![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/07\/PortofGeelong_41807.jpg\")
It covers Victoria\u2019s four commercial ports: Melbourne, Geelong, Hastings and Portland.<\/p>\n
The Port of Geelong \u2013 which is privately owned and operated as GeelongPort \u2013 is Victoria\u2019s second-largest port and a hub for both dry and liquid bulk products.<\/p>\n
The main channels to the port from Port Phillip Bay have a declared depth of 12.3 metres, and the strategy noted some Port of Geelong users identified increased channel depth as critical to driving trade development of their future business.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ports Victoria investigated the feasibility of optimising the Port of Geelong channels, and found \u201cwhile technically feasible, deepening or widening the channel would be costly and, critically, the benefits would likely support only a small number of specific port users who would not be able to finance the cost of the project individually\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThis analysis concluded that without significant increases in trade volumes that would benefit from greater depth, it is not justified for the state government to progress further work at this time to deepen the Geelong channels.\u201d<\/p>\n GeelongPort\u2019s trade is expected to continue to grow, and the strategy states new trades to the port, including the Spirit of Tasmania service scheduled to begin later this year, will be a factor in deciding what the port\u2019s optimal channel capacity should be.<\/p>\n \u201cAs such, it is important for Ports Victoria to continue to monitor the investment case over time should conditions change,\u201d the strategy stated.<\/p>\n \u201cThe government would consider any market-led proposals to deepen the Geelong channels based on the commercial merits at that time.\u201d<\/p>\n The strategy also confirms the indicative location of Bay West, Victoria\u2019s future second container port, as being west of the mouth of the Werribee River, just beyond the City of Greater Geelong\u2019s north-east border.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re driving the biggest ports reform program in Victoria in decades \u2013 with this strategy critical to protect the future of our commercial ports and achieve a sector that\u2019s responsive to market demands,\u201d Ms Horne said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis strategy will ensure our ports operate in an efficient and productive way to support the system, meet the needs of all Victorians and continue to grow our economy.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" THE state government has not included dredging the channels leading to the Port of Geelong in its new strategy as the cost would not be worth it, but is happy for the private sector to consider the job. Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne officially released the Victorian Commercial Ports Strategy at the 1915 […]<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/07\/IMG_7139_03717.jpg\")