Second container facility would be ’jobs boon’ for city (main head) ALP backs $8b port plan

THE STATE opposition has thrown its weight behind a proposed $8 billion Bay West container port near Avalon.
Opposition leader Daniel Andrews announced Labor supported Bay West as the best option to ensure economic growth and jobs, especially for Geelong and western Melbourne.
The Independent revealed a fortnight ago a secret Department of Transport study into the bid despite earlier State Government claims Bay West was off the agenda.
Mr Andrews called for a “comprehensive and transparent cost benefit analysis” comparing Bay West with the Government’s preferred option at Hastings.
“There are many factors that support Bay West as the appropriate site for Melbourne’s second port,” he said.
Mr Andrews listed Bay West’s advantages as unlimited potential berth capacity, availability of back-up land, access to a standard gauge national freight link, proximity to import and export warehouses and connections to major arterial roads.
A second container port was essential for job creation and economic growth in Victoria, he said.
“Container shipping and port activity makes a vital contribution to the Victorian economy, providing jobs for a number of local industries.
“A number of reports have supported locating a new port between Little River and Point Wilson on the basis of cost as well as for the advantages it has over Hastings, which for example does not link to freight rail.
“Ernst and Young estimated the cost of a port at Bay West was approximately half of that required to expand the Port of Hastings and environmental impact assessments have been conducted in recent years regarding sites in the Bay West area, yet the Baillieu Government refuses to consider an alternative to Hastings and instead Victorians’ could end up with a costly and less effective second port.
“It is clear that Bay West requires significant further investigation and Mr Baillieu’s failure to canvas this option would be selling Victorians short.”
The Independent reported earlier this year that industry supported the Bay West option, along with the Victorian freight and Logistics Council and Property Council of Victoria.
A western region transport study identified Bay West as the best container port option for transportation links.