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
Sunday, July 6
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 set to take helm at Hastings
News

State set to take helm at Hastings

By Keith PlattAugust 30, 2016Updated:July 16, 2024No Comments3 Mins Read
Handover: The contract for Patrick Ports Hastings, based at Stony Point, to run the Port of Hastings ends next June and the state government is tipped to take control.
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
Handover: The contract for Patrick Ports Hastings, based at Stony Point, to run the Port of Hastings ends next June and the state government is tipped to take control.
Handover: The contract for Patrick Ports Hastings, based at Stony Point, to run the Port of Hastings ends next June and the state government is tipped to take control.

THE state government appears to be getting ready to take over the day-to-day running of the Port of Hastings.

The 20-year contract with port manager Patrick Ports Hastings ends next June and the government is awaiting a report on management options from the Port of Hastings Development Authority.

The authority now has a staff of eight, far fewer than the 61 – including 31 contractors – it employed just two years ago when the previous Liberal National coalition government was proceeding with plans for a container terminal at Hastings.

Those plans ended abruptly with the election of the Daniel Andrews-led Labor government, which said a decision on where to locate the state’s next major port would rest on advice from Infrastructure Victoria.

Time lines for a container port being built at Hastings, if ever, are now put at 15 to 30 years. Latest figures show the port is now visited each year by 50 “big” ships (50,000-100,000 tonnes) and 100 “small” ships (100-2000 tonnes).

However, the government says Hastings “offers significant development opportunities for bulk industries including the refined fuel, oil and gas industries”.

That statement was made in a 1 April news release announcing the appointment of Malcolm Geier as CEO of the Port of Hastings Development Authority.

Mr Geier took over from long term former Mornington Peninsula Shire CEO, Michael Kennedy, whose interim appointment saw him replace the authority’s first CEO, Mike Lean.

“Mr Geier brings to the role substantial qualifications following a successful 10 years at the Port of Portland, with the last six years as business development manager during a major growth period which saw significant increases in exports and volume,” the April news release issued by Mr Donnellan’s office stated.

In the past couple of weeks the authority has cut its staff from 13 to eight.

The latest round of cuts included the executive assistant, its engineering manager, procurement manager, IT manager and acting chief financial officer.

Mr Geirer said “having the state manage the port” was one of the options the port authority had investigated.

He said the most recent shedding of five jobs ensured the authority “is the right size moving forward”.

“If the state took over the port we would need to add nine staff, mirroring what’s there [employed by Patricks] now,” Mr Geier said.

Patrick’s has 10 staff based at Stony Point, including harbourmaster Shane Vedamuttu, who has been there for 15 years, assistant harbourmasters, and office and maintenance staff.

“I don’t know when the government will make its decision, but we will soon be submitting information to the state,” Mr Geirer said.

He said the port authority’s role was to “use public money efficiently, make sure we do”.

The Port of Hastings includes piers and wharves managed by Patrick at BlueScope Steel and Long Island Point, Hastings, and the Crib Point and Stony Point jetties.

Patrick Ports also manages Western Port’s channels and the port waters.

Stony Point is also used by ferries servicing French and Phillip islands and for berthing harbour tugs.

First published in the Western Port News – 30 August 2016

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.