Today, PoMC announced that the contract for civil engineering design services has been awarded to Australia’s Aurecon Pty Ltd. The scope of the project will include detailed design of internal roads, interface buffers, site preparation works and services infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Arup Oty Ltd will be providing maritime engineering consulting services for the project’s extensive maritime works – including re-engineering of the existing wharves.
The plan is for a new 920 metre wharf for the port’s automotive trade which will be consolidated into a new world class facility at Webb Dock West.
The news comes on the back of a 7.8% increase in total container throughput for the port – Melbourne handled 2.58m teu last year, beating 2010’s record by 2.39m teu. The Victorian Coalition government has argued that these figures support the decision to expand the port to address its medium to long term container capacity issues.
The intention to expand Melbourne, Australia’s largest container, automotive and general cargo port, was announced by the Minister for Ports, Dr Denis Napthine, back in April this year.
But reportedly it’s still not all plain sailing for the expansion project – local residents are still worried that container stacks will block their views and fears over potential noise hazards have been voiced. A consultation process is being undertaken.