❓ Ms. D'Anna asks about the economic impact of a $200M Broome port investment. The Minister outlines job creation, economic capacity building, and efforts to secure 'first port of entry' status to reduce transport costs and environmental impact.
AnsweredQoN 624Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BROOME PORT
624. Ms D.G. D'ANNA to the Minister for Ports:
I refer to the $200 million
investment in new port infrastructure at the port of Broome.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this significant private investment will
support local jobs both during the construction and on an ongoing basis?
(2) Can the minister
advise the house how an expanded Broome port will allow the Kimberley region to
build its economic capacity?
624. Ms D.G. D'ANNA to the Minister for Ports:
I refer to the $200 million
investment in new port infrastructure at the port of Broome.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this significant private investment will
support local jobs both during the construction and on an ongoing basis?
(2) Can the minister
advise the house how an expanded Broome port will allow the Kimberley region to
build its economic capacity?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for the question and for her continued advocacy for economic
development in her electorate. I had the
pleasure last week of visiting the Kimberley region to share an announcement
with the developers of the $200 million jetty and supply base at the
port of Broome. The Kimberley marine support base will include a revolutionary
floating jetty to be built adjacent to the current jetty and administered by
the Kimberley Ports Authority. The base will also include a large landside
depot on leased port land nearby. The project has been about five years in
development and is aimed at ensuring and developing the trade capacity at the
port. I thank both former Ministers for Ports, Hon Alannah MacTiernan and the
Deputy Premier, for their continued support of this project over that time. The Kimberley Ports Authority will supply the
stevedoring labour for the jetty operations from its in-house workforce, ensuring the Cook government's
commitment to jobs in our regions. I am told that construction of the
jetty is about to start—so, in coming weeks—and will create
about 260 jobs over the next two years during its construction. Once
operational, the facility will be able to support new and emerging trades in
the West Kimberley region, as well as the
growing cruise industry, supporting hundreds of ongoing new jobs in the town
and region. Broome remains an extremely popular destination for
international and interstate visitors. Through
this crucial investment in key pieces of infrastructure like this new floating
berth, it will eliminate the interruptions to passenger boarding
activity that currently result from the 10.5-metre tidal swings, which I know
the member knows about.
To capitalise on the opportunities
for the new trade that these facilities will bring, I am working hard to
support applications to the federal government to approve first port of entry
status for the port of Broome. Without this approval, biosecurity rules prevent
many imported goods from being delivered directly into the Kimberley region;
instead, they have to enter the region via Darwin or Port Hedland, creating a road
trip of at least 600 kilometres. The high cost of these transport legs puts the
environmental costs quite high. This can be alleviated through the granting of
first port of entry status. I am committed
to working with the Kimberley community, particularly businesses in Broome, on
this work . These efforts will involve the provision of some inspection
infrastructure and working out resourcing arrangements
with the federal agencies that already—I saw this last week—have
a presence at the port. As recent
weather and climate change impacts have shown, shipping has a strong role to
play in the Kimberley region and needs to be supported with a suitable
port capacity to deliver the greatest possible benefit. The Kimberley marine
support base, with the cooperation of the Kimberley Ports Authority, is at the
forefront of this effort and will prove crucial for the development of the
region in the future. This is a win for the port authority, this is a win for
local jobs in the Broome community and it is very much a win for economic
development in the Kimberley.
thank the member for the question and for her continued advocacy for economic
development in her electorate. I had the
pleasure last week of visiting the Kimberley region to share an announcement
with the developers of the $200 million jetty and supply base at the
port of Broome. The Kimberley marine support base will include a revolutionary
floating jetty to be built adjacent to the current jetty and administered by
the Kimberley Ports Authority. The base will also include a large landside
depot on leased port land nearby. The project has been about five years in
development and is aimed at ensuring and developing the trade capacity at the
port. I thank both former Ministers for Ports, Hon Alannah MacTiernan and the
Deputy Premier, for their continued support of this project over that time. The Kimberley Ports Authority will supply the
stevedoring labour for the jetty operations from its in-house workforce, ensuring the Cook government's
commitment to jobs in our regions. I am told that construction of the
jetty is about to start—so, in coming weeks—and will create
about 260 jobs over the next two years during its construction. Once
operational, the facility will be able to support new and emerging trades in
the West Kimberley region, as well as the
growing cruise industry, supporting hundreds of ongoing new jobs in the town
and region. Broome remains an extremely popular destination for
international and interstate visitors. Through
this crucial investment in key pieces of infrastructure like this new floating
berth, it will eliminate the interruptions to passenger boarding
activity that currently result from the 10.5-metre tidal swings, which I know
the member knows about.
To capitalise on the opportunities
for the new trade that these facilities will bring, I am working hard to
support applications to the federal government to approve first port of entry
status for the port of Broome. Without this approval, biosecurity rules prevent
many imported goods from being delivered directly into the Kimberley region;
instead, they have to enter the region via Darwin or Port Hedland, creating a road
trip of at least 600 kilometres. The high cost of these transport legs puts the
environmental costs quite high. This can be alleviated through the granting of
first port of entry status. I am committed
to working with the Kimberley community, particularly businesses in Broome, on
this work . These efforts will involve the provision of some inspection
infrastructure and working out resourcing arrangements
with the federal agencies that already—I saw this last week—have
a presence at the port. As recent
weather and climate change impacts have shown, shipping has a strong role to
play in the Kimberley region and needs to be supported with a suitable
port capacity to deliver the greatest possible benefit. The Kimberley marine
support base, with the cooperation of the Kimberley Ports Authority, is at the
forefront of this effort and will prove crucial for the development of the
region in the future. This is a win for the port authority, this is a win for
local jobs in the Broome community and it is very much a win for economic
development in the Kimberley.
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