Build two new ports, lease inquiry told Mike Hast mike@baysidenews.com.au MELBOURNE needs two new ports – one at Hastings and one on the western side of Port Phillip – Captain Richard Cox told the Port of Melbourne Select Committee hearing in Hastings last week. The committee is gathering information about the Labor government's proposed long-term lease of the Port of Melbourne to commercial interests, and came to the peninsula for the first time to hear submissions from individuals, councils including Mornington Peninsula Shire and Frankston, and conservation groups. Captain Cox, a Tyabb resident and former Port of Hastings harbourmaster, told the committee that bulk trade required waterfront space for silos and tanks with wharf loading and unloading infrastructure different from that used for containers. He said Hastings should be developed as a container port, and the western side of Port Phillip – dubbed Bay West – should be for bulk trade "combining Geelong and Melbourne port facilities". After dumping plans for a container port at Hastings last year, the state government said Western Port should become a port for bulk trade. The area is already a bulk trade node with United Terminals (fuel) and Esso (gas and crude oil) operating north of the
Woman assaulted A LANGWARRIN woman in her mid40s was assaulted outside her home in North Rd, 10pm, 12 October. Frankston police Senior Sergeant Steve Burt said the woman was at her letterbox when a group of men walking west approached her from behind. The woman was pushed to ground, abused and then assaulted by one of the men before they ran towards Warrandyte Rd. The woman suffered cuts to her head, severe swelling to her face and possible nerve damage to her left hand as a result of the assault. Constable Jonathan Edwards, of Frankston police, said: “This is a disturbing situation and the offender needs to be held accountable for this disgraceful attack on a female outside her home.” Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers, 1800 333 000.
town, and Swiss company Puma Energy seeking to build a tank farm for imported fuel in the precinct. Captain Cox said Victoria needed the two new ports if trade was to remain strong "otherwise we will become a backwater and have the added expense of our goods being sent by road from NSW or Adelaide". "Businesses will then move closer to these ports with dire consequences for Victoria’s economy," he said. The entrance to Port Phillip – The Heads – would not allow transit of bigger container ships, he said. "One shipping company already wants to bring in vessels that carry 8000 containers and many shipbuilding yards have orders for 10,000 container ships." The Heads was not up to international standards for vessels of this size. "What will happen to Victoria’s economy if a vessel did hit the rocky sides [of the channel] and sink, blocking the channel?" Captain Cox said 60 per cent of containers coming into the Port of Melbourne were taken by road to the “Dandenong and Braeside area”. There was not enough room to store containers west of Melbourne but Hastings had 3500 hectares zoned for port-related use. Melbourne had just 560 hectares. He said the government should lease the Port of Melbourne for 10 years not 50. Mornington Peninsula Shire and
Frankston Council told the committee Melbourne's second container port should be at Hastings. "Port development at Hastings is integral to driving continued industry development and business innovation" in the southeast, the shire's submission stated. It would bring $1 billion in gross regional product by the mid-2030 and an extra 5700 jobs. Both councils oppose any further deepening of The Heads and Port Phillip shipping channels. Preserve Western Port Action Group told the committee an expanded Port of Hastings would have "serious adverse consequences for the everyday life of the region, its economy, its social fabric and its biodiversity". "Construction will involve substantial dredging in Western Port, which in turn will speed up the tides, which will redefine the coastline and compound the effects of climate change." There was a risk of damaging seagrass and marine animals and endangering the biodiversity and food chains of the region. Other risks included increased air and noise pollution, illegal discharge of ballast water, collisions and oil spills, and road congestion. Western Port's $620 million a year tourism industry (including Phillip Island's famous penguin parade) would be harmed. It currently provided 5000 full-time jobs.
Arrests on kidnap charges
woman was intercepted in Frankston North and had her car impounded. She will be charged on summons with drug driving, disqualified driving and driving an unregistered vehicle. While police were waiting for the tow truck, a 31-year-old Seaford man was intercepted and will receive an infringement notice for drug driving and his licence will be suspended for three months. A short time later, a 31-year-old Mt Eliza man was intercepted on Golflinks Rd, Frankston South, and had his car impounded for driving while suspended. Then, a 32-year-old Somerville woman was intercepted on the same road for driving an unregistered vehicle. She also returned a positive oral fluid test and will be charged on summons with drug driving.
THREE men have been charged by Armed Crime Squad detectives over an alleged kidnapping at Seaford on Monday. A Somerville man, 35, Kingsville man and Werribee man, both 28, have been charged with kidnapping and related charges. They were remanded in custody to appear 20 January at Melbourne Magistrates Court. The victim received minor injuries during the incident.
Busy day at the office TUESDAY was a busy day for Frankston Highway Patrol members. First, a 32-year-old Oakleigh
Can you dig it? Carrum Labor MP Sonya Kilkenny at the official first day of works on the intersection upgrade in Carrum Downs.
Intersection works begin WORK has begun on an $8 million upgrade of the Frankston-Dandenong Rd, Wedge Rd and Boundary Rd intersection in Carrum Downs. More approach lanes on Boundary Rd and Wedge Rd will be added and traffic lights will be installed at the intersection. The new traffic lights will mean drivers no longer will have to wait for gaps in oncoming traffic when turning from the side roads onto FrankstonDandenong Rd. Major pre-construction works have been done over several months to relocate underground services at the intersection including power,
lighting and telecommunications. Carrum Labor MP Sonya Kilkenny said residents had long called for the upgrade and the Labor state government was keeping its promise to upgrade the intersection. In the five years to December 2013, there were 17 crashes at the intersection, with seven of them resulting in serious injury. While road works are carried out, access will be maintained through the intersection with reduced speed limits in place. The intersection upgrade is due to be complete by mid-2016.
Frogs the topic
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FROG experts will talk about local and vocal frog species, how to create a frog-friendly habitat in your backyard and how to help out in the Frog Census at a talk at McClelland
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