RESIDENTS opposed to the $1.6billion expansion of Webb Dock have vowed to form an alliance to fight “political vandalism”, saying the development will make Melbourne lose its place as the world’s most liveable city.
Concerned Williamstown residents say their city views will be replaced by a 1.8-kilometre line of container ships, six giant cranes and containers stacked seven-high, while residential amenity will be impacted by noise, light spill and truck traffic.
Representatives of Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong and Port Melbourne attended a community meeting at Williamstown Sailing Club on Thursday night.
Organiser and Williamstown resident Denis Weily said of the state government and Port of Melbourne Corporation’s plans: “It’s not R-rated, but it’s scary”.
He told those gathered at the meeting that Melbourne could lose its raking as the world’s most liveable city.
Mr Weily said that by 2020, Webb Dock would be handling 6.3million containers, 86per cent of which would be transported by truck.
People at the meeting vowed to form an alliance of affected municipalities, including the City of Melbourne, and single-issue lobby groups including Save Williamstown and Maribyrnong Truck Action Group.
Many voiced support for an idea spruiked by transport magnate Lindsay Fox to sell off Port of Melbourne and instead develop Port of Hastings, with three dedicated freight lines including one to Altona.
Some at the meeting aired their suspicions that the government was developing Webb Dock with the eventual intention of selling it off.
Williamstown resident John Raff said he couldn’t name one major facility in the world like Webb Dock which did not have a railway link.
Fellow resident Geoff Forsyth said if the development went ahead, “it would be an absolute disaster”.
He predicted at least six berths and 15 cranes by 2035.
“The Liberal government needs to be aware of the alternatives to avoid the proposed vandalism at this end of the bay,” Mr Forsyth said.
Williamstown businessman John Marks said: “The big ship owners – they lobby, they cajole … we’re likely to get what we’re told as a blue-
ribbon Labor seat.”
Hobsons Bay Council is expected to draft a motion to write to the government, voicing residents’ objections and requesting that it recommission an environmental impact study instead of relying on information from 1998.
The Port of Melbourne Corporation this month announced civil and maritime design contracts for the expansion of Australia’s largest container port had been awarded to Aurecon Australia and Arup Pty Ltd, respectively.
