Port Hedland multi-user berth project under way

Construction works on a new multi-user bulk minerals export berth at Utah Point in the Port Hedland Inner Harbour have officially begun.

Transport Minister Simon O'Brien and Mines and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore were today on site as driving of the first pile started for construction of the wharf.

Mr O'Brien said the additional common-user berth was essential to meet the growing demands of current and emerging junior iron ore and other mineral producers.

"The new berth at Utah Point on Finucane Island on the western side of the Inner Harbour is a critically important project," he said.

"The berth will have a capacity of about 18 million tonnes per annum and be able to accommodate Panamax and small Cape size vessels of up to 120,000 dead weight tonnes (DWT)."

He said other benefits of the new common-user berth included:

·        helping alleviate increasing congestion at the three existing Port Hedland

Port Authority (PHPA) common user berths

·        making capacity available for extra trade of general cargo, containers and new bulk trade over the existing PHPA berths

·         the relocation of manganese and chromite stockpiles to the Utah Point berth to improve amenity and reduce dust and health risks at Port Hedland's western end

·         alleviating the impact of truck movements through the town.

Mr Moore welcomed the start of construction and said it sent a positive signal that Western Australia's resource sector was well positioned to weather the tough economic climate.

"There is no denying that the current world financial crisis has had an effect on the mining and resource sector but there is still enough confidence in the industry that many companies are looking to expand their operations," Mr Moore said.

"Through projects such as the Utah Point bulk minerals export berth, the State Government is supporting industry, creating jobs and boosting the economy."

Port Hedland Port Authority chief executive officer Andre Bush said the authority had received regulatory approvals from the State Government clearing the way for the project to begin.

Mr Bush said that Marine and Civil Construction Pty Ltd had been awarded the wharf construction contract.  

Completion and commissioning of the Utah berth was expected by mid-2010.

Dredging of the 300 metre-long, 60 metre-wide and 14 metre-deep berth pocket at Utah Point was successfully completed in May 2007 and approval for the $225million development was received in October 2007, with $105million of this funding secured from the following foundation customers:  Atlas Iron, Aurox Resources, BHP Billiton Iron Ore, Consolidated Minerals, HiTec Energy and Process Minerals International.

The Utah Point project, which consists of the common-user berth, travelling shiploader and associated material handling facilities, stockpile area, new multi-user access road to Finucane Island and other infrastructure received environmental approval in early March 2009.

Heritage approval has been received for the area related to the construction of the common-user wharf.

Office of the Minister for Transport -  9213 6400

Office of the Minister for Mines and Petroleum - 9422 3000