The Port of Portland is set to reap the benefits of an expanded woodchip facility which would result in the creation of up to 1130 additional jobs and the addition of more than $250 million to the region’s economy each year.
Planning Minister Justin Madden today announced he had approved an amendment to the Glenelg Planning Scheme to allow the use and development of land at the Port which handles four million tonnes of cargo a year to expand its woodchip handling and storage facility.
“The Brumby Government is taking action to keep jobs in Victoria because Portland is one of the nation’s most important ports when it comes to exporting bulk commodities, so we want to make sure it remains ahead of the game,” Mr Madden said.
"The Brumby Government is taking action to keep jobs in Victoria."
The Port specialises in the storage and handling of bulk commodities from the region’s rich agricultural, forestry and mining industries and locally based aluminium and fertiliser producers.
“The $45 million project will expand the Port’s woodchip capacity from 1.2 million tonnes per year to around 5 million and will cater for the upcoming harvest of timber plantations from the Green Triangle Region of south-western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia.”
Mr Madden said the amendment will incorporate the Portland Woodchip Storage and Handling Facilities Master Plan 2008 into the Glenelg Planning Scheme.
As part of the Master Plan, Mr Madden also approved an Environmental Management Plan prepared for the project by the Port and agreed by the Glenelg Shire Council, the Environment Protection Authority and VicRoads.
“I am also satisfied the Port operators have properly consulted the nearby residents and land owners,” he said.
“I believe the Master Plan and Environmental Management Plan will provide for the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of noise, storm water quality, dust and traffic impacts from the site against current best practice standards.”
Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney MLC welcomed Mr Madden’s decision, saying the Brumby Government understands the importance of the Port to the local and state economies.
“This is a boon for the local economy and highlights again how the Brumby Government is taking action to drive local economies and communities,” Ms Tierney said.
The project is expected to be completed ahead of the start of the timber harvest in late 2009.