AS Williamstown residents prepare for a second public meeting about the Webb Dock expansion, the Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC) says the effect on residential amenity will be “imperceptible”.
PoMC chief executive officer Stephen Bradford dismissed reports that the $1.6billion expansion would create more noise than Hong Kong’s port.
“Hong Kong is in the top 10-15 ports in the world; Melbourne is No.51, which is consistent with our population,” he said.
“To suggest this will have more noise than Hong Kong is inconceivable.”
While tenderers who are sensitive to the community and to minimising adverse effects from lighting will be favoured, this will not be mandated.
“Well, are you going to mandate the levels we suspect … the law determines noise levels – the law determines that – and lighting, there are legal limits,” Mr Bradford said.
“We’re asking them to put in their best environmental considerations, to consider the residents, to consider the terminal, to consider the trucks.”
As reported in the Weekly, Williamstown residents say Hobsons Bay will be dubbed ‘Container City’ with unsightly containers stacked seven-high in the distance.
“That is consistent with world container stacking; reasonable limits,” Mr Bradford said.
Concerned residents also say their city view will be replaced by a 1.8-kilometre line of container ships.
“We think it’s imperceptible … imperceptible,” Mr Bradford said.
Williamstown resident Denis Weily, who organised this month’s public meeting which Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong and Port Melbourne councils have been invited to attend, said the dictionary defined imperceptible as very slight, gradual or subtle.
“Wow, perhaps he has rose-coloured glasses or is not actually looking at Webb Dock, as five new berths with container ships and car carriers will block out, for most residents, the city skyline.
“A huge area of 24/7 lighting, containers stacked five high and seven high – almost 50 feet in the old measurement – all along the front, six new cranes the size of what we just saw try and get under the [West Gate] Bridge, and possibly the same number of straddle struck equipment also measuring well over 20 meters high … a huge dump of empty containers.
“Triple the number of trucks on West Gate Bridge, more noise; the list goes on …
“Imperceptible would have to be a major understatement.”
Residents concerned about the Webb Dock expansion will meet at Williamstown Sailing Club on August 23 from 6-7.30pm. Details: denis@weilyinc.com.au
