THE WEST Australian government has awarded a major planning and design contract for the Westport container terminal to Worley Arcadis Joint Venture.
The contract for the delivery of marine and port infrastructure technical advisory services for Westport will contribute to the delivery of the port in coming years.
Worley Arcadis will inform reference design, approvals, construction planning, and reliable costing ahead of final investment decisions according to a state government media release on 21 January.
“The technical advisory services will play an essential role in the definition and design of Westport - the state government's plan for a future container port in Kwinana,” the release said.
“The scope will support current definition activities including completion of reference designs and optimisation of infrastructure planning for the new port facilities, along with approvals, construction planning, and reliable costing ahead of final investment decisions.
“The JV will also play a key role in embedding sustainability, cost efficiency, safety, and regulatory compliance throughout the design process,” it said.
Acting transport minister Dr Tony Buti said Westport is one of the largest infrastructure programs ever undertaken in Western Australia.
This contract award marks a major milestone for Westport, bringing in the specialist marine design expertise needed for a once-in-a-century project to shape the future of container trade in the State.
"We're investing early in Westport's technical foundations and doing the hard work now to de-risk the future delivery of this major infrastructure,” Dr Buti said.
"Delivering a new container port is critical to the long-term strength of our economy and keeping costs down for households, which is why we're undertaking thorough planning now."
The Westport Business Case showed significant risk to the Western Australian economy from future constraints on container trade if Westport was not built by the time Fremantle Port reaches capacity at the end of the 2030s.
“The business case found inaction to address constraints on trade could cost WA's economy $244 billion over coming decades - an average of $5 billion per year - driving significant increases in the costs of everyday household goods and for the State's businesses,” the media release said.