Goondiwindi Rail Forum4th December 2015

• The Colin Rees Group (CRG) has a history Stretching back over 60 Years and 3 Generations

• Commencing with South Suburban Taxi Trucks, then CRT Group and now CRG we have a proven track record in Rail having built and operated 5 rail hubs across Australia

• CRG currently owns and operates a number of transport related businesses in regional NSW and Victoria including the Ettamogah Rail Hub (NSW) and Mangalore Airport (Vic)

Today we share our experiences in establishing a world class Intermodal Facility in Regional NSW and our Vision for the Future

TimelineYear Activity

2004-06 Col Rees investigates alternatives to Bandiana. Settles on newsprint mill siding at Ettamogah near Albury

Feb ‘07 Ettamogah Project Office opened in Albury

2007-2008 Sub division and land purchase finalised

Design, Planning approvals and DA’s completed

June 2008 Construction Commenced

July 2009 1st Train stops on Main Line and takes Consist from Siding to Melbourne

Photographic Timeline

July 2008 Today

TODAY

Regular Customers

Revenues

Container Volumes

2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-150

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

TEU's

International vs Domestic

2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-150

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

% Imp/Exp

The Highs and Lows

• Strong local government support and appropriate level of involvement!

• Early engagement with community and sharing of information• Support from other stakeholders (e.g. line haul operators)• Very high levels of enquiry and desire by customers to have a rail-

freight option……. But you have to show them that it works, $$ is still King

• Breaking down of barriers: e.g. ‘You won’t stop an interstate freight train at ERH’

• Demonstrated the significant volumes of regional freight that is willing to move by rail

• Staff skills diversified

The Highs and Lows (cont.)

• High standards set for construction; infrastructure; facilities and equipment.

• Access to senior levels of other key stakeholders has been important• Obtaining accreditation through the regulator took 9 months……• Enthusiastic support for the program from the operational levels of

ARTC• No govt. money used to fund the project• Local state and federal politicians kept in the loop from the

commencement of the project.

Pad 4 & Shed

Pad 1

Pad 2 Pad 3

Rail Platforms

Rail Extension

More than Just a Rail Hub – it’s a New Approach to Logistics for Regional Australia

Sydney

Brisbane

Griffith

Bomen (Wagga)Ettamogah

Melbourne

To Perth

CootamundraJunee

Opportunities – RiverinaWidgelli Rail Hub Opening in 2016!!

Consolidating freight onto the mainline for distribution to and from the main cities