By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
OPPOSITION leader Daniel Andrews has accused State Government of digging its heels in on calls to build the state’s new container port northeast of Geelong.
His comments followed media reports that former Toll chief Paul Little called the Government’s support for the port to be at Hastings a “financial disaster”.
Mr Andrews said Mr Little was “scathing” of the Hastings plan, despite a $110 million allocation for the project in this week’s state budget.
“For someone who knows the (logistics) industry very well, he didn’t mince his words,” Mr Andrews said.
Mr Little said the “deeply flawed” Hastings option would fail to deliver “the best outcome for Victoria”.
“The high cost of building a standard-gauge rail link to Hasting and the construction of suitable freeway access would be excessive and difficult, if not impossible, to justify,” he said.
“It is also reasonable to assume eastern-suburbs road traffic congestion would very quickly become a major problem for all commuters.”
The Independent reported last year that a study had identified Bay West as the best option because of its transport links.
Victorian Freight and Logistics Council and the Property Council of Australia both support consideration of Bay West.
State Government has hired consultant GHD to examine the Bay West option against Hastings after a confidential Department of Transport briefing.
