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Western Port
NOW PUBLISHED WEEKLY TO SERVE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
HISTORY
PAGE 39 FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGES 40–43 SPORTS DESK
PAGES 45–47
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27 March – 2 April 2012
MPNEWS (1300 676 397) or email: team@mpnews.com.au www.mpnews.com.au
Colourful cover up HASTINGS Community House is buzzing with nimble-fingered knitters as members of the craft group prepare for a “yarn bombing”, a secret and surprising subversive act to brighten the suburbs. The community house knitters are also preparing for the Western Port Craft Fest from 10am to 4pm on Saturday at Hastings Uniting Church Hall, corner of Marine Pde and Hodgins Rd. There will be demonstrations and workshops, and sale of craft goods and materials. Entry is by gold coin. See ‘Knitters in a knot over ward money’ on Page 8. Sign of the times: The Hastings Community House sign has been covered in knitted items to promote a coming “yarn bombing” event.
Sale plan to pay for port Picture: Yanni
By Mike Hast THE state government could sell the Port of Melbourne for $2.4 billion and four water authorities to fund five priority infrastructure projects including development of the Port of Hastings. The other four projects are the eastwest tunnel (linking the Western Ring Rd and the Eastern Freeway), rail links to Avalon airport, duplication of major freight highways, and a rail tunnel from Caulfield to Footscray.
Last financial year the port paid a dividend of $13.4 million to the government and earned an after-tax profit of $39 million. Melbourne’s four water authorities are Melbourne Water, City West Water, South East Water (which services the peninsula) and Yarra Valley Water. The revelation of the government’s plans for possible asset sales has already drawn criticism from disparate sources including award-winning eco-
nomics and public policy commentator Ken Davidson and environmentalists. Mr Davidson wrote on Monday that it was “silly to prioritise the port at Hastings while Australia’s number one port at Melbourne has serious problems that inhibit Victoria’s development”. Industry groups, including the Australian Peak Shippers Association, have warned the Port of Melbourne would face major bottlenecks from
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2015 onwards as it reached capacity. This has seen the government, led by Ports Minister Denis Napthine, to promise fast-tracking of Port of Hastings development (‘New port start five years away’, The News, 31/1/12). In January Mr Napthine and Port of Hastings Development Authority board chairman Yehudi Blacher told The News Hastings was well suited to become Victoria’s second container port within 10 to 13 years.
“Container movements are estimated to quadruple over the next 30 years and it is critical that we begin planning for this growth now,” Mr Napthine said. But Mr Davidson says development of Hastings could wait until 2035 when Melbourne’s population was expected to be five million. Until then, the Port of Melbourne could be improved by redeveloping the Swanson/Dynon precinct, he said. Continued Page 2
PRESENT THIS VOUCHER
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MAIN MEAL
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CNR HIGH & SALMON STREET, HASTINGS. PHONE 5979 1201
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