Ports Capacity and Connectivity

Australia’s ports and marine precincts are critical enablers of national productivity, trade competitiveness, and sovereign capability. These gateways connect resource-rich regions to global markets and underpin essential industries and defence capabilities. As trade volumes rise and industries transition towards low-emission technologies, targeted investment in common-user infrastructure will help unlock opportunities for economic diversification, support emerging industries, and strengthen resilience in national supply chains. The transformation of maritime precincts also includes enabling infrastructure to deliver AUKUS-related capabilities, reinforcing the role of ports and maritime precincts as anchors for both commercial and strategic priorities. 

Major infrastructure upgrades are needed to enable the delivery of complex maritime and defence projects, including the Henderson Defence Precinct on the Western Trade Coast (Western Australia) and the Osborne Naval Shipyard Precinct on the Lefevre Peninsula in South Australia. These nationally significant precincts will require coordinated investment in enabling transport and utilities infrastructure to support the scale and complexity of upcoming works related to Australia’s commitment under AUKUS.

The Western Trade Coast, located south of Perth, is a major industrial area incorporating the planned Henderson Defence Precinct to the north and industrial zones to the south. The Australian Government has committed $127 million to planning activities for the Henderson Defence Precinct, which is in an area that is currently owned by the Western Australian Government and referred to as the Australian Marine Complex (AMC). This planning will confirm the boundaries and exact infrastructure requirements for the Defence Precinct and support the relocation of current common user facilities in the AMC. The Australian Government has committed a further $12 billion to deliver the Defence Precinct, which will incorporate facilities for docking and maintenance of nuclear-powered submarines as well as ship building capabilities.⁶⁹ The precinct’s strategic importance is explicitly identified in Australia’s AUKUS Submarine Industry Strategy and is a critical enabler of Australia’s naval shipbuilding program.

The Osborne Naval Shipyard Precinct, north of Adelaide, is a critical site for the delivery of defence and advanced manufacturing projects. Realising the full potential of this precinct requires overcoming significant infrastructure constraints, including limited land availability, utility capacity pressures, and transport access challenges. Targeted upgrades and investment are needed to accommodate increased freight and workforce movements, as well as higher levels of industrial activity and population growth. 

Darwin Port is Australia’s gateway to the Indo-Pacific, offering significant time savings for exporters and access to Asian markets.⁷⁰ The Middle Arm Precinct is being master planned to deliver common-user infrastructure such as offloading facilities and a dedicated shipping channel to de-risk private investment and enable scalable export capacity. The Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission Report recommends accelerating industry growth to drive demand for renewable energy, supporting investment in renewable energy for export. Middle Arm is designed to leverage the Northern Territory’s natural advantages – including its strategic location and solar, energy and mineral resources – to unlock market opportunities and support long-term economic security.

The Port of Burnie is Tasmania’s largest multi-use port, handling over five million tonnes of freight annually and accounting for 35% of the state’s total tonnage and 18% of ship visits.⁷¹ The Port of Burnie is emerging as Tasmania’s preferred bulk export port given its proximity to rich mineral deposits and it being the only deepwater port on the north-west coast of Tasmania.⁷² Key to unlocking this growth is the port having the capability to accommodate larger bulk export vessels to enable direct shipping to international markets. Recent upgrades, including a new shiploader, have doubled bulk loading capacity and improved freight productivity.⁷³ Further upgrades to channel depth, berth capacity, and landside infrastructure are required to accommodate larger vessels and respond to projected growth in mineral exports, safeguarding Tasmania’s connectivity and economic resilience.⁷¹

Australia’s port infrastructure must be able to respond to global trends and emerging market opportunities.

Enabling infrastructure is needed to transform Australia’s maritime precincts, ensuring they can support the delivery of complex maritime and defence projects. The 2026 Infrastructure Priority List includes the Western Trade Coast enabling infrastructure – Henderson Precinct in Perth and Lefevre Peninsula growth infrastructure – Osborne Precinct in Adelaide as immediate priorities for planning investment. These proposals support the transformation of existing maritime precincts in line with Australia’s AUKUS and naval shipbuilding commitments. 

Targeted investment in common user infrastructure supports economic diversification by enabling new industries to deliver value for both regional and national economies. The Australian Government has committed $1.5 billion in equity to support construction of Common user infrastructure at Middle Arm Precinct in Darwin, which presents an opportunity to develop new industries that will increase export value and economic diversification. The 2026 Infrastructure Priority List identifies this proposal as an immediate priority for planning investment to support the Northern Territory Government to define the full package of infrastructure and associated staging.

Modernising port infrastructure will support export growth and adapt to changing trade patterns and vessel requirements. The 2026 Infrastructure Priority List identifies the Port of Burnie capacity proposal as a priority for future investment in the 2-4 year pipeline. This proposal aims to expand export capacity at Tasmania’s only multi-use seaport, safeguard access to external markets and drive economic diversification through sustainable and resilient port infrastructure.

Refer to the Delivering Net Zero and a Clean Energy Economy section for details of proposals included on the 2026 Infrastructure Priority List that are planning for infrastructure upgrades to support renewable energy zone project development, including potential upgrades to relevant port infrastructure.