The Victorian state government has announced a further $400 million investment towards the expansion of the Port of Melbourne.
The automotive import and export facility at Webb Dock will undergo an upgrade thanks to the additional funding – and will see the construction of 920 metres of new wharves and 24,000 square metres of concrete decking.
According to state premier Ted Baillieu, the site will help to secure the sustainable development of the automotive industry for the future.
"The auto industry employs more than 40,000 people across Victoria, and building world class automotive facilities at the Port of Melbourne helps protect these jobs and grow Victoria’s economy," he said yesterday (June 18).
"Combined with the delivery of a new container terminal and expanded capacity at Swanson Dock, this development will directly generate 1,100 jobs and secure employment for many thousands of people across the state."
The news comes just weeks after work began on another of the state's key infrastructure projects – the multi-billion dollar Regional Rail Link.
The Deer Park to West Werribee section of the project is the first railway line to be constructed in Melbourne in 80 years and will create links between the CBD and some of the state's largest regional cities including Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat.