Port and rail operator Asciano will spend $100 million on a new freight terminal in western Sydney as part of its strategy to move more freight from Port Botany on to rail.
The company plans to develop the terminal on 17 acres at St Marys in western Sydney.
It will have capacity to handle up to shipping containers.
The investment is the largest in a broader plan that includes the ongoing upgrade of an existing intermodal terminal at Sydney's Chullora, and developing a new freight terminal at Parkes in NSW to connect Port Botany to a planned inland rail line.
The strategy will help move freight efficiently to south and western Sydney, reduce road congestion and minimise double container handling, chief executive John Mullen said.
He was speaking at the opening of Asciano-owned Patrick's new automated Port Botany container terminal.
The new container terminal features locally-developed robotic technology that will allow automated straddle carriers to move 20 and 40 foot shipping containers from trucks, to holding stacks, to ship-to-shore cranes and back with pinpoint accuracy.
Patrick operates the largest warehousing and distribution services at Sydney's Port Botany.
