Devonport's Spirit Quay has officially opened ahead of the first sailings of the Spirit of Tasmania IV and V. The facility includes a 740-tonne gantry with four steel ramps linking the new ships to concrete loading ramps. Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the quay will support growth in passenger numbers and freight across Bass Strait. Minister Kerry Vincent said more than half the construction work was delivered by local partners. The ferries will make their maiden voyages on 31 October.
Western Sydney International Airport at Badgerys Creek has opened to commercial passenger flights, operating around the clock. Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun says the city is positioned to benefit through jobs, investment and freight links. The airport's cargo precinct is designed to eventually handle up to 1.8 million tonnes of air freight a year. Construction has created more than 12,800 jobs, with around half going to Western Sydney workers. Mannoun says roads, rail and public transport must keep pace with development for residents to reach the new jobs.
The ACT leads the country in new electric vehicle registrations, but it scored just 2 out of 10 for freight vehicles in the EV Council's 2026 report. The council described freight trucks as the single biggest unclaimed opportunity in transport electrification. Fiona Wright said 44 per cent of new cars registered in Canberra were battery electric. An ACT Government spokesperson said work is underway to identify locations for fast charging hubs that could support freight vehicles, and pointed to a free advisory service and a rebate of up to $3300 for charging infrastructure.
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New and upgraded heavy vehicle rest areas in remote South Australia are now open for use. A new rest stop at Pimba, beside Spud's Roadhouse, and an upgraded site at Arcoona along the Stuart Highway are complete. The $4.25 million project was funded by the federal and state governments. Both sites can accommodate four triple road trains at a time, with separate parking for light vehicles. Officials say fatigue is a major contributor to serious heavy vehicle incidents. From 2020 to 2024, 51 crashes on a section of the Stuart Highway caused four deaths and eight serious injuries.
Sydney's Western Sydney International Airport is set to begin commercial flights this weekend. Seven airlines have already signed up to fly from the new airport, which aims to ease congestion at Kingsford Smith. Melbourne's Avalon airport, which began passenger flights more than two decades ago, has only one international route, to Bali. Avalon is run by Linfox, which uses it largely for freight and logistics. Experts say the new airport may need about a decade to become commercially viable.
Road upgrades in Wallan, north of Melbourne, are running ahead of schedule. The Watson Street Interchange Upgrade is more than halfway complete and is due to open six months early, in mid-2027. The $175 million project is jointly funded by the federal and Victorian governments, and is supporting more than 1,100 construction jobs. The Northern Highway Intersection Upgrade is also on track to finish six months early. Both north-facing freeway ramps remain closed until mid-November, and drivers should allow up to 20 minutes of extra travel time.
Wyndham council is holding a public forum on the proposed Outer Metropolitan Ring Road at Wyndham Civic Centre on Tuesday, October 27, from noon to 1.30pm. Panellists include acting chief executive Eric Braslis, former minister Luke Donnellan and Victorian Transport Association chief executive Peter Anderson. The road is proposed as a high-speed route linking Melbourne's north and west, with freeway and rail links for interstate freight and future passenger services. Wyndham mayor Mia Shaw says the forum will explore the project's opportunities.
Culvert upgrades east of Kalgoorlie are set to start this weekend as part of a $2.8 billion rail investment program. Crews will replace ageing culverts at three locations between Kalgoorlie and Zanthus to improve drainage and reduce flood damage to the railway. The new reinforced concrete culverts are designed to manage a one in a hundred year flood event, including projected climate change impacts to 2060. Once installed, crews will rebuild the track so freight services can resume. ARTC says it has planned the work around train movements to limit disruption to freight operators.
Victoria has launched a $1 million grants program to support inner-west communities affected by heavy vehicle traffic. Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne announced the Better Freight Outcomes Fund on Thursday 15 October. The fund will start in 2027 and will be paid for with penalties issued to trucks breaching no-truck zone rules. Residents and businesses can have their say on its design through a survey open until Sunday 1 November.
Sealink has started legal action in the Federal Court to have the second of two new Kangaroo Island ferries delivered from a shipyard in Indonesia. Sea Transport SA founder Stuart Ballantyne said he was surprised, as the contract was cancelled when the ferry was nearly ready to leave the shipyard. All ferry services will halt for three days next week so new vehicle ramps can be installed at Cape Jervis and Penneshaw. The first new ferry will start later this month alongside an older vessel. The matter returns to court on November 13.
Authorities are moving to eradicate a nest of red imported fire ants found at the Enfield Intermodal Centre in Sydney's inner west. Biosecurity officers believe the ants arrived from overseas in a shipping container. The nest was treated quickly to stop an infestation from taking hold. Properties within 500 metres of the freight facility will be inspected, and no further ants have been found so far. NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said fire ants can be eradicated in the state. The Invasive Species Council warned the pest could cost the economy up to $2 billion a year.
A nest of red imported fire ants has been detected at the Enfield Intermodal Centre in Sydney's inner west. Genetic testing confirmed the species, which is likely to have arrived from overseas in a shipping container. The nest has been treated, and properties within 500 metres of the freight facility will be inspected. NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said no further ants have been found. The Invasive Species Council warned the pest could cost the Australian economy up to $2 billion a year.
A nest of red imported fire ants has been detected at the Enfield Intermodal Centre in Sydney's inner west. Genetic testing confirmed the species, which is likely to have arrived from overseas in a shipping container. The nest has been treated, and properties within 500 metres of the freight facility will be inspected. NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said no further ants have been found. The Invasive Species Council warned the pest could cost the Australian economy up to $2 billion a year.
Electric vehicle sales are surging in Australia, and a fund manager says they are helping to slow inflation. Chris Dickman of Australian Ethical calls the trend the BYD effect, pointing to low-priced Chinese cars that are lowering the cost of new and used vehicles. Battery electric vehicles now make up almost 25% of new vehicle sales, according to industry data. Adam Triggs of Mandala Partners says electrifying diesel freight trucks is the next step, and that government help may be needed.
