The Victorian Government has announced $400 million will be invested in the Port of Melbourne to boost its import and export auto trade at the Webb Dock facility.

 

The funding will see the facility expanded to handle in excess of 600,000 vehicles per year while delivering high standard on-dock pre-delivery inspection (PDI) facilities.

 

Premier Ted Baillieu said the recent announcement brings the total investment for the Port of Melbourne Expansion Project to $1.7 billion and create an additional 420 jobs during the construction phase.

 

"The automotive aspect of the Port Expansion Project will see the construction of 920 metres of new wharves, more than 1,000 supporting piles and 24,000 square metres of concrete decking," Mr Baillieu said.

 

"The auto industry employs more than 40,000 people across Victoria, and building world class automotive facilities at the Port of Melbourne helps protect these jobs and grow Victoria's economy.

 

"Combined with the delivery of a new container terminal and expanded capacity at Swanson Dock, this development will directly generate 1,100 jobs and secure employment for many thousands of people across the state.”

 

State Minister for Ports, Dennis Napthine, said the funding forms part of the State Government’s strategy for Victoria’s ports.

 

"Importantly, this project will provide facilities for all PDI operations to take place on-dock. This involves minor works carried out to vehicles prior to delivery," Dr Napthine said.

 

"At the moment, about 60 per cent of all imported vehicles are trucked across the West Gate for PDI processing in the western suburbs; with about a third of these vehicles then returned across the West Gate a second time for delivery to eastern Victoria.

 

The automotive component of the Port Expansion Project will be entirely funded by the Port of Melbourne Corporation with the port to undertake a competitive bidding process during the second half of 2012 to appoint the operator of the new automotive terminal and the PDI sites.