Port Kembla Outer Harbour Development
On exhibition until 7 May 2010
NSW Department of Planning MP 08-0249
Write a brief submission in response. This application to expand the Outer Harbour comes on top of the car carriers and lifting a curfew with permission for many more coal trucks on our roads.
If you consider that the NSW Government is putting the cart before the horse in seeking to further expand Port Kembla before a start of work on Maldon Dombarton and highway upgrades, then let the Department of Planning know. You may even want to contact your local State MP.
See the following story in the Illawarra Mercury:
Overlooking the port from its multimillion-dollar maritime centre, Minister for the Illawarra Paul McLeay and Wollongong MP Noreen Hay announced that the outer harbour development environmental assessment would be open for six weeks of public consultation from tomorrow.
The 3000-page document will be available at Wollongong and Warrawong libraries and on the NSW Planning and Port Kembla Port Corporation websites.
It includes detailed studies into road and rail movements, water and air quality, noise and cultural heritage as well as management plans for green and golden bell frogs and waste.
Mr McLeay said the six-week public consultation period, which is longer than usual, reflected the Government's desire to proceed carefully with developments at the port.
"We can't do this in isolation - it must be done right," he said.
Under the the port expansion plan, about 52ha of land will be reclaimed to create seven new berths, almost doubling the port's cargo handling capacity.
The new berths will be supported by container and multi-purpose terminals and enhanced rail and road infrastructure.
Mr McLeay and Ms Hay also congratulated Janine Cullen on her appointment to the board of the Port Kembla Port Corporation.
Ms Cullen is a familiar face in the Illawarra business community and holds directorships with the Illawarra Business Chamber, The Illawarra Connection and Greenacres Disability Services.
She said she was looking forward to hitting the ground running.
"The industrial heart of this city must never be forgotten," she said.
