Public to get a say on outer harbour plan at Kembla

A US$548.6 million expansion of Port Kembla's outer harbour took a step forward as the NSW Government unveiled an environmental assessment and Port Kembla Port Corporation gained a new director this week, the Illawara Mercury reported.

Overlooking the port from its multimillion-dollar maritime centre, Minister for the Illawarra Paul McLeay and Wollongong MP Noreen Hay announced that the outer harbour development environmental assessment would be open for six weeks of public consultation.

The 3000-page document will be available at Wollongong and Warrawong libraries and on the NSW Planning and Port Kembla Port Corporation websites.

McLeay said the six-week public consultation period, which is longer than usual, reflected the Government's desire to proceed carefully with developments at the port.

Under the the port expansion plan, about 52ha of land will be reclaimed to create seven new berths, almost doubling the port's cargo handling capacity.

The new berths will be supported by container and multi-purpose terminals and enhanced rail and road infrastructure.

(Source: Cargo News Asia)