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Port board meets in Mount Gambier

December 1, 2009

Port of Portland board
South East mayors and development leaders planned to meet with the Port of Portland board last night to discuss the need for transport upgrades in time for the looming bluegum harvest. Read more

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Gunns commits to hardwood chip facility

November 2, 2009

The Port of Portland has today welcomed the signing of a lease by Gunns Limited committing it to develop and operate a second hardwood chip facility at the port.

The lease was approved and signed by the Boards of Gunns Limited and Port of Portland Pty Ltd following three months of negotiations and due diligence on the port site. Read more

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Port and Auspine celebrate milestone

September 29, 2008

Leading forest products company Auspine and the Port of Portland today marked a significant milestone in their relationship – the export of 10 million tonnes of woodchips.

The milestone was reached on Monday with the loading of the woodchip carrier, MV Global Explorer, at the Port of Portland. Read more

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Port welcomes woodchip approval

August 22, 2008

The Port of Portland has welcomed the Victorian Government’s approval of the Port’s proposed new woodchip facilities.

“This will enable the Port to handle the growth in hardwood chips over the coming years, and deliver significant economic benefits to Portland and the Green Triangle Region,” Port chief executive Scott Paterson said. Read more

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World-class port facility mooted

August 21, 2008

The Port of Portland has mooted building the largest wood pulp handling facility in the world leading up to the looming harvest of bluegums.

Port of Portland business development manager Peter Gracias told the ABARE Regional Outlook Conference in Mount Gambier on Wednesday the pending bluegum harvest would be a challenge for the road network and the port’s facilities. Read more

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New push for Mount Gambier railway

July 17, 2008

There is a strong business case to reopen the Mount Gambier to Heywood railway line, according to the Port of Portland.

The authority was responding yesterday to news the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) had acquired the Portland-Maroona line, which Pacific National shut down earlier this year.

ARTC is a wholly Federal Government owned corporation.

The Victorian Government will spend $15m upgrading the track to a level that trains can travel at 80kmh. ARTC has signed a 50-year lease to manage the line and will start upgrading it within months.

The port authority welcomed the announcement as part of a strategy to enhance rail services in Victoria and South Australia.

“The move is in line with our submission to the Tim Fischer led Rail Freight Network Review and an action item in the Port of Portland Port Land Use Strategy,” the port’s chief executive Scott Paterson said.

“The ARTC is a natural owner of this important infrastructure link to the Port.

“It specialises in operating rail lines and will invest in upgrading this line.”

Mr Paterson said this was an important first step towards revitalising rail services in Western Victoria and South Australia.

“This line links up with the Melbourne-Adelaide line, so it is integral to state and interstate services,” Mr Paterson said.

“It is also used by Graincorp to transport grains destined for export markets.

“As this line includes Heywood, there is now a strong business case for reopening the Heywood-Mount Gambier standard gauge line.

“If this line was to be reopened, it would support rail transport of a far greater proportion of woodchips sent to Portland from the Green Triangle Region.

“The Victorian Government’s desire is to see rail increase its market share of freight transported to ports to 30pc.

“We believe the ARTC taking over the Portland-Maroona line will certainly assist and the reopening of the Heywood-Mount Gambier line would be a very significant boost for rail.”

ARTC chief executive David Marchant said reopening the Mount Gambier to Heywood line would be a positive move.

“ARTC would welcome such a development, however this would be a matter for the SA and Victorian governments,” Mr Marchant said.

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