Page 1 of 5 DOCKLANDS AND MAJOR PROJECTS Agenda Item 5.6 COMMITTEE REPORT 7 August 2007 WEBB DOCK RAIL LINK Division Sustainability & Regulatory Services Presenter Geoff Lawler, Director Sustainability & Regulatory Services Purpose 1. To advise the Committee on planning for the reinstatement of the Webb Dock railway line. Recommendation from Management 2. The Docklands and Major Projects Committee resolve that: 2.1. the City of Melbourne host a public information meeting on the Webb Dock Rail Link Environment Report, once it is released by the Port of Melbourne Corporation, to ensure that stakeholders are well informed of the technical issues associated with the proposal. Key Issues 3. The Victorian Government has established a process to consider a proposal by the Port of Melbourne Corporation to reinstate the rail line from the Dynon Rail Terminal through to Webb Dock, which was discontinued in 1996. 4. Webb Dock is mainly used currently for roll-on/roll-off freight between Melbourne and Tasmania, and the import and export of cars. It is the only major terminal in the Port that does not have direct rail access. The Port of Melbourne Corporation’s draft Port Development Plan envisages that Webb Dock will be developed from 2015-2035 to handle 50% of the Port’s international container trade and to be the major terminal for Bass Strait/Coastal freight. It is unlikely that this could happen without reinstatement of a rail option. 5. To avoid the congestion in inner Melbourne that would eventuate from not doing so, long-standing Council policy has been to support the reinstatement of the rail line, on the alignment currently under consideration (i.e. with a river crossing immediately downstream of the Bolte Bridge). Through the adoption of its 2006 Transport Strategy, Moving People and Freight, Council refined its support by stating that any river crossing must be sympathetic to the amenity of Docklands and minimise impact on watercraft accessing Victoria Harbour. 6. The Minister for Planning has appointed an Advisory Committee (Mr Peter Davies) to supervise the production of an Environmental Report by the Port of Melbourne Corporation and then to advise the Minister on the Report, public reaction to it and the Corporation’s responses to public submissions. The purpose of the Environmental Report is to assess potential environmental impacts of the project and how they might be managed. Page 2 of 5 7. The Minister also established a Technical Reference Group to support Mr Davies to ensure that the Corporation undertakes a robust series of technical studies upon which to base the Environmental Report. This Group consisted of various State Government agencies, freight and transport operators, VicUrban and Dockland developers and the City of Melbourne. The Technical Reference Group completed its work in February 2007. 8. The technical studies commissioned for the ER covered air emissions, flora & fauna, greenhouse gas emissions, traffic & transport impact and management, noise & vibration, hydrology, water quality & sedimentation, urban design, social & economic impact assessment, watercraft supply & demand forecasts and rail operational analysis. 9. In relation to the river crossing, the studies addressed two alternatives, both located immediately downstream of the Bolte Bridge: 9.1. The Port of Melbourne’s preference for a low level (8 metre clearance) bascule style bridge (with two opening spans); and 9.2. A shallow tunnel (protruding above the river bed) providing 6 metres clear depth. 10. As Councillors are aware, Docklands stakeholders have raised concern that a bridge will not be sympathetic to the amenity of Docklands and have a deleterious impact on watercraft accessing Victoria Harbour. 11. Once the Port of Melbourne Corporation finalises its Environmental Report, it and the technical studies will be placed on public exhibition for 6 weeks. These studies should enable Council and interested parties to make informed opinions on the matters described above and to make submissions accordingly. 12. After exhibition, the Corporation will have to determine its responses to submissions and Mr Davies will report on all of this to the Minister for Planning. The Minister will then determine any further processes to be followed in Government consideration of the proposal. This may include a planning scheme amendment. Time Frame 13. Council is awaiting final advice from the Port of Melbourne Corporation of the dates for public exhibition of the Environmental Report. Relation to Council Policy 14. A number of previous studies have been undertaken as part of the assessment of the reinstatement of the rail link including the Port Rail Logistics Study in 2000. This study examined alternative routes for both bridge and tunnel crossing at the Yarra River. The current alignment is supported, in general terms by existing Council policy, with the proviso described in the following paragraph. Council has not, at this stage, formed a view on whether the river crossing should be a bridge or a tunnel. 15. The City of Melbourne Transport Strategy: Moving People and Freight (2006) states: “Council supports reinstatement of rail access to Webb Dock but wants any associated river crossing to be sympathetic to the Docklands’ residential and commercial amenity and to minimise impact on watercraft moving to and from Victoria Harbour.”(p75) Finance 16. This report is largely for information purposes. As such it does not raise any significant financial implications. 2 Page 3 of 5 Legal 17. The recommendation from management is to host a public information forum. No direct legal issues arise from the recommendation. 3 Page 4 of 5 Agenda Item 5.6 Docklands and Major Projects Committee 7 August 2007 FINANCE ATTACHMENT WEBB DOCK RAIL LINK There are no significant direct financial implications associated with the recommendations contained in this report. Joe Groher Manager Financial Services Page 5 of 5 Agenda Item 5.6 Docklands and Major Projects Committee 7 August 2007 LEGAL ATTACHMENT WEBB DOCK RAIL LINK The recommendation from management is to host a public information forum. No direct legal issues arise from the recommendation. Section 3C(1) of the Local Government Act 1989 (“the Act”) provides that: “The primary objective of a Council is to endeavour to achieve the best outcomes for the local community having regard to the long term and cumulative effects of decisions.” Further, section 3D(2) of the Act sets out that the role of a Council includes: “(a) acting as a representative government by taking into account the diverse needs of the local community in decision making;” Kim Wood Manager Legal Services .