2 December 2010

PRESENT

3/10 – 1

Completed 19/08/10

3/10 – 3

Completed 19/08/10

5/10 – 1

Completed 19/08/10

5/10 – 2

Completed 19/08/10

8/10 – 1

Completed 19/08/10

8/10 – 2

Annual Environment
Performance Report 2010 presented at meeting and given to Robin to put on
website.  Completed 2/12/10

8/10 – 3

Completed 29/8/10

ITEM 3.       DISCUSSION
WITH STEPHEN BRADFORD, CEO, PORT OF MELBOURNE CORPORATION

Robin

Very nice to see you
here Stephen, are there any introductory remarks you would like to begin
with?

Stephen

No I will treat this
as a conversation tonight.

Robin

To commence then,
would you like to advise the Committee of significant issues at the Port.

Stephen

In terms of big
issues facing the port, the global financial crisis is now over with a record
number of containers of 217,000 arriving in October, driven by strong imports
and exports. November proved to be solid and December is looking very big
mainly driven by the vehicle and retail industry.

We are currently
evaluating where we will handle the next million containers and you will hear
more in the media at a later date.

Berth occupancy
ranges between 22% and 27% at Maribyrnong No 2, full would be 55% to 65%.

George

Just looking at our
figures, we are actually up 10% in the last year.

Michael

How many million containers
per year does the 217,000 in the peak month equate to?

Stephen

2.3 million per
year.  The long term history of the port was a forecast ten years ago of
an 8% compound growth.  During the GFC growth went into negative. Long
term historical growth percentage looking for the next 10 years 6%
compound.  Rule of thumb is that port growth is double the GDP growth,
which has been about 3%, what drives Melbourne is retail, cars, exports
strong historically for farm products and waste. The waste is recycled paper
and glass which is sent to China for reprocessing. Landfill volumes here will
decrease as a result.

Faye

You mentioned your
maximum is 55%.  Interested to know how you manage congestion from a
safety point of view within the bay of ships waiting to berth?

Stephen

In a port you always
have ships waiting in the bay.  They arrive randomly. If there was no
waiting it would indicate that there was overprovision (too much investment)
in wharves. We measure time ships are waiting and there is a correlation
between waiting in the bay to the berths being full. At present we are not up
to the 55% – 60% usage of berths.

Faye

Do you look for
bigger ships in the future?

Stephen

Yes that is why we
deepened the bay as they spend less time at the berth and are more
efficient.  We are looking at a new container berth to facilitate the
forecast increase in containers, whether through expansion of existing
terminals or the development of a new terminal. The expectation for container
ships is that there should be opportunity for both imports and exports on a
weekly basis. In time it may increase to three in a fortnight.

Michael

What about Geelong
and Portland?

Stephen

Portland is very much
grain and Geelong is grain and crude oil (Shell).

No other port in
Australia handles more containers than Melbourne.  We handle more cars
than anywhere else.

Deborah

With regard to the
language abilities on the ships that come in, there have been several
incidences.  Has the Port got any plan to implement procedures as safety
does become more of a concern?

Stephen

The language of the
sea is English.  That is a worldwide rule.  All Class 1 mariners
(such as Captains and First Officers) have to be proficient in English.

Deborah

We need to ensure at
all times there is English speaking member of the crew in contact with the
berth.

Robin

If there was a
language problem it is up to Terminals to handle it and stop the ship.

George

I was not aware of
the Class 1 category.  In our case they need to know “Stop” and “Start”
and a few other phrases, they do not have to be literate in English.

Peter

Probably happening a
lot more now with the crew changeovers.  We used to always insist that
the person handling the manifold can speak English.  Concerned the
English speaking mariner does not pass on the information.

Faye

Do you make use of
universal hand language?

Peter

When you are dealing
with cranes yes but when you are dealing with product flow it makes it more
difficult as the English speaking officer does have to sleep sometimes.

Stephen

I will take up that
issue with our Safety Officers.

Peter

We mainly deal with
the agents.  We do notify the customer.  The main problem is the
change over of the crews.  It is something we have to work with.

Faye

Are you aware of any
other company that has any similar troubles?

Stephen

No.  None.

George

I go to Sydney a fair
bit.  They are certainly expanding to handle more containers via a third
operator.

Stephen

With regard to the development
and third operator at Sydney, they chose to go with a third operator. 
The Sydney development is very large and was reported to cost around $7
million.  We are waiting to see how this is going to be funded.  For
example, POMC’s  Channel Deepening Project was funded by the channel
user, by a a $35 levy per container over 20 years..

George

Marstel has a spare
parcel of land. We have expanded every millimeter of our land.  Given
the demise of Huntsman I do not believe Marstel has the capacity to expand its
facility.  We would be prepared to do that as we need the space, and we
can guarantee that we would expand.

Stephen

I do not talk about
the affairs of other tenants. I will keep an eye on it.

George

If there is an
opportunity I would like to think you would throw it open to others. 

Robin

I believe that Port
utilization is the principal issue here. How long has Marstell been there?

George

Since 2005

Deborah

Personally I am not
pleased to hear there is going to be an increase in storage.

Stephen

PoMC must try to
maintain a 750 meter buffer zone around the Coode Island Major Hazard
facility to meet WorkSafe and EPA requirements..  We think this zone should
remain for a long time.  We trenchantly oppose any residential
development within that zone. Developers planning to develop in that zone
should have to explain how they will provide reverse amenity to protect
existing industry, and how they meet and comply with the WorkSafe and EPA buffer
requirements. We are very happy with the relationship we have with the
Maribyrnong City Council.

Theo

Any development has to
be appropriate for the area and we need an appropriate planning scheme. We
have to take into account the risk and safety to the community.

Carlo

Geoff Cooke (WorkSafe)
sent a document to Robin that was circulated outlining the buffer contours
and guidelines supported by WorkSafe.

Deborah

I understand this
problem could become an issue in this area.

Ian

Two points.

1. I would like to know what
   is happening with the proposal to make Hastings the main port. 
2. Progressive annexation of
   previously public land.  Which areas are still public?

Stephen

The previous
government brought the Melbourne and Hastings ports together.  To have
Hastings as a container port is 7+ years out.  The issues you would have
to look at with Hastings are:-

• How would you lay out the
  berths
• Environmental state of the
  bay, and the need to update the Shapiro Report of the early 1970’s.
• Koo Wee Rup swamp
• Rail / road link –
  only a single road, would not put heavy haul freight on Stony Point
  line.

Robin

Was it indicated
Hastings was going to be the main port?

Stephen

In 2050 it could be
the main port.  By 2025 Melbourne will be to a certain point, where a
further port is needed.

Michael

Where would Corio fit
into that picture?

Stephen

It doesn’t, as channel
deepening in that area is not viable. We know the channel at Corio Bay has a
rock bottom from previous studies and rock is difficult and costly to cut. 

With regard to publicly
available port land, Station Pier is available most of the year for public
access, except for the 30+ days when cruise ships are berthed. Container
berths are permanently closed to the public. I doubt there would be a return
of public access to some areas as the risk level is high. PoMC will reopen the
Francis Street fishing point in the future.

Jenny

Made mention of many
areas around the port where there is public access including the Moonee Ponds
Creek near Victoria Dock, the Stony Creek Backwash, and The Warmies at
Newport.

Ian

Progressively there
are more gates and fences.

Michael

There seems to be a
large amount of land behind the berths being used for container storage. If
more containers were to leave the port via rail then the land usage would
diminish.

Stephen

The issue is quite
simple.  If the container is to be delivered within an 80 kilometre zone
from the port it has to go via truck.  No other port in the world moves
containers within this zone via train, it is all by truck.  There is a
Melbourne International Freight Terminal discussion paper and it is for the
new government to consider.

Robin

In a recent rezoning
of farm land at Lyndhurst, there was a proposal for an inland port. 
There is only a single track line, which would be lucky to accommodate one extra
train per day because of the crossings.

Stephen

If you moved freight
by rail from an inland port in this location, you would have to move the
freight at night. Another track between Caulfield and Dandenong would be needed. 
Other inland ports have been proposed at Somerton (where embryonic
development has commenced, based on road transport) and somewhere in the West
(perhaps Altona).

Robin

Thank you for responding
so fully to the questions.

Jenny are you able to
provide a map of the publicly available land?

ACTION

Jenny to provide a
map of the publicly accessible areas in the Port where access to the
shoreline is available.

Jenny

Handed Robin copies
of brochure “Operations and facilities” which is available on the Port of
Melbourne Corporation website.

George

Geelong CFA conducted
an exercise at Shell. It was indicated that the Emergency Alert System that
Theo trialled here was going to be used.

Robin

I have enquired of
Carlo and have rung Gary. Neither Carlo nor Gary could confirm what actually
happened. I invited the Metropolitan Fire Brigade to tonight’s meeting to
advise on  the draft paper titled “Protective
Action Decision Guide for Emergency Services During an Outdoor Toxic Gas
Release” which contains reference to the “Shelter,
Shut & Listen” message, and the Emergency Alerting telephone system.

(Note from Chair:
following the meeting I telephoned Ian Beswicke at Corio CFA, who advised
that that the exercise incident did not lead to discharges beyond the Shell
boundary, and hence the Emergency Alerting System was not required.)

John

Thank you for
inviting us here tonight.  This is a whole of Victoria approach. 
The Emergency Alert is still in its infancy stage.  MFB have a very good
working relationship with Terminals.  As part of our next exercise we
could look at incorporating an Emergency Alert.  Procedures relating to
the Emergency Alert are constantly changing, only the tip of the iceberg at
the moment.  All stemmed from the bushfires.

Barry

The system draws from
billing addresses and has been operating for 12 months. Version 2 of the
system is now in use, which provides easier-to-use tolls. The geographic area
can be defined in just 5 minutes. The system sends messages out to selected
communities. The system can send up to 500 text messages per second and 1,000
land line messages per minute. The message is formulated on a template. The
message also refers people to the website, and other media also generate
messages.

Costs of using the
system are borne by the relevant Emergency Services Agency, with costs based
on 7 cents per landline and 11 cents per text message.

Ian

How long does it take
you people to make an assessment to sending the message?

Barry

The Incident
Controller has the capability and capacity to initiate a community alert

Robin

“Shelter Shut &
Listen” is a precursor to the emergency Alert. It provides advice about what
people should do if they become aware of a chemical emergency and how
Emergency Services will provide further communication.  CFA Geelong are
now seeing they have responsibility for ensuring the preparedness of the
community.

Barry

Scientific officers
at MFB have developed a new format to Shelter in Place and are fine tuning it
prior to distributing to the general community. Homes can provide about 4
hours of safe shelter before we have to make other decisions. We will all be
putting out the same information, by early 2011, I would envisage.

George

This is good. Trying
to imagine how the Emergency Alert is going to work in any situation raises
the issues of how flexible, how small or how big an area?  How do you
determine the boundary of the area of the incident?

Barry

When an assessment of
the area has been made, it can be input to the computer system by a specified
distance, by the output of a plume model, or by defining an area drawn on the
screen. Where ever I highlight on the system they are the only ones that get
the message.  This can be determined by street, block, and suburb.

Deborah

Landline 1,000 calls
per minute seems slow.

Barry

System tells me how
many lines I have got, we can do two campaigns if warranted.

Shane

Prior to this coming
on line we had nothing.  Media Alert notifies external stakeholders (MERO’s
and media) as well as households.

John

I think it is
important to expand and think about other incidents we can use the system on. 
Incidents such as a burst water main, flooding etc.

Shane

Be mindful that with
this system we can give closure to an incident as well via a message as
before people were left in limbo.

Barry

Federal money has
been provided to extend the system capabilities to identify mobile phones
within the specified area, where these phones do not have billing addresses
in the area. A consultancy to do the work has been initiated.

Faye

I want to assure the
MFB that we are absolutely delighted.  When the bushfires were happening
the ABC was flooded with calls. 

Barry

The sources of
further information will be available to everyone.  Traditionally we
will conduct street meetings or meetings at community centers.

Robin

If there were two
incidents there would be pointers to both incidents.

Barry

Yes.

Faye

On your website do
you have a community information package?

John

Yes we do and it is
on the website (www.mfb.vic.gov.au)

Michael

Just to backtrack,
suppose a road tanker overturned creating a serious incident, and someone
reports it by ringing 000. What happens next to trigger phone messages?

Barry

You need a report
from an Emergency Services officer in the field to initiate action. So we
would send someone out to make a report of what action was needed.

There are
preformatted messages for different incidents. There is an opportunity to
listen to the message prior to sending. We can change the template if
appropriate; we can also choose either a male or female voice.  Text
messages are a little bit shorter, 160 characters in a message, and voice
message lasts 30 seconds. It states what type of incident it is and which
agency is sending the message. Evacuation points are predetermined.

Ian

I understand from
Andrew Zamich, Assistant Chief Western Zone, that there are two main recorded
messages – stay or go.

Theo

Having used the
system the hit rate is 70%.  A great proactive tool to get the message
out there.  Does not cover all bases.  Community needs to take
responsibility to take care of their neighbours.  To do an evaluation of
a situation and get a message out there in 30 minutes is amazing.  If
you Google “Emergency Alert” that is the best avenue to get some idea of how
the system operates.

Maribyrnong City
Council is holding back on a reprint of “When Industry is your Neighbour” to
update it and make it compatible with “Shelter, Shut & Listen”.

Deborah

Does the message
contain the web site?

Barry

Yes it does

Deborah

During the bushfires
the website got jammed is that going to be rectified?

Barry

Yes we are looking at
that.  At the end of the day none of the systems are infallible, every
effort is being made to ensure they do not jam or fall over.  Our spread
of information is much broader.

Deborah

Are the signs going
to be obvious on the website?  People can miss some small warning.

Barry

It is a very
prominent warning, red with a big sign that will take you to the list.

Shane

The websites have been
totally revamped since the bushfires.

Robin

Evacuation message,
are there any prompts for people to take medication with them and to look
after their neighbours.  Can that be given some thought?  Can we
look into the possibility of testing the phone system at the next Coode
Island exercise?  Also with regard to the Education Package, I wondered
if you would value the community representatives to critique the details.

Barry

The website address
for the MFB is:  www.mfb.vic.gov.au.

John

Community Education
website – any suggestions comments can be entered on line.

Deborah

Do you use MFB in
your message as a lot of people do not know acronyms

Barry

We realize this which
is going to be addressed in our marketing campaign.

Robin

Thanked John, Barry
and Shane for attending the meeting, this is a very important issue. 
Much appreciated.

ITEM 5.       REPORTS
FROM AGENCIES AND TERMINALS

TERMINALS PTY LTD

Termination of
TGCCC Committee

George

Explained the
circumstances and reason for the cessation of the committee. Noted that TGCCC
was set up differently from CICCC, and TGCCC had only one general
representative from the community – all the others were representatives
of groups.

It became a position
where we were between a rock and a hard place.  The objectives of the
committee and the objectives of the company were two different things. 
Decided we would follow a model that this one was formed on and that of
Shell.  We have advertised and interviewing applicants.

We are still
obligated to meet with that committee on a bimonthly basis for the Butadiene
project.

Robin

The key issue was
about moving from a standard licence to an accredited licence.

George

We had mediation
sessions.  In the end the community did not want us to receive an
accredited licence.  Why do we have a Consultative Committee?  It
is to make Terminals lift its game.  I was very sorry to have to do it
and I believe something has been lost but in the circumstances it was a good
thing. A TGCCC member has written to the EPA deploring its requirement for
committee support for an accredited licence. EPA is completely wrong in
requiring TGCCC approval before giving an accredited licence.

Bro

The community members
of the CICCC would never give support in situations like that reported, as it
would be going well beyond the role of the committee to provide constructive
criticism.

Robin

I was enormously
impressed by the amount of work TGCCC members did.  Over the last 12
months I had concerns over the level of argument. There have been faults on
both sides. I suspect that if the EPA had not taken the stance they did the
TGCCC would still be in existence.

Terminals withdrawal
of support for TGCCC has raised questions in some CICCC community members
minds about the need to seek some assurance or protocol between us that if a
situation arises where Terminals wishes to withdraw its support, early advice
of this be given in order that parties have time to consider the situation
and put their thoughts forward.

George

All things being
equal I cannot imagine something like that happening here.  I am happy
to look at doing that especially after the length of time the CICCC has been
running.

Kerry

In Geelong there were
a lot of things happening behind closed doors.

Bro

George you now have
the difficult task of setting up a new committee.  What is your timeline
for that?

George

Conducted interviews
today.  Letting Carlo and Gary O’Sullivan do that and hoping that will
happen early next year.

Bro

Critical for your new
committee to have a very clear statement of expectation.

George

Appreciate your
comments Bro, I have given Robin a copy of the expectations of the new
committee and I will send you a copy for your comments.  I would
appreciate any straight forward comments.

Faye

We have had a big
advantage having the EPA open up to the committee.  Terminals then
responded by showing us data.  Technical exchange between EPA and
Terminals gave me confidence.

George

It comes down to
relationships.

Robin

Due to time
constraints, we will defer the remainder of Terminals Report. We will add the
incidents to be discussed at this meeting to the next meeting due to time
restraints.

ENVIRONMENT
PROTECTION AUTHORITY

Kerry

Mark Cassanet has
left the EPA so I will continue to attend these meetings.

(Handed out EPA
Activity Report August 2010 to December 2010)

CITY OF
MARIBRYNONG

Theo

Nothing further to
add.

ITEM 6.       TERMINALS
TO PRESENT 2009/2010 ANNUAL REPORT TO EPA

Robin

Annual Report to be
presented at next meeting.  Could either Geoff Millard or Carlo be
available then please?

ITEM 7.       OTHER
BUSINESS

None

MEETING CLOSED :
9:20PM.