Projects are progressing on Western Australia’s Port of Port Hedland as the state government allocates $78 million for Lumsden Point and awards a $21.4 million dredging contracts for Spoilbank Marina. Work has also commenced on the first stage of the $51 million Nelson Point Tug Haven project.
Lumsden Point Development
Pilbara Ports Authority has identified Lumsden Point as the preferred location for additional general cargo facilities to facilitate existing and new trades by alleviating pressure on the existing public berths at the Port of Port Hedland.
The state government has allocated $78 million towards the Lumsden Point development as part of the state’s 2022-23 State Budget.
The development involves dredging of channel access and turning basins, two new multi-user berths, landside serviced logistics hub and a central access road and services corridor.
Pilbara MLA Kevin Michel said Lumsden Point will facilitate the export of battery metals such as lithium and copper concentrates, the import of renewable energy infrastructure, including wind turbines and blades, as well as support the rapid growth of direct shipping services to the Pilbara.
“This critical economic infrastructure will also enable the expansion of direct shipping services from Asia to the Pilbara,” he said.
The upcoming works will include the construction of seawalls to form laydown areas adjacent to the future wharf, as well as a causeway to connect the wharf and laydown area to the proposed logistics hub. The works will also enable dredging of the berth pocket and turning basin.
A recent ACIL Allen report found the development of Lumsden Point would boost Western Australia’s Gross State Product by $9.5 billion and create 460 jobs per year.
Works are expected to start later this year.
Pilbara businesses set to benefit from new dredging contract
Progress is also happening across the Spoilbank Marina in Port Hedland with the award of a $21.4 million dredging contract by the state government to Hall Contracting.
The dredging will create a new navigational channel, linking the marina basin to deep water. Up to 190,000 cubic metres of material will be removed from the channel to create the required depth.
With the contract now awarded, local businesses in the Pilbara are set to benefit from this investment, with $6.6 million committed locally, in addition to a pipeline of upcoming subcontracting opportunities already identified for the project.
To date, more than 85 per cent of the Spoilbank Marina project spend has been awarded to local and registered Aboriginal businesses, WA’s Ports Minister Rita Saffioti said.
“This is another great opportunity for local businesses to be a part of the Spoilbank Marina project,” she said.
Mobilisation of equipment and commissioning works will begin in the coming month, with dredging works expected to start mid-year.
The $187.5 million Spoilbank Marina project is funded by the state government, Town of Port Hedland and BHP.
Pilbara Ports Authority will own and operate the marina once construction is complete. The marina is expected to be operational in 2023.
Works commence on safe haven for tugs
Work has also started on the first stage of the $51 million Nelson Point Tug Haven project at the Port of Port Hedland, the first major upgrade to the tug haven in more than 35 years.
Since being initially constructed in 1985, the port has experienced destructive tropical cyclones, including most recently Severe Tropical Cyclone Veronica in 2019, and seen an exponential increase in export volumes.
Austral Construction, which was awarded the $29 million contract in 2021, has commenced the works to stabilise the revetments affected by ageing and storm events, restoring a fit-for-purpose facility for the current tug fleet.
A range of works will be undertaken over the coming months, following a design process that included driving steel piles around the internal boundary of the tug haven to prevent water erosion beneath the revetment walls. The new steel pile wall will then be partially backfilled to strengthen the structure.
As part of these works, $4 million of the proposed expenditure will be invested into local Pilbara-based businesses, creating more opportunity and a pipeline of works in the region.
The first stage of works is expected to be completed in late 2022, with the tender for the second stage to also be released later this year.
The second stage will include the replacement of the outer wall of the tug haven with a stronger design and greater storm protection than the current wall.
This project forms part of the state government’s multi-billion dollar WA Recovery Plan.
To read more about opportunities available at Port of Port Hedland, visit here.
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