Port of Hastings gets thumbs up for Long Island plan

<p>Long Island, to the northeast of Hastings, has been identified as the preferred precinct for port development in the Port of Hastings Corporation’s latest draft strategy on land use and transport. </p> <p>Public feedback had confirmed that Long Island was the sensible location for port expansion to preserve the amenity of residential and environmentally sensitive areas around Crib Point and Hastings, Port of Hastings chief executive Ralph Kenyon said. </p> <p>However, the strategy retained the liquid berthing facilities at Crib Point and preserves the port related zoning in this area as a back-up for the future.</p> <p>A staged implementation of new berthing infrastructure, starting in 2010, was also outlined.</p> <p>The draft strategy had been refined following earlier stages of consultation on the development of the port over the next 30 years.</p> <p>Mr Kenyon invited community members to provide feedback on the latest draft, which has been releasd as part of stage two consultations </p> <p>A key part of the strategy would be upgrades to the Western Port Highway as the major road transport link to Melbourne, use of the Stony Point and Frankston railway in the short term and in the long term a new rail link connecting Hastings with Dandenong via Clyde and Gippsland via Pakenham.</p> <p>A clearly defined planning process to comply with requirements for an environment effects statement will also be required.</p> <p>Mr Kenyon said the draft strategy contained three major development stages for port expansion:</p> <p>&#8226 Stage one, 2005-15, utilises Old Tyabb Reclamation area for bulk and break-bulk trades</p> <p>&#8226 Stage two, 2015-35, land-backed or island container terminal to develop Long Island precinct and</p> <p>&#8226 Stage three, post 2035, determine configuration of final berthing layouts at Long Island, either continuous linear berth or partial dock style berth.</p> <p>Mr Kenyon said the draft strategy was the corporation’s response to the Victorian Ports Strategic Framework, which identified Hastings as the preferred site for the future development of container handling facilities to complement container facilities located at the port of Melbourne.</p> <p>&#8221We anticipate the port of Hastings will eventually be needed to help Victoria to deal with continuing rapid trade growth beyond 2030,&#8221 he said. </p> <p>&#8220It is important that we plan now to identify the necessary land and transport access options to be preserved to allow for the establishment of container handling facilities at Hastings in the future.&#8221</p> <p>The draft strategy will be on public exhibition until November 3 at libraries in the district, as well as at the Port of Hastings Corporation.</p> <p>It is also available on the Ccorporation’s website at www.portofhastings.vic.gov.au</p> <br />