Community consultation has begun in relation to the approval process for the development of a container terminal at Kwinana to handle the overflow trade when Fremantle Port's Inner Harbour reaches capacity.

The Fremantle Ports Outer Harbour Project Information Brochure can be downloaded from the Fremantle Ports website.

Fremantle Ports Chief Executive Officer, Kerry Sanderson said the consultation would be detailed, transparent and open to ensure that issues could be identified and addressed as part of the approvals process.

"Several focus groups have been held, and a recent community workshop was well attended by some 70 representatives of community and special interest groups, local and State Government organisations, local industry and industry bodies.

"The workshop was an early opportunity for those present to identify issues they felt should be taken into account in the assessment process.

"In opening the workshop, Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said that seeking early approvals for the additional facilities in the Outer Harbour at Kwinana was one of the priority actions identified by the Metropolitan Freight Network Review. The aim was to have the approvals in place within five years.

"Ensuring that the community is involved in meaningful consultation on this project is one of the roles of the steering committee established by the Minister to provide guidance and direction regarding the approval process," Kerry Sanderson said.

"Fremantle's Inner Harbour is expected to reach its potential capacity within the next 12 or 13 years and will then continue to operate at capacity. The new container berths and associated infrastructure will be needed then to handle the overflow trade beyond the capacity of the Inner Harbour.

"It is planned that the new container facilities will be built in stages. Three of the four design concepts currently being assessed on a triple bottom line basis are offshore designs, linked to the shore by a bridge. The fourth option is a partial land-backed, partial offshore facility. Maps of Option 1, Option 2, Option 3 and Option 4 can be downloaded from the Fremantle Ports website.

"Imports and exports are crucial to maintaining Western Australia's lifestyle and it is essential that we cater for ongoing trade growth. About 81 per cent of the State's container trade has its origin or destination in the metropolitan area.," Kerry Sanderson said.

The Executive Director of the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, Paul Frewer, who jointly chairs the Outer Harbour Steering Committee with Kerry Sanderson says that an important aspect of the project is the co-ordinated approach being taken to ensure that land use and transport planning are fully integrated with the marine component.

The Strategic Advice process, which will be a triple bottom line evaluation, will take about 18 months and is expected to be completed in 2005. The statutory assessment process will follow and may take about 30 months.

Media contact: Ainslie de Vos 9430 3380