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Global companies often find an impediment to the efficiencies of their supply chains through limitations in infrastructure. This is most frequently evident at ports of entry, primarily sea ports. At this interface, corporate and government requirements and agendas often do not align. The Institute for Logistics and Supply Chain Management (ILSCM) at Victoria University Australia is engaged in research to investigate options for integrated and sustainable economic development in the western region of Melbourne, using logistics as the economic driver. Through this research, it identified the creation of a National Logistics City to address critical social and economic development issues emergent in western Melbourne. ILSCM has recognised that establishment of Logistics Cities, as the ultimate progression of Dense Trade Clusters, have the capacity to provide for the effective alignment of corporate and government objectives to facilitate international trade and maximise global competitiveness. Preliminary National Logistics City conceptual recommendations have generated significant interest from the Victorian State government. This research has subsequently received endorsement as a project of State and National significance that has the capacity to increase Australia's long term global competitiveness. By definition, Dense Trade Clusters are nodal points that vary in size and complexity of service, located away from traditional land, air and coastal entry points that facilitate and process international trade and incorporate value-added services and strategic investments in multi-modal transportation assets. Contextually, inland ports and logistics hubs are other designations of the Dense Trade Cluster which are subordinate in size and level of service. ILSCM has delivered a wealth of applied research involving data collection, survey design and analysis, traffic flow analysis and trade volume profiling and optimisation. The Institute for Logistics and Supply Chain Management has employed optimisation techniques and mathematical processes to substantiate its research into the development of a National Logistics City for Western Melbourne as an integrated economic development plan to support Australia's capacity to compete globally. This presentation will share some of the research team's experiences that involved the development of the conceptual framework and the complexities associated with stakeholder engagement and interface with the wider community in developing a project that has the capacity, if adopted, to result in significant changes to the physical, economic and social landscape of Victoria, Australia. |