Close Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Read Our Newspapers Online
    • Read the Latest Western Port News
    • Read the Latest Mornington News
    • Read the Latest Southern Peninsula News
    • Read the Latest Frankston Times
    • Read the Latest Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
  • Competition
  • Home New
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Monday, July 7
Facebook X (Twitter)
MPNEWSMPNEWS
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Home New
Breaking News
MPNEWSMPNEWS
Home»News»State resumes port control
News

State resumes port control

By Keith PlattJuly 4, 2017Updated:July 16, 2024No Comments3 Mins Read
SHIPPING at the Port of Hastings is now being managed by the Victorian Regional Channels Authority and the Port of Hastings Development Authority (infrastructure, maintenance and oil spills). Harbourmaster Shane Vedamuttu is bouyed by the changes. Picture: Gary Sissons
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
SHIPPING at the Port of Hastings is now being managed by the Victorian Regional Channels Authority and the Port of Hastings Development Authority (infrastructure, maintenance and oil spills). Harbourmaster Shane Vedamuttu is bouyed by the changes. Picture: Gary Sissons

THE state government has resumed management of the Port of Hastings through the Victorian Regional Channels Authority.

The port was run under contract until 30 June by Patrick Ports Hastings, also known as Linx Stevedoring.

As from 1 July the harbourmaster Captain Shane Vedamuttu and assistants Capt Chris Noon and Capt Martin Leavold are responsible for shipping in and out of Western Port with the Port of Hastings Development Authority (PoHDA) managing the port’s on-land requirements (jetties, land side infrastructure and port maintenance).

“We’re delighted to take over direct management of all shipping operations at Hastings and we are committed to ensuring safe navigation for all vessels – from big tankers to small recreational boats – using port waters” VRCA CEO Michael Harvey said.

“The Port of Hastings plays an important role in the state’s economy and we are also keen to facilitate increased trade for the port to ensure future prosperity.

“We will work closely with the Port of Hastings Development Authority, which manages the port’s shore-based activities, to ensure all regulatory requirements are effectively co-ordinated.”

The port authority’s eight staff – down from a peak of 30 full time and 30 part time staff, including consultants – will now be based at Stony Point alongside the harbourmasters.

“The PoHDA will have responsibility for oil spill responses in the port and along the Victorian coast line between Cape Schanck and Wilsons Promontory and all emergency response within the port,” Capt Vedamuttu said.

About 100 ships visit the port each year, either picking up gas, crude oil or steel for export or importing petroleum products. In the 1970s and 1980s there were about 600 ship movements a year.

The port’s biggest users are BlueScope Steel, United Petroleum and Esso Australia.

The change in port management follows a recommendation in May to the government by Infrastructure Victoria that the state’s next container port be built at Bay West, in Port Phillip north of Geelong and not at Hastings.

The Advice on Securing Victoria’s Ports Capacity report also states that it is unlikely there will be a need for a new container port until 2055, with detailed planning needed to begin in 2040.

While a previous state Labor government saw Hastings as its preferred site for a container port, this was changed after the subsequent Liberal state government established the Port of Hastings Development Authority.

Following Labor’s 2014 election victory the authority was stripped of finance and staff.

First published in the Western Port News – 4 July 2017

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

Advocates celebrate abuse law change

July 3, 2025

Railway station scam

July 1, 2025

Flinders result unaffected by poll blunder – AEC

July 1, 2025

Grand Hotel’s tower revamp signals new chapter for icon

June 26, 2025
Add A Comment

Comments are closed.

Peninsula Essence Magazine – Click to Read
Peninsula Kids Magazine – Click to Read
Letters to the Editor
Property of the Week

14 Bass Street, McCrae

June 3, 2025
Council Watch

Shire secures $3.9m to tackle road safety

June 16, 2025

Kinder flyer flag snub prompts councillors to take over

June 10, 2025
100 Years Ago This Week

Baxter – On The ‘Wallaby’ with a walking group

July 1, 2025
Interview

Firefighter shows skills from sea to snow

February 5, 2024
Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Home New
About

Established in 2006, Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated, independent media company.

MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News, Mornington News, Southern Peninsula News, Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News.

MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.

Facebook X (Twitter)
© 2025 Mornington Peninsula News Group.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.