Port plan to open for comment

By Shaun Inguanzo
A 30-YEAR project costing up to $4 billion to convert a Hastings port into Victoria’s next international shipping container port is about to be put to the test when a draft document goes on exhibit in three weeks.
The Port of Hastings Authority this week said it was about three weeks away from releasing its draft land use and transport strategy document for public comment.
The project won’t be completed until about 2035, but is expected to provide strong economic benefits to Greater Dandenong’s large manufacturing sector. Hastings’ port has deeper water than Melbourne’s port and can accommodate most large container ships.
Port of Hastings Authority CEO Ralph Kenyon told Star the draft document would accommodate the State Government’s direction, previously outlined in a 2004 Victorian Ports Strategic Framework.
“The Government identified Hastings as the next area of growth for an international container port,” he said.
“Hastings will complement Melbourne and will take the overflow that Melbourne can’t handle.
“By the same token, trades going through other ports, whether in Victoria or interstate, will go through Hastings in the future.”
Mr Kenyon said the project would not be complete without major road and rail links.
“I am possibly pre-empting our plan, but our study has investigated a number of road and rail transport corridor options including development of a new rail link to Pakenham to pick up Gippsland trade,” he said.
“We can also see the Westernport Highway emptying into the Monash Freeway.”
Mr Kenyon said Greater Dandenong would likely benefit economically from the port, but at this stage those benefits were unclear.
“It is a bit early to predict benefits,” he said. “We will have to do further economic impact assessments, but we expect significant job opportunities will be generated and more businesses will use the Port of Hastings as a port complementary to Melbourne.”