STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
It’s an empty argument By Clay Lucas More than 10,000 shipping containers a day are whipped around Melbourne’s inner west on the back of trucks, inflicting damage on the community, according to a group representing the western suburbs. Almost half the containers are empty – bound for a dozen empty-container parks dotted around Yarraville, Brooklyn and West Footscray. In January, 92,000 containers were exported from Melbourne and 40 per cent of them were empty. Craig Rowley, of lobby group LeadWest, describes the situation as “ridiculous”. About 2.7 million containers passed through the Port of Melbourne last year – up from 1.9 million a decade ago. Most of the containers are owned by the shipping lines. The container parks have grown outside the Port of Melbourne because land next to it has become expensive. About 70 per cent of the empty containers are stored away from the port. Empty containers are used to “top up” departing ships and are usually the last items to be loaded. The state’s main exports, such as agricultural produce, leave in sturdy 20-foot containers, but imports – usually much lighter – are accommodated in 40-foot containers. This results in empty 40-foot containers being returned to the countries that make our clothes, white goods, TVs and flat-pack kitchens. Because moving empty containers provides slim profit margins, the trucks used are often old or the cheapest available. The drivers transporting the empty containers are among the worst paid in the trucking industry, earning $25 to $50 per container delivered. Peter Anderson, chief executive of freight
LeadWest’s Craig Rowley in front of a container park in Brooklyn. (Luis Ascui)
group the Victorian Transport Association, says these carriers “are in a hurry because they get paid by container, so they go fast”. LeadWest wants a long-promised rail shuttle from the port built to help get empty containers off the roads. Roads Minister Luke Donnellan says the government is evaluating a range of options for inland facilities such as a western interstate
freight terminal in Truganina, and this year will release a new freight strategy that has considered these investigations. Neil Chambers, of Container Transport Alliance Australia, says rail can’t provide the immediacy shipping lines need so trucks will continue to dominate. – The Age
NEWS
Motocross bid goes to plan B Wyndham council will search for a new operator to run the Lawrie Emmins Reserve motocross track being overhauled in Laverton North. Motorcycling Victoria signed an agreement with the council in 2015 to operate and manage the track once the work is completed. But a council meeting last week heard that the motorcyling body had withdrawn from its commitment to operate the venue because it no longer had the financial capacity to do so. Councillors Kim McAliney and Intaj Khan said that although the decision was “disappointing” they believed a third-party operator could be found. A community reference group will be established to work with the council, during the re-opening of the track and its first 24 months of operation. During that time, the council will invite expressions of interest from third-party operators to manage and operate the track. A council report stated that direct management of the track by the council was not considered a viable option. The report stated the council would most likely enter into a five-year lease agreement with the future operator of the motocross track. The council has spent $780,000 to redevelop the track, which was opened in the 1970s, but was closed in 2010. Construction of the track is due to be completed within the next 12 months. Alesha Capone
7 MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY STAR WEEKLY \ JULY 12, 2017