COULD the potential for a massive rail and road freight hub for the Western Riverina be back on the agenda?
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While a federal government funding application to construct the Western Riverina Intermodal Freight Terminal (WRIFT) was rejected last year, with operations at Grain Link's Wumbulgal site ramping up, the push is on to get the project up and running.
With industry analysis showing the potential to transfer one million tonnes of freight per year, Grain Link managing director Paul Pearsall said Wumbulgal was being set up as an ideal location for the WRIFT.
"It has the potential to be a site that handles one million tonnes of produce every year, or 40,000 containers," Mr Pearsall said.
"A million tonnes for the MIA means we will end up with a intermodal that will survive and thrive.
"Griffith, Leeton and Wumbulgal combined would equal one million tonnes."
The idea of the WRIFT came about after a push by Griffith City Council to move the rail freight terminal out of the centre of the city.
A proposed site was at Wumbulgal, adjacent the Leeton-Griffith rail line, but inside the Leeton Shire Council boundary, where Grain Link has established its terminal.
An agreement was signed between Patrick and Grain Link in June last year, but with funding rejected and concerns about the location expressed by Griffith council at the time, the project came to a standstill.
Leeton Shire Council's role in the project would only be in the approval of any development application, although it has met with stakeholders.
"We need to try and service all the parties in the district instead of one," Mr Pearsall said.
"The WRIFT is a warehouse feeder to the train line.
"The idea has been to set up a grain park here. Then with the logistics of what we have set up, the economies are available for all.
"It would get Patricks out of the centre of Griffith. It's affecting trains, trucks, dirty equipment. Out here we've got no neighbours, no one is affected.
"You would save a million dollars a year-plus with the WRIFT, to develop a whole industrial park."
Mr Pearsall said Grain Link would simply be the anchor tenant of the WRIFT, with other industries and businesses either having an onsite presence or using it is a freight transfer point.
Containers (per year)
20-foot equivalent unit (TEU)
Casella Wines: 10,000
Grain Link: 5000
SunRice: 4000
Crokers & NRG: 1000
Other wineries: 2000
Walnuts Australia, misc: 1500
Total: 23,500 containers (587,500 tonnes approx)
40-foot equivalent unit (FEU)
Oaten Hay: 4000
JBS Swift: 1000
Cotton lint: 8000
Cotton seed: 3000
Misc: 1000
Total 17,000 (425,000 tonnes)
Total containers: 40,500 (1,012,500 tonnes)