Important project update
5 September 2024
Pacific National has commenced notifying relevant statutory authorities and decision-makers of its decision to withdraw its environmental referrals and applications for planning and environmental approvals for the Little River Logistics Precinct Project.
All work on the Environment Effects Statement (EES), including technical investigations and technical design for the project, will shortly cease.
Pacific National has made this decision given the changed timelines for associated freight and infrastructure projects and economic factors which have impacted on the project business case.
Pacific National will continue to consider potential alternative terminal site options as they emerge to support efficient freight transport connectivity.
Thank you to the many stakeholders, project partners and community members who engaged with the project team to discuss the project and have their say.
5 September 2024
About Pacific National
As the country’s leading intermodal rail freight operator, Pacific National provides daily rail haulage services for more than 300 freight and logistics businesses.
We deliver what matters for our customers, including supermarket freight, fresh and refrigerated farm produce, household and retail goods, manufactured products, and building and construction materials, by train across Australia’s mainland to where it needs to be to help keep Australia’s economy moving.
At Pacific National, we are committed to driving carbon efficiency in the national supply chain and shifting more freight from trucks onto trains to reduce total transport emissions and deliver a better future for our people, communities, and customers.
Read more on our impact: Environment, Social and Governance (ESG).
What is being proposed?
Pacific National is proposing to develop a new intermodal rail terminal and surrounding warehousing precinct in Little River in Melbourne’s west.
The precinct covers a 550-hectare site and the proposal is to develop the new intermodal freight terminal and warehousing precinct on 350 hectares of the site, preserving the remaining 200 hectares for biodiversity and rehabilitation of the critical western grasslands.
Why is Little River Logistics Precinct needed?
For trains to remain a competitive option compared to trucks and continue to attract container freight volumes, a future rail intermodal terminal in Melbourne must be located west of the CBD and port to service the existing freight demand zone where the logistics companies, warehouses, manufacturers and distribution centres are concentrated.
If a terminal site is not secured in Melbourne’s west on the main interstate rail line, it will mean:
- An additional 250,000 unnecessary truck trips on Melbourne’s road network a year by 2031, growing to more than 400,000 by 2050;
- An extra 2.5 million truck kilometres on the nation’s interstate road network each day in 2031, growing to more than 4 million kilometres each day in 2050; and
- An additional 400,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2051 due to extra truck trips.
Pacific National’s proposed Little River Logistics Precinct will keep the nation’s supply chain moving and enable critical container freight to be moved from trucks onto trains reducing traffic congestion.
The precinct will accommodate a rail freight terminal, internal rail sidings and access roads, maintenance facilities and warehouses and support more than 3,600 ongoing jobs at capacity.
Positioned on the main interstate rail line and close to the Princes Freeway, the terminal would deliver efficient freight transport connectivity to nearby logistics companies, distribution centres, warehouses, shippers, and manufacturers.
Learn more on how we are reducing emissions by freight via our Carbon Emissions Calculator.
Map: location of the proposed Little River Logistics Precinct
What happens next?
The Little River Logistics Precinct is currently at the start of a formal planning and environmental approvals phase.
On 22 December we were advised the Victorian Minister for Planning had considered the referral and determined an Environment Effects Statement (EES) will be required for this project.
This means that we will be following the process and scope of environmental assessment outlined under the Victorian Environment Effects Act.
With this decision now made under the Victorian legislation, the Commonwealth has confirmed that its assessment will be by Bilateral Agreement.
With the environmental approvals pathway now determined, the Little River Logistics Precinct team are in the process of organising opportunities for the community, residents, and the public to learn more about the project and have their say.
We hope to have details of the first opportunities for engagement to share with the community in the next few weeks.
Technical investigations are ongoing
Pacific National has completed a comprehensive range of environmental and technical studies to inform the preparation of the referrals. These studies, along with others still to be undertaken, will support the planning and environmental approvals process and the detailed design of the Little River Logistics Precinct.
These studies include land use and planning studies, design and other investigations, including:
- Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
- Stormwater and flooding
- Biodiversity (flora and fauna)
- Landscape and visual impacts
- Traffic and transport
- Air quality
- Acoustics
Community engagement
Pacific National is working closely with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (WTOAC) to better understand the biodiversity and cultural values of the land.
Pacific National and WTOAC have also commenced a process of collaboration to explore practical ways to include culturally sensitive urban design, ongoing land management, site rehabilitation and employment pathways. We hope to be able to share more of this initiative shortly.
Throughout the planning and design phase, there will be many opportunities for stakeholders and members of the community to provide feedback.
Project updates
In mid-October Pacific National submitted referrals for the project under both the Victorian Environment Effects Act and the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
As nominated in our referral, we were advised on 4 December that the project has been classified as a Controlled Action under the EPBC Act.
This means we will be required to undertake environmental assessments to ensure the project meets the Commonwealth’s requirements. For more information about what this means visit the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
We are awaiting the determination under the Victorian Environment Effects Act which will formalise the process and scope of the project’s environmental assessment. It is commonplace for projects of this size to receive careful consideration by planning authorities to determine what is required.
Once a decision is made under the Victorian legislation, the Commonwealth will finalise its process and scope of any environmental assessments required.
Please be assured we will update you when the required environmental approvals pathway is determined and there will be multiple opportunities for the community, residents and the public to have their say.
Application to undertake site investigations
To enable Pacific National to continue with technical and environmental studies, we have submitted planning applications to Wyndham City Council seeking approval to undertake investigations to inform the development of a Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) for the project and to undertake geotechnical testing at the proposed site. The investigation for the CHMP is to determine whether there are artefacts of indigenous cultural significance on the site that would be impacted by the Project, should it proceed. Geotechnical testing is required to understand the underground conditions of the site, such as soil and rock types. You can review our application documents on Council’s Planning Application website.
On 22 December we were advised the Victorian Minister for Planning had considered the referral and determined an Environment Effects Statement (EES) will be required for this project.
This means that we will be following the process and scope of environmental assessment outlined under the Victorian Environment Effects Act.
With this decision now made under the Victorian legislation, the Commonwealth has confirmed that its assessment will be by Bilateral Agreement.
With the environmental approvals pathway now determined, the Little River Logistics Precinct team are in the process of organising opportunities for the community, residents, and the public to learn more about the project and have their say.
We hope to have details of the first opportunities for engagement to share with the community in the next few weeks.
Watch the online information session recording
Pacific National hosted an online information session on 22 February 2024:
Click here to watch the Webinar recording.
Please note that you can select the CC (closed caption) icon to turn on subtitles. Alternatively, you can click here to download the full webinar transcript.In-person information session
Visit us at our upcoming March drop-in community information sessions which will held at the Little River Mechanics Institute Hall (8 Rothwell Road, Little River) to find out more.
You can visit any time during the sessions to have one-on-one discussions with the project team.
- Thursday, 21 March 2024 (drop-in any time between 4.30pm - 7.00pm)
- Saturday, 23 March 2024 (drop-in any time between 10.00am - 12.30pm)
No registration is required to attend.
We will not be collecting sensitive information. All correspondence and data collected will be held and managed in accordance with Pacific National Privacy Policy.
See details here: https://pacificnational.com.au/privacy-policy/
