The Port of Hastings Corporation was established under the Transport Integration Act and commenced operation on 1 January 2012.
The Minister for Ports, the Hon Denis Napthine MLA introduced the legislation into the Victorian Parliament on 1 June 2011.
The authority has advised that— The management and development of the port of Hastings has been a controversial State and local issue for some years.
[9] The Ports Integration Bill was strongly opposed in the Victorian Parliament by the Liberal and National parties, predominantly on competition grounds, and by the Greens for environmental reasons.
[10] This formally brought the Port of Melbourne Corporation and the Victorian Regional Channels Authority within the Transport Integration Act framework on that date.
A Preserve Western Port Action Group is actively contesting State government claims on economic, social and environmental grounds.