Home
Search

Community Cabinet: Premier and Ports Minister announce Geraldton port roundabout work to begin next week

Jessica MoroneyGeraldton Guardian
Lara Dalton MLA, Premier Mark McGowan and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti.
Camera IconLara Dalton MLA, Premier Mark McGowan and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti. Credit: Jessica Moroney/Geraldton Guardian

Construction of a new roundabout, making transport in and out of the port safer and more efficient, will start next week after the State Government inspected the port on Monday.

Premier Mark McGowan and Ports Minister Rita Saffioti announced the first stage of works for the Geraldton Port Maximisation Project would begin next week after visiting the port on Monday during the Community Cabinet visit.

The $350 million investment aims to maximise grain movements from the port and support the region’s economic growth, beginning with the construction of a new $4.5 million roundabout at the entry and exit of the port.

The Premier said the first stage of work would smooth traffic, while other work would include upgrades to harbour deepening and the berths over the next four years.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

“That will increase the capacity of the port by two thirds, it’ll mean a major increase in tonnage going through of a whole range of products that we sell to our trading partners overseas,” he said.

“This will be great for exporters, great for local businesses, great for jobs, great for local employers and small business, it helps secure the future of Geraldton.”

Lara Dalton MLA, Premier Mark McGowan and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti.
Camera IconLara Dalton MLA, Premier Mark McGowan and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti. Credit: Jessica Moroney/Geraldton Guardian

Ms Saffioti said there was enormous demand for exports out of Geraldton and the work would encourage productivity and modernise the infrastructure.

“There’s enormous demand for exports like silica sand, we’re seeing record grain harvests as well so we’re really wanting to make sure the port can keep up with that new demand,” she said.

Ms Saffioti said detail of design was under way and the State Government would be able to provide more detail about which berths would be upgraded and when work would commence throughout the project’s four-year funded timeline.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails