The Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics Hub is Open for Business

Wagga Wagga Mayor Dallas Tout has predicted the Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics Hub (RiFL) will have an enormous influence on the city for “many generations to come”.

Councillor Tout was joined by the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway and a number of dignitaries at the official opening of the railway siding and terminal at Bomen.

The Hon Wes Fang MLC, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway, Cr Dallas Tout and Visy Logistics Country Manager Australia Lee Schmelich at the opening of the Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics Hub this week.

“This is not a one-in-a-generation project,” Cr Tout told the gathering at the site to Wagga’s north.

“Wagga Wagga will derive benefit from RiFL for decades into the future … for many generations to come.

“Our Local Government Area has a strong growth path and RiFL is a big part of that.”

Cr Tout described yesterday as a “day to celebrate” given the master plan for Bomen dated back to 2009.

“This is the longest ‘overnight success’ in history,” he said.

Cr Dallas Tout with Paul Gianniotis from ProWay Livestock Equipment and Committee 4 Wagga CEO Scott Sanbrook celebrating the opening of the RiFL Hub.

Located north of the Byrnes and East Bomen roads roundabout, RiFL has a 4.9-kilometre master rail siding and container transfer terminal which borders the Special Activation Precinct.

Mr Farraway said State Government expenditure exceeding $50 million on the Bomen Industrial Park was a “smart and strategic investment”.

“This investment will secure a brighter future for regional NSW,” he said.

“It’s all about creating jobs and improving freight connectivity … getting food and fibre from paddock to port.”

The construction stage generated 130 jobs, while there are expected to be 30 full-time employees when RiFL is fully operational.

Commercial partner Visy Logistics was represented by Country Manager Australia Lee Schmelich, who said RiFL was the result of meticulous teamwork.

Mr Schmelich said the collaboration between Wagga Wagga City Council, NSW Government and Visy culminated in a lot of hard work and investment.

WWCC general manager Peter Thompson said RiFL is further proof of council “solving problems and getting things done”.