By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
PRIVATISING the Port of Melbourne could end up restricting access to Geelong’s port, according to Committee for Geelong chief Rebecca Casson.
Ms Casson said ensuring privatisation did not extend to controlling the access channels from Port Phillip Bay heads was essential.
“The new Port of Melbourne owner must not be allowed to control access to the heads of Port Phillip Bay.
“It is conceivable a private operator would prioritise access to the Port of Melbourne over the Port of Geelong.
“It is clear that users of the Port of Geelong broadly support the privatisation of the Port of Melbourne and expect shared channel access and fee setting to be conducted transparently, fairly and with clear guidelines.
“We believe control and revenue from Geelong channels must remain with a Geelong-based entity, while ready access to the shared channel remains a priority.”
Ms Casson said she was worried about the impact on Geelong of the privatisation, which major parties supported.
She said she had approached Premier Denis Napthine and opposition leader Daniel Andrews to express the committee’s concerns.
“Interstate there is a strong view that services have suffered as a result of channel management being privatised and that healthy competition has suffered,” she said.
“Private control of channels may also jeopardise the development of a new port – either Bay West or Hastings – as a private operator may seek to suppress competition,” Ms Casson said.
Both port plans panned – page 18
