Port Botany to turn away late trucks

Up to 3500 more semi-trailers a week will be forced onto Sydney's roads under a scheme aimed at reducing congestion at the overworked Port Botany container terminals, the Sun Herald reported.

Patrick, one of two dominant Sydney stevedores, has warned that trucks will be turned away from the port because a new system of reciprocal fines for lateness by truckies and the stevedore will allow no flexibility in loading.

Under the Port Botany Landside Improvement Strategy, sponsored by Ports Minister Paul McLeay, truckies will be fined for arriving too late or too early. Stevedores will also have to pay fines to trucking companies if they are late.

The scheme, to be introduced later this year, is expected to see about US$8.8 million in fines a year flow each way. Shipping companies will be forced to pay an extra $8.80 per full container to pay for extra bureaucrats to administer the scheme.

Almost 6000 trucks use Patrick's terminal each week and the company estimates 900 of those arrive late because of Sydney's congested streets, while 800 arrive early.

Roads and pedestrian campaigners are concerned about more trucks on motorways near the port and on quieter roads.

The state government plans to develop a truck marshalling area near the port but that will not be established until at least six months after the scheme is introduced.

(Source: Cargo News Asia)