THE VICTORIAN Transport Association has welcomed key recommendations in Infrastructure Victoria’s latest 30-year strategy, which outlines a more sustainable and productive future for freight, transport and logistics.
The strategy notes the pressures on Victoria’s freight networks and proposes targeted actions.
VTA chief executive Peter Anderson said the recommendations reflected the realities facing freight operators.
“Infrastructure Victoria has rightly acknowledged that freight volumes are set to double by 2051 and that without meaningful intervention, our road and rail networks will struggle to cope,” Mr Anderson said.
“We welcome the call to make rail freight more competitive and reliable by 2030. Rail must be treated as a complement to road freight, not a second-tier option.”
The VTA also supports the recommendation to encourage off-peak freight delivery in urban areas as a means of reducing congestion, emissions and delivery costs.
“Off-peak delivery is a smart, achievable step that benefits everyone — from operators to consumers,” Mr Anderson said.
“But it requires regulatory flexibility and incentives to make it viable for businesses already operating on tight margins.”
Infrastructure Victoria’s strategy also includes a future planning option to better integrate last-mile delivery and freight planning.
“Freight is often an afterthought in city planning, yet it’s essential to how our community functions,” Mr Anderson said. “Embedding freight into urban policy ensures we’re building cities that can support growing delivery demands without compromising liveability or sustainability.”
The VTA emphasised that delivering these recommendations was critical to maintaining the viability of transport operators.
“Freight and logistics are the backbone of our economy. If we want to keep goods moving efficiently and sustainably, we need coordinated support from government, industry, and planners,” Mr Anderson said.
“These recommendations are a step in the right direction—but they must be backed by funding, policy reform and long-term commitment.”