By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
BOTH political parties are pushing environmentally damaging port polices, according to Geelong Environment council president Joan Lindros.
Ms Lindros said the sites of Labor’s Bay West option and the coalition’s Hastings plan were too environmentally important to become Victoria’s next container port.
“Reports are showing there’s insufficient protection for the environment in either location and both are RAMSAR-listed and important for our migratory species.”
Ms Lindros said existing ports had the capacity to expand with less of an environmental footprint.
“Geelong Port should expand and so should the other major ports at Melbourne and Portland,” she said.
“We’re at the bottom of Australia and least among the good areas for shipping to come to when there are already deeper ports in our northern parts.
“Instead of each state vying for bigger a slice of the economic pie there should be a national approach to decide the best ports for various transport needs.”
Ms Lindros’ comments followed coalition Environment Minister Ryan Smith declaring that Labor’s Bay West proposal would “destroy the Bellarine Peninsula environment”.
Mr Smith said Labor environment spokesperson and Bellarine MP Lisa Neville was silent on the issue despite the ecological threat to her seat.
Bay West, earmarked for Corio Bay’s outer-harbour near Point Wilson, threatened Bellarine beaches, wetlands and the endangered orange-bellied parrot, he said.
“Labor policy to build Victoria’s next container port near Geelong will have catastrophic consequences on the environment with the worst impacts to be felt on the Bellarine Peninsula,” Mr Smith said.
“Labor’s plan to encourage bigger ships into the bay requires widening and deepening the heads.
“This would see increased sea levels within Port Phillip Bay and the loss of popular beachfront along the Bellarine Peninsula.
“By increasing sea levels and changing the marine profile of the Bay, Labor is also putting at risk the delicate ecosystem of the Port Phillip Heads Nature Park as well as the wetlands and saltmarshes along the coast.”
Ms Neville said the Napthine Government was peddling lies to the community.
“This is a desperate Liberal party because they know there’s no environmental damage,” Ms Neville said.
“They know there’s no need to blast the heads. The heads will need to be deepened at some stage to accommodate larger ships for the Port of Melbourne, let alone Bay West.
“The channel was already deepened in 2006 and it did not cause any of the damage it was claimed would occur.
“There was an environmental effects study which demonstrated there was no damage to the RAMSAR site.
“The Liberals know that even their proposed site at Hastings will need dredging.
“This is about justifying why thousands of jobs will go to Mornington instead of the Bellarine. We have a jobs crisis and I’m voting for jobs.”
