of freight in the ACT is handled by the private sector, but the ACT Government ensures the supporting infrastructure, such as roads and land availability, is as reliable, efficient and as strategically located as possible.

The strategy makes provisions for better land use, transport and environmental conditions as well as the needs of a growing ACT and regional economy. It considers:

• population growth outlooks

• emerging trends/technologies

• freight demand and its relationship with land use and regional development

• ACT’s statutory obligations regarding heavy vehicles and freight infrastructure

• the importance of safety, urban amenity and sustainability in freight operations.

WHAT WILL THE STRATEGY GUIDE? Broad level planning: Bulk goods infrastructure and transport networks (road, rail and air).

Localised planning: ‘ Last mile’ access and interface issues, including delivery, loading and parking requirements at local shops.

Integrated planning: Continuing access to goods, services and markets to improve productivity by protecting freight corridors and precincts.

WHY IS FREIGHT IMPORTANT?• Over 12 million tonnes of commodities were

carried by all ACT freight vehicles in the 12 months ending June 2012 as shown below.

• This is equivalent to around 520 B-double heavy vehicle movements on the ACT roads daily.

• Nearly all freight to and from the ACT is road-based and primarily comprises imports into the ACT with the majority coming from NSW.

• Canberra Airport handles a small amount of air freight at present, but aims to become a regional freight hub with the expected commencement of an overnight express service to meet the increasing demand for time-sensitive, door-to-door freight.

• The largest proportion of freight movement relates to construction, followed by manufactured goods, tools of trade and other commodities.

• The ACT freight task is expected to double in the next 20 years, consistent with national trends.

• While rail is underutilised at present, the ACT Government and the NSW Government have recently signed up to a two year trial transporting scrap metal on rail from Kingston to Port Botany that will reduce up to five long distance B-double heavy vehicle movements on the ACT and NSW road network every day.

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000

Unspecified

Other commodities,not elsewhere specified

Tools of trade

Miscellaneous manufactured articles

Machinery, transport equipment

Manufactured goods

Chemicals and related products,not elsewhere specified

Animal and vegetable oils,fats and waxes

Mineral fuels, lubricants andrelated materials

Crude materials, inedible, except fuels

Beverages and tobacco

Food and live animals

Total tonnes carried, '000

HOW DOES THIS STRATEGY WORK WITH OTHER ACT GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES?It supports transport initiatives such as the:

• Majura Parkway

• development of an orbital route for traffic and freight movements around the city core

• Capital Metro Network

• prioritisation of central transport corridors for public transport.

Source: ABS Survey of Motor Vehicle Use 2013

INTEGRATED TRANSPORT NETWORKIn cities around the world, integrated transport networks shape the way cities grow and prosper, generating economic opportunities and jobs, and providing vibrant and attractive social environments for residents and visitors. Freight is an important component in building an integrated transport network for Canberra.

This network includes all transport modes and is part of delivering key government policies including Transport for Canberra, ACT Planning Strategy, AP2 (A New Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan for the ACT), ACT Government Infrastructure Plan and ACT Road Safety Strategy. It is aligned with the key freight routes and policy directions established under National Land Freight Strategy.

BUILDING

AN INTEGRATED

TRANSPORT

NETWORK

Creatingbetter

parkingsolutions

Improvingbus

services

DeliveringLight Rail

Designing aconnected

city

Buildinga healthy

and activecity

Promoting walking and

cycling

Reducingtransportemissions

Improvingroads and

freightefficiency

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT? The Freight Strategy aims to: • improve approved freight routes and links to

the national and regional routes to support different configurations of heavy vehicles

• provide suitable freight facilities to support the infrastructure required to accommodate higher mass vehicles and higher productivity vehicles including places where drivers can uncouple B-doubles and rest

• safeguard important freight corridors and minimise interaction of heavy vehicle with passenger traffic in built-up areas

• provide better ‘last mile’ accessibility to destinations including loading and parking at a local level, e.g. local shop deliveries

• provide a safe freight and traffic network that helps manage impacts on the community.

HOW DOES THIS STRATEGY WORK WITH OTHER ACT GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES?It supports transport initiatives such as the:

• Majura Parkway

• development of an orbital route for traffic and freight movements around the city core

• Capital Metro Network

• prioritisation of central transport corridors for public transport.

ROUTES WHERE B-DOUBLE RESTRICTED ACCESS VEHICLES MAY TRAVEL

BELCONNEN

QUEANBEYAN

TUGGERANONG

CITY

GUNGAHLIN

AIRPORT

WODEN

Nor

thbo

urne

Ave

nue

Gun

daroo

Driv

e

Parkes Way

Adelaide Avenue

Maj

ura

Road

Drake ford Drive

Hindm arsh Drive

Sutto

n Ro

ad

Pialligo Avenue

Cotter Roa

d

Yamba Drive

Point Hut Road

Ath

llon

Driv

e

Isabella Drive

Tharwa Drive

William

Ho vell Drive

Souther n Cross Drive

Stoc k dill D

rive

Barry Drive

Belconnen Way

Joh n

Gor

ton D

rive

Sulw

ood Dr i ve

Mugga Lane

Erindale

Drive

Horse Park Drive

Ginninderra Drive

FEDERAL HIGHW

AYBARTON HIGHWAY

MO

NARO

HIGHWAY

MONARO

H IGHWAY

Canberra Avenue

Gungahlin Drive

MAJ

URA

PAR

KWAY

Uriarra Road

TU

GG

ERAN

ONG

PARK

WAY

T

harw

a Dr

ive

MITCHELL

FYSHWICK

BEARD

HUME

MOLONGLOVALLEY

Well Station D rive

Legend National Freight Route Tier 1

National Freight Route Tier 2

Approved B-double Vehicle Routes

Aspirational B-double Vehicle Routes

Approved B-double Routes (with Special Conditions)

Industrial Freight Precincts

Group Centres

Existing Urban Areas

Future Urban Areas (Territory Plan)B-DOUBLE RESTRICTED ACCESS VEHICLE NETWORK

BUILDING AN INTEGRATED TRANSPORT NETWORK— FREIGHT

DIRECTIONS AND ACTIONS Direction 1: Understand the freight task and plan for the future

Action 1.1 Improve data collection, reporting and analysis of freight activities. Output: Data capture process put in place ensuring coordinated data

with NSW.Action 1.2 Identify and protect future freight activities, corridors and local freight

access. Output: A road network map of the ACT indicating current and future

freight activities.

Direction 2: Invest in the right infrastructure

Action 2.1 Develop, evaluate and implement an infrastructure upgrade program to meet the needs of future freight activities, larger freight vehicles and urban planning and redevelopment directions.

Output: Inclusion of freight initiatives in the ACT infrastructure capital works program.

Direction 3: Implement better regulation and enforcement

Action 3.1 Implement local legislation to support national regulatory reforms. Output: Legislation enacted in the ACT mandating transport access and

heavy vehicle regulation.Action 3.2 Investigate options for larger freight vehicle access to local ACT

destinations and also for limiting such access where urban planning and redevelopment directions may require.

Output: Maps, notices and regulations issues and requests for route access to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (HML and above).

Direction 4: Build community support

Action 4.1 Engage the community in understanding of freight and traffic management challenges, treatments and opportunities.

Output: Clear road hierarchy for freight and passenger movement and local traffic management.

Direction 5: Connect with the region and other stakeholders

Action 5.1 Work with Australian, state and local governments and industry to take a strategic approach to protect and enhance freight routes and facilities in the region.

Output: Agreement on routes and supporting infrastructure (e.g. fuel stops, rest stops, decoupling locations, weighing stations).

For a detailed outline of tasks and timing see Building An Integrated Transport Network— Freight (p.63) at www.transport.act.gov.au