The opportunity
Developing a new port and freight network is an exciting opportunity to plan a facility that is efficient, reliable, resilient, scalable and flexible.
Planning a port and supporting road/rail freight network at this scale takes time. We must consider as many options as possible and balance both value for money with community, landowner, business and environmental impacts.
Taking a system design approach
Westport will take a system design approach that considers every aspect of the supply chain. This means that the shipping channels to the terminal, along with road and rail networks, will all be planned for together.
This will support Westport’s goal to ensure better trade outcomes for exporters, importers and the economy. This would mean a port and road/rail freight network that is:
- Efficient: Keep operating costs across the network down as much as possible
- Reliable: Predictable operations in moving products from A to B
- Resilient: Capacity to better withstand, and recover from, disruptions
- Scalable: Capacity to expand or adapt to meet trade and population growth
- Flexible: Ability to adapt to future trends and innovation
Work is underway to progress high-level designs that consider all of these options, as well as safety, and follows PIANC’s Working with Nature principles.
This planning phase will also consider the best time and way to transition container trade from the Inner Harbour in Fremantle to the Outer Harbour in Kwinana.
Working closely with other agencies, Westport will ensure this planning complements other State Government priorities and initiatives.
