Rail link rally on track

By Sarah Schwager
RESIDENTS from across the south-east will meet in Hastings this Sunday to rally against the proposed Port of Hastings development plan.
Starting in Cranbourne, Cardinia and Frank-ston, residents upset at the proposed rail link and port expansion will drive in separate convoys to the port to lobby councils and the government.
The issue has caused much controversy among the community recently with a public outcry for more awareness and research into the social, economic and environmental impacts of the plan.
At a Casey Council meeting last year, residents protested by holding a large ‘No Port of Hastings Expansion Needed’ banner in the public gallery.
More outrage was expressed when locals discovered the rail link would run right through the middle of Cranbourne.
Council has since spoken out against a rail link running through Casey’s south.
This weekend’s rally, organised by the Southern Victorian Community Action Group (SVCAG), will include speakers and an open public forum for locals to have their say.
Speakers will include Greens Upper House candidate for the South Eastern Metropolitan Region Jim Reiher and environmental scientist Dr Brian Cumings from the Westernport and Peninsula Protection Council.
Cardinia resident and SVCAG president Catherine Manning said the rally would also provide information to people on what to do now and what to include in submissions.
“It will allow people to come together as a community and voice their concerns,” she said.
The group was started up by Mrs Manning to fight the Port of Hastings Corporation (POHC) Land Use and Transport Strategy Draft.
Port of Hastings chief executive officer Ralph Kenyon last week announced that there would be four more information sessions for the community to have input into the plans for a port in Hastings.
The meetings will be hosted by the POHC and facilitated by the City of Casey and Cardinia Shire.
“It is long standing government policy that the Port of Hastings will slowly expand over the next 25 years as the Port of Melbourne reaches its capacity,” said Mr Kenyon.
“While the strategy outlines a preferred set of rail and road upgrades these options are not in any way final,” Mr Kenyon said.
The sessions will be held in Cranbourne this Saturday from 2pm to 4pm at the Cranbourne Public Hall on the corner of Clarendon and High streets and in Pakenham from 10am to 12pm at the Cardinia Cultural Centre, Lakeside Drive.
Meetings will also be held on Saturday, 17 February in Doveton from 2pm to 4pm at the Doveton Neighbourhood Place in Oak Ave and in Pakenham from 10am to 12pm at the Cardinia Cultural Centre.
Call the POHC on 5979 5500 for more information.
Starting points for this Sunday’s rally are 10am at the Cardinia Public Hall travelling along the Gippsland Rail route, Casey Indoor Sports Complex on Berwick-Cranbourne Road then travelling along Westernport Highway, or Frankston leaving from Bunnings Warehouse on the corner of McMahons Road and Gertrude Street.
People will then meet at the Fred Smith Reserve in Hastings at noon.
For more information on the rally contact the SVCAG on 5998 8182 or visit www.svcag.org.