A significant milestone in the development at Burrup Peninsula was reached today with the opening of a new $75.6 million Bulk Liquids Berth.
A significant milestone in the development at Burrup Peninsula was reached today with the opening of a new $75.6 million Bulk Liquids Berth.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan officially opened the facility.
"The Bulk Liquids Berth project, including associated road works, is the single largest component of the State Government's $184.8million Burrup Infrastructure Package, and is necessary for the development of a gas-to-liquids industry," Ms MacTiernan said.
"The construction of the Bulk Liquids Berth at the Port of Dampier is also the most significant development undertaken by the Dampier Port Authority in its 16-year history and will provide a substantial export capacity for future gas-to-liquid proponents."
The Bulk Liquids Berth is approximately half a kilometre in length and stands over 14m above the water line. It is capable of berthing vessels up to 50,000 dead weight tonnes with a maximum draft of 12m.
The berth has provision for a solids export facility to be added when required. The facility has also been engineered to cater for 65,000-dwt vessels upon completion of further dredging works, should the demand arise.
In addition to the berth and dredging of a turning basin and channel, a new access road was constructed and the service corridor has been extended right through to the new berth.
Dredging of the channel and turning basin required the removal of 4.6 million cubic metres of soil at a cost of approximately $20million.
The first project to take advantage of this new facility will be Burrup Fertilisers, which is currently being commissioned.
North-West Coastal MLA Fred Riebeling said the opening of the facility was fantastic news for the region.
"The construction of this new purpose-built export facility will prove a major attraction to other potential proponents looking to join the emerging gas-to-liquids industry and provide a springboard to further industrial investments on the Burrup Peninsula,"
Mr Riebeling said.
"I am particularly pleased that the Dampier Port Authority, working together with the traditional owners, the Department of Indigenous Affairs and the Environmental Authority during the construction process, have preserved for future generations rock engravings significant to local Aboriginal groups."
The Port of Dampier is Australia's second largest exporting port by weight - exceeded only by Port Hedland - achieving record throughput of 95.8 million tonnes during 2004-05.
