The Western Australian Government has unveiled the preferred design and location for a new container terminal in Kwinana.
Planning for a new container terminal has been ongoing for a number of years, with modelling consistently showing Fremantle Port and its surrounding roads will reach capacity within the next two decades.
Fremantle Port currently imports and exports around 800,000 containers annually, but this is expected to grow to more than three million containers over the next 50 years.
The preferred design and location have been established following 18 months of detailed design and consultation with key stakeholders, and the outcomes of the 2020 Westport Independent Taskforce Stage Two Report.
The preferred design includes:
a container terminal adjacent to the shoreline of the current Kwinana Bulk Terminal;
a new breakwater to provide enhanced protection to the port and docked ships;
major upgrades to key freight roads leading to and from the new container terminal including Anketell Road, Kwinana Freeway and Roe Highway;
duplication of the freight rail between the container terminal and Cockburn; and
upgrades to key intermodal terminals (IMT) at Kenwick and Forrestfield, and the delivery of a new IMT at Kewdale – establishing a key logistics hub east of Perth where existing industrial land can support significant business activity.
Design concepts were assessed against a range of criteria including environmental, long-term sustainability, efficiency of the supply chain network and port and financial value to the State and local economies.
Transport Minister, Rita Saffioti, said the development of a new container terminal and supporting freight network would represent one of the largest infrastructure projects ever undertaken in WA.
“Over the past 18 months, the Westport team has undertaken detailed options analysis and engaged with dozens of key stakeholders and experts to develop this preferred design for the port and freight network,” she said.
“The modelling over a number of years has been consistent and shows Fremantle Port and its surrounding road network will become significantly constrained within the next two decades.
“Having a port and freight network that can support the expected growth in Western Australia’s container trade is absolutely essential to the long-term health of our economy.”
The project business case, including the recommended development timings and costings, is expected to be finalised in mid-2024.
In other news, the NSW Government is providing $2.1 million to upgrade the New England Highway which is set to benefit 2,500 road users.
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