The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) continued in Warrnambool on Tuesday with counsel representing the Port of Portland, Stuart Morris, telling the tribunal if they approved the planning application at Dutton Way it would have consequences for 30 to 50 years.

"A bad decision is going to reap adverse consequences for a very long period," he said.

Mr Morris said Yumbah Aquaculture, the business behind the proposal, had opposed a port near its operations at Kangaroo Island.

"It needs to be understood Yumbah is a very big guy, not a little guy," he said.

"This is not a David and Goliath situation, it's a Goliath and Goliath."

Mr Morris said if the permit was granted it needed to be in a form that protected the port's interests.

He said the proposal was not suitable for a rural living zone because of its industrial scale.

He said the project would mean a huge expansion, noise and odour issues and workers coming and going.

"To be completely fair this is a major industrial operation," he said.

He said the Port of Portland had nothing against aquaculture and nothing against Yumbah.

"We just want to protect our own interests in relation to the future," he said.

The tribunal also heard that the planned site would be as good as it gets for the proposed use.

Counsel representing Yumbah Aquaculture, Adrian Finanzio, said the proposed introduction of operation would create change and "some level of disruption". "On balance, the tribunal should find that the operational impacts of the proposed use of the site will be well within reasonable limits, and not cause any unreasonable impacts on the amenity of the surrounding area," he said.

He said the development would bring $60 million investment into Portland and would create 100 jobs.

"Plainly, 100 jobs is significant in a job market of 4000," he said. "This is not an opportunity that Portland can easily pass up."