Ports to benefit from regional inter-modal hub

Deputy premier and regional development minister Peter Ryan visited Dooen, near Horsham, this week to celebrate the completion of the $17.5m Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal.

"This much-anticipated development will provide a central location for specialist grain handling and vastly-improved access to ports and processing plants,” Mr Ryan said.

“It will also overcome the constraints that have existed with the ageing terminal in the middle of Horsham and pave the way for even better infrastructure to support the movement of containerised exports and bulk grain through a bulk loading facility also to be built at the site.

“We’re improving the productive potential of regional Victoria by strengthening regional industries, investing in regional infrastructure and services and creating new regional job opportunities.”

The new facility was bankrolled by the Victorian government ($9.3m), local councils ($1m), the private sector ($660,000) and the Federal government ($6.5m).

Federal infrastructure minister Anthony Albanese said the modernisation of the Interstate Rail Network was central to the Federal government’s efforts to boost productivity, curb harmful carbon emissions and take the pressure off the nation’s highways.