Farmers group stands against $30m Power Station project next to Geelong grain terminals

A farmers group claims more traffic as a result of a planned mixed use office development of the old North Geelong power station will be a roadblock to the city’s grain export hub.

Artist's renders of the proposed redevelopment of Power Station B to create a seven-storey building at 50 Mackey St, North Geelong.

A peak farmers group has lined up against a $30m proposal for an industry innovation hub, claiming the waterside mixed use office project at North Geelong threatens to create a roadblock for future portside bulk grain exports.

GrainGrowers is opposing the seven-storey mixed use development next to the bulk grain terminal on Mackay St, claiming it could potentially limit future intensive export operations and constrain the workings of the port.

The planning minister is considering the development, including warehouse and office space, under a fast-track priority projects program.

The GrainCorp Geelong Terminal entrance is from Mackey St, North Geelong.

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GrainGrowers chief executive Shona Gawel said Hamilton Group’s proposal for a mixed-use office development at 50 Mackey St was a case of “urban encroachment threatening Australian export industries” and criticised how a traffic assessment was completed.

“The implications for all Victorian grain growers are serious,” Ms Gawel said.

She said the grain terminal exported 2m tonnes of grain in 2020-21, representing 44 per cent of Victoria’s total grain exports.

“While we recognise the need for office building developments in regional Australia, it should not come at the expense of established port operations.”

Artist's renders of the proposed redevelopment of Power Station B to create a seven-storey building at 50 Mackey St, North Geelong.

Ms Gawel said increased traffic would cause “severe issues” for delivering grain to GrainCorp’s Geelong Terminal and the Barrett Burston Malting site.

GrainGrowers said the traffic assessment was conducted outside the peak harvest season and during floods in regional Victoria.

Up to 250 trucks a day can deliver grain to the terminal in peak season.

“The use of select days during the October 2022 floods demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding about grain freight and how the port operates,” Ms Gawel said.

“As an export-oriented industry, we rely on the nation’s ports as a gateway for $22 billion in grain exports annually, and a well-functioning maritime logistics system is critical. It simply makes no sense for authorities to approve this type of development.”

The Power Station development site is at the end of Mackay St, opposite the GrainCorp terminal.

A traffic assessment report completed by onemilegrid reveals vehicle movement counts were undertaken during the week starting October 4, 2022, which found the Federal Mills site already contributed nearly half the existing traffic on Mackay St.

The floods began on October 6.

The report stated Hamilton Group recommended the dates reflected a typical operation day for the site.

The Spirit of Tasmania passenger ferry began operating out of Corio Quay later that month.

A 2020 committee report for the planning minister found traffic issues did not warrant refusing the previous application on the site, though the developer would need to fund roadworks, such as an extended right turn lane from Melbourne Rd into Mackey St.

Hamilton Group managing director Cam Hamilton said the Federal Mills and Glass House projects have for 10 years provided benefits to many key port and industry organisations without causing any issues for GrainCorp’s ability to receive record grain deliveries.

44 per cent of Victorian grain exports are through the Port of Geelong.

“The Power Station project is designed provide further port and industry benefits, while maintaining our proven ability to protect grain freight,” he said.

“The proposal is the result of two years of extensive consultation and collaboration with government Transport, Ports, Planning and Regional Development teams; Council, and key industry stakeholders. A key focus was ensuring port amenity and access is protected or improved.

“GrainCorp never responded to our repeated requests for their input during the process, so it’s disappointing to now see feedback readily distributed to media by GrainCorp and affiliates after so much work has been done.

“The traffic survey has been extensively reviewed as part of the process with government and involved significant planning. It’s unreasonable and counter-productive to suggest that we could both predict the weather and co-ordinate an extensive traffic survey at a moment’s notice.”

A GrainCorp spokesperson said the company has participated in briefings on the development but do not support it.

Originally published as Farmers group stands against $30m Power Station project next to Geelong grain terminals