❓ Mr. Scaife questions the Minister for Transport on how the Westport project will support WA's economic growth and compares the government's infrastructure commitment to the previous Liberal and National parties' priorities. The Minister outlines the Westport plan, emphasizing its long-term benefits and contrasting it with the previous government's plan to sell the Fremantle port.
AnsweredQoN 916Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WESTPORT
916. Mr D.A.E. SCAIFE to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
commitment to planning and building the generational infrastructure required
for the years to come.
Can the minister outline to the
house how this government's Westport project will provide the essential
support for Western Australia's
strong economic growth in the decades to come, and can the minister inform the
house how this government's
commitment to transformational infrastructure projects such as Westport and
Metronet compares with the short-sighted priorities of the Liberal and
National Parties?
916. Mr D.A.E. SCAIFE to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
commitment to planning and building the generational infrastructure required
for the years to come.
Can the minister outline to the
house how this government's Westport project will provide the essential
support for Western Australia's
strong economic growth in the decades to come, and can the minister inform the
house how this government's
commitment to transformational infrastructure projects such as Westport and
Metronet compares with the short-sighted priorities of the Liberal and
National Parties?
AnswerView source ↗
As
we know, the state Cook Labor government has a plan to build a new port in
Kwinana. It is a once-in-a-generation, once-in-a-century decision.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : This plan is
all about making sure that Western Australia is prepared to continue its role
as the trading capital of the nation. We represent over 40 per cent of the
nation's exports and our container trade continues to go from strength
to strength. We set about doing a very detailed plan to facilitate a new port
in Kwinana. Today, we released an outline of where the new port will be and how
it will operate. There will be a container terminal parallel to the shoreline on the site currently occupied by the Kwinana
Bulk Terminal. A new Kwinana bulk terminal will also be built. There
will be a new breakwater to provide enhanced protection for the port, major
upgrades to the freight roads leading to and from the new container port
including Anketell Road, and duplication of the freight line between the
container terminal and Cockburn, and, significantly, the plan identifies the
three intermodal terminals that will be upgraded or created to support movement
of freight. This is a long-term plan to make sure that Western Australia
continues to be an efficient trading state across the nation.
Of course, all the work that has
been undertaken has been to assess the different options that were put forward.
We had to assess exactly where the port should be located. There was a multi-criteria
analysis to ascertain the economics and environmental impacts, and particularly
on this project the location for the new port. We chose the port that would
have the least environmental impact in relation to dredging and, of course,
impact on seagrass. It also makes sure that we plan the land side. Too many
times, work has been done to look at a port's impact on only the
maritime or marine infrastructure. This is about the land-side logistics. That
includes Anketell west, upgrades to the Kwinana Freeway with the widening of
the Kwinana Freeway between Anketell and Russell Roads and the widening and
supporting of extra capacity on the road, and it also looks at further planning
and the development of Anketell to the east, as well. It is very complicated
and sophisticated planning. This is about making sure that WA can continue to
create the jobs of the future. We are determining a new port—a port
that will serve generations to come and make
sure that we have the capacity to continue our role as a major trading state of
the nation. We can compare that with the previous government's
plan—Roe 8 and 9 and selling the port. That was its plan.
Several members interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : It was going to sell the port.
Mr R.S. Love : We weren't
going to sell it.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : Yes, it was. It
spent $25 million. I recall that it created a data room to allow investors to
come in and look at the economics of Fremantle port. That is what it was
going to do—sell the port and build Roe 8 and 9.
Mr R.S. Love : We were not
selling the port.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : That was the
former government's plan. It was always its plan. Our plan is to have a
port in government ownership. We will create the port of the future to make
sure that Western Australia can continue its role as the major trading state of
the nation.
Government members : Hear,
hear!
we know, the state Cook Labor government has a plan to build a new port in
Kwinana. It is a once-in-a-generation, once-in-a-century decision.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : This plan is
all about making sure that Western Australia is prepared to continue its role
as the trading capital of the nation. We represent over 40 per cent of the
nation's exports and our container trade continues to go from strength
to strength. We set about doing a very detailed plan to facilitate a new port
in Kwinana. Today, we released an outline of where the new port will be and how
it will operate. There will be a container terminal parallel to the shoreline on the site currently occupied by the Kwinana
Bulk Terminal. A new Kwinana bulk terminal will also be built. There
will be a new breakwater to provide enhanced protection for the port, major
upgrades to the freight roads leading to and from the new container port
including Anketell Road, and duplication of the freight line between the
container terminal and Cockburn, and, significantly, the plan identifies the
three intermodal terminals that will be upgraded or created to support movement
of freight. This is a long-term plan to make sure that Western Australia
continues to be an efficient trading state across the nation.
Of course, all the work that has
been undertaken has been to assess the different options that were put forward.
We had to assess exactly where the port should be located. There was a multi-criteria
analysis to ascertain the economics and environmental impacts, and particularly
on this project the location for the new port. We chose the port that would
have the least environmental impact in relation to dredging and, of course,
impact on seagrass. It also makes sure that we plan the land side. Too many
times, work has been done to look at a port's impact on only the
maritime or marine infrastructure. This is about the land-side logistics. That
includes Anketell west, upgrades to the Kwinana Freeway with the widening of
the Kwinana Freeway between Anketell and Russell Roads and the widening and
supporting of extra capacity on the road, and it also looks at further planning
and the development of Anketell to the east, as well. It is very complicated
and sophisticated planning. This is about making sure that WA can continue to
create the jobs of the future. We are determining a new port—a port
that will serve generations to come and make
sure that we have the capacity to continue our role as a major trading state of
the nation. We can compare that with the previous government's
plan—Roe 8 and 9 and selling the port. That was its plan.
Several members interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : It was going to sell the port.
Mr R.S. Love : We weren't
going to sell it.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : Yes, it was. It
spent $25 million. I recall that it created a data room to allow investors to
come in and look at the economics of Fremantle port. That is what it was
going to do—sell the port and build Roe 8 and 9.
Mr R.S. Love : We were not
selling the port.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : That was the
former government's plan. It was always its plan. Our plan is to have a
port in government ownership. We will create the port of the future to make
sure that Western Australia can continue its role as the major trading state of
the nation.
Government members : Hear,
hear!
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