Adelaide-based York Civil has been selected to carry out $24.2 million in upgrades to Broome’s wharf, while expressions of interest will soon be called for a new $70.7 million marine control tower in Port Hedland.
Adelaide-based York Civil has been selected to carry out $24.2 million in upgrades to Broome’s wharf, while expressions of interest will soon be called for a new $70.7 million marine control tower in Port Hedland.
The Kimberley Ports Authority appointed York Civil to design and construct the extension of the wharf in Broome, marking the contractor’s fifth substantial project in Western Australia since opening its Perth office in 2012.
The wharf was built in the 1960s and was extended in 2006.
Funded by the state government’s Royalties for Regions program, the scope of work involves removing sections of the original wharf’s concrete deck to access the steelwork underneath, replacing corroded sections of the steelwork, reinstating the concrete deck, and refurbishing and repairing the supporting piles.
York Civil will carry out the work in collaboration with the Kimberley Ports Authority to minimise the impact on port services.
The company has developed an approach that avoids closure of the wharf.
“The Port of Broome is the main deepwater port servicing the Kimberley and makes a significant contribution to the region’s economy, creating jobs for local residents,” Transport Minister Dean Nalder said.
The port supports livestock, oil and gas exploration supply vessels, pearling, fishing charter boats, cruise liners and is the main fuel and container receiver point for the region.
Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said the project would support economic growth and diversification of business in the West Kimberley maritime logistics sector.
“The Broome port plays a critical role in supporting the local economy, and through the continued operation of the wharf, this economy will be able to expand through ongoing commercial opportunities,” he said.
Construction is expected to begin later this year, with completion planned for the end of next year.
Meanwhile, the state government also announced a new marine control tower and operations centre would be built in Port Hedland to increase the safety and efficiency of the rising numbers of vessels moving through the port.
Mr Nalder said when the existing control tower was built more than 45 years ago, fewer than 1,000 vessels moved through the port each year.
That number is forecast to grow to 6,000 per annum by 2018.
“The new $70.7 million operations centre will control the marine operations of the port, including vessel movements through the channel and offshore anchorages,” Mr Nalder said.
The existing control tower will be demolished, with the new tower to cater for the harbour master operations, dredging management, port security, vessel traffic services and equipment, marine pilot briefing facilities, and incident control.
The port authority will soon begin calling for expressions of interest for the design and construction of the facility, with the facility to be operational in early 2018.
