Port meeting ‘opens clear communication’

LOCAL residents have met with Port Minister Tim Pallas over their concerns about the Port of Hastings Corporation Land Use and Transport Strategy Consultation Draft.
Southern Victoria Community Action Group (SVCAG) members raised concerns about the economic and environmental impacts of the project in the meeting last week, brokered by Cranbourne MP Jude Perera.
SVCAG president Catherine Manning said clear lines of communication were now open between the community and the government.
“Mr Pallas stated that he intends to inform himself directly of community opinion,” she said.
In frank discussions on Wednesday, 31 February, SVCAG questioned the Port of Hastings Corporation’s (PoHC) consultation process, saying it felt residents in Casey, Cardinia, Dandenong and the southern bayside suburbs had not been properly informed.
“Of particular concern are the transport corridors and the impact of acquisition overlays,” Ms Manning said.
She said in the meeting, Mr Pallas said he would support an environmental effects statement on the full scope of the PoHC’s project.
Mr Pallas is expecting the PoHC’s report mid-year, and stressed that other options were being considered for the Gippsland Rail Link.
Mr Pallas also made it clear that the State Government favoured the expansion of the Port of Hastings as it believed it was vital for the state’s future.
Ms Manning said SVCAG was concerned the impacts of the proposal were not fully understood by the affected communities or the Government.
She urged all Victorians to inform themselves, consider the port proposal critically and to forward their comments to the PoHC before the 14 March deadline.
For more information contact Catherine Manning on 5998 8182.