Call to curb conflicting port rules

Speaking at a seminar held during the Pacific 2013 International Maritime Conference, Mr Whitlam pointed to the overlap which can occur between the two sets of rules, not only hindering port development but also helping to degrade the environment.

As the owner and manager of the commercial ports of Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay, Sydney Ports has to fulfil environmental requirements from both the New South Wales state government and the Australian federal government.

Mr Whitlam’s reference to the challenges provided by duplicated environmental regulations sparked a delegates’ discussion in which Maritime Australia chief executive Ian Honnery said debate was essential.

“We think it’s very important that bodies like AAMA [Australian Association for Maritime Affairs], Ports Australia and the industry players have a platform to discuss these economic and environmental issues,” Mr Honnery said.

The upshot of the debate was that delegates decided to forward the seminar papers to Federal environment minister Greg Hunt, requesting that the Council of Australian Governments agree bring consistency to Federal and state guidelines for Australia’s port development approvals, and to make marine environmental study data available to the public.