Studies Underway for Hastings Development Project

A series of marine studies are being rolled out this month to support the planning of the Port of Hastings Development Project.

Minister for Ports David Hodgett announced this today and said that the studies demonstrated the thorough process the Port of Hastings Development Authority is taking to progress planning of the project and develop a business case.

“The Victorian Coalition Government has committed to developing the Port of Hastings as Victoria’s second container port to complement the Port of Melbourne and to cater for the growth of container movements,” Mr Hodgett said. “The expansion of the Port of Hastings is a project with multiple elements involving several stages of comprehensive planning.

“This year, the project has progressed under the Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act and the authority has specialist study teams on board to ensure a thorough approach is taken over the next few years of planning. Starting the marine studies now will ensure we gather the necessary information to be able to progress port design and planning and inform the proposed expansion of the Port of Hastings,” added Mr Hodgett.

“These marine studies will build on previous studies of Western Port including the work which commenced in the early 1970s and subsequent studies since, and will continue to improve our understanding of the area. The Victorian Coalition Government is committed to undertaking a robust planning process for the expansion of the Port of Hastings and see it progressed as Victoria’s next container port to ensure the long-term economic growth of our State,” Mr Hodgett said.

Port of Hastings Development Authority CEO Mike Lean said the studies will provide a baseline of the existing conditions and the results will be used to inform other areas of port planning.

“Hydrodynamic studies will be used to inform port design and planning, providing us with a clear understanding of the wave and current conditions that ships will experience in the channel,” Mr Lean said. “Ecological studies will be undertaken into underwater habitats, fish and waterbird populations and water quality. These will greatly improve our understanding of Western Port’s current marine environment.”

Most of these studies will run for a minimum of 12 months to account for seasonal variations.

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Press Release, October 13, 2014