THE GOVERNMENT of Western Australia says new marine science research will help in the sustainable development of a container port at Kwinana.
The three-year $13.5 million Westport Marine Science Program was a research partnership by the independent Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI) to support Westport's planning for a new port in Kwinana.
Key findings from the WAMSI Westport Marine Science Program were presented this week at a symposium as part of The Biodiversity Conference 2025.
The science program involved 150 independent researchers across more than 30 projects, structured around nine themes:
Improving the understanding of seagrass restoration and the broader ecology of Cockburn Sound were key focuses of the program and the results are said to have already influenced planning and design of the new container port in Kwinana.
This included a decision to move the port's location one kilometre south to avoid seagrass beds, and an open breakwater design to reduce impacts on ocean currents which support snapper spawning.
Final published reports are available here: www.wamsi.org.au/projects/cockburn-sound
Transport minister Rita Saffioti said “by investing in science early, well ahead of the Westport business case, we've been able to make informed decisions that avoid and minimise environmental impacts”.
"This program demonstrates how science can shape better planning outcomes for critical infrastructure that will support our economy for the next century,” she said.
"Westport is doing the heavy lifting in developing the tools and data to support cumulative impact forecasting that will ensure regulators and governments can confidently manage Cockburn Sound to safely balance economic, environmental, fisheries, and recreational outcomes.”
Ms Saffioti said this “comprehensive science program was delivered not by consultants but by independent and expert scientists of WAMSI drawn from universities, Commonwealth research institutions, and our own fisheries scientists”.
"The program required independent peer review and publication which should give the community confidence in the information Westport is using.”