Port of Hastings
What we are asking
To help us better plan the future economic potential and industrial growth of Hastings we are asking for:
- a decision on how much land is required for future port development and identification and release of surplus land.
- funding for comprehensive strategic planning and community engagement to determine the best mix of uses for the surplus land - options may include housing, agriculture, conservation areas and complementary industrial land-use, such as innovative industrial precincts to support the energy transition.
What makes us unique
Western Port Bay is an area of high environmental value and sensitivity with international, national and regional conservation significance.
With limited land available for residential and industrial expansion on the Mornington Peninsula and the South Eastern region more broadly, this land has the potential to deliver homes and employment opportunities for the whole region, with the Urban Growth Boundary.
The commercial significance of the Port of Hastings presents opportunities for economic benefits across several neighbouring municipalities, which must be balanced with protecting Western Port Bay’s unique environment.
Why this is important
The Port of Hastings is a state significant asset with key competitive advantages that make it attractive for future economic development and growth, including naturally deep waters and extensive land reserved for port-related purposes.
The Port trades in non-containerised commodities including oil and gas products, break bulk activities (including steel import and export) with a future focus on bulk and break-bulk trade.
Large swathes of land around the Port (zoned Special Use Zone 1) remain reserved for port-related uses indefinitely, despite Council advocacy for the release of surplus SUZ1 land.
This release would allow for alternative productive uses such as industry, housing, conservation and agriculture – supporting Hastings, Somerville, Tyabb, Bittern and Crib Point townships.
The benefits, supporting evidence and strategies
Council has consistently sought integrated planning and corresponding infrastructure investment from the Victorian government, particularly for road and rail networks.
Council provided input into the development of the Victorian Commercial Ports Strategy (July 2022). The strategy confirms the port’s emerging role as a multi-use facility supporting general dry and liquid bulk trade and cargo and moving away from a previous focus on development for container trade.
A specific action of the strategy is to support new trades including hydrogen related projects and the construction of offshore and onshore wind developments.
Investment in a multi-use facility will implement the objectives of the Victorian Government’s Economic Growth Statement (October 2024) which sits under the Plan for Victoria (February 2025). A key initiative of the Economic Growth Statement is a 10-year plan to unlock industrial land and specifically cites land in Hastings in the Special Use Zone.
In addition to the delivery of land for jobs and services, the Plan for Victoria has long term visions for more affordable and diverse housing, protection of land for farming and agriculture and protection of coastal and marine environments.
These visions will be implemented by the Planning for Melbourne’s Green Wedges and Agricultural Land Action Plan (March 2024) and Housing Statement (September 2023). The Shire’s housing target includes the SUZ1 land within the Urban Growth Boundary, adjacent to existing town centres with a rail line.
Council’s advocacy for precinct planning and suitable rezonings for various purposes aligns with the strategic directions of these plans and delivers the potential for additional housing and employment in an ideal location.
In anticipation of the release of surplus Port land, Council adopted the Industrial Areas Land Use and Infrastructure Assessment & Rezoning Strategy (2020), that analysed the constraints and opportunities of land within the Special Use Zone 1, that is potentially available for wider industrial use.
Following the adoption of this strategy, Council is currently considering two privately led planning scheme amendments in Somerville and Hastings to release more land for general industrial purposes.
The Port of Hastings Authority is expected to release the next iteration of its Port Development Strategy in late 2025.