City pans plan for port rail link

By Sarah Schwager
THE City of Casey has spoken out against the Port of Hastings plan to drive a rail freight corridor through the city’s south.
However, residents say the council should oppose the whole port expansion project.
The council has advised the Port of Hastings Corporation (POHC) that while it supports the future expansion of the port, it will not support a rail link through Casey.
Casey mayor Colin Butler said the council would support, in principle, an alternative “dual use transport corridor” of rail and road freight on the Westernport Highway to Dandenong South, with the possibility to then link into Gippsland via the Pakenham rail line and the Monash Freeway.
“This alternative would access the existing infrastructure in the corridor, ultimately reducing the cost of the project and reducing the impacts on existing and future residents of the city,” Cr Butler said.
But Western Port Action Group president Mary Madigan said she was outraged that the council would support the expansion of the port.
“It’s not just the rail link, council should be supporting their residents in the coastal area,” Mrs Madigan said.
“If they dredge it will cause the sea level to rise and flooding in the coastal villages, not to mention oil spills.
“Economically, it is not going to create that many jobs.”
The bid to expand the Port of Hastings has been going on for many years but has consistently failed because of environmental, social and safety concerns.
Scientist Dr Brian Cuming from the Westernport and Peninsula Protection Council has been fighting against the dredging of the bay for 36 years.
Mrs Madigan said that in a similar case in NSW, Botany Bay City Council has supported its residents to stop a proposed desalination plant for Sydney.
She encouraged the council to hire its own scientists to study the environmental impact of the expansion.
“They (POHC) know they can’t do this. We haven’t developed the technology yet,” she said.
“We should be spending our time looking at global warming and climate change and we should be focusing on living sustainably.”
A copy of Casey council’s submission has been sent to the Ministers for Planning, Environment and Transport.
It will also go to relevant State Government Departments, the Growth Areas Authority, neighbouring councils and all relevant State and Federal MPs.
The POHC has extended the deadline for submissions on the Port of Hastings Land Use and Transport Strategy until 14 March to allow time for more community feedback.
For more information contact the Port of Hastings on 5979 5500 or visit www. portofhastings.-vic.gov.au.