Port infrastructure charges becoming an issue in the New South Wales state elections has not stopped Hutchison Ports Sydney announcing that its infrastructure levy is to rise.
The opposition Labor party went into the elections at the end of March with a commitment to stop “exorbitant” port charges, with leader Michael Daley and freight spokesperson Jodi McKay stating that landside prices and charges had “escalated rapidly without explanation or justification”.
Their position drew backing from Road Freight New South Wales, which has called for a robust price-monitoring system at the port and an independent body to regulate infrastructure and other landside charges after two years of fighting against surcharges imposed by the stevedores.
However, the incumbent Liberal/National Coalition Government was re-elected to a third four-year term with a reduced majority. Labor won an increased share of the vote in most districts but was unable to successfully gain support in key marginal electorates.
Hutchison Ports Sydney announced that its infrastructure levy would increase to A$35.84 per full container after a review of all capital investment revealed “that the current rate of recovery will not keep pace with future infrastructure requirements and ongoing maintenance”.
The levy is applied to all full container movements entering or exiting the terminal by both road and rail.
