Port hopes are still afloat

Andrew Mathieson
GEELONG’S port is appealing to State Government to provide facilities for bulk container trade that would inject millions of dollars every year into the local economy.
But the government has indicated Victoria’s second largest port would be better to “maximise opportunities” in current grain, oil, aluminium and brake bulk trade.
Instead, Hastings, on the Mornington Peninsula, attracting 200 ships a year, has been groomed as the next big container port to reduce predicted bottlenecks from container traffic.
The high number of ships at many leading Australian ports are often forced to queue for long periods before docking.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard last week released the National Ports Strategy, which State Government will use to push through plans to develop Hastings over the next decade ahead of Geelong.
Port of Geelong business manager John Murray said a national strategy could strengthen Geelong’s cargo foothold.
Government expects trade to quadruple up to eight million containers annually within the next 25-30 years.
“Geelong is obviously a key stakeholder within the state and throughout the nation,” Mr Murray said.
“We think it probably helps focus on the opportunities in Geelong, which may or may not be in containers.
“We still believe there should be an assessment done for containers for the Port of Geelong and that wouldn’t necessarily preclude the State Government’s desire to develop Hastings as a container port long-term.”
Mr Murray also said Geelong’s port has a 10-year plan that would ensure “our goals are included in the national picture”.
Minister for Ports Denis Napthine said the government would consult all operators and players, including Shell, Alcoa and the Victorian Regional Channels Authority on future plans for the region.
“We will be working to make sure that we maximise opportunities for the Port of Geelong,” he said.
Geelong would still obtain a “good share of general trade” from further expanding the channels to and from its port, Mr Napthine said.
But developing Point Wilson as another port is “not in our plans at this stage”.
Committee for Geelong had first backed plans to establish Point Wilson as an equivalent to the Port of Melbourne back in 2006.
“With all ports, it’s always important to have an open mind on opportunities, but it’s not on the horizon,” Mr Napthine said.