Kalmar inks forklift deal with BlueScope
NewsAustralian steel producer BlueScope has ordered 13 Kalmar forklift trucks for its Western Port steel processing facility.
The Australian Government allocates AU$33.5 million for the Westport project, relocating container trade from Fremantle to Kwinana.
The Australian Government invests in Western Australian infrastructure, committing AU$33.5 million towards planning works to support the development of Westport.
The 2024–25 Budget funds for the Westport project include planning a new port and the connected road, rail and logistics operations required to move container trade from Fremantle to Kwinana.
Limited expansion potential at the current container port, constrained by terrain and potential for high-end real estate development, prompted consideration of relocating the terminal to Kwinana, 15 miles (22 km) south, where bulk cargo operations are established. The project will be next to the Outer Harbour, a major port for grain, coal, fertiliser, mineral sands iron ore, sulphur and liquid cargoes.
The Westport project is the linchpin for future trade growth in Western Australia and will include:
The Australian Government’s AU$33.5 million investment will match the state’s contribution, taking the total investment for this planning phase to AU$67 million.
WorldCargo News in December 2023 reported that the idea of developing Kwinana dates back to 2006 and was revived in the late 2010s, but COVID-19 then delayed work.
Despite a 2020 budget allocation of approximately AU$4 billion (US$2.7 billion), Deputy Premier of Western Australia Rita Saffioti last year suggested this figure is “outdated” and more funding is needed.
The current container terminals in Fremantle, managed by DP World and Patrick, handle about 800,000 TEU annually, with plans to expand to 3 million TEU in the future.
Read more: AU$373M for WA port infrastructure
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