Industry body slams car bid: Geelong ‘too small, too sloping’ for shipping trade

JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
“ILL-FOUNDED” plans to relocate car shipping to Geelong “cannot proceed”, according to Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief Ian Chalmers.
Mr Chalmers said the proposed car import-export facility at Corio Quay was too small and on an incline.
He was responding to an Independent story last week revealing car manufacturers Toyota, Holden and Nissan opposed the relocation.
“It’s impossible to disembark and process vehicles on an inclined site,” Mr Chalmers said.
“The industry is strongly of the view this is an ill-founded proposal and would create considerable difficulties for the import and export of vehicles.
“The proposed lay-down area is too small and if the rail-loop underpasses should be impassable due to weather it would render the whole site dysfunctional, another complicating factor.
“The industry is emphatically of the view that the proposal, though well intentioned by State Government, is not practical and cannot proceed.”
Mr Chalmers said the chamber proposed consolidating the three existing car shipping sites at Port of Melbourne instead.
“If we make Port of Melbourne more efficient it would make that facility sustainable for another 30 years.”
Geelong Mayor John Mitchell said the chamber and car manufacturers raised the shipping plan with him in a meeting.
“They did have some concerns but that’s what the process is all about,” he said.
“State Government called for submissions and the decision will be made by the State Government.
“I still believe, from a city point of view, it looks like a great opportunity and the issues can be overcome.
“We asked some questions ourselves. We believe an increase in road infrastructure is needed, for instance.”
Cr Mitchell said he met industry stakeholders when New South Wales car shipping was relocated from Sydney to Port Kembla.
“The car industry was against that as well but my understanding is it’s working fine.”
Mr Chalmers car shipping’s move to Port Kembla held no parallels for Geelong.
“We still encounter some difficulties with Port Kembla. We get spotting on car paintwork from nearby industries.
“Transport out of the port is also an issue.”