The Port of Melbourne will expand into the former Melbourne Markets site, with over $200 million to be invested into its development.
This comes after the Port of Melbourne secured a long-term lease with the Victorian Government of approximately 29 hectares at the site, until 2066, in line with the existing 50-year port privatisation lease.
It’s the port’s largest ever expansion since the long-term lease was granted in 2016.
Container Transport Alliance Australia (CTAA) welcomed the news, saying it’s particularly pleased that the port will invest in developing the site for a range of uses including truck parking facilities and container storage.
The establishment of port functions at the site will help to improve traffic movement in the area, complementing the West Gate Tunnel when it opens.
As the largest container port in Australia, CTAA believes the Port of Melbourne needs a state-of-the-art Truck Marshalling Area (TMA), as it is currently the only major capital city port in Australia that doesn’t have one.
“The long-term lease and investment in the old Melbourne Markets site north of Footscray Road provides the perfect opportunity to address demand for a well-designed Truck Marshalling Area,” said CTAA in a recent media statement.
“We shouldn’t just aspire to create a ‘low tech’ parking area for truck drivers awaiting their next job in the Port.
“We have the opportunity to work with the Port of Melbourne, the container terminals and other container logistics-related facilities in the Swanson Dock precinct (and perhaps even further afield) to link truck arrivals at the TMA to operating systems to give greater visibility of heavy vehicle locations and readiness to be serviced.”
CTAA would like to see the facility designed to be able to direct trucks to the TMA to await instructions and call-up during port congestion or other disruptions.
Container volumes at Port of Melbourne are expected to double by 2050.
Commenting on the expansion announcement, Port of Melbourne CEO Saul Cannon said: “Access to additional land at the former Melbourne Markets site unlocks opportunities that are critical to the future needs of Victoria.
“Port of Melbourne is proud to invest in developing the site to support forecast growth and demands.”
By expanding the Port of Melbourne’s footprint, it will accommodate more freight and logistics functions at the port, in turn relieving pressure on roads in Melbourne’s inner west.
Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne added, “This is a great deal for Victoria – we’re getting more trucks off local roads, increasing the amount of freight the Port of Melbourne can handle, boosting trade and the economy, while strengthening Victoria’s supply chains.”