Clean-up pivotal for port

THE 10-hectare former Pivot site that forms part of Yarraville’s important role in the future expansion of the Port of Melbourne has been highlighted following the release of the auditor-general’s report on its 2001 sale.
The report said the site, which was purchased for $13.5 million, was valued at just $500,000 at the time of the sale due to an expensive clean-up bill associated with the contaminated site.
Maribyrnong City Council mayor Michael Clarke said while he couldn’t comment on the business dealings of the port, it was clear the Melbourne Port Corporation recognised the significant value of expansion to this site and was prepared to “pay a premium for it”.
Cr Clarke said the Melbourne Port Corporation’s operations represent the type of business the council wanted to attract to the City of Maribyrnong.
“The most important thing for us is the site is cleaned up and developed.
“As long as it is cleaned up we are happy,” he said.
The site was formerly used to create and store chemical fertiliser.
As part of the sale conditions the former owners were not required to clean up the site and instead the bill was passed on to the Melbourne Port Corporation.
The auditor-general’s report identified the Port of Melbourne proceeded with the purchase of the property without sufficient knowledge of the environmental condition of the site, a development that has angered Greens MP Colleen Hartland.
Ms Hartland said the former Pivot site was now a toxic legacy for taxpayers.
“What we local campaigners have always wanted to know is, how did Ports get permission to buy the land with taxpayer money?
“The report gives us the answer. It shows that Ports was prepared to ignore every warning, bypass every process and spend as much taxpayers’ money as was necessary to get the land they wanted to expand the port,” she said.
The report said the Melbourne Port Corporation did not undertake a rigorous assessment of the costs, benefits and risks associated with the proposed land acquisition and there were shortcomings in the due diligence process.
Since the purchase of the former Pivot site, Melbourne Port Corporation policies and practices have been revised and internal procurement capability enhanced.

No posts to display