08.08.2022Navigating our Port Futures: The Victorian Commercial Ports Strategy

As the city with the biggest freight demand in Australia and the largest port, a strategy to secure the future of ports in Melbourne is of vital significance. And with freight demand expected to grow further, it is important for the plan to include an analysis of how Melbourne will grow, settlement and development strategies and a view of transport connectivity throughout the State and Australia.
The Victorian Government has released Navigating our Port Futures: The Victorian Commercial Ports Strategy (the Strategy) as a key response to the Independent Review of the Victorian Ports System.

Committee for Melbourne (the Committee) welcomes a strategy that seeks to protect our Port Futures, especially given the importance that freight is anticipated to play in Greater Melbourne and Victoria’s future economic resilience.

The Committee provided a submission to the Independent Review of the Victorian Ports System. Amongst the issues highlighted in the submission, the Committee highlighted the need for:

• buffers to reduce impact of noise, emission, lighting from the Port of Melbourne’s (POM’s) activities;
• an integrated transport plan to improve transit movement (people and freight); and
• consideration of the POM’s needs as Fisherman’s Bend grows (such as a workable rail solution).

The Strategy addresses these issues at a high-level and the Committee looks forward to working with the State Government and its members to support the development of ports and freight infrastructure that will form a part of an integrated transport plan for Greater Melbourne.
In particular, detailed planning for the development and expansion of the POM’s operations and land transport connections will require a collaborative effort across all levels of government, stakeholders and community to ensure Melbourne’s future economy and liveability can be assured.