Long-term future of Fremantle inner harbour secure

Transport Minister Troy Buswell today announced Fremantle Ports' inner harbour would be retained as an operating container and general cargo 'working port' for the long-term future.

Speaking in Fremantle, Mr Buswell said the harbour was one of Western Australia's most important pieces of infrastructure and outlined a plan to support its long-term operation.

"The Liberal-National Government recognises that Fremantle Harbour is Western Australia's key trade gateway and is a significant driver of the State's economy," he said. 

"The Fremantle Inner Harbour handles nearly all the State's container trade, with more than half a million containers passing through the port each year - and in the past 15 years container trade through Fremantle has trebled, reflecting an average rate of growth of 7.5 per cent per annum."

The Minister said the recent deepening of Fremantle Inner Harbour and associated berth strengthening would enable existing infrastructure to be used to its full capacity and would ensure the State maintained access to major direct shipping services.

"The State Government's plan to secure the harbour's long-term future will enable a significant increase in the share of containers to and from the port by rail and improvement of the performance of the logistics chain through upgrades to road and rail infrastructure," he said.

"The goal is to stabilise the number of trucks travelling to and from the inner harbour and to increase the capacity of the rail system by linking the inner harbour to inland freight hubs and distributing freight movements across the entire transport system.

"This long-term view will balance the impact of traffic along major freight routes while ensuring Western Australia maintains its access to global markets."

Mr Buswell said the inner harbour was expected to reach its capacity to manage container trade in about 10 years and a long-term plan was required to secure future trade gateways.

"Extensive research has shown that Cockburn Sound is the only suitable location for new container-handling port facilities and, given the number of strategic port, industry and utility interests in that area, it is vital that all relevant issues are assessed through the appropriate statutory processes," he said.

"Most demand for imported goods comes from the metropolitan area and locating the new container port close to Perth is the only viable option."

The Minister said the first step in the development of the Fremantle Outer Harbour would be an overall planning assessment of the environmental, transport, planning and community issues associated with strategic port and industry development between Naval Base and James Point by the Western Australian Planning Commission.

"This will provide an outcome that will guide planning decisions and provide a framework to progress a new Outer Harbour container port facility in Cockburn Sound," he said.