Unlocking port congestion at Port Botany

- Major reforms aimed at reducing congestion at Port Botany have been announced by New South Wales Minister for Ports and Waterways, Paul McLeay.

“It is in everyone’s interest that we have an efficient and transparent landside operation at the port. While I have decided to regulate to reduce congestion at the port and ensure efficiency in the supply chain, co-operation from all users of Port Botany remains critical to the reform package,” McLeay said.

Under the new Port Botany Landside Improvement Strategy (PBLIS), truck carriers will receive penalty payments if stevedores fail to meet regulated standards for the quick turn around of vehicles.

The PBLIS strategy will implement a series of mandatory regulations and penalty payments directly between the stevedores and road operators. These will include a payment of Aus$25 for every 15 minute delay; Aus$100 if a slot is cancelled within 2 hours of slot, or Aus$50 outside this period.

In addition, road carriers will have to pay the stevedore Aus$50 for late arrival or Aus$100 for no-show of a truck.

Describing the strategy as fair for all parties, McLeay said, “I have a responsibility to ensure that Port Botany can meet not only short-term demand but longer term growth in container movements as well.”

“Container trade continues to reach record highs – up 4.8% on same time last year. All trends indicate this growth is not going to slow.”

He added that the NSW Government remained committed to a 40% rail mode target to and from Port Botany

“We have been pleased with the improved cooperation by rail stakeholders at Port Botany over the last 12 months in delivering performance reporting for rail and we are working with industry to further enhance this growth.”

(Source: Container Management)