Leveraging inter-regional transport connections

Greater Sydney's traditional manufacturing, transport, distribution, warehousing and intermodal functions support the creation and success of global value chains, which in turn support trade growth through Port Botany and Sydney Airport.

Retaining internationally competitive operations at these locations is vital for a productive NSW economy. Planning for the freight network must allow movements that feed communities, deliver consumer goods and provide the materials to build the city. An efficient and effective road and rail freight network will integrate with ports and airports.

Changes are also continuing to occur in the freight and logistics sector, in part driven by technology changes and related changes to some retail business models. Whilst significant long-term growth in the freight and logistics sector is in the Western Parkland City, the nature of different supplies such as local produce, will require opportunities in the Central River City and Eastern Harbour City to be retained. In addition, planning decisions should support the growing demand for parcel deliveries and on-demand freight.

The North District is the main road and rail infrastructure which is part of the national significant freight routes from the north (to Brisbane and beyond) to the south of NSW, through Greater Sydney. By 2056, the combined population of Greater Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong will be approximately 10 million. Improving the north-south transport connections between Greater Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong will enable greater economic efficiencies and opportunities.

Regional transport connections will connect Port Botany, Port Kembla and the Port of Newcastle which are internationally important trade gateways, facilitating the import and export of significant volumes of container and bulk freight such as coal, motor vehicles and agricultural products. It should be noted that although the District does not generate large amounts of freight, it provides nationally significant freight routes to the Central Coast, Newcastle, and interstate to Queensland.

Improving north-south connections between the five cities will allow greater access to a wider range of job opportunities and enhance business-to-business links collectively enhancing their productivity. Equally, improved connections will provide greater choices for where people can live and in the long term, provide increased growth management choices.

Hornsby provides an important interchange for the catchment of workers ranging from Greater Sydney to the Central Coast, as well as regional connections to the North Coast. Planning for Hornsby needs to consider how to leverage its growth in line with its gateway role.

As the North District grows, the need for freight movements, particularly delivery vehicles, will rise. Freight movements, including both local and through freight, can have negative impacts on the amenity of neighbourhoods, such as noise and additional congestion on roads, particularly during the morning peak. Freight movements outside of the peak can help reduce congestion, greenhouse gas emissions and freight costs. The planning and design of communities should take a balanced approach to minimising the negative impacts of freight movements, and supporting more efficient freight movements. This could include considering how development addresses busy roads, the siting of loading docks and how more freight movements can happen out of peak hours.

NorthConnex is a nine-kilometre underground motorway tunnel linking the M1 Pacific Motorway at Wahroonga to the Hills M2 Motorway at West Pennant Hills that will be completed by 2019. It is estimated this will remove up to 5,000 trucks per day from Pennant Hills Road. NorthConnex will provide a connection between Newcastle and Melbourne with no traffic lights.

Other initiatives for investigation outlined in Future Transport 2056 include:

• train improvements between Greater Sydney, Central Coast and Newcastle, including a new fleet and track straightening
• Northern Sydney Freight Corridor Stage 2
• Outer Sydney Orbital (motorway and freight rail) to the Central Coast.

The Gore Bay terminal which has been operating as a fuel import and storage facility since 1901, is located on the western shores of Gore Cove. The terminal continues to be a critical part of the fuel supply chain in NSW. It supplies 40 per cent of the State's fuel requirements a year that is approximately 4.4 billion litres.

Diesel, marine fuel oil, jet fuel and gasoline fuels are imported by ship through the Gore Bay terminal to fuel the vehicles, machinery, ships, aircraft and ferries used by major industries such as logistics, construction and agriculture as well as by households. The fuel is piped from Gore Bay to the Clyde storage facilities for distribution by road tankers across NSW.