More on the prospective third stevedore

Given the significance of the imminent decision to introduce a third stevedore into Melbourne for the Port Melbourne community, I am reproducing in full the article that appeared in The Age 19 January 2009
"$25m claim from new port
A DECISION by the Victorian Government to fast forward plans to introduce a third stevedore into Melbourne will be met with a compensation claim of at least $25 million from the stevedore most affected by the decision: Asciano.
An official announcement for the $1 billion extension of Webb Dock east at Port Melbourne was scheduled for this week. But a few outstanding issues are now expected to delay the controversial announcement until the end of the month.
The news of a third stevedore comes two weeks after Asciano lost a car carrier contract in Melbourne with logistics giant Wallenius Wilhelmsen.
The big question is, why has the Victorian Government decided to take the decision now, when it had originally planned to increase capacity by spending $100 million upgrading the Swanson Dock facility, before forking out $1 billion to extend Webb Dock after 2017.
What makes the decision interesting is there is currently no rail link to Webb Dock, so all movements from a new Webb Dock container port would be by road. This is not a vote-winner for a government facing an election this year, given that such a move could add up to hundreds of thousands of truck-trips on the roads of Williamstown and Port Melbourne.
Not surprisingly, the communities at Williamstown and Port Melbourne will lobby against the proposed redevelopment. But the fiercest lobbyist will be Asciano, which stands to lose its duopoly as well as a lucrative business, which includes moving 200,000 cars a year, steel for Bluescope Steel, and break bulk cargo.
But the Government has to stand by its decision. Most contracts are won on a national basis and so the best outcome for competition, and potentially lower prices, would be a third player operating out of the three main ports.
If it reneges, it will make it a lot harder for the third operator in Sydney and Brisbane to survive in the longer term."
Source: The Age

Changes ahead at Webb Dock sooner rather than later

It was widely reported in the business pages today that the announcement of a third stevedore at Webb Dock is imminent.

http://www.theage.com.au/business/port-plan-set-to-break-duopoly-20100117-meb0.html

It is old news that a third stevedore has been sought for some time. It was foreshadowed in the Port Development Strategy with competition being seen as a means of driving further productivity and efficiency in the port.

This (pre) announcement highlights the need for effective buffers to be put in place between the Port of Melbourne and Port Melbourne residential communities, the need to bring forward the planning for Dockside Road and keep Webb Dock rail on the agenda.

So hard to establish new trees!

Very disappointed to see these young trees in Turner Reserve broken - and one has disappeared altogether. They looked so full of promise when the photo on the right was posted on 30 July 2008.

Looking back with interest

Rode past 157 Albert St.

Council had refused a planning permit application for this site which was subsequently approved by VCAT (see post 29 September 2008).


The dwellings in contention are almost complete.

Do you think council's concerns were justified?

State of play at Princes Pier, January 2010

"Princes Pier re-opened to the public today"

tag line and photograph courtesy of Ron Cassano

Comparing white cedars with white cedars in Edwards Park

This white cedar (melia azedarach) avenue in Edwards Park is growing strongly through being fed by stormwater run-off from the recent surfacing of Lagoon Lane.
You can see the swale at left, between the fence and the trees, through which the stormwater is drained.
The other melia avenue in the park, planted at the same time, which just relies on whatever rain falls on the surface, is growing less vigorously.

Spring/Summer cleaning

If you upgraded your computer or tv over the holiday period, you can take your old equipment to the Resource Recovery Centre at the City of Port Phillip.


In addition to electronic waste, we take:

• household batteries - all types (you can also leave these at any of the Town Halls including Port Melbourne)
• mattresses
• green waste
• paint and paint cans
• light bulbs
• fluorescent tubes
• car parts, batteries and tyres

While you're there, pick up some mulch to protect your garden from the next hot day.

The Resource Recovery Centre is at the corner of White and Boundary Streets, South Melbourne and is open Monday to Friday 7.30 to 3.30 pm, and Saturday and Sunday 9.00 to 1.00 pm