3 November 2015

Page 5

NEWS DESK

Build two new ports, lease inquiry told Mike Hast mike@mpnews.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

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.

Challenge a way of giving back MT ELIZA Secondary College student Henry Barnes wants to “give back” to an organisation that he says has “helped my family in so many ways”. The Year 8 student is involved in a program called Real Time Learning which allows him to connect with his local community, help charity organisations and work in placements within the Mt Eliza precinct. “Since my father passed away, while serving in the Australian Defence Force in 2003, Legacy has helped my family in so many ways and I want to give back,” he said last week. “I want to raise awareness of Legacy’s work with the community and help fundraise, so I have organised a “Push Up Challenge” to be held on Remembrance Day at the school. “We hope to have some representatives from Legacy here to commemorate Remembrance Day and we will follow on from that ceremony with a fun fitness challenge which I learnt while on a Legacy camp. “There will be a push up challenge to music with lots of people involved and all participants will have arranged sponsors for the event. “As well as this, we will have a sau-

Giving back: Henry Barnes has organised a push up challenge at Mt Eliza Secondary College to raise money for Legacy.

sage sizzle to wrap up the challenge – and all proceeds will go to Legacy.” Henry’s big day will start at 10.45am with a Remembrance Day ceremony, followed at 11am with a minute’s silence. The Push Up Challenge and barbecue begins at 12.30pm. See the Challenge promotion on youtube/watch?v=B8ry2gPfFgg

Woman injured while waiting for bus A WOMAN reportedly received two broken legs when she stepped in front of a passing car in Racecourse Rd, between Wensleydale Drive and Serenity Way, Mornington, 10.30am, Tuesday. She had been waiting for a bus. The 25-year-old was described as “conscious and breathing with nonlife threatening injuries” by Morning-

ton police who comforted her as she lay on the road after the accident. Sergeant Dennis Ramsay said the driver of the vehicle stopped at the scene and no charges were laid. Paramedics assessed the woman for spinal and leg injuries before the air ambulance took her to The Alfred hospital from nearby Dallas Brooks Park.

To encourage residents to reduce green waste around their homes, Mornington Peninsula Shire will hold a ‘No Charge” Green Waste disposal weekend at all Resource Recovery Centres 14 – 15 November 2015 The “No Charge” Green Waste Weekend is for Shire residents or ratepayers only, with green waste to be delivered only from residential vehicles and trailers. No commercial vehicles or commercial green waste accepted. Resource Recovery Centres are located in Truemans Road Rye, McKirdys Road Tyabb and Watt Road Mornington. Opening hours are from 8.00am until 5.00pm Saturday and Sunday. Please note that due to the popularity of this event delays are to be expected at the Resource Recovery Centres, particularly at the beginning and the end of each day. Mornington can only accept up to 3 cubic metres of green waste per trip. Proof of residency is required to dispose of green waste for no charge on this weekend; for example your driver’s licence or a copy of your rates notice. Green Waste includes all types of garden waste and untreated timber. Residents are also reminded that they can contact the Shire to opt-in to receive a kerbside green waste for those living in the urban area. There is a cost for this service.

“NO CHARGE”

GREEN WASTE WEEKEND 14-15 NOVEMBER at all Resource Recovery Centres

For more information about the green waste weekend or the op-in kerbside green bin collection service, please contact customer service at the shire on: 1300 850 600 or visit www.mornpen.vic.gov.au Mornington News 3 November 2015

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3 November 2015 by Mornington Peninsula News Group - Issuu