The Victorian Transport Association (VTA) has led the industry in welcoming key recommendations made in Infrastructure Victoria’s latest 30-year strategy.
The strategy, unveiled yesterday, outlines a more sustainable and productive future for the freight, transport and logistics industry.
The strategy recognises the growing pressures on Victoria’s freight networks and proposes targeted actions to improve competitiveness, reliability and sustainability across the sector.
VTA CEO Peter Anderson says the recommendations reflect the realities facing freight operators and offer a practical roadmap for reform.
“Infrastructure Victoria has rightly acknowledged that freight volumes are set to double by 2051, and that without meaningful intervention, our road and rail networks will struggle to cope,” he says.
“We welcome the call to make rail freight more competitive and reliable by 2030. Rail must be treated as a complement to road freight, not a second-tier option. This doesn’t mean less freight on road because while ships and trains carry freight only trucks deliver.”
The VTA also supports the recommendation to encourage off-peak freight delivery in urban areas, which would help reduce congestion, emissions, and delivery costs.
“Off-peak delivery is a smart, achievable step that benefits everyone – from operators to consumers,” Anderson says.
“But it requires regulatory flexibility and incentives to make it viable for businesses already operating on tight margins.”
Infrastructure Victoria’s strategy also includes a future planning option to better integrate last-mile delivery and freight planning into urban development and transport policy.
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“Freight is often an afterthought in city planning, yet it’s essential to how our community functions,” Anderson says.
“Embedding freight into urban policy ensures we’re building cities that can support growing delivery demands without compromising liveability or sustainability.”
The VTA emphasised that delivering these recommendations is critical to maintaining the viability of transport operators, many of whom are facing rising costs, regulatory pressures and infrastructure constraints.
“Freight and logistics are the backbone of our economy. If we want to keep goods moving efficiently and sustainably, we need coordinated support from government, industry, and planners,” Anderson says.
“These recommendations are a step in the right direction – but they must be backed by funding, policy reform, and long-term commitment.”
The VTA says it looks forward to working with Infrastructure Victoria, government agencies and industry stakeholders to ensure these recommendations are implemented in a way that supports productivity, sustainability and economic resilience.
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