Ports Australia, the peak body representing Australia’s Ports operators have complained about environmental scrutiny and paying for environmental management and mitigation.  Submission to the Draft National Ports Strategy. 

The current Chairman of Ports Australia  is Jeff Coleman (Brisbane) and Deputy Chairs are Gary Webb (Newcastle) and Vincent Tremaine (Flinders). The other Board members are Stephen Bradford (Melbourne), Andre Bush (Port Hedland), Brad Fish (NQBP), Grant Gilfillan (Sydney), Robert Ritchie (Darwin) and Paul Weedon (TasPorts - up until 2010 Chief Operating Officer at Sydney Ports).

Ports flounder in red tape, Annabel Hepworth, The Australian, June 28, 2010

Container ships at Port Botany in Sydney. Picture: Stephen Cooper Source: The Australian

THE country’s ports are demanding the federal and state governments fast-track approvals for channel dredging. (more…)

Time to say goodbye to some not so cuddly friends

Tim Elliott
January 23, 2010, Sydney Morning Herald - LINK TO Cann family website

All in the family … John Cann with a python in his backyard.
Photo: Kate Geraghty

  FOR A 72-year-old professional snake charmer, John Cann has done pretty well. “I only got bitten seven times,” he says. “But I certainly remember them all.”

There was the Clarence River snake that bit him on the right index finger and “made me bring up blood clots”.

Then there was the red-bellied black snake that struck the webbing of his thumb and put him in hospital for eight days. And of course, there were the tiger snakes, one of which sent him temporarily blind. (more…)

Sydney ship fire: 16 taken to hospital, Arjun Ramachandran, January 5, 7.78am, Sydney Morning Herald

Sixteen Chinese nationals have been taken to hospital after a fire broke out on their ship at Port Botany this morning.A crew member aboard the 45,000-tonne Columbia noticed a fire in his cabin about 1.30am, while the container ship was docked at Friendship Road at Port Botany, a police spokesman said.The man tried to put out the fire, but was unsuccessful.When fire crews arrived they noticed thick smoke from the ship’s bridge, and fire burning in the cabin, a NSW Fire Brigades spokesman said.The fire was contained to the cabin and a nearby corridor, but both were severely damaged, he said. The fire was put out about 5.30am using the ship’s own firefighting equipment, he said.Sixteen crew from the ship - which was believed to leaving Sydney this morning - had to be taken to hospital.All had suffered smoke inhalation, but one man also had burns to his foot. They were taken to Royal Prince Alfred, St George, Prince of Wales and St Vincent’s hospitals. The cause of the fire is not yet known, but police do not believe it was suspicious.

The following is from Orica’s Column in the Southern Courier:

“Orica has pledged over $140,000 to two projects at the Botany Bay National Park. The projects have been arranged through a new partnership between the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife, the National Parks and Wildlife ervice and Orica. One project is to undertake flora surveys at Towra Point Nature Reserve, Botany Bay South National Park and the Georges River National Park. Information gathered from the surveys will identify locations of threatened species, and assist in determining how these areas can be best managed to protect any threatened plants.
The other project is the construction of a coastal walking track from Henry Head, overlooking the Cape Banks Aquatic Reserve, that will join up with access roads into the National Park. This track makes a beautiful section of the National Park, with its extensive history, more accessible. Work on the track will start early next year. Orica continues its work towards cleaning up its legacy issues at Botany and offers this funding to the local National Park as a indication of its commitment to the Botany Bay catchment.“  (photo of area between Henry Head and Cape Banks)

The ultimate boss of the Third Terminal at Port Botany will be the 81 year old Sir Li Ka-shing, Asia’s richest self-made billionaire. Through the Hutchison Whampoa conglomerate, Li is the world’s largest operator of container terminals, world’s largest health and beauty retailer, a major supplier of electricity to Hong Kong and a real estate developer. His second-largest holding is the Canadian oil firm Husky Energy.  Li’s current personal worth is estimated at $16.2 billion (a drop of $10 billion over the past year). Previous investments in Sydney have been notable failures - The Cross City Tunnel and the Lane Cove Tunnels.   In 1980 Li established the the Li Ka-shing Foundation and in 2000 was knighted by the Queen. He is an avid golfer who  plays almost every day and reportedly sank his 15th hole-in-one in September.   Link to profile on Li Ka-Shing

The announcement for the third operator was to be made in November last year, then July this year, then August, then put off to early next year.  But here it is as a Christmas ‘eve’ special.

Link to Premier’s Media Release

Link to Hutchison’s Media Release

Link to Video on Port Construction

Link to Lloyd’s List Report

Link to MUA report

Link to Herald Article on Hutchinson after Queensland Announcement in 2007

Link to article in 2006 issue of Environmentally Speaking with reference to Hutchinson and Li Ka-Shing

Link to The Australian report

Hutchinson submission

ATN (Australian Transport News):

Foreigner wins Botany space; Asciano says three’s a crowd

December 18, 2009, by Jason Whittaker

Global ports operator Hutchison Port Holdings has won a tender to set up at Sydney’s Port Botany, breaking the existing stevedore duopoly at its second Australian port.

But already the local container terminal operator has hit out at the decision, suggesting volumes through the port can’t support a third player.

The New South Wales Government announced today Hutchison had won the bidding process to operate new berths as part of a $1 billion expansion of Port Botany.

Hutchison is also preparing to set up at the Port of Brisbane after winning that tender for a third operator in 2007.

Ports and Waterways Minister Paul McLeay says a third stevedore will “increase competitive tension” in the market.

“To be competitive in global trade we need world-class facilities and international operators and that’s what we will have with this massive infrastructure investment,” he says.

“Increased competition will benefit business and the residents of NSW by reducing cargo handling charges for goods that come through the port.”

But Asciano, parent company of stevedore Patrick, says the Government has invested in capacity “well ahead of demand”.

Asciano CEO Mark Rowsthorn doubts Hutchison will move onto the waterfront for at least three more years.

“We expect the third entrant will stage its introduction into Port Botany. Industry sources have indicated that the new operator will not actually enter the market until 2013,” he says.

And he has questioned whether Hutchison’s introduction is being underwritten by the Government’s Sydney Ports Corporation or encouraged with “more favourable conditions” to enter the market. (more…)

Each November consumers are asked to give themselves a day off from shopping. At the Sydney Ports Port Botany Lookout two visitors were doing just that as well as enjoying the scenic beauty of Botany Bay. Their image is contrasted with a photograph of work in progress on the third terminal expansion in Botany Bay. The biodiversity, scenic beauty, fish stocks and recreational value of Botany Bay are being diminished to provide additional space for shipping containers full of goods.  The increase in shipping container imports per annum outstrips the population growth in Sydney by more than 6 to 1.  Link to ABC Story.

From L-R: Congwong Bay, Bare Island, Yarra Bay Sailing Club, Bumborah Point, (Bottom - Penrhyn Jetty, Penrhyn Estuary)

Wind gusts today up to 90km.

Coastguard and Fishcare Volunteers were in La Perouse providing visitors with information on invasive marine species, fish species bag and size limits, coastguard responsibilities, and more.

To celebrate the 800th Anniversary of the founding of the Franciscan order members of the Franciscan parish of Deeragun, Townsville, are conducting a pilgrimage to important Catholic sites in Sydney. The leaders of the group are Franciscan Friar Giles Setter and Mary-Ellen Pattinson. Mary-Ellen is an Education Consultant for the Townsville Catholic Education Office and is interested in including the Receveur story in the curriculum. When the group arrived today they immediately headed for the La Perouse headland to pay their respects at Receveur’s Grave. The group will be leaving on Sunday. The Receveur Grave is a very important site for Catholics and particularly Franciscans, because it is on the La Perouse headland that the first Christian services, Roman Catholic Masses, were celebrated in colonial Australia. The first burial mass in Australia was for Receveur. It was performed by fellow chaplain and noted physicist and geologist on the Laperouse expedition, Abbé Jean-Andre Mongez. Each year St Andrew’s Catholic Church at Malabar hosts the Pere Receveur Mass. See details for 2009.

The Headland is now regarded as a site of major significance for catholic pilgrims from around the world as evidenced by the high visitations to the site. In 2008 it attracted pilgrims visiting Sydney for World Youth Day.

The group pictured at the Laperouse Monument and graveside with Fr Paul Ghanem, from Waverley OFM. More details on Receveur.

MAP OF AREAS AFFECTED BY BOTANY BAY CABLE - YARRA BAY AND BARE ISLAND 1 July to 31 March 2009 Botany Bay Cable Yarra Bay Details

1 July 2009 until approximately 31 August 2009 BOTANY BAY CABLE Navigation Warning - Botany Bay

1 June - 31 August 2009 PORT EXPANSION Navigation Warning - Botany Bay

1 July 2008 until 31 March 2011 PORT EXPANSION Navigation Warning/Special Event - Botany Bay

27 June 2009 until 31 December 2009 DESALINATION Navigation Warning/Special Event - Botany Bay

4 May - 31 October 2009 DESALINATION Navigation Warning - Botany Bay

20 October 2008 - December 2009 DESALINATION Navigation Warning - Special Event - Botany Bay

1 October 2007- 28 February 2010 DESALINATION Navigation Warning - Botany Bay at Kurnell