The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) has welcomed the New South Wales government’s new strategic transport plan for the Hunter Valley, including a focus on freight improvements.
The plan reflects eight key recommendations made by the ALC in its submission, strengthening the Hunter’s position as a critical hub in Australia’s supply chain network.
These inclusions mark a clear success for the logistics and supply chain sector, with ALC’s advocacy directly shaping the plan’s focus on rail upgrades, alternative fuel infrastructure, proactive maintenance and stronger integration between freight, passenger and regional planning.
“The Hunter SRITP demonstrates the value of collaboration between government and industry,” ALC CEO Dr Hermione Parson says.
“We are very pleased to see so many of our recommendations reflected in the final plan, particularly those that improve connectivity, resilience and sustainability across regional New South Wales.”
Parsons says these outcomes reinforce the importance of aligning regional transport planning with national freight and supply chain strategies to drive productivity, sustainability and resilience across the network.
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The final Hunter transport plan acknowledges numerous transport changes, including:
- Freight and Supply Chain Integration: Clearer recognition of the freight task and its essential role in supporting the Hunter’s economic base, including agriculture, resources and manufacturing, alongside passenger transport planning.
- Alternative Fuel Infrastructure: Recognition of the need to plan for heavy electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refuelling facilities along key corridors, enabling industry to progress toward net zero while maintaining reliability.
- Proactive Maintenance and Asset Management: Emphasis on the importance of maintaining existing infrastructure to support resilience and avoid long-term network disruptions.
- Rail Network Upgrades: Commitments to improve capacity and efficiency on the Hunter rail network, including support for the Lower Hunter Freight Corridor and planning for potential new projects such as Gulgong to Maryvale, to strengthen access between the Central West and Port of Newcastle.
- Collaboration and Governance: Acknowledgement of the value of ongoing engagement with industry and the potential role of dedicated freight and logistics advisory mechanisms in future implementation.
“These inclusions reflect a strong understanding by government that efficient supply chains are central to the Hunter region’s productivity and prosperity,” Parsons says.
“They show what is possible when government and industry work together on long-term, integrated planning.”
While the Hunter plan represents significant progress, the ALC is continuing to advocate in other priority areas including:
- Timeframes and Delivery Certainty: Establishing clear, staged investment timelines will help provide industry confidence and accelerate delivery in critical corridors.
- Accountability and Implementation: Defining responsibilities, reporting mechanisms, and measurable milestones will ensure freight and logistics priorities are delivered, monitored, and adjusted over time.
- Proactive Resilience Planning: Embedding resilience and asset management in delivery planning will help protect infrastructure from natural disasters, improve reliability and reduce long-term costs.
“ALC will continue to work with Transport for NSW, Infrastructure NSW, and our members to progress these priorities,” Parsons says.
“Ensuring that delivery frameworks, accountability mechanisms, and resilience measures are built into implementation will help secure the Hunter’s role as a national logistics hub for decades to come.”
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