IMPROVING the security of goods supply to Western Australia is the aim of a $45 million investment by SCT Logistics into a temperature controlled cross dock and storage facility at Forrestfield, Perth.
Deputy premier and transport minister Rita Saffioti officially opened the facility this week.
“The new state of the art facility encompasses the arrival, dispatch and storage of refrigerated product by rail at its doorstep creating a buffer to future disruptions on the east-west rail corridor,” said SCT managing director Geoff Smith.
“It uses advanced logistics technology to respond to market demand, and ensure inventories cover potential future interruptions to freight supply.”
Ms Saffioti spoke of the contribution the investment made to the West Australian government supply chain strategy.
“I want to congratulate SCT on their investment and delivery of this new facility,” the deputy premier told the gathering.
“Our government has been engaging closely with industry to build supply chain resilience and projects like this are critical to supporting multi-modal responsiveness to supply chain disruptions.”
Ms Saffioti also focused on the support provided to more than 100 WA businesses that would access the new facility.
“The project will drive greater efficiency and cost-competitiveness for WA business, while its contribution to increased rail services will greatly enhance access to markets on the eastern seaboard,” she said.
According to SCT, the project continues the company’s commitment to Australia’s largest state.
Since starting WA operations half a century ago and establishing the Forrestfield Intermodal Hub in 1999, SCT says it has invested more than $500 million in infrastructure and dedicated rolling stock to service the state’s needs.
“We supply around 40% of WA’s fast moving consumer goods into food and retail markets, and have grown to seven, 1.8 km-length rail services a week into WA,” Mr Smith said.
“This project will support a range of our long-term WA customers including major retail, manufacturing and primary production.”
The new investment is also expected to bolster state and national decarbonisation efforts by making rail freight more attractive.
“SCT’s activities equate to the removal of 73,000 truck movements through Perth and across the Nullarbor each year,” Mr Smith said.
“This investment broadens the range of products that can be viably transported on rail and is a crucial part of the company’s long-term commitment to West Australia.”
SCT Logistics was established by Peter Smith in 1974 and is now a national, multi-modal transport and logistics company.