Hastings port creates storm

By Sarah Schwager and Callan Date
THE local community is up in arms over the Port of Hastings proposed development plan.
Residents in both Casey and Cardinia were in an uproar this week in lieu of the 22 December deadline they were given for submissions to the proposal.
At Tuesday night’s City of Casey Council meeting, three residents protested by holding a large ‘No Port of Hastings Expansion Needed’ banner in the public gallery.
Their protest fell on deaf ears though, with the council approving in principal the expansion of the port.
However, councillors voted to advise the Port of Hastings Corporation that a full and complex environmental, economic and social impact assessment was needed.
The Department of Infrastructure’s preferred rail link from Gippsland to the developing Port of Hastings would run from Pakenham to Clyde-Five Ways Road, along Baxter-Tooradin Road to the Westernport Highway.
Local residents have expressed outrage at the proposal, which they say would force compulsory acquisition of their land and homes by the State Government.
The council also agreed that a more thorough public consultation process was needed as part of any future planning developments.
Councillors Kevin Bradford and Rob Wilson outlined the large employment benefits that the port expansion would bring to Casey residents. “We need to make sure as a council we promote employment into our city, and over the past seven or so years we haven’t been doing this,” Cr Bradford said.
Cr Wilson also outlined potential problems with the rail width of the freight line and the issues of transporting goods interstate.
He said Port of Hastings officials needed to make sure the trains could continue on the same rail gauge into other states.
Cranbourne MP Jude Perera this week took the issue to Parliament.
Mr Perera said 22 December was not long enough and has lobbied his caucus colleagues for an extension.
At this stage, the date for submissions has been extended to 14 March.
Residents also met in the township of Cardinia on Tuesday night with Port of Hastings officials, Cardinia Shire and local government representatives. The Cardinia Hall was full of people who turned up to find out exactly what was being proposed.
Cardinia resident Catherine Manning said not enough people had been informed about what was going on and they expected more time to respond to the proposal. “People have a right to know what’s going on. They have been totally left in the dark,” she said.
Residents asked to be given six months to put in submissions.