Portland critical for Green Triangle

Mr King is the RDA’s chief executive for the Limestone Coast, an area encompassing south-east South Australia and south-west Victoria.

The ‘Green Triangle’ covers much of the same area and is known for its exports of woodchip, fertiliser, minerals sands and dairy products.

“The Port of Portland is an absolutely critical strategic piece of infrastructure,” Mr King said.

“I can recall when the port was privatised many years ago thinking the South Australian Government should have bought the port.

“Back in Mt Gambier (in South Australia) where I’m based, we knew that the Port of Portland was pivotal to what we did.

“Strategically, I thought it would have been a smart investment.”

He said the region produced just over 2bn litres of milk each year, with about a quarter of the national dairy product coming from the Green Triangle.

Mr King spoke at the recent 2011 Regional Ports Forum in Launceston.