Problem

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 2018–19, the port handled approximately 788,266 containers. This trade is expected to grow on average by 3.25% each year between 2019–20 and 2067–68. This growth could result in the current facility reaching capacity in around 15 years.

These capacity constraints will need to be addressed if the freight supply chain is to remain efficient. These issues were formerly addressed on the Infrastructure Priority List by the Perth Freight Link initiative, but are now included as part of this initiative, which addresses both container terminal capacity and land transport access.

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.

Proposed initiative

The initiative includes planning, and potential corridor and site preservation, for additional container terminal capacity, and road and rail access, to accommodate future demand in Perth.

In the near to medium term, there may also be an opportunity to help support growing demand with smaller-scale port and transport access investments.

The Westport Taskforce’s Stage 2 report (released mid-2020) recommended that a second container terminal at Kwinana will be required, 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.

Next steps

Proponent to identify initiatives and develop options (Stage 2 of Infrastructure Australia’s Assessment Framework).