The Australian Labour Government has announced it will invest US$11.7 million in Southern ports in Western Australia to boost the region’s port infrastructure. The investment is designed to enhance the performance of key assets (by substantially upgrading their operational technology) at Bunbury, Esperance, and Albany, thus supporting WA’s economy by boosting trade efficiency.
The project aims to streamline operations across the three ports, which together handle over 37 million tonnes of trade annually.
Accenture has been awarded an US$9.1 million contract to modernise more than 22 critical assets, including ship loaders, rotary car dumpers, and conveyors. These machines are crucial for moving containers, tankers, and bulk cargo through the ports, and the upgrades will improve their efficiency and reliability.
The Cook Government’s commitment to these upgrades is a key part of a broader strategy to support economic growth and ensure that WA’s regional ports remain competitive in the global market.
“Our economy relies on port infrastructure to facilitate trade, so continued advancement of these assets across our regional ports is vital,” said Ports Minister David Michael. “These operational technology upgrades will deliver more efficient, future-ready gateway ports capable of meeting future trade demands of a diverse global market. It is fantastic to see another infrastructure investment of the Cook Government progress to the next stage.”
The project is expected to be completed by late 2026.
Earlier in May, the Western Australian government announced that it would invest US$250 million from its 2024-2025 budget to enhance port infrastructure.