Plan to ‘unlock’ port-protected land
Opportunites for baristas
Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au THE state government is likely to drastically reduce the amount of land set aside for port related purposes around Hastings. The decision to investigate using the land for non-port industries follows the decision to build a container port at Bay West, near Geelong. Already under consideration is a 350 metre long multi-purpose double berth jetty to be built on 35 hectares of reclaimed land between the BlueScope and Esso jetties off Long Island Drive, Hastings. The government has set a two-year time limit on reviewing how much of the “port-related” land should be kept and how much “unlocked”. The Hastings Port Industrial Area stretches along the coastline of Western Port from Hanns Inlet in the south to Watsons Inlet in the north and extends up to four kilometres inland, but excludes land within the towns of Hastings, Crib Point, Bittern and Tyabb, In its Navigating Our Port Futures - the Victorian Commercial Ports Strategy report, the government says “a broader economic development approach” would be “more appropriate” for the land around Hastings. Hastings is seen as already playing an “important role as a trade gateway for bulk liquid products” and would remain “well-suited to support dry and liquid bulk trade, with deep approach channels and land set aside for
RECLAIMED land between the BlueScope Steel and Esso jetties at Hastings is seen as a suitable site for a 350 metre long multi-purpose double berth jetty. Picture: Gary Sissons further development”. The Navigating Our Port Futures report says Hastings’ future lies with “general cargo” and “supporting the growth of several emerging trade opportunities”. Options being “explored” include “supporting offshore wind, further development of onshore wind across Gippsland and building on the successful trial of the export of hydrogen to Japan”. “There are also a range of other potential bulk and break bulk opportunities such as importing of aggregate construction materials which the Port of Hastings is also investigating.”
To clear the way for a re-evaluation of the port’s use the government has changed the name of the Port of Hastings Development Authority to the Port of Hastings Corporation. Land set aside for port development within a special uses zone (SUZ1) is “is far larger than the declared port area and includes the entirety of the Esso and BlueScope Steel sites, a number of smaller industrial and rural uses and even a small proportion of residential properties”, according to the report. “Whilst the large land reserves are strategically important and sections should remain protected, as time has
passed, it has become clear that it is no longer necessary to retain the entirety of this SUZ1 area as being protected for port related industries,” the report states. “A broader economic development approach for the use of this land would be more appropriate. “If the land within SUZ1 that isn’t needed for port development were rezoned in partnership with [Mornington Peninsula Shire Council], the area may potentially be opened to a range of new industrial-based employment opportunities, in both traditional, and emerging higher value sectors including wind energy.”
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is overseeing opportunities for entrepreneurs to provide coffee and snacks from one fixed and multiple mobile venues. Expressions of interest are being sought for the lease of the cafe attached to the Mornington library and comments are being sought from the public on mobile food vans. Proposed changes to the shire’s food truck policy proposes increasing permits from one to three years (with extra winter-only permits); providing electricity to mobile food van site; adding new sites and increasing “residential roving” permits from two to four; and “asking food truck vendors to demonstrate how they will benefit the local community”. The library cafe lease ran out in 2020 but the current operators were allowed to continue due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The shire says it is looking for expression of interests from local business and social enterprises. “Mornington library is visited by around 650 people each week and is a popular spot with locals of all ages: You’ll be serving up babycinos for Storytime and lattes for book club,” The mayor Cr Anthony Marsh said. The cafe does not have a kitchen but is equipped with food and drink fridges and a small food preparation area. “It would be a perfect fit for a social enterprise or a local business. Everyone, including previous tenants are welcome to apply,” Marsh said. Expressions of interest close 6 August.
Mornington News
2 August 2022
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