MINUTES OF THE INNER HARBOUR COMMUNITY LIAISON GROUP. Date: 11 September 2012 Boardroom Fremantle Ports Administration Building

Transcription

1 MINUTES OF THE INNER HARBOUR COMMUNITY LIAISON GROUP Date: 11 September 2012 Location: Boardroom Fremantle Ports Administration Building Time: Chairperson 5.00pm to 6.30pm Dr Simon Avenell Community representatives: Rob Harrison, FICRA (Fremantle Inner City Residents Association) Rev. Dennis Claughton, Flying Angel Club for Seafarers David Earl, Fremantle Arts Centre Precinct Don Whittington, Fremantle Park Association Beth Bax, Fremantle Volunteer Heritage Guides Gerry MacGill, North Fremantle Precinct Eric Wilson, Port Beach Users Group & Polar Bears Rod Murray, South Fremantle Precinct David Hawks, The Fremantle Society Inc. and South City Precinct Cr Wesley Davies, Town of Mosman Park Lisa Williams, Western Australian Maritime Museum Cr Sian Martin, Town of East Fremantle Cr Jon Strachan, City of Fremantle Fremantle Ports representatives Chris Leatt-Hayter, Chief Executive Officer Gino Valenti, General Manager Strategy and Planning Ainslie de Vos, Manager External Affairs Jeanette Murray, External Affairs Coordinator Helen Elliott, Community Relations Coordinator Apologies Ron Davidson, Fremantle History Society Corrine van Hall, ArtSource: the Artists Foundation of WA Robert Potts, Beaconsfield Precinct Tim Milsom, Fremantle Chamber of Commerce Greg Ellson, Rottnest Island Authority Des Snook, Main Roads WA 1

2 1. WELCOME, APOLOGIES AND INVITATION FOR AGENDA ITEMS Dr Simon Avenell welcomed those present and reported: Cr Jon Strachan is a new member representing City of Fremantle Jude van der Merwe has resigned from ArtSource and her replacement on this group will be Board Member Corrine van Hall (apology for tonight). David Hawks said that as David Hutchison would no longer be attending meetings, he would represent the South City Precinct as well as the Fremantle Society. Simon Avenell said two agenda items had been submitted for discussion from Gerry MacGill and they would be addressed in General Business. ACTION from last meeting for Chris Leatt-Hayter: Rod Murray asked about apprenticeship opportunities at Fremantle Ports and at the stevedores. Chris Leatt-Hayter said Fremantle Ports had some electrical apprentices in the Outer Harbour; there were traineeships in the hydrographic area and Fremantle Ports was providing work experience and internships. Rod asked if Fremantle Ports had any bearing on stevedores. Chris said no, but he would ask them about apprenticeship opportunities. Chris reported he had contacted the stevedoring companies and that Patrick Terminals said they had some potential for cadetships. 2. MINUTES AND ACTIONS FROM PREVIOUS MEETING Minutes of the previous meeting held on 10 July 2012 had been circulated and were accepted. 3. RAIL BRIDGE PROTECTION Information provided by Ainslie de Vos: In May 2011, when the bunkering vessel Parmelia I collided with the overhead power supply on the Fremantle rail bridge, the result was a two-day interruption to train services. In response to this incident, the Public Transport Authority (PTA) is planning to build protection around some of the bridge piers. Works are planned for January-June 2013 to avoid strong winter currents during works. 2

3 Indigenous consultation has occurred and further communication is planned. Questions were asked about possible plumes in the water with the works (answer: there will be some temporary plumes but not expected to be as extensive.; government funding for new traffic bridge (answer: believed to be still on government agenda; rail bridge would still be required even with new traffic bridge); whether noise-reduced pile driving would be used (answer: Fremantle Ports would be advising PTA of noise-reduced pile driving). 4. TRADE UPDATE Update provided by Chris Leatt-Hayter: Port trade financial year compared with : Total port trade up from 26 mass tonnes (millions) to 28 mass tonnes 10% growth in container trade (13% growth in imports, 5% growth in exports) 10% growth in motor vehicle imports. Question: What are the infrastructure implications of the trade growth? Answer: The deepening undertaken in 2010 will be sufficient for at least 10 years; Inner Harbour quay length is sufficient to double the container trade; we are looking at developing a stacking/decking facility on Victoria Quay for the motor vehicle trade; a lot of funds are going into rail infrastructure and 15-16% of containers are currently on rail. 5. ROUS HEAD DEVELOPMENT Update provided by Gino Valenti on reclaimed land: Area A: Rous Head Cargo Services Pty Ltd (joint venture Container Cargo Services and Stevenson Logistics); logistics (transport, staging of full containers over night and short term); bonded Customs facility; quarantine warehousing and wash facilities for containers and imported machinery. Area B: To be used for logistics - staging of full containers (overnight and short term), chain of responsibility container transfer, weigh facility, empty container park, hire and dehire of empty containers specific to customer group, warehousing, cross docking of inward freight to outbound transportation to clients/depots/inland distribution centres using heavy vehicles. Truck marshalling and facilities area: Caltex roadhouse - light and heavy vehicle refuelling, dine in and takeaway food facilities, convenience store including ATM, enhanced driver amenities (showers, rest areas) integrated notification system with the adjoining Truck Marshalling Area. 3

4 Area D: Tzaneros Investments Pty Ltd, operates as two entities: Tyne ACFS, empty container park activities; and ACFS Port Logistics, transport, cross docking and freight all kinds; primary operation empty-container park activities, development due to commence June New road along seawall will provide public access to North Mole. Trucks will generally use other new roads, thereby separating trucks and smaller vehicles, making the area safer. Question: How do you calculate how much land is needed for containers? Answer: Presently there is capacity for 15,000 empty containers with a container throughput of some 600,000, so if container throughput is doubled then capacity for empty containers must be 30,000 but there are other factors (different lengths, refrigerated, etc.) 6. FREMANTLE WATERFRONT Victoria Quay Waterfront Working Group report has been finalised and distributed to key stakeholders Commercial precinct will be considered in conjunction with Railway Station precinct and Pioneer Park precinct (with PTA and City of Fremantle participation) Consultative process to progress the development of enabling precinct plans has been developed with assistance from consultants Process will involve a Visioning and Design Planning Workshop followed by Planning and Development Design Forum Currently assessing proposals from consultants to manage and facilitate the consultative process Outputs from this process will guide developers in preparing development proposals for the precincts, ahead of initiating the normal statutory planning approvals process Intention was to complete this phase before end of 2012, however, this is now likely to be a very challenging target. Action: Sian Martin asked if the report could be put on the website. Update: The Victoria Quay Waterfront Working Group Report (2012) is now on the Fremantle Ports website at: (All members have been sent a copy. Contact Jeanette Murray if you don t have one.) 7. LOSS MANAGEMENT REPORT Communication of significant incidents, complaints and improvements relating to Inner Harbour operations, and that may be of interest to Community Liaison Group members. Information provided by Gino Valenti for the period June August 2012: Complaint 15/8/12: Officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation advised that a complaint had been received from a Fremantle resident regarding odour from livestock vessel. Complainant said although the smell was not such a problem at the time of the call, it had been very noticeable earlier. Ship at Berth 2. Response: Manager External Affairs explained to the Officer that the ship had been due to leave on Wednesday night but departure had been delayed while engine repairs were carried out. Explained preferred berthing system. Undertook to phone complainant. Phoned complainant and apologised for the smell and explained the circumstances resulting in the delayed departure. Complaint 23/7/12: Local resident rang to complain that wharf lights were still on at 11am and power was being wasted. She was very abrupt when asked to provide some details. Response: 4

5 Advised that her complaint would be registered and that we would investigate why they were on. Phoned container terminal and was advised that maintenance was being undertaken and that lights would need to be on most of the day and possibly the following day. Reported this information to resident. Complaints 13 & 17/6/12: Two complaints received from local residents in relation to livestock vessel berthed at Berth 12, one relating to noise and one relating to odour. Response: Apologised to complainants and advised that the preferred Berths 1 & 2 were both occupied, hence it was not possible to locate the livestock vessel at those berths on this occasion. 8. COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION Information provided by Ainslie de Vos: Celebrate Maritime Day expo, Saturday 1 st September, B Shed, Victoria Quay: A very successful 4 th expo was held with about 15,000 visitors. Great support from the RAN with about 130 personnel present and interesting exhibits such as the LR5 submersible rescue vessel. North Fremantle community gardens: Sponsorship provided for shady seating area for education and meetings. Support for the Fremantle Festival again this year, including sponsorship of the Town Hall entertainment program of events. 9. GENERAL BUSINESS Eric Wilson reported that the Planting Day, Port Beach, Sunday 22 July, was a great success with about 45 people there. Chris Leatt-Hayter said Coastcare had also been involved with Fremantle Ports staff in a clean-up and planting day at Kwinana, which had made a great difference to the beach area and dunes. Rod Murray asked what divers at the B Shed ferry terminal had been doing. Answer: Repair and maintenance were being done. Two items submitted by Gerry MacGill: Windfarm: Chris (Leatt-Hayter) has previously explained Fremantle Ports' position on this, and I accept that. However, I understand that Fremantle Ports commissioned an impact investigation. Did this reveal any specific environmental impacts that would militate against a windfarm? Chris s answer: Fremantle Ports had a scoping document prepared by consultants. They were asked to look at different aspects of having a wind farm at Rous Head (eg. environmental, social, heritage, ecological, visual amenity). The result was that, after commissioning the report, the Fremantle Ports Board had great concern with possible noise and health aspects of any wind farm at Rous Head. Recent controls in Victoria and NSW prevent wind farms being built within 2km or 5km of residences without consent from owners. The Fremantle Wind Farm proponents have no proprietary interests at Rous Head, and any project there would have to go through an expression of interest process. Fremantle Ports view has been explained to the wind farm representatives. 5

6 Double articulated trucks: I have noted these turning into Stirling Highway and heading north. Recently I was at Alfred Road and one of these trucks coming from the north turned into Alfred Road from Stirling Hwy. Are they permitted to travel on Stirling Hwy north as of right, or would they need a special permit to do so? Answer: Information from Main Roads WA is that a semi trailer carrying two 20 containers would be an as of right vehicle and would be allowed. Sian Martin said there was increased truck traffic on East Street, East Fremantle. Reply: Fremantle Ports has drawn this to the attention of MRWA. Rob Harrison said trucks need to keep to the left; often they travel side-by-side on High St and block other vehicles from passing. Action: Des Snook, of Main Roads WA, will be invited to present to the group at the next meeting. Rev. Dennis Claughton reported that the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 has been signed by the requisite 30 countries, including the Philippines and Russia to achieve ratification. This is a bill of rights for seafarers on working and living conditions and is due to come into effect in Dennis said this is the first time there has been an international agreement in this area. Conclusion: Meeting concluded at 6.30pm. Next meeting: 5pm Tuesday 27 November 2012, Fremantle Ports Administration Building. 6