Victoria's only naturally deep port is a part of a long term freight strategy, Port of Hastings Corporation says
Victoria’s only naturally deep port is a part of Victoria’s long term freight strategy, Port of Hastings Corporation Chief Executive Ralph Kenyon says.
The corporation is holding ongoing talks with Minister for Roads and Ports Tim Pallas on the future of the port, as Pallas indicates Hastings will be a part of the State’s new transport plan rumoured to be released in the first week of December.
“Hastings was brought up in several conversations, which suggests to me that we are involved,” Kenyon says.
“If that is the case then we need to update our trade forecasts, [but] it is very much reliant on expectation of business to come.”
Kenyon says Hastings has good access channels and says extensive amounts of land surrounding the docks have been rezoned specifically for port use.
“I think there is a fairly positive response from business and that needs to lead to commitments from business who might want to use the port. It is all very good having a good idea but if you don’t have the business a good idea doesn’t work,” Kenyon says.
Kenyon has previously stated the Port of Hastings is part of long standing government policy the port will be expanded over the next 25 years as the Port of Melbourne reaches capacity.
He says improved and expanded transport links to the port will be needed to cope with Hasting’s future role.