Car trade wins as feasibility study reveals lack of suitable space and shipping safety issues
May 2, 2012
The Melbourne car trade is likely to continue being conducted at Webb Dock after Victorian Ports Minister Dennis Napthine killed off the Port of Geelong option.
The move follows a negative feasibility study assessment of the Geelong proposal.
A concerted and convincing effort by the car trade is the main reason, though Napthene says lack of suitable land at Geelong’s port precinct and shipping channel concerns also had a part to play.
“The automotive industry raised a number of serious concerns that would have adversely affected their operations,” he says.
“These concerns include a lack of suitable land at the Port of Geelong which is required to conduct pre-delivery inspection on imported vehicles as well as consolidate and prepare vehicles for export.
“Access to the shipping channel also proved to be an issue with ships facing delays due to restrictions in windy conditions coupled with the fact the channel is one-way.
“The automotive industry made it clear that their preference was to relocate to a new location at Webb Dock where there is sufficient land and round-the-clock access for shipping lines.”
Shipping experts have long questioned the wisdom of the Geelong option, saying the high sides of vehicle transport ships made them vulnerable to high winds in the long and very narrow approaches to Geelong.
