The Victorian Government has announced a further $110 million in funding to progress the Port of Hastings development.

Premier Denis Naptheine said the funding reaffirms the State Government’s support for the ports and freight sector.

“We will provide $110 million across the next four years to complete the work required to start building a world-class container port with land-side transport connections at Hastings,” MR Napthine said.

The $110 million funding package will enable:

  • completion of preferred scope
  • design works
  • transport connection planning
  • preliminary work to support environmental approvals processes
  • business case development, and
  • procurement and delivery strategies.

 

State Minister for Ports David Hodgett said the Port of Hastings would complement the Port of Melbourne which was currently undergoing a $1.6 billion expansion of container and automotive capacity.

Port of Hastings Development Authority (PoHDA) Chair Yehudi Blacher said the task had always been clear and now the resources were in place to begin the port development.

“In addition to managing the port, PoHDA has the specific task of planning for its future development,” Mr Blacher said.

“We got a head start with initial scoping investigations that are already underway and now this new funding will allow us to take the port’s development to the next level.”