Work is ramping up at the US$400 million Melbourne Intermodal Terminal (MIT) in Somerton. Crews are installing seven giant rail-mounted gantry cranes supplied by Konecranes. Each crane stands 25 meters tall, weighs 350 tonnes, and can lift up to 46 containers an hour. Together, they will help the site process one million containers a year.
The 45-hectare terminal, backed by Aware Super, is the largest of its kind in Victoria. It includes more than 30 hectares of concrete hardstand, about the size of 14 AFL fields.
MIT will open in October. The design allows future growth, with capacity for 12 cranes as trade increases.
ITC CEO Mishkel Maharaj said the project proves the value of super funds in local infrastructure. “This terminal will shift more freight to rail, cut truck trips, and lower supply chain costs,” he said.
The fully electric cranes can even feed energy back into the grid. The terminal will also include customs storage, an empty container park, and on-site container servicing.
Located 20 km from the Port of Melbourne and beside the Hume Freeway, MIT sits at the heart of Victoria’s freight network. The site is within reach of nearly half the state’s freight volumes.
MIT is part of the US$1.6 billion Melbourne Intermodal & Industrial Exchange, led by Aware Real Estate and Barings. Construction employs 200 workers a week. About 60 permanent staff will run the terminal once it opens.
