Australia: Great News for Hastings Port Development

The next step towards building Melbourne’s much needed second container port are now underway with the commencement of key studies into Westernport, its natural environment, and port design.

Minister for Ports Denis Napthine said the opening of tenders for key packages of work was an important milestone and a major step forward for the Port of Hastings Development Authority (PoHDA).

“These studies are critical to our understanding of how to deliver a world class port that will secure the future of our ports and freight sector while protecting the environmental values of Western Port,” Dr Napthine said.

“The three studies consisting of a hydrodynamic model, ecological risk management assessment and port design options will lay the foundations for the future expansion of the Port of Hastings.

“The studies are essential to meet the Coalition Government’s commitment to protect the environment while planning for the development of this much needed additional port capacity to handle the growth in Victoria’s imports and exports.

“Victoria’s freight task is expected to massively increase by 2035 so we are taking action now to safeguard this industry which is the corner stone of our economy and are on track to deliver Victoria’s second container terminal within the next 10-15 years,” Dr Napthine said.

Member for Hastings Neale Burgess said the Coalition Government’s development of the Port of Hastings was progressing well.

“The development of an international container port at Hastings will deliver benefits to the Victorian economy and provide significant benefits to the local community,” Mr Burgess said.

The key studies include:

– development of a hydrodynamic model for Western Port – this study will examine current and tidal flows within the port and identify the possible impacts of port development on the existing environment;

– ecological risk management assessment – this study will examine the potential impacts on the natural environment and identify ways to avoid or mitigate risk; and

– assessment of different port design configurations – this study will provide port design options with consideration of potential environmental impacts and provide a basis for the Port Development Strategy.

PoHDA Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ralph Kenyon said the studies are essential to fast tracking the development of Hastings as tasked by the Coalition Government.

“The Authority is well established now and its move to a new headquarters allows us room to grow as work gathers pace on planning for expansion of the Port, as well as providing a dedicated space for community information about the project,” Mr Kenyon said.

“Ensuring that we work closely with the community and other stakeholders will be vital to the success of the project and this new office will provide the perfect space to share information and ideas.

“We will also be making a number of senior appointments over the coming months that will enable further planning for the expansion of the port.

“It is important that we undertake our planning with the best information available and this work, along with the appointment of senior staff, will be critical to guiding the next steps in developing the Port of Hastings as a major container port for Victoria,” Mr Kenyon said.

The Port of Hastings Development Authority was created at the beginning of 2012 to facilitate development of the Port of Hastings to increase capacity and competition in the container ports sector servicing Melbourne and Victoria. The Authority is a government owned entity established under the Transport Integration Act 2010.

PoHDA’s new home at Shop 2/34 High Street Hastings will be open from 26 November 2012.

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Press Release, November 15, 2012