The state government has committed $273 million towards the Westport proposal, which has been projected to cost $7.2 billion to deliver.
The state government has committed $273 million towards the Westport proposal, which has been projected to cost $7.2 billion to deliver.
A business case on the Westport project shows a new port will be needed by the late 2030s to ease pressures on Fremantle Port.
Today, the state government announced a $273 million funding for the final planning stage of the project, including ongoing land acquisition and detailed plans for the port development.
The preferred design for Westport includes new port facilities between the end of Barter Road and the end of Mason Road, a shipping channel for larger container ships, road upgrades along Anketell Road, Kwinana Feeway and Roe Highway, and upgrades to the freight rail network between Kwinana and Cockburn.
It would cost the taxpayer more to extend Fremantle Port instead of building a new facility in Kwinana, according to the business case.
The business case estimated an average cost of $5 billion a year, about $244 billion over coming decades, if no action was taken to address constraints at Fremantle.
Fremantle Port is expected to reach its capacity of 1.4 million containers a year, by 2040 or earlier if there is higher rate of trade.
Kwinana Industries Council chief executive David Harrison said the government should further support the local industry by investing in infrastructure upgrades across Kwinana.
“What we have before us is a once in a generation opportunity to accelerate the transformation of the Western Trade Coast and the Kwinana Industrial Area into an even greater technically advanced and globally significant industrial hub,” he said.
“Westport, AUKUS, the Future Made in Australia initiative and decarbonisation are game changers for the state.
“We don’t want to look back in years to come and regret not making the investment and policy decisions needed now to realise the full opportunity before us.”
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the business case showed failure to mitigate future constraints on the container trade would cost the state.
"We now have certainty that transitioning Western Australia's container trade from Fremantle to Kwinana in the late 2030s will get the best value for the taxpayer and outcome for the state,” she said.
"We cannot afford to reach a situation in this state where future generations are forced to pay more for everyday goods, because containers have to be taken to the east coast and brought back here by road and rail.
"Westport will be one of the largest infrastructure projects undertaken in the state, catalysing industry and local businesses and creating thousands of jobs during the construction phase.”
Ports Minister David Michael said the state was making the most of the existing port infrastructure to transition to the late 2030s, when Fremantle met capacity.
"We thank the many port and supply chain operators who have informed this robust process to ensure a secure future for container trade in WA," he said.
"Westport will also pave the way for redeveloping the Kwinana Bulk Terminal through an integrated design, to be constructed ahead of the new container terminal."
Premier Roger Cook said the state could not let the only container port run out of room.
"A world-class container port in Kwinana is critical for our state to remain a global economic and industrial powerhouse, and for the future prosperity of all Western Australians,” he said.
"Delaying action on Westport is a risk to our economy. Without Westport, the cost of everything will go up, and we will be reliant on road and rail from the eastern states; hurting households, businesses and the economy.”
The federal government has invested $33.5 million funding for Westport as part of the 2024-25 budget.
Commenting on the $273 million investment, Liberal Party WA leader Libby Mettam said the state government had its priorities wrong.
“We have a health system which is on its knees we have patients being treated in corridors, we have children waiting over eighteen months to see a pediatrician," she said.
“This government cannot be trusted when it comes to transport costings. It raises real alarm bells about whether and why this is the biggest priority of the Cook Labor government.
"We know Metronet blew out by over 450 per cent. Westport … we hear today is seven billion dollars. That could mean it's over thirty billion dollars.
“We will look through the detail of what has been presented by the Cook Labor government and we will make our announcements in relation to transport in the lead up to the election."
