VICTORIA's freight loads are set to double by 2035 and Roads Minister Terry Mulder would like to see "as much of it as possible" go on to rail.
To enable that, he wants the Government to form more joint partnerships with the private sector, such as grain companies.
And air freight was another major future opportunity for Victorian exporters. Two international export airports not subject to a curfew would "set up the state for a tremendous future".
Mr Mulder (pictured) told a Rural Press Club of Victoria breakfast in Melbourne last week he always ran a "country filter" across issues under his portfolio.
Policies centered around a "population-based" way of thinking made him immediately think about the impact on country people.
Initiatives to help country areas included rural councils benefiting from $160 million of new funding over four years to help fix deteriorating roads and bridges.
But asked if this funding would become a recurrent part of the budget, or be extended any further, Mr Mulder said rural councils were "getting a very good deal" from the coalition government.
The Government was also working on a freight plan, to be released about August.
The state also had 14 regional projects awaiting Commonwealth funding.
