Shaping the Next Decade: Urban Freight Growth and the Future of Industrial Land

Abstract

Urban freight has transformed dramatically in just six years, with 2020 acting as an accelerant that reshaped the decade ahead. As cities evolve, transport and land‑use pressures are unavoidable, and they directly determine how efficiently freight can move.

This presentation explores the realities and opportunities facing cities like Greater Sydney and outlines how government and industry can respond— designing urban freight systems that are productive, efficient, and supportive of the people who rely on them. When freight works well, its discrete and cost‑of‑living improves.

Delivering this outcome demands a strategic, network‑wide perspective and policy settings that allow urban freight tasks to be optimally designed across economic, social, and environmental dimensions.

Biography

Michael is a career logistician with more than three decades of experience shaping freight systems across Australia and international markets. As the Urban Freight Lead at Transport for NSW, he spent 11 years driving the freight components of the CBD Transformation Program and embedding freight efficiency into all levels of urban planning. He led the development of the Last‑Mile Toolkit and delivered multiple initiatives that improved freight performance in complex city environments. His earlier career spans logistics roles in Australia, Europe, South‑East Asia, and the Middle East, giving him a global understanding of freight challenges and solutions.

Today, Michael continues to advance the field through consulting, research, and publication, contributing practical insights and thought leadership to the evolving discipline of urban freight.