Fresh produce exports out of the Sunraysia region are set to receive a significant boost, with the rail link between Mildura and the Port of Melbourne in line for a major upgrade.
Sunraysia is a key production hub for Australian table grape and citrus exports, while commercial volumes of avocados and mangoes out of the area are also on the rise, albeit on the back of a small base.
Exporters wishing to ship produce from the region by sea currently have to structure their sales programmes around a tri-weekly rail services from Mildura to Melbourne, or freight their goods to the Victorian capital via road at inflated prices.
After years of lobbying from the local produce industry, the Victorian Government’s pledge to upgrade the rail line between the two cities appears to be gathering momentum, with stakeholders now being invited to provide feedback on four proposed routes for the new service. The government is also undertaking a cost analysis, with a decision on the new route to be announced later this year.
Ken Wakefield, manager of Mildura-based Wakefield Transport Group, is optimistic the project will increase the frequency of services available to growers and exporters.
“At the moment we’re locked into three services a week, regardless if it’s a busy or quiet time during the season,” Wakefield explains. “This is a huge limitation during the peak times of the year. We hope that the new line will allow for a daily service during the peak of the season, while also increasing the volume of produce we are able to send in each load.”
Wakefield says the upgrade would also heighten the quality of shipments coming out of Sunraysia, with three of the proposed routes significantly reducing run time from his company’s perspective.
“If we can get the run time under 10 hours it will be a big bonus,” Wakefield tells Asiafruit.“Currently, the fruit can hit Melbourne up to six or seven days after it has been picked. Now, there is the possibility of getting the fruit down there within 24 hours of it coming off the tree.”
A new A$1m (US$922,000) fruit disinfestations treatment facility is also creating a more efficient supply-chain for Sunraysia-grown fruit. Located at Wakefield’s headquarters on the outskirts of Mildura, the facility allows local growers to complete cold treatment for their produce on site, leading to significant cost and efficiency savings.The project was co-funded by Wakefields, along with Mildura Fruit Company and the Victorian Government.
