INDUSTRY representatives attended a market briefing this week to learn about future opportunities to be involved in delivering Westport, ahead of tenders being issued to help prepare the program’s business case.

Planning, design, environmental and analysis experts are required to assist in undertaking the commercial and economic, landside and portside logistics and environment and social streams of work to complete a business case on the project for the State Government to consider.

The Westport business case will identify design options for the new port and transport corridors that are sustainable and meet operational requirements, potential land requirements; and when and how the new infrastructure should be delivered.

As part of the market briefing, Westport released its roadmap for this transformational project.

Developing a new container port in Cockburn Sound’s industrial area was first identified in the 1955 Stephenson-Hepburn Report. It was confirmed by the WA government in 2020 after an independent and comprehensive comparison of a number of potential options.

Over the coming months several tenders and contracts for will be released to market via TendersWA.

WA transport and ports minister Rita Saffioti said the industry briefing was a key step in making the Westport program a reality.

“We have already allocated $25 million towards planning for a new freight corridor between Anketell Road and Thomas Road, and the next step in the program is to open tenders for the completion of a business case for the project,” she said.

“Planning for a new port is extremely complex, and that is why we want to partner with businesses that can bring world-class knowledge to the project.”