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Posted by Allen Newton
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20 May, 2026
STATE planners in Western Australia are considering a proposal to reserve land for a future freight rail corridor in Kwinana.
The proposal, which is not a part of the new proposed Westport container terminal, sits within the South Metropolitan Peel Sub‑regional Planning Framework, the same strategic environment as Westport.
Both processes examine long‑term freight capacity in the Kwinana industrial area.
The WA Planning Commission is set to assess a Department of Transport request to safeguard the route which proposes to rezone about 126 hectares.
It includes areas of regional open space and a 19‑hectare rail reserve, to create a potential link between the Kwinana–Mundijong freight railway and the CBH Kwinana balloon loop.
According to WAPC planning papers, the existing network is operating near capacity, with freight from the north and south converging at the constrained Kwinana Triangle junction.
Planning staff note that the bottleneck is already affecting road freight movements and could limit industrial development if not addressed.
The corridor protection would also allow for future grade separations at Patterson Road, Mandurah Road and Day Road to reduce traffic interruptions.
The WAPC report emphasises that no commitment has been made to build the rail line, describing the process as a long‑term land‑protection exercise that would be refined through later design stages.
Agencies, including Main Roads, DBCA, DFES and the City of Rockingham, have provided feedback on issues ranging from habitat protection to bridge requirements and property access.
The corridor forms part of broader work under the South Metropolitan Peel Sub‑regional Planning Framework, which is examining options for additional freight rail capacity in the Kwinana industrial area.
