COMPANIES interested in operating and developing the proposed Gippsland Logistics Precinct freight terminal will soon be asked to negotiate with Latrobe City Council.
A Request for Proposals process, allowing firms who have already expressed interest in the project to negotiate further with council, was announced by Latrobe City Council general manager economic sustainability Allison Jones on Friday.
“The project has been identified as a key initiative of the Latrobe Valley Industry and Employment Roadmap, which provides a long-term plan for future industry and employment growth in the Latrobe Valley. Depending on negotiations, we anticipate an operator will be on site by mid 2013,” Ms Jones said.
The GLP is located south of the railway line, adjacent to the Mid Valley Shopping Centre in Morwell.
Ms Jones said it would be an “open access intermodal freight terminal to meet the logistic needs of the Gippsland region”.
“The site is comprised of 70 hectares of prime industrial land with an existing rail siding and is near to industrial estates, as well as having easy access to the Princes Freeway and the Port of Melbourne,” she said.
Ms Jones told The Express the GLP already enjoyed State Government policy support and was ready to accommodate an operator to run the site and “really develop it for the long-term”.
In council’s Securing Our Future document the GLP was listed as a $10 million infrastructure project capable of creating more than 150 jobs.
Ms Jones said council would also welcome Federal Government support to develop the site.
