Australia: According to transport infrastructure conglomerate Asciano, a plan to maximise Swanson Dock's capacity in the Port of Melbourne in the short term and then develop Geelong Port prior to the long-term development of Port of Hastings in 2040 will deliver the best outcomes for Victoria.
Victoria's international container port trade is currently handled at Swanson Dock in the Port of Melbourne, which has an annual capacity of 2.7 million TEU. Based on Victorian Government trade forecasts, extra international container port capacity will be required within five years.
"With total container trade through the Port of Melbourne forecast to double to around 4.4 million containers by 2020, we need to ensure the port, as a key component of our economy, is capable of achieving the next stage of container capacity development," said Port of Melbourne Corporation CEO Stephen Bradford.
These include the expansion of Webb Dock to accommodate increased container volumes, however this would block city views from Williamstown and increase traffic congestion around Port Melbourne and Docklands
The Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC) has said that it is seeking views from port stakeholders until the end of September, but reports in The Australian have indicated that a number of views are on the table.
PoMC has presented a plan to provide for additional containter capacity through a AU$1.3 billion redevelopment of Webb Dock in the Port of Melbourne, possibly as early as 2013, followed by the long-term development of the Port of Hastings, post 2030. The private port operator would also have to invest an additional AU$250 million (US$228.9 million) in cranes, pavement and other equipment to support operations, according to Asciano.
"A Webb Dock redevelopment has a very high price and many negative consequences. It would leave the future home of a number of Victoria's key import/export industries in doubt," according to the Asciano report. The report will go to the Port of Melbourne, which will report to the state government early next year on its expansion plans.
"It would lead to the attraction of additional container freight to an inner-city site where there is no rail link; and noise as well as increased road congestion and aesthetics would create ongoing negative impacts on nearby residents and Melbourne commuters."
Source: The Australian
