Geraldton Port expansion to increase trade by more than 65 per cent by 2026

Forward works on the $332 million expansion of Geraldton Port are expected to start later this year, with the project expected to increase trade by more than 65 per cent in the coming years. As part of its 2022-23 Budget, the State Government on Thursday endorsed the Mid West Ports Authority’s Geraldton Port Master Plan, which identified improvements required to meet increased demand. The Port Maximisation Project will be delivered over the next four years with work to include upgrades to several berths, increased storage, improved materials handling and addressing bottlenecks. Speaking at Geraldton on Friday, Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the expansion would allow the MWPA to increase trade from 15 million to 25 million tonnes per annum by 2026. “We really support the expansion of our regional ports and we believe regional ports will continue to be key drivers of economic activity,” she said. “We see Geraldton continuing to play an important role through the Mid West and there is increasing demand for export capacity through this area.” The project will allow diverse trades from 11 new customers come through the port, with Ms Saffioti saying the Mid West was becoming a valuable supplier of mineral sands, metal concentrates and silica sand. She said early work on the expansion was expected to start this year, with 2700 jobs to be created during construction. City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn welcomed the funding, but he questioned how the commitment would fund almost 3000 jobs across four years. “I find it incredulous that it will create 2700 jobs during construction. That is equivalent to a $30,000 a year salary if 100 per cent went on wages,” he said. “The numbers around the announcement are actually outrageously inflated. Whilst welcomed, I think it would be good to have some sensible numbers around that.” MWPA chief executive Damien Tully said the project was “critical” to help stimulate growth across the Mid West. “These developments will improve resilience at the port and in the region with access to an enhanced and diversified supply chain,” he said. “These plans have been expedited in line with forecasted projections which will see growth at the port realised much earlier than originally predicted.”