AUSTRALIA’s biggest trucking organisations such as Linfox, Toll and the Victorian Transport Association (VTA) are working with non-government organisations (NGO) and the government to organise a supply chain for victims of bushfire tragedies.
A group has been assembled with eight executives ranging from a community level to Federal Government to create a transport and logistics service to co-ordinate, sort, store and dispatch donations to fire victims.
The Group Logistics Group comprises executives from logistics and supply chain specialists from both Linfox Group and Toll Holdings, VTA representatives, logistics coordinators from the Australian Defence Service and the Department of Human Services (DHS).
Bill Hesketh, who currently represents the VTA in its role associated with the group, said the effort is an 18-month to two-year venture and that the Group is currently seeking headquarters to warehouse aid from all eight departments.
Discussions have been taking place in the past two weeks to co-ordinate a long term solution. Hesketh said the warehouses have been inundated with donations, many of which have not yet been sorted.
As a result, what will be in function, a transport company, will manage the tonnes of goods coming in overtime and deliver it to the families that are in need.
Hesketh said the Group is 70% towards having established a good system together but until computerised systems are put in place in respect to warehouse management, proper organisation and delivery of aid may take some time.
Victoria Minister for Roads and Ports Tim Pallas says temporary warehousing and storage has also been set up in locations including Traralgon and Whittlesea, with supply of forklifts and other equipment to operate mobile warehousing facilities.
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