‘New blow’ to port cars plan

By John Van Klaveren
PLANS for a new container port in Melbourne have cast further doubt over a proposal to relocate car shipping to Geelong.
Ports Minister Denis Napthine said the $1.2 billion container port at Webb Dock was the “final piece in the jigsaw” for the Geelong proposal.
Dr Napthine repeatedly said he did not want to pre-empt an announcement on the proposal.
“Currently the export import car trade operates on both sides of Webb Dock. With this new development, containers are going onto this (larger) section of Webb Dock (and) the cars will need a new home.
“Now that we have this announcement we can add that final piece to our study. We’ll be able to make that announcement shortly.
“We’ll be talking to the car industry and we’ll be examining where it’s best to locate the car trade.
“There are two clear choices: they can either go to Geelong or they can be located on the other side of Webb Dock.
“There’s no doubt the car trade has indicated it would prefer to stay in Melbourne and there are some issues with land availability in Geelong.”
Dr Napthine announced the car trade feasibility study early in 2010, saying it would generate up to 1000 jobs and $200 million for the city’s economy.
Opposition leader Daniel Andrews said the Geelong plan was already dead.
“The problem is they don’t have the courage to look the people of Geelong in the eye and say they have ditched this plan.”
Mr Andrews said the Webb Dock redevelopment would also mean traffic chaos between Melbourne and Geelong with thousands more trucks.
Shipping Australia chief Llew Russell said the industry was anxious to hear the Government decision on shifting the car trade.
“Our view is that Geelong has a whole lot of issues to be addressed, such as distance, the one-way shipping channel and lack of land.”