Early works are now underway to build an Intermodal Freight Hub at the Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The works will see five serviced lots built at the site \u2013 in preparation for major construction to take place on the freight hub next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The freight hub will form a critical part of BWEZ, which will drive jobs and economic growth in the region for the next 20 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019ll be constructed on the regional city\u2019s north-west fringe, adjacent to Ballarat Airport, the Western Freeway, existing broad-gauge rail infrastructure and the Ballarat Link Road \u2013 giving freight and logistics tenants access to road, rail and aviation infrastructure all from the one location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once complete, the freight hub will have the capacity to handle 24,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) per annum to be railed to port.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The terminal, adjacent to the broad-gauge Ballarat-Ararat rail line, will also have three rail sidings capable of accommodating 600m-long freight trains and a substantial concrete hardstand for the efficient loading, unloading and storage of export shipping containers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Up to 300,000 tonnes of grain per annum is expected to be railed to the terminal where new and existing businesses at BWEZ will process the grain into product such as flour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The $23.5 million Intermodal Freight Hub is being delivered by the Victorian and Australian Governments \u2013 with the Victorian Government contributing $14.4 million and the Australian Government $9.1 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n