Westport has released its top five future port options for Perth.  Westport’s evidence-based assessment process identified the top-performing port and supply chain solutions for the long-term, all of which include a new port in Kwinana.  A long-list of 25 options was narrowed down to the top five shortlisted options following a scoring and ranking process against important criteria.  Westport has released a suite of publications that provide an insight into how the shortlist was selected.

The findings have shown that the Fremantle Inner Harbour is not a viable answer to Perth’s growing freight demands in the long-term.  Westport determined that the cumulative social and economic issues of expanding Fremantle and its rail and road were too challenging to overcome.  They also determined that the opportunities of developing a new port in Kwinana far outweighed the benefits of continuing to grow Fremantle.  For more information on how Westport reviewed the Fremantle options, including the wider road network, costs, social impacts and freight rail options, download a copy of Westport Beacon Issue 8.

Although Bunbury Port does not feature on Westport’s shortlist of five future port options, the results from Westport’s investigations reveal there is an opportunity to increase containerised freight in the South West and establish a daily rail freight service to Fremantle.  Longer term, if container imports and exports continue to increase and demand warrants, a niche stevedore service could be established at Bunbury Port; however, local stakeholders will need to drive this initiative.  Find out more in Westport Beacon Issue 9.

For more information on the Westport project, visit the project website at https://www.mysaytransport.wa.gov.au/westport.