Port of Somerton

The Port of Somerton is a landmark $400 million inland rail terminal situated on a vast 45-hectare site. As a critical piece of freight infrastructure, the development is designed for future-ready operations, featuring all-electric port loaders and all-electric building systems across the precinct.

Challenges

The developer, Austrak, required an accelerated sustainability approval process through Hume City Council to maintain the project’s ambitious delivery timeline. Co-Perform was appointed to navigate the complex environmental requirements of such a large-scale industrial site, necessitating a flexible and rapid response to technical planning queries.

Technical Solutions

Co-Perform prepared a comprehensive Sustainability Management Plan (SMP) tailored to the specific operational needs of an intermodal terminal. Our technical strategy focused on the decarbonisation of logistics and the efficiency of the built environment.

Key outcomes and project impacts include:

• Rapid Approvals: Our focused consultancy led to a streamlined approval process with Council, facilitating the project’s groundbreaking in July 2023.
• Electrification: Providing the technical framework for an all-electric precinct, removing reliance on fossil fuels for both stationary building services and port loading equipment.
• Environmental Impact: The terminal is projected to remove 500,000 truck trips from Melbourne’s road network annually, which is equivalent to 454 million truck kilometres.
• Carbon Reduction: The shift from road to rail freight facilitated by this site will save an estimated 451 million litres of fuel and reduce carbon emissions by 189,000 tonnes each year.

By integrating high-level logistics data with practical sustainability planning, Co-Perform assisted in delivering a project that provides significant environmental and economic benefits to Victoria’s supply chain.