ILC at Enfield

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Intermodal Logistics Centre at Enfield - a key freight transport link

As Sydney continues to grow, so does the demand for imports and exports and the associated distribution and delivery of these goods. Sydney Ports’ goal is to move more goods by rail and manage the growth in freight trucks on our roads. Intermodal and distribution centres are crucial to achieving this goal.

The Intermodal Logistics Centre (ILC) at Enfield is part of a network of existing and planned intermodal terminal facilities in Sydney and would service around a quarter of the total intermodal demand.

Container trade through Sydney has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 8.9 per cent per annum for the last five years. Trade forecasts indicate that this growth is set to continue, but at a slightly lower rate of between 5 to 7 per cent over the next 20 years.

With container trade through Port Botany expected to exceed 3.2 million by 2020 (1.778 million in 2007/08), the NSW Government and Sydney Ports have an objective to move 40 per cent of these containers in and out of the port by rail. Currently around 20 per cent of containers move by rail.

Achieving 40 per cent movement by rail requires investment in infrastructure (rail and intermodal terminals), commitment from the industry, and government initiatives to enable this to happen. Eighty-five per cent of containers originate from or are bound for a destination within 40 kilometers of Port Botany, making it imperative that any new infrastructure to facilitate movement of freight by rail is built in the metropolitan area of Sydney.