Public to get a say on outer harbour plan

A $600 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 yesterday.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 from tomorrow. The 3000-page document will be available at Wollongong and Warrawong libraries and on the NSW Planning and Port Kembla Port Corporation websites.It includes detailed studies into road and rail movements, water and air quality, noise and cultural heritage as well as management plans for green and golden bell frogs and waste.Mr 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."We can't do this in isolation - it must be done right," he said.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.Mr McLeay and Ms Hay also congratulated Janine Cullen on her appointment to the board of the Port Kembla Port Corporation.Ms Cullen is a familiar face in the Illawarra business community and holds directorships with the Illawarra Business Chamber, The Illawarra Connection and Greenacres Disability Services.She said she was looking forward to hitting the ground running."The industrial heart of this city must never be forgotten," she said.