Major ports in Australia are forced to take short-term measures to cope with clogged traffic at container terminals but long-term development of rail corridors and new ports have become critical, say the Australian Federation of International Forwarders (AFIF).

Australia's second largest terminal, Hutchison's Port Botany in Sydney, is due to open its US$1 billion third phase (T3) in 2012 to stave off congestion, but more facilities are needed, said AFIF chief executive Brian Lovell.

Although Sydney is relying on the third wharf at Port Botany, the proposed intermodal terminal at Enfield and the possible Moorebank intermodal development, Melbourne is only at discussion stage of expansion proposals at Swanson and Webb Docks.

Victoria's new port of Hastings is at least 10 years away from completion, requiring rail corridors to establish its position. Melbourne is two years off from saturation with a forecasted increase from 1.9 million TEU to 2.7 million TEU by 2015.

ANL Container Line CEO John Lines said that interim measures is not enough for Melbourne and Sydney. "I think we'll have a problem if we don't find a long-term solution," he said, of a situation, which Shipping Australia CEO Llew Russell said is deteriorating in Melbourne and will lead to increased costs for port users, according to the Shipping Gazette.