Today, the Australian Government turned the first sod at the $1.62 billion Beveridge Intermodal Precinct, in Melbourne's north, marking the beginning of construction for Australia's largest and most advanced logistics hub.
Located at the southern terminus of the inland rail freight corridor, the precinct will transform how freight moves across the country and inject billions of dollars in the Victorian and national economies.
With key approvals now in place, site preparation works will begin, paving the way for the main construction to begin early next year.
The open access Beveridge Intermodal Precinct will reduce freight costs, ease road congestion and boost supply chain efficiency and competition.
The project will help shift freight from road to rail, removing 167,000 truck trips from roads each year when the Beveridge Intermodal Precinct is fully developed.
Each train pulling into the Intermodal will replace up to 110 trucks.
This modal shift is expected to reduce emissions by 12.1 million tonnes of CO2 over 25 years and cut particulate pollution by 92 per cent compared to road freight, significantly contributing to the decarbonisation of Australia's transport sector.
Around 500 hectares of land will be preserved for green wedge and other long-term environmental and social benefits.
The Australian Government has also committed $900 million towards a new interchange at Camerons Lane that will ease congestion for all road users in the surrounding area as trucks begin and end their journeys in the new precinct.
The new intermodal precinct is expected to create 8,000 jobs within the precinct and support over 17,000 at its peak, with 70 per cent of the workforce living locally in Melbourne's northern suburbs.
The first stage of the project will also deliver the only Melbourne terminal capable of receiving and servicing double stacked inland rail trains, targeting mid-2028 operations with capacity for up to 200,000 20-foot-equivalent units annually.
Once operational, double stacked trains will be able to run between Melbourne and Perth, via Parkes in the New South Wales central west.
This project is fully funded by the Albanese Government.
Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:
"Today marks a major milestone as the Beveridge Intermodal Precinct moves from planning to delivery.
"As we work to move more freight from our roads to rail, Beveridge will play a key role in marshalling freight from the port and across Victoria, sending it onto destinations across the country via our rail network.
"Strong local supply chains often go unnoticed, but they are vital to ensure goods make it to shelves and shopfronts.
"With site preparation works now starting, the freight hub here at Beveridge will play a key role in our supply chain, while supporting local jobs and boosting our nation's economy.
"By making it easier and more efficient to move freight, the Albanese Government's investment in new open access intermodals, and inland rail will reduce supply chain costs, with those savings benefitting Australians at the checkout."
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for McEwan Rob Mitchell:
"The Beveridge Intermodal Precinct is a critical part of Australia's future freight network, and today's announcement brings us one step closer to making it a reality.
"The precinct will support thousands of jobs during construction and beyond, while helping businesses move their products faster and more reliably.
"This is the single biggest infrastructure investment in our community by any government in history and I am proud to be part of that."
Quotes attributable to National Intermodal CEO James Baulderstone:
"The Beveridge Intermodal Precinct is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape how freight moves across Australia.
"We're ready to deliver a nationally significant project that will not only drive $14 billion in economic uplift in Victoria and create more than 17,000 jobs, but also deliver real environmental benefits, including taking 167,000 truck trips off our roads each year and cutting emissions by more than 12 million tonnes.
"This is about building smarter infrastructure that supports industry, underpins our supply chain and, importantly, gets everyday products to households and business more efficiently."
