The state government has awarded the Worley Arcadis joint venture a major advisory contract for the design of Westport, the $7.2b port project in Cockburn Sound.
The state government has awarded the Worley Arcadis joint venture a major advisory contract for the design of Westport, the $7.2 billion port project in Cockburn Sound.
The technical services will play an essential role in finalising of reference designs for the state's key port development, which will alleviate pressure on the ageing Fremantle Port facility once delivered in the late 2030s.
Works under the contract will include infrastructure planning, approvals, construction planning and reliable costings ahead of the project's final investment decision.
Studies have shown a significant risk to WA's economy from future constraints on container trade if the project is not delivered by the time Fremantle Port reaches its capacity at the end of the 2030s.
The Westport Business Case found inaction to address constraints could cost WA's economy $244 billion over coming decades—an average of $5 billion per year.
Acting Transport Minister Tony Buti said Westport was one of the largest infrastructure programs ever undertaken in the state.
"This contract award marks a major milestone for Westport, bringing in the specialist marine design expertise needed for a once-in-a-century project to shape the future of container trade in the state," he said.
"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.
"Delivering a new container port is critical to the long-term strength of our economy and keeping costs down for households, which is why we're undertaking thorough planning now."
The state assigned $163 million to the project across the forward estimates of the most recent state budget announced last month.
