Northern Freight Precinct
The Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) has been commissioned by the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) to provide planning services and advice for future development of the Northern Freight Precinct (NFP) and surrounds to assist with the delivery of the Beveridge Interstate Freight Terminal (BIFT) in Melbourne’s north.
The VPA is leading the preparation of a high-level precinct plan and infrastructure delivery plan for Northern Freight, working in consultation with City of Whittlesea, Mitchell Shire Council, State Government agencies, service authorities and landowners.
The Northern Freight Precinct (NFP), located in Beveridge is approximately 40km north of Melbourne’s CBD, in Whittlesea City Council. The precinct encompasses an area of 1,399ha, bounded by Merri Creek to the east, the Melbourne-Albury-Sydney Railway line to the west, the future Wallan East Part 2 Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) to the north, and the future E6/Outer Metropolitan Ring transport corridor and Donnybrook PSP to the south.
BIFT is one of a number of new intermodal terminals proposed and/or being developed to serve metropolitan Melbourne which will transform the freight and logistics in Victoria. Situated immediately adjacent to both Inland Rail and the Hume Freeway, NFP is ideally located to unlock the potential of Commonwealth’s investment in developing Inland Rail and will support broader industrial and commercial development in Melbourne’s north.
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If you have any other queries regarding the Northern Freight, please contact the project team.
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Interactive map of the Northern Freight Precinct
Project Status Update – February 2026
We have been collaborating across the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) to deliver planning services and advice to support the future development of the Northern Freight Precinct (NFP) and surrounding areas, including the delivery of the Beveridge Interstate Freight Terminal (BIFT) in the northern part of the NFP.
Following the Minister for Planning’s approval of the BIFT Stage 1A Planning Scheme Amendment (GC249) in August 2025, we have continued working with National Intermodal (NI) to provide planning services and guidance to support the advancement of Stage 1A of the BIFT.
Since our last update in November, we have:
- Continued to work with NI to advance planning for the BIFT.
- Progressed background studies and technical studies covering drainage, transport, cultural heritage, bushfire and safety management to identify opportunities and constraints that will inform the precinct’s place-based plan.
- Finalised the land capability and utilities technical studies to inform staging, infrastructure coordination and future development planning across the precinct.
- Advanced investigations and agency engagement to support development of the drainage and Integrated Water Management (IWM) strategy for the precinct.
- Maintained engagement with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation (WWCHAC) to recognise and embed cultural heritage values and opportunities within the precinct.
- Continued collaboration with Melbourne Water, City of Whittlesea, Mitchell Shire Council and other state government agencies to identify and address key strategic planning matters for the precinct.
In the coming months, we will continue working closely with agencies and councils while advancing and completing the technical studies that will underpin planning for the precinct. We will also continue developing the place-based plan in preparation for agency validation.