Perth container terminal capacity and land transport access
Fremantle Port Inner Harbour handles most of Western Australia’s container trade.
Throughput at the current container terminal at Fremantle Port will be limited by urban development that constrains the road and rail connections into the port.
In 2020-21, the port handled approximately 807,061 containers. This trade is expected to grow to the extent that the current supply chain may exceed its notional capacity in around 15 years.
These capacity constraints will need to be addressed if the freight supply chain is to remain efficient.
Additional container terminal facilities (whether located at the current port site, or at a new Outer Harbour site south of Fremantle at Kwinana) will need to be served by road and rail connections that provide capacity for growth over the economic life of the facilities.
The proposal includes planning activities as well as potential corridor and site preservation for a new deep-water container terminal. An important focus is to optimize shipping, road and rail access to accommodate future trade growth in Western Australia.
The Westport Taskforce’s Stage 2 report (released mid-2020) recommended that a second container terminal at Kwinana.
Is the optimal location, but further investigation is required to determine the timing, staging and operating model of this facility and its supply chain. Over the coming years, the Department of Transport will undertake more detailed port, land use, and environmental planning.
Proponent to identify and analyse potential investment options (Stage 2 of Infrastructure Australia’s Assessment Framework).
Refer to Infrastructure Glossary for terms and definitions.