Work has begun on a three-year $1.6 billion upgrade for the Port of Melbourne, the largest container port in Australia.
In a statement Victorian Premier Denis Napthine said the Port Capacity Project would be a huge boost to the state, and create thousands of new jobs in the transport and logistics sectors.
“This is a project of massive significance that will create 1,100 new direct jobs and 1,900 indirect jobs in the export, import and freight sectors,” he said,
“It will also protect thousands of existing jobs and cement the Port of Melbourne’s position as Australia’s busiest container port, and ensure Victoria remains the nation’s freight and logistics capital.”
According to Construction Source work on the port upgrade will include:
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Redevelopment of Webb Dock with the aim of returning it to its original role as an international container handling facility and expanding its handling capacity to at least one million containers each year.
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Creation of a state of the art automotive facility on the Western side of Webb Dock with capacity to handle 600,000 vehicles annually.
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Direct road connections from Webb Dock to the M1 Westgate Freeway.
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Reconfiguration of external road linkages at Swanston Dock.
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Work on nearby parks and buffers, including minor modifications to Pearce White Reserve in Port Melbourne and Westgate Park adjoining the Webb Dock precinct, as well as improvements to other buffer zones, including those along Todd Road and the Webb Dock perimeter.
Minister for Ports David Hodgett said the start of construction marked an “important milestone” for the state's industry.
He also said the works were subject to strict environmental and community management schemes.