Work has begun on the $1 billion capacity expansion at Port Botany in Sydney, dubbed one of the largest infrastructure
Work has begun on the $1 billion capacity expansion at Port Botany in Sydney, dubbed one of the largest infrastructure projects in the country.
New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma started the engines on the project this week which will almost double the capacity of the Port Botany container terminal.
The project will see the development of 60 hectares with five new shipping berths and 1,850m of new wharves.
More than 2,000 jobs will be created during the project’s construction with 9,000 permanent jobs once the third terminal is up and running.
“It is pleasing to see years of planning now progressing into construction activity,” Iemma says.
“The local community is also going to benefit from the extra business generated by the large workforce and activity on the site during the next couple of years.
Botany is Australia’s second largest container port and trade is expected to double by 2020.
“This project will see Port Botany rise to the challenge and meet the increase in demand well into the next few decades,” Iemma says.
Iemma says with 99 percent of Australia’s international trade transported by sea, Sydney’s ports are pivotal to the nation’s economic future.
“Port Botany’s expansion has real impacts for the people of Sydney with 85 percent of the trade through the port going to a home, office or factory within 40km of Port Botany,” he says.
The Baulderstone Hornibrook-Jan de Nul consortium will build the new port facility, with construction to be complete by March 2011 and the first ship expected to berth and unload its containers in early 2012.
The expressions of interest process to source a stevedore for the expanded area is also now open.
Site preparation was completed at Port Botany last week, with project offices in place, the preparation of environmental plans, hiring of staff, progression of the design and consultation with community and stakeholders continues.