The Cook Government has awarded a major contract to the Worley Arcadis Joint Venture to deliver marine and port infrastructure technical advisory services for Westport, marking a significant step in progressing one of Western Australia’s largest infrastructure programs.
The appointment will support the definition and design of Westport, the State Government’s long-term plan for a new container port in Kwinana to meet future trade demand once Fremantle Port reaches capacity in the late 2030s.
Under the contract, the Worley Arcadis JV will provide specialist technical advice to inform reference designs, approvals pathways, construction planning and reliable cost estimates ahead of final investment decisions. This work will underpin future delivery and help de-risk the construction of the new port facilities.
The scope of services also includes embedding sustainability, cost efficiency, safety and regulatory compliance into the design process, ensuring Westport aligns with environmental expectations and modern port standards from the outset.
Westport’s business case identified significant economic risk if capacity constraints on container trade are not addressed. It found that failing to deliver a new container port could cost Western Australia’s economy up to $244 billion over the coming decades, equivalent to around $5 billion a year, through higher costs for household goods and increased pressure on businesses.
Acting Transport Minister Dr Tony Buti said the contract award was a major milestone for the program and reflected the scale and complexity of the task ahead.
“Westport is one of the largest infrastructure programs ever undertaken in Western Australia,” Dr Buti said.
“This contract award brings in the specialist marine design expertise needed for a once-in-a-century project that will shape the future of container trade in the State.
“We’re investing early in Westport’s technical foundations and doing the hard work now to de-risk the future delivery of this major infrastructure.”
Dr Buti said thorough planning was essential to protect the State’s economy and help keep household costs down as trade volumes grow.
“Delivering a new container port is critical to the long-term strength of our economy, which is why we’re undertaking detailed planning now, well ahead of final investment decisions,” he said.
Westport forms a central part of the Cook Government’s broader strategy to ensure Western Australia’s port infrastructure keeps pace with future trade demand, supports local jobs and underpins a more diversified State economy.