Australia’s land transport system comprises (Endnote 1) :

Rail: 41,000 km of rail track in a mix of rail gauges, operational capabilities with government and private sector ownership; and

Roads: 810,000 km of roads open for general use varying in type from sealed multi-lane motorways to dirt tracks.

• a valuable asset making a significant contribution towards Australia’s economic performance and its international competitiveness (Endnote 2);
• an efficient transport system that is vital to Australia’s small, trade-dependent economy and geography with its wide-dispersed population and industry;
• most Australian goods and services produced or consumed require transport at some stage of production or distribution (Endnote 1);
• moves people to places where goods are produced. Australia’s transport-specific businesses are economically significant, contributing 4.5% of total GDP in 2004/05 (Endnote 1); and
• improved transport capability and efficiency have both driven and facilitated economic growth. Historically, transport activity has grown substantially faster than overall economic growth (Endnote 3).

Traditionally ownership and responsibility for Australia’s freight and passenger railways rested with the Commonwealth and State governments. But the introduction of third party access to vital national infrastructure in the 1990s has resulted in a mix of public and private sector ownership of rail activity.

Australia’s railways use 41,000 km of track and can be divided into five broad market categories with the following specific infrastructure and operating activities (Endnote 1):

• long-distance non-bulk general freight intermodal operations on the interstate mainline rail track system linking mainland State capital cities. Principally operated by the Commonwealth-owned Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC);
• bulk haul railways transporting large volumes of bulk commodities such as iron ore, coal and minerals from mines to ports. These include both private sector iron ore rail lines in WA’s Pilbara region and coal operations by government business enterprises and private operators in Queensland and the NSW Hunter Valley;
• intra-state networks linking regions to State capital cities and ports. These cater for regional freight (both bulk and non-bulk), seasonal grain lines and passenger services. Both government and private sector operators are involved;
• major metropolitan urban rail and light rail (tram) networks that are predominantly used for public transport passenger operations. General freight and bulk traffic also use urban rail lines. These networks are mainly operated by State-owned corporations; and
• extensive, privately-owned sugar cane operations in Queensland.

• Australasian Railway Association – ARA Yearbook and Industry Directory 2008/09
• Australasian Railway Association - Australian Rail Industry Report – 2007
• Australasian Railway Association – Australian Rail; The 2004 Productivity Report
• Australasian Railway Association – website www.ara.net.au
• Australasian Railway Association – RAILmates – website www.railmates.com.au
• Apelbaum Consulting Group Pty Ltd – Australian Rail Transport Facts 2008

The 810,000 km road system is made up of (Endnote 1):

• inter-capital highways and urban arterial road networks in major centres (represent 138,000 km or 17% of the total length of roads but carry 76% of all vehicle traffic);
• rural arterial roads linking regions to capital cities and to each other; and
• a vast number of local access roads in urban and rural areas (670,000 km or 83% of the total with 582,000 km (87%) in rural areas)

Traffic density is highest on the arterial links in urban areas due to:

• our major cities accounting for around 65% of the Australian population which generates a very large share of GDP; and
• use for these arterial links for the movement of people (including road based public transport) and freight moving to and from ports and freight distribution centres.

Major road networks are State and Territory controlled and owned. There is a limited private sector involvement in ownership and operation of high volume tollways in major cities. Local government is responsible for most of the local road network.

The Commonwealth has no direct ownership responsibilities for roads but has traditionally provided financial assistance to the States and Territories, most recently since July 2004 under AusLink.

In June 2004 the Federal government released the AusLink White paper ‘Building our National Transport Future’ that was designed to improve decision-making and funding for national land transport infrastructure. ‘AusLink aims to ensure a strong and transparent focus for future national land transport investment. AusLink promotes sustainable national and regional economic growth, development and connectivity by contributing to the development of an integrated National Network’(Endnote 4).

Key features of AusLink are:

• a defined National Network of important road and rail infrastructure links and their intermodal connections;
• a National Land Transport Plan designed to integrate planning and investment on the National Network; and
• earmarked funding for local and regional transport improvements.

Established by the Commonwealth government in February 2008, Infrastructure Australia will coordinate infrastructure provision for transport, energy, water and telecommunications in Australia.

A key first step will audit the adequacy of Australia’s infrastructure and develop to identify bottlenecks and deficiencies and an infrastructure priority list within 12 months for consideration by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) (Endnote 5).

The Australian Transport Council (ATC) have agreed that ‘Australia requires a safe, secure, efficient, reliable and integrated national transport system that supports and enhances our nation’s economic development and social and environmental well-being’.

Guiding objectives and principles for achieving a national approach to transport have also been adopted and individual Ministers have responsibility for developing various aspects within the reform program for future consideration by COAG and the ATC (Endnote 5)

For further information about Roads and AusLink

• Australian Government (2004) AusLink: Building our National Transport Future – website www.auslink.gov.au

 Endnotes

1. COAG Meeting 13 April 2007 – Australia’s Infrastructure, National Overview Report, April 2007 – p.9 & 10.

2. Department of Transport and Regional Services, AusLink White Paper, Canberra, June 2004, p.1.

3. National Transport Commission, ‘Twice the Task’ A review of Australia’s freight transport tasks, Sinclair Knight  Merz Pty Ltd and Meyrick and Associates, February 2006, p.13.

4. AusLink website www.auslink.gov.au - What is AusLink; Objectives and Key Features
5. Australian Transport Council, Joint Communiques, 29 February 2008 and 2 May 2008.