The Port of Melbourne Corporation have announced a list of bidders vying to build and operate Melbourne’s third international container terminal.
The shortlist includes bids from experienced companies like Specialised Asset Management Limited, Hutchison Port Holdings and Qube Holdings Limited.
Minister for Ports David Hodgett welcomed news of the shortlisted companies.
“The $1.6 billion Port Capacity Project is a critical infrastructure project that will drive competition and fundamentally enhance Victoria’s future economic growth,” Hodgett said.
“I’m pleased to see the shortlist of bidders has revealed a strong field of experienced and worldclass industry players that will enhance and build on competition in the sector and fuel further jobs growth for the state.
“It was only a year ago when the Coalition Government announced the Port Capacity Project and already we have leapt forward to a stage where we are well on track to having an operating terminal by 2016, providing the certainty in container capacity this state needs for at least the next decade.”
The announcement of the short-list for the international container terminal follows the announcement of the short-list of bidders to operate the new automotive terminal and pre-delivery inspection hub.
The shortlisted bidders will be required to lodge their proposals in September this year and it is expected that the successful bidder will be announced in early 2014.
Hodgett said the development of the third international container terminal is the centrepiece of the Port Capacity Project and today marks a significant milestone towards delivering the project.
“The high level of interest and calibre of companies shortlisted to build and operate the third terminal confirms the significance of this project and how much it is valued by industry,” Hodgett said.
“Victoria needs expanded container handling capacity to accommodate growth now and into the future.”