By Nicole Precel
HOBSONS Bay residents remain worried that a plan to expand Webb Dock would leave them with noise, amenity and visual disturbances as well as a struggle for third party appeal rights.
The plans would mainly affect residents along The Strand, including Newport resident Geoff Forsyth, who was worried about the visual impact an expansion of Webb Dock would have.
“There will be more cranes, even if it’s just one or two, if it becomes 12 or 13 that would be disastrous,” he said.
Mr Forsyth believes the government should revert back to a 1998 plan for the site, which he believes would leave the view from The Strand relatively unaffected.
The Port of Melbourne declined to comment and referred Star to the State Government.
The State Government said only that it was considering the business case for development of Webb Dock and that a decision would be made in due course.
The Port and Environs Advisory Committee Discussion Paper was deliberated in council a fortnight ago and the close of submission date has since been extended until June 25.
The Planning Minister, Justin Madden, appointed the Port and Environs Advisory Committee to undertake a review of the four key Ports of Melbourne, Geelong, Hastings and Portland.
The council raised concerns that the advisory committee hadn’t considered increases in traffic and noise resulting from the Port of Melbourne operations.
Councillor Angela Altair expressed concern over the third party appeal rights.
“Some weeks ago I was approached by a group of residents along The Strand that expressed a great deal of concern about the expansion of Port Melbourne,” she said.
“With the proximity to the Port of Melbourne, it is going to impact on our residents and it’s going to impact on the amenity of our residents.”
Cr Peter Hemphill also expressed concerns.
“I’d be very, very concerned at trying to expand that port without proper appeal rights,” he said.
