Derbal Nara, also known as Cockburn Sound, is a culturally enriched area with significant sites, stories, knowledge and songlines of the Noongar people.
It is important that Aboriginal people’s values are recognised and that their traditional ownership of the lands and seas are respected throughout the port development process.
One of Westport’s goals is to deliver meaningful benefits to Noongar people, which includes managing and enhancing cultural and heritage values, celebrating culture through design, and creating employment and business opportunities for Aboriginal peoples and businesses.
The port footprint extends into Whadjuk and Gnaala Karla Booja Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs). Through working closely with the Whadjuk and Gnaala Karla Booja Regional Aboriginal Corporations and Westport’s Noongar Reference Group, Westport is committed to embedding Noongar values into Westport’s decision‑making.
Westport’s Noongar Reference Group
Westport’s Noongar Reference Group (NRG) provides senior cultural, social, economic and environmental advice to guide Westport during Stage 4 – Definition and Delivery.
The NRG ensures Noongar perspectives, values and knowledge systems continue to shape planning, design, implementation and decision-making throughout the life of the Program. The NRG succeeds the Stage 3 Noongar Advisory Group, evolving the partnership into a more formal governance mechanism that supports cultural integrity and long-term outcomes for Noongar people.
The group includes representatives nominated by the Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation, Gnaala Karla Booja Aboriginal Corporation, South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council, and local Noongar community members.
Westport’s Noongar Opportunities Strategy (September 2026) was developed in partnership with the Noongar Reference Group.
Noongar Advisory Group – Stage 3
Preceding the Aboriginal Reference Group was the Noongar Advisory Group, a group of Noongar representatives who provided advice to Westport during Stage 3 of the program.
The group was established prior to the development of the 2024 Westport Business Case and gave valuable advice to contribute to the design and placement of the port in Kwinana.
Peter Farmer’s artwork
Westport’s Aboriginal artwork was designed by Noongar artist Peter Farmer and reflects the strong Noongar connection to the land, sea and animals of Derbal Nara and the journey of Westport and the Noongar community.
Commissioned in 2022 with guidance from the Noongar Advisory Group, the artwork uses the coastal map of the future port area as its basis.
The two Noongar symbols represent the traditional and contemporary communities and knowledge-keepers. The three lines throughout the artwork represent the past, present and future, each an important and significant realm for all life to journey through.
Noongar Totems are also incorporated into the artwork.
- The Yonga (Western Grey Kangaroo) for resilience and tenacity.
- The Emu which has a story connected to celestial navigations and journeys or travel.
- The Taylor (Fish) that is an important resource for this region.
- The Dolphin which is a significant Noongar Ocean Totem and an incredibly smart and intelligent life form.
- The Boyi (long-necked turtle) which has a special and significant meaning to traditional owners from the regions.
Register your business interest to work with Westport
As Westport moves through planning, design and future delivery for the new container port in Kwinana, there may be opportunities for Noongar and other Aboriginal businesses to contribute goods, services, works and specialist capability.
Businesses interested in working with Westport can register their details through recognised supplier directories and tender platforms. This allows delivery partners and contractors to identify available capability when opportunities arise.
How to register your interest
- Register with Supply Nation, which connects verified Indigenous businesses with corporate, government and not-for-profit members across Australia.
- Register with the Aboriginal Business Directory WA, used by State Government and private organisations to identify Aboriginal businesses available for contracting opportunities in Western Australia.
- Contact the Transport Portfolio Aboriginal Engagement Aboriginal Business Directory. If your business is not registered with the above two organisations, and you would like to be included in the Portfolio’s central Aboriginal Business Directory, email AboriginalBusinessDirectory@mainroads.wa.gov.au and the team will discuss next steps with you.
- Register for tender alerts. Create accounts on Tenders WA and Estimate One so you can receive notifications for relevant industries, view public tenders and monitor early tender advice for upcoming contracts.
To help buyers and contractors understand your capability, keep your business profile, contact details, service categories and certifications up to date in your accounts with these platforms.
Registering your business helps make your capability visible to government agencies, delivery partners and contractors. It does not guarantee work, prequalification, shortlisting or the award of a contract.
Privacy
Information provided to the Transport and Major Infrastructure Portfolio Aboriginal Business Directory is kept private and confidential. Registered stakeholders can expect their privacy rights to be respected, their information to be used only for the purpose it was supplied, and their information not to be shared with a third party unless authorised by law or with consent.
For more information, contact the Transport Portfolio Aboriginal Engagement:
- Email - aboriginalengagement@mainroads.wa.gov.au
- Phone - 138 138
The Noongar Opportunities Strategy provides the direction for Aboriginal opportunities during Westport’s delivery of Stage 4. It builds on the foundations established in Stage 3 and guides how Noongar outcomes are embedded across the definition and delivery of the program.
We report on the progress of the Westport Noongar Opportunities Strategy annually to track achievements against our strategic objectives.
Learn more:
In collaboration with the Westport Noongar Advisory Group, Westport commenced the Cultural and Spiritual Values Mapping project in April 2023.
Westport partnered with Winyama, an Aboriginal-owned and operated business specialising in location intelligence, to capture and map Cultural and Spiritual values. A local Noongar Science Facilitator also assisted with process.
Winyama interviewed nine knowledge holders identified by Westport’s Noongar Advisory Group to document marine and terrestrial sites of significance, and the stories connected to them.
Westport now have a comprehensive map of the cultural and spiritual values within Cockburn Sound and the surrounding area. This includes songlines, historical sites, native flora and fauna, and contemporary uses within the mapping bounds.
Westport received permission to use the data, so that locations of cultural significance could be considered during the design process.
