Port of Geraldton records third consecutive year of growth

Mid West Ports Authority (MWPA) has released its Annual Report, with the Port of Geraldton recording its third consecutive year of growth. 

2022/23 throughput was up one million tonnes (MT) on 2021/22, rising from 16.4MT to 17.4MT for the financial year.

MWPA Board Chair, Noel Hart said: “This was achieved with the safety of our people as our highest priority and a dedicated focus on embedding a strategic, proactive, and preventative approach, aimed at providing reliable and efficient port services and activities as safely as possible.”

The Port Maximisation Project (PMaxP) has made significant progress with the appointment of BG&E Resources in September 2022, to execute the detailed design of the project and the supervision, management and coordination of construction.

In the nine months to July 2023, the project has undertaken validation of proposed engineering solutions, defined requirements to meet future trade requirements, and commenced detailed design of materials handling, storage, marine infrastructure, and network infrastructure improvements.

A key deliverable of the 2020 Port of Geraldton Master Plan, was a Fishing Boat Harbour (FBH) Development Plan and in March 2023, after considerable stakeholder engagement, the FBH Development Plan was endorsed by the Minister for Ports. 

The Plan outlines the strategic direction for the FBH over the next 15+ years and aims to increase the operability of the harbour for existing and new businesses and industries, while also providing more opportunities for the broader Geraldton community.

MWPA CEO, Damian Tully, said: “Our vision for the FBH is to facilitate quality trade and tourism opportunities through a strong focus on people, place and planet. A key component of this is to ensure continued safe navigation into the harbour and in late 2022 we undertook maintenance dredging to continue this access.”

The FBH Maintenance Dredging Project returned the FBH approach channel to design depths and width, removed sediment from Lives Beach and achieved 100% beneficial reuse of the dredged material. 

It is expected that no further dredging will be required in the FBH entrance area for 18-24 months.