Freight industry heavyweights have predicted the Bomen freight hub will be a magnet for service industries set to cash in on the city’s bright freight future.
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Last financial year the region exported 130,000 containers – up from 50,000 in 2009 – and that number is tipped to grow once the Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics (RIFL) Hub comes online.
Port of Melbourne’s NSW business development manager David Bardos expects a swathe of new businesses to bring new jobs to Wagga once the RIFL Hub is up and running, in their bid to take advantage of the region’s increased freight activity.
“The RIFL Hub is vital infrastructure that’s critical for our region,” he said.
“Consolidating freight in the Riverina at a focal point creates endless value add opportunities in Bomen, like warehousing, packing and cold storage.”
Mr Bardos said the RIFL Hub offered 21 local exporting industries significant efficiency gains.
“Exporters need empty containers and the RIFL Hub terminal operator can store containers, meaning industries could get hold of them within six hours,” he said.
“The RIFL Hub is the freight equivalent of having an international airport in Wagga.”
Sales manager for shipping giant ANL Brett Maginness said increased container storage at Bomen could do away with the cost of bringing empty containers to the region.
“We’re hoping to match importers’ containers with exporters, which we couldn’t do without the RIFL Hub,” Mr Maginness said.
