Member for Wollongong Paul Scully today told the Regional Ports Conference in Wollongong that the Port of Port Kembla could become the ‘Port of Choice’ for businesses based in the third largest economy in Australia – south-western Sydney.

But this required the completion of the Maldon-Dombarton rail link, moving freight off the South Coast Line, and upgrading Appin Road.

Mr Scully repeated his call earlier this year for the Berejiklian Government to nominate the South Coast Line for business case funding under the Federal Government’s National Rail Program (NRP).

He used the wide-ranging speech to call on the Government to get a move on in finalising the 10-year Cruise Ship Development Plan first announced in June 2014 suggesting the Port of Port Kembla has a “magic combination” that could accommodate cruise ships, supply them, has infrastructure as a turn-around port and the tourist attractions to make it attractive as a destination.

Mr Scully also said the Government had to engage in greater engagement with the community in developing the master plan for Wollongong Harbour.

He said the Illawarra had a substantial advantage and was in a pool of less than 100 other cities around the world with access to an international airport within less than an hour’s travel time; connected with a research-led university and having a skilled workforce with lower business costs.

But, the Illawarra had to learn to sell itself more effectively to the outside world, telling the story of its three decade transition, to not only those in government and business who made investment decisions, but also to those who provide the advice and information on which those decisions are made.

Mr Scully told Conference participants to enjoy the tour of Port Kembla facilities, which would showcase an impressive regional port on the doorstep of a growing south-west Sydney economy, which could link the two regions to the world.

Comments attributable to Paul Scully MP:

“I wanted to use my speech to Regional Port Conference participants to show that we have great ambitions for the Port of Kembla as a link for the third largest economy in Australia – south-west Sydney – to the rest of the world.

“I want to see the Port of Kembla become south-western Sydney’s ‘port of choice’ but to achieve this goal we need the Government to get serious about the region’s road and rail linkages.

“We need Maldon-Dombarton built, the South Coast Line nominated for business case funding under the NAP, and the Appin Road upgraded.

“It’s time that the BerejikilIan Government matched my commitments of $50 million to progress the construction of the Maldon-Dombarton rail link and $50 million to upgrade the Appin Road.”