Two companies have been awarded contracts to undertake marine site surveys for the Port of Hastings Development Authority, Minister for Ports David Hodgett said.
“Awarding these contracts is a significant milestone in the progress of the Port of Hastings expansion, as they will begin to lay the foundation for the engineering and detailed scientific studies to come.
“The development of the Port of Hastings will meet all relevant environmental guidelines and approvals. These geotechnical and geophysical surveys are the first step in that important process, as these surveys will assist in the development of the future design.
“Earlier this year, the Victorian Government committed $110 million across the next four years to complete the planning work required to start building a world-class container port and develop land-side transport connections at Hastings.
Port of Hastings Development Authority CEO Mike Lean said the awarding of these contracts means on-site marine surveys will soon be underway.
“This phase of marine geotechnical and geophysical surveys will involve mapping the seabed to determine the soil and rock characteristics within the project area,” Mr Lean said.
“As well as the marine surveys, the Port of Hastings Development Authority will soon be awarding contracts for the land-based site surveys, which will involve up to 30 sample sites within the existing port special use zone.
“These investigations are vital to know what we’re dealing with in the project area which will help to guide the project through project design planning, an environmental impact assessment and statutory approval process,” Mr Lean said.
The companies awarded contracts are Worley Parsons for marine geotechnical surveys, and Aurecon for marine geophysical surveys.
The marine geotechnical surveys will involve collecting core samples from the seabed to further understand its physical and chemical characteristics, while the geophysical surveys will use sonar reflection and profiling techniques to map the physical features of the seabed to detect abnormalities.
Mr Hodgett said the Victorian Government is progressing the necessary planning design and approval processes to get on with the Port of Hastings development.
“The Port of Hastings will complement the Port of Melbourne, which is currently undergoing a $1.6 billion expansion of container and automotive capacity,” Mr Hodgett said.
“Import and export trade is performing strongly with more than $82 billion in trade handled through the Port of Melbourne last financial year, including 2.51 million containers.
“Victoria’s container trade is continuing to grow between five and six per cent annually and is expected to double in the next decade. Without investing to meet future demand, the state will reach capacity by the mid 2020s, even with the benefit of current expansion projects.
“When completed, this multibillion dollar development of the Port of Hastings will ultimately provide capacity for at least 9 million containers, which is almost four times the current volume going through the Port of Melbourne.”
