The Government of Western Australia has outlined its plans to ‘undertake the biggest reform of the State’s ports in decades’.
Under the plan, seven of the State’s eight port authorities will be consolidated into four regional port authorities.
Premier and State Development Minister Colin Barnett said the plan was developed after a comprehensive review of the governance of WA ports undertaken by the Liberal-National Government.
“The current port governance model has served the State well since it was introduced by the Court Coalition government in 1995, but the growing demand for WA commodities meant it was time to review this model to ensure we provide our ports with the most effective framework for the future,” Mr Barnett said.
“There are currently 21 ports; and new ports will be constructed at Barrow Island’s Gorgon project, Wheatstone, Oakajee, James Price Point and Anketell. It clearly makes sense to consolidate all these existing and future ports into an appropriately managed regional port structure.”
Transport Minister Troy Buswell said the 13 smaller ports currently controlled by the Department of Transport would come under the jurisdiction of the regional port authorities, with Fremantle to remain a stand-alone port authority.
Mr Buswell said amendments to legislation to enable the phased consolidation would be drafted this year and presented to State Parliament in 2013, with a staged implementation to commence from 2014.
