Victoria funds Hastings port projects

<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> Victoria’s state government will provide $110m to the Port of Hastings development project, which includes the development of a rail corridor to and from the port. </span> <p>Environmental and design works are two areas expected to be funded as part of the $110m provision.</p><p>Victorian premier Denis Napthine and ports minister David Hodgett visited the Mornington Peninsula town last week to make the announcement.</p><p>The money is also expected to be used for:</p><ul><li>completion of preferred scope</li><li>transport connection planning</li><li>business case development</li><li>procurement and delivery strategies</li></ul><p>With a planned timeline of between 10 and 15 years, the Port of Hastings development project seeks to develop Hastings into Victoria’s second container port. Plans include a new rail line to access the port, in line with the strong push in recent years by the Australian ports industry for a shift of container freight off roads and onto rail.</p><p>Napthine said the announcement was a landmark occasion for reaffirming the Victorian government’s vision for the ports and freight sector.</p><p>“We will provide $110m across the next four years to complete the work required to start building a world-class container port with landside transport connections at Hastings,” he said.</p><p>Hodgett said the Port of Hastings project would complement the $1.6bn expansion of the port of Melbourne.</p><p>“Import and export trade is performing strongly with more than $82bn in trade handled through the port of Melbourne last financial year, including a national record of 2.58m containers,” he said.</p><p>Port of Hastings Development Authority chair Yehudi Blacher said the resources were in place to begin the port development.</p><p>The Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) has welcomed the announcement.</p><p>Chief executive Mark Stone said the new funding is vital to keep the project moving.</p><p>“Continuing the momentum in developing a second container port is important, given the lead time required before the terminal would be fully operational,” Mr Stone said.</p>