Ports Minister David Hodgett announced the milestone and said the project was important for the “economic future” of the region and would create thousands of jobs.
The expansion is one of several major transport projects to be declared under the Act, including East West link, and the move paves the way for the planning approval process to commence.
“Without investing to meet future demand, Victoria will reach container capacity by the mid-2020s, even with the benefit of current expansion projects at the Port of Melbourne,” Mr Hodgett said.
“This is why the Port of Hastings expansion is so critical to preserving our export and manufacturing industries and supporting the future livability and economic growth of the state.”
Hastings MP Neale Burgess said the project declaration would give the community a chance to provide feedback on the process and ensure an assessment and approval process for the development.
“This project represents a transformational change that will provide a major boost to the social and economic wellbeing of Hastings, the Mornington Peninsula and surrounding communities, while also ensuring Victoria’s rightful position as Australia’s leading container hub,” Mr Burgess said.
Mr Burgess said the Port of Hastings would be up and running before the Port of Melbourne reaches capacity in 2020.
“The Port (of Hastings) will start to build in the next four years but it will be a staged build,” he said.
But Greens MP Sue Pennicuik opposed the establishment of a container port at Hastings and accused the State Government of trying to avoid environmental protection laws by pushing through the project’s proposal.
“The Act … is a way for governments to avoid proper scrutiny of the environmental and social impacts of their favourite transport projects,” Ms Pennicuik said.
“It is a way for the State Government to avoid complying with Victoria’s environmental laws.”
Ms Pennicuik said there had been no public business case to justify construction of a new port, versus the option of greater efficiency in existing facilities.
“Both Labor and Liberal plan to sell a long-term lease over the Port of Melbourne rather than keep it in public ownership and improve its operations,” she said.
“We should instead improve efficiency in the way freight is being handled through ports and in the wider transport system.”