Public Statement — National Urban Freight Planning Principles

The Freight Industry Reference Panel congratulates governments on endorsing the National Urban Freight Planning Principles. 

Freight in land use planning has been a long running issue. With urban freight volumes predicted to increase by 60 per cent by 2040, pressures on freight networks will only continue to grow. Congestion, freight curfews and limits on heavy vehicle access are expected to worsen as Australia’s increasing population drives competition for land and space on transport networks.

For this reason we applaud governments for adopting a united approach.

We now call on governments to put the principles in to practice. Taking action now will ensure our land use planning frameworks are fit for purpose, meet freight and community needs and respond to changing urban freight movements.  Importantly the principles will help stimulate private sector investment in the design and construction of new freight precincts to serve our growing urban areas.

We are encouraged that the Australian Government is supporting delivery of the Principles through the $12.1 million commitment in the 2021-22 Budget to Phase 2 of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s Strategic Local Government Asset Assessment Project. This additional funding will assist local governments to better understand their road assets and make informed decision about heavy vehicles movements.

The Freight Industry Reference Panel looks forward to seeing how each jurisdiction will put the Principles in to practice, as governments have committed to publicly reporting on progress through the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy’s Annual Progress Report.