Toowoomba Transport and Logistics Symposium to highlight region's huge capability

From February 27 to 1 March TSBE will host the second Toowoomba Transport and Logistics Symposium, with keynote speaker Mark McCrindle.

Why do we host this event? Toowoomba is a unique and strategic location due to its transport infrastructure mix.  

Toowoomba sits on the intersection of no less than three major highways all converging near our own privately built, internationally capable Brisbane West Wellcamp airport. 

Remember again that this is the only regional airport in Australia with weekly international freight flights to Hong Kong.  

We also have a rail line running past our doorstep carrying mineral resources and agricultural product to Port. 

So why do we need Inland Rail? It is a really hot topic and is a project that has been spoken of for decades. 

In Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s visit on Monday he said “we will build the Inland Rail”, at a speech given to attendees at Fitzy’s.

Inland Rail is a rail line from Melbourne to Brisbane that will pass through Toowoomba and will be a freight only rail line. 

It allows products to travel both ways and it is expected that we will see 1.3km and potentially in time up to a 3km train going past our city every hour. 

The Queensland Government predicts that the annual freight volumes across Queensland are forecast to increase by 76 per cent from 881 million tonnes in 2009 –10 to 1,550 million tonnes by 2021. 

The reality is that by far the majority of this freight is transported by road which puts a great deal of pressure, strain and maintenance obligations onto our road networks. 

The Port of Brisbane estimates that without a dedicated freight rail solution 2025 over seven million annual truck movements servicing the Port will be required to sustain Queensland’s population and economic growth.

The Toowoomba Enterprise Hub is a multi-modal transport and logistics hub. 

This simply means that we can bring road, rail and airside capability together in one strategic location. 

Positioned just to Toowoomba’s west, it provides for over 2000 hectares of industrial land which in time is expected to be home to over 15,000 employees.

Given our region’s strategic location it is important that we gather industry experts to talk about the future of transport and logistics in Australia. 

We need to know how all of us can better promote and discuss the importance of Inland Rail. 

And if we can promote the capability of our region, and convince a few of our guests to relocate here, we will have done our job. 

For more information visit ttlsymposium.com.au.

- article first appeared in The Chronicle on Thursday, January 19