Westport, located South of Perth will look to facilitate the state’s trade needs including ore and mineral exports. Although the process to get to this point has been taxing, Minister for Transport and Ports Rita Saffioti claims it was necessary.
“Planning for a new port is extremely complex, and that is why we want to partner with businesses that can bring world-class knowledge to the project,” Saffioti said.
“Today’s industry briefing is a key step in making the Westport program a reality.”
The briefing outlined securing tenders and contracts for the development and will be released in the latter half of 2021 via TendersWA.
BHP will be just one of the companies that will take advantage of the new port, because of their Kwinana nickel sulphate refinery.
Rail freight company Aurizon has contracts with the likes of Macarthur Minerals and GWR Group to transport 500,000 tonnes of direct-shipment ore between Kalgoorlie and Kwinana.
The port project was stimulated by Mineral Resources failing to meet its shipping targets due to port congestion at the current Kwinana port.
Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan emphasised the need to pivot from a reliance on nearby Fremantle Port.
“Fremantle Port has served our State for the last one hundred years, it’s now time to plan and build the next big piece of economic infrastructure that sets our State up for the next century,” McGowan said.
This development is said to serve the state for a long time into the future, according to Ports Minister Alannah MacTiernan.
“Kwinana has been recognised as the logical location for a new container port for decades, with its existing industrial strip and room for expansion and development,” MacTiernan said.
“We must now move ahead over the next four years and build the case for investment: detailed environmental assessments, detailed port and supply chain design, thorough costings and ongoing engagement with industry and the community.