By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
RULING out a proposal to build Victoria’s next port east of Geelong will cost taxpayers and industry “billions of dollars”, logistics expert and former Toll chief Paul Little has warned.
Mr Little will use a Committee for Wyndham meeting next month to renew the battle against State Government’s decision to base the port at Hastings instead of adopting the Bay West proposal.
The Independent reported in May that Mr Little had added to growing concern over the Hastings decision, describing it as a “financial disaster” and “deeply flawed” at industry events.
Toll, through its demerged business Asciano, owns and operates Geelong’s port. Mr Little retainsToll’s largest private shareholding.
Mr Little remains convinced the cost of extending road and rail to Hastings far outweighs its advantages as a deep-water port.
Committee for Wyndham executive director Paul Potaris said Mr Little shared his views on Bay West at a metropolitan transport strategy launch.
Mr Potaris said Mr Little’s opinion was based on his transport and logistics experience.
“There is an utter need to ensure there is funding committed for development at Bay West,” Mr Potaris said.
“This is an absolutely opportune time to have someone of Paul Little’s calibre standing up, regardless of political promises, and say why (Bay West) should happen.
“The case has to be based on evidence. We strongly support a feasibility study that would no doubt provide evidence on what makes the most sense.
“We need to take into account the proposed and current growth of the west and north-west of Melbourne. By 2020 or 2025 development and provision of infrastructure will shift to the west.”
The Independent reported last year that a Western Transport Study had identified Bay West as the best option for a container port because of transport links.
Victorian Freight and Logistics Council and the Property Council of Australia both support consideration of the Bay West option.
State Government last year hired consultant firm GHD to examine the Bay West option against the Port of Hastings.
That appointment followed a confidential Department of Transport briefing advising investigation of the Bay West option.
Industry positions on port infrastructure last year killed a proposed vehicle import export facility at Geelong.
