Port of Melbourne has released its 2055 Port Development Strategy (PDS), setting out a 30-year framework to guide future capacity, efficiency and infrastructure planning at Australia’s largest container and general cargo port.
Published on 23 December 2025, the strategy outlines how the Port intends to develop over the next three decades to support Victoria’s growing trade task, while remaining flexible enough to respond to changing economic, technological and community needs. All Victorian ports are legislatively required to maintain a Port Development Strategy under the Port Management Act 1995 (Vic) and to review it every five years.
The 2055 PDS identifies a series of long-term planning directions and potential projects aimed at improving port capacity and supply chain efficiency as Victoria’s population and freight volumes increase. These include options to optimise existing land and infrastructure within the port precinct, plan for future container capacity, and improve road and rail connectivity to support more efficient landside freight movements.
Port of Melbourne Chief Executive Officer Saul Cannon says the strategy reflects the port’s role in supporting Victoria’s economy. “As the manager of the Port, we are committed to delivering capacity and supply chain efficiencies to meet the growing needs of our economy. As our population increases, the Port’s capacity must grow too, and we will continue to innovate to find the right solutions to the challenges and opportunities we face. This means continuing to engage with our stakeholders about the Port’s future growth and development,” says Cannon.
The strategy has been informed by extensive consultation with government, industry and community stakeholders. According to Port of Melbourne, this engagement was central to balancing a wide range of views on how the port should grow, including considerations around transport connectivity, environmental management and the interface between port operations and surrounding urban areas.
Port of Melbourne says the 2055 PDS is designed as a guiding framework rather than a fixed project list, allowing development priorities to evolve over time. The strategy aims to support Victoria’s competitiveness and economic prosperity, while ensuring the port continues to operate as a critical piece of state infrastructure for decades to come.
