Liverpool. Plea to adopt fair approach

Liverpool City Council has resolved to lobby the Local Government Association to adopt a more fair and consistent approach to the spread of intermodal, freight and logistics facilities around the Sydney metropolitan area, rather than focus significant intermodal, freight and logistics centres in only a few locations.

Chipping Norton. DLP revived

Chipping Norton local Michael Byrne will revive the Democratic Labor Party in Liverpool. No stranger to politics, Mr Byrne will start a Liverpool branch of the DLP before the September 8 local government election. Mr Byrne, who previously stood as an independent at state and council elections, said he felt the two major parties were not suitable options for Liverpool. He said the main aim of the branch would be to fight the Moorebank Intermodal freight projects.

Moorebank. Impact statement ordered

The federal government has ordered a full environmental impact statement on the controversial Moorebank intermodal terminal project. The Department of the Environment has decided the project should be assessed as a controlled action under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act, including a period for public consultation. The decision means the project will need to be signed off by federal Environment Minister Tony Burke before it can go ahead.

Liverpool. Mayor sacked as spokesperson

The Liberal Party-Independents coalition, which holds a majority on Liverpool City Council, has backed a plan to make the deputy mayor the city’s spokesperson — subject to legal advice – in place of the mayor. Issues such as her stance on the Moorebank Intermodal Terminal, her lack of attendance at council briefing meetings and for being against the council's acquisition of 33 Moore Street as reasons for this action

Moorebank. Advisors appointed for project

The Department of Finance and Deregulation, which is responsible for the controversial $490 million, 83-hectare Moorebank intermodal terminal project, has appointed advisers to assist with a feasibility study into the project being conducted by the Moorebank Project Office. The advisers include global professional services firm KPMG, engineering firm Parsons Brinckerhoff, advisory group SAHA International and legal firm Blake Dawson. Communications firms Kreab Gavin Anderson and GA Research were commissioned to conduct the community consultation portion of the study. Jodie Brough, a consultant from Kreab Gavin Anderson, said the feasibility study would consider a range of factors including financial, commercial and technical considerations.

Region. Intermodal freight network

The new Metropolitan Transport Plan aims to develop a network of intermodal terminals. Enfield is already under development, and the government is investigating Moorebank in partnership with the Australian Government. Eastern Creek is in its long–term planning. The government has developed motorway networks and will continue to upgrade highways and key road links to support efficient freight movement. In 2010, a NSW Freight Strategy will be developed

Moorebank. 'Largest' in the nation

Michael Deegan, infrastructure co-ordinator, with Infrastructure Australia, said the proposed Moorebank intermodal freight terminal would be the largest in the nation. He told a Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport luncheon the complex would include at least two rail spurs which would connect to the Southern Sydney Freight Line by a new bridge over the Georges River. He said the army's School of Military Engineering, which occupies the site, would not go to Puckapunyal, Victoria, but will most likely move to Holsworthy Barracks. Liverpool Council, GM, Phil Tolhurst, said in the Liverpool City Champion, that in spite of numerous inquiries the council had not much information on the project.