Plans for Melbourne’s second port go under the microscope this week, as communities from Melbourne’s west and east get serious about pinpointing where it should be built.
The western section of Port Phillip Bay, Bay West, is one area under consideration, between Point Lillias and Point Cook.
The other is the controversial Westernport Bay plan at Hastings.
This week’s Infrastructure Victoria workshops will cover the need, timing and best location for a second container freight port.
Infrastructure Victoria chief executive Michel Masson said the agency would make recommendations to Victoria’s special minister of state in May next year, following community feedback and technical investigations.
“There are several possible port locations that we are looking at in this [Bay West] area, each with different land and marine access considerations,” Mr Masson said.
“Based on previous investigations we are provided, new technical studies and an options analysis, we will select the most likely location and configuration for the purpose of comparison with the Port of Hastings site.”
This week’s workshops will cover the environmental, social and economic factors that will inform Infrastructure Victoria’s advice to the government.
“In September, we released the first discussion paper for comment and received feedback on a range of matters,” Mr Masson said.
These include the potential impact of super ships on the bay environment and other impacts, future demand for container capacity, freight movement and supply chains.
Wyndham council’s city economy, innovation and liveability director Kate Roffey said there is not enough information yet to determine council’s position on the Bay West plan.
“We are providing feedback on social, economic and industrial factors that would affect the Wyndham municipality and its residents,” Ms Roffey said.
“But because Infrastructure Victoria is still very much in the fact-finding stage, we don’t yet have enough factual information to form a strong position.”
The Bay West community workshop is on Thursday, 6-8pm, at Encore Events Centre, Hoppers Crossing.
