Work is underway to finalise designs for an expanded Anketell Road in Perth's south and reserve the area for future infrastructure delivery.
The McGowan Government yesterday released the independent Westport Taskforce Stage 2 Report which recommended a land-backed port be built within the Kwinana Industrial Area, connected by an efficient freight corridor via Anketell Road, Thomas Road and Tonkin Highway.
The recommended container port at Kwinana includes upgrading Anketell Road into a freight route connecting the port directly to Tonkin Highway and the logistics precincts in outer the Perth metropolitan area.
Some sections of Anketell Road already have a Planning Control Area in place, which protects the area as a freight corridor, while other parts of the road will need such plans put in place to ensure that future development considers the planned freight corridor.
Early planning is also underway with regards to the future capacity and use of Thomas and Rowley roads.
The McGowan Government has allocated $25 million, from the $97.2 million allocation, for planning, corridor design and community and land owner engagement along with potential land acquisition along Anketell Road and Thomas Road
The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage and Main Roads WA will now undertake environmental assessments and planning design to help inform new Planning Control Areas, which will ultimately result in amendments to the Metropolitan Region Scheme. This will be done progressively over the next four years.
Consultation will be undertaken with all landowners in the area and the State Government will continue to work collaboratively with local governments to ensure development proposals along Anketell Road do not present road planning constraints.
As stated by Transport and Planning Minister Rita Saffioti:
"The release of the independent Westport Taskforce report is a blueprint for Western Australia's future prosperity.
"It outlines the need for a new container port at Kwinana supported by an efficient, modern freight corridor via Anketell Road and Tonkin Highway stretching from Muchea to the South-West and connecting to the new port.
"Rail upgrades under investigation include duplication of a 13km section of track between Kwinana and Cockburn and a marshalling yard at Kwinana. An upgraded rail network could support at least 1.7M TEU on rail and also provide efficiencies for bulk freight traffic servicing export berths and industrial facilities in Kwinana.
"With a port location now confirmed, we can commence detailed planning and design to formalise the transport corridors that will support this new freight infrastructure.
"The State Government has planning instruments in place to protect parts of Anketell Road from contrary development and we want to ensure that the full route is secure, thereby facilitating future freight movement seamlessly from the port to Tonkin Highway.
"I want to make it clear this is the very beginning of the process - we will continue to consult with the local community, connect with landowners and local governments, and undertake design and environmental assessments to ensure we build a modern freight corridor that meets the needs for Perth for generations to come."
