❓ The question seeks a detailed cost breakdown for six specific projects totalling 'just over $5 billion' as mentioned in the Westport Beacon, Issue 8, page 9. The answer provides a high-level justification for the Westport Taskforce's existence and the need for a new port at Kwinana, but does not provide the requested cost breakdown.
AnsweredQoN 1639Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Westport Beacon, Issue 8, page 9, and the six projects for which "high-level cost estimates" came to just over $5 billion, and I ask:(a) what was the breakdown of the "just over $5 billion" for the high-level cost estimates, for each of the following projects:(i) "expanding the port footprint, including building a new breakwater and dredging";(ii) "grade-separating and expanding Leach Highway to eight lanes";(iii) "duplicating Stirling Bridge";(iv) "some Fremantle road network upgrades";(v) "duplicating, sinking and enclosing the freight rail line"; and(vi) "intermodal facility upgrades"?
I refer to the Westport Beacon, Issue 8, page 9, and the six projects for which "high-level cost estimates" came to just over $5 billion, and I ask:
(a) what was the breakdown of the "just over $5 billion" for the high-level cost estimates, for each of the following projects:
(i) "expanding the port footprint, including building a new breakwater and dredging";
(ii) "grade-separating and expanding Leach Highway to eight lanes";
(iii) "duplicating Stirling Bridge";
(iv) "some Fremantle road network upgrades";
(v) "duplicating, sinking and enclosing the freight rail line"; and
(vi) "intermodal facility upgrades"?
I refer to the Westport Beacon, Issue 8, page 9, and the six projects for which "high-level cost estimates" came to just over $5 billion, and I ask:
(a) what was the breakdown of the "just over $5 billion" for the high-level cost estimates, for each of the following projects:
(i) "expanding the port footprint, including building a new breakwater and dredging";
(ii) "grade-separating and expanding Leach Highway to eight lanes";
(iii) "duplicating Stirling Bridge";
(iv) "some Fremantle road network upgrades";
(v) "duplicating, sinking and enclosing the freight rail line"; and
(vi) "intermodal facility upgrades"?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 June 2026
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport
Response time
5 days
a)
(i-vi) The Westport Taskforce was established in 2017 to develop a plan to manage the growing freight demands of Perth and surrounding regions for the next 50 years and beyond. The ‘Beacon’, issued by the Westport Taskforce, was intended as a communication tool to inform and engage stakeholders as part of their investigations.
The Fremantle Port has served WA well for more than 120 years, but its location means it faces significant constraints – many of which can’t be viably solved even through major upgrades. To manage growth over the next two decades, Fremantle Port’s ageing infrastructure would require significant, expensive and disruptive upgrades and renewals, which would still not secure its long-term viability. After this, a shift to Kwinana would still be necessary due to ongoing constraints.
Delaying action on Westport will put WA’s economy at risk, impose massive costs on Western Australians, threaten jobs, make household goods more expensive and increase uncertainty for businesses.
(i-vi) The Westport Taskforce was established in 2017 to develop a plan to manage the growing freight demands of Perth and surrounding regions for the next 50 years and beyond. The ‘Beacon’, issued by the Westport Taskforce, was intended as a communication tool to inform and engage stakeholders as part of their investigations.
The Fremantle Port has served WA well for more than 120 years, but its location means it faces significant constraints – many of which can’t be viably solved even through major upgrades. To manage growth over the next two decades, Fremantle Port’s ageing infrastructure would require significant, expensive and disruptive upgrades and renewals, which would still not secure its long-term viability. After this, a shift to Kwinana would still be necessary due to ongoing constraints.
Delaying action on Westport will put WA’s economy at risk, impose massive costs on Western Australians, threaten jobs, make household goods more expensive and increase uncertainty for businesses.
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