Victorian Ports Minister Denis Napthine has sought to reassure all stakeholders that his government’s plans to turn Hastings into a major container port will continue unabated.
The future of the plans were brought into question on Friday in media reports, which stated that stevedore Patrick plans to withdraw from the port in. However, a spokesman for Napthine insisted there will be no change in government plans for the port and took a section of the media to task over its coverage of the issue.
By Rob McKay | October 1, 2012
Victorian Ports Minister Denis Napthine has sought to reassure all stakeholders that his government’s plans to turn Hastings into a major container port will continue unabated.
The future of the plans were brought into question on Friday in media reports, which stated that stevedore Patrick plans to withdraw from the port in.
If confirmed, Patrick’s move would come nearly six weeks after Bluescope Steel said it would close its Western Port Steelworks strip, rolling and coating mill as part of a group-wide restructure.
However, a spokesman for Napthine insisted there will be no change in government plans for the port and took a section of the media to task over its coverage of the issue.
“As a result of Bluescope Steel scaling down its operations, it will be bringing in its materials via rail rather than on the [ship] Iron Monarch,” the spokesman says.
“Patrick has won the contract to handle the rail operations.
“This means there will be a reconfiguration in staff from portside freight to railside.
“This has no effect on the development of a container port at Hastings.”
He described as “tedious” The Age newspaper’s attempts to suggest otherwise “with its misleading headlines are highly disappointing”.
“The port is not shutting down,” Napthine says.
“It also handles gas and petroleum products and will continue to do so.
“The Port of Hastings Development authority recently signed a five- year contract with Patrick Stevedores to continue overseeing shipping movements through the Port of Hastings and for other ongoing port services.
“This contract took effect midway through this year.”
Napthine’s spokesman
also addressed the Baywest option that interests in nearby Geelong believe should be accelerated.
“The Government has consistently said that Hastings is the best location for Victoria’s second container port to service the state in the medium to long term, while Baywest is an option to consider for 2050-2060,” he says.
“Baywest remains an option for long-term development and is being considered as part of the Government’s Victorian Freight and Logistics Plan, which is examining freight requirements over a 50 year time frame.”
