EDITORIAL: Rail hub, full steam ahead
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WODONGA Council’s long-held ambition to attract a rail terminal at the Logic industrial hub has become reality.
It will hold a special meeting today to confirm Perth-based Blanalko Pty Ltd will build the inter-modal rail terminal at Logic which will be in direct opposition to the Ettamogah rail facility.
Blanalko is the property arm of SCT Logistics, which operates rail freight terminals in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Parkes.
Details of the multi-million-dollar deal are expected to be revealed today.
The council, which has been searching for a rail operator since Logic was created in the mid-2000s, declined to comment last night.
But notes included in the special meeting agenda provide some initial insight into the deal.
“Wodonga Council has received an offer from Blanalko Pty Ltd to purchase a parcel of land at Logic Wodonga, and to hold an option over two other land parcels, for the development of an intermodal rail terminal,” the report said.
“The development of a rail terminal at Logic Wodonga was part of the original concept for the estate when it was established in 2004.
“In agreeing to develop Logic Wodonga the council of the day planned its development around four key pillars, being an anchor tenant, an educational and training facility, a service centre and a rail terminal.”
The anchor tenant was the Woolworths distrubution centre with the TAFE driver training centre and a service station recently completed.
Two months ago The Border Mail revealed details of financial incentives being sought by SCT Logistics from council and the state government to build a rail terminal at the site.
They included deferment of payment for land at Logic, the right to reserve adjacent blocks of land and a multi-year rate holiday.
The former Coalition government was being asked to contribute about $7 million to cover the earthworks required to prepare the site for the terminal and the installation of the rail line.
SCT has proposed to spend more than $30 million on establishing sites at Wodonga and Altona.
The former state Labor government committed $4 million to a rail hub, but the funding sat in limbo until being re-directed to a truck stop which was recently opened.
Member for Benambra Bill Tilley last night repeated earlier concerns about taxpayers bankrolling private enterprise.
“I am all for competition, but not on the back of taxpayers’ money,” he said.