Projects in Port Hedland are progressing as the state government allocates $78 million for Lumsden Point and awards a $21.4 million dredging contract for Spoilbank Marina.
A $78 million package will be allocated in the 2022-23 state budget for the development of Lumsden Point, to grow capacity at the port of Port Hedland.
Lumsden Point will facilitate the export of battery metals, including lithium and cooper concentrates, and the import of renewable energy infrastructure, including wind turbines and blades.
Upcoming works will include constructing seawalls to form laydown areas next to the future wharf and a causeway to connect the two.
Works are expected to start later this year.
The Port Hedland Industries Council chief executive Kirsty Danby said the state budget allocation further recognised the economic importance of the Pilbara and the Port of Port Hedland.
This comes after the federal government allocated $280 million for Lumsden Point in this year’s federal budget.
“These decisions will give port users the confidence to plan for growth knowing that the Port will be ready, and they enable the Port to diversify further,” Ms Danby said.
“The benefits of this expansion will be felt in Port Hedland and the wider WA and national economies.
The state government’s announcement today also said a recent ACIL Allen report found the development of Lumsden Point would boost WA’s Gross State Product by $9.5 billion and create 460 jobs per year.
Ports minister Rita Saffioti said Lumsden Point as a multi-user facility and logistics hub would facilitate growth.
Civil and marine construction company Hall Contracting has also been awarded a $21.4 million dredging contract for the Spoilbank Marina in Port Hedland.
The contract included $6.6 million to be committed locally.
Queensland-based Hall Contracting is Australia’s largest privately owned dredging, civil and marine construction company.
The dredging aims to create a new navigational channel linking the marina basin to deep water as up to 190,000 cubic metres of material will be removed from the channel.
The 187.5 million Spoilbank Marina project is jointly funded by the State Government, Town of Port Hedland and BHP.
Mobilisation of equipment and commissioning works will begin in the coming month, with dredging works expected to start mid-year.
