Legislation to establish the Westport Authority has been introduced to the Western Australian Parliament, marking a key step in delivering a new container port and freight logistics hub at Kwinana.
The proposed authority would oversee planning and delivery of the Westport program, a major infrastructure initiative designed to secure the State’s long-term trade capacity as Fremantle Port approaches its container limits.
The Westport Bill 2026 creates a statutory authority responsible for coordinating the planning, development and delivery of the project, which will include new port infrastructure along with upgrades to road, rail and logistics networks.
The Cook Government says establishing a dedicated delivery agency will allow the complex project to be managed efficiently while attracting the specialist expertise required for large-scale infrastructure development.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the project would represent the first new metropolitan container port built in Western Australia in more than a century.
“Westport will deliver WA’s first new metropolitan container port development in more than a century to future-proof our economy, secure our State’s long-term trade future and generate thousands of local jobs.”
The new authority will operate as a standalone statutory entity and agent of the Crown, with powers to acquire land, manage property, enter commercial agreements and deliver port infrastructure works.
A Westport Board appointed by the Minister will oversee governance, with a chief executive responsible for day-to-day operations.
The authority will act as a planning and delivery arm of government for the duration of the program, then transfer completed assets to long-term operators once the port is operational.
According to the Westport Business Case, failure to address future container capacity constraints could cost the Western Australian economy an estimated $244 billion over the coming decades.
That equates to roughly $5 billion per year in lost economic activity, with potential flow-on impacts for supply chains, export competitiveness and the cost of everyday goods.
The proposed legislation does not alter environmental impact assessment processes or heritage approval requirements, and existing protections under the Environmental Protection Act and the Aboriginal Heritage Act remain in place.
Saffioti said a dedicated authority would allow the government to manage the program’s scale and complexity more effectively.
“This is a multi-generational infrastructure project, and the scale and duration of the Westport program require a unique and agile approach to manage its efficient delivery.”
“A standalone authority will allow Westport to streamline planning approvals and attract specialist capability so that this transformational infrastructure program can be delivered as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.”
Subject to environmental approvals and a final investment decision, construction of the new container terminal at Kwinana is expected to begin in the late 2020s, with operations planned for the late 2030s.