NSW Deputy Opposition Leader and Shadow Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Michael Daley MP, Shadow Minister for Industry, Resources and Energy, Adam Searle MLC, and Member for Wollongong, Paul Scully MP were updated on plans for the future growth of the Port of Port Kembla today.

The announcement of Port Kembla as the location for a new liquid natural gas importation facility, the project’s classification as a Critical State Significant Infrastructure project, and the continued growth of the port signals an important role for the Port of Port Kembla in the future economic growth of the Illawarra and NSW.

The growth and development of the Port of Port Kembla follows the decision of the then Carr Labor Government in 2003 to cease using Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) as a working port and spread its port operations equitably  across Port Botany, Port Kembla and the Port of Newcastle.

The Port of Port Kembla is already home to the largest vehicle import facility in NSW, handling more than 420,000 vehicles a year which is expected to grow to up to 850,000 a year over the coming decades.

The Port of Port Kembla is also the largest grain handling facility in NSW and the second largest coal export facility.

It is estimated that the port also supports more than 5,200 jobs.

However, documents obtained under a Freedom of Information request reveal that the advice provided to the NSW Government is that without investment in road and rail in the Illawarra, particularly linking the port to the economic growth region of south-west Sydney, the contribution of the Port of Port Kembla will be constrained.

Despite the growing need to separate passenger and freight rail services on the South Coast Line and the warnings that the potential of the Illawarra and NSW will be limited without the construction of the Maldon-Dombarton rail link, the Berejiklian Government continues to prioritise investment in new toll roads in Sydney.

In contrast, NSW Labor has already committed to providing $50 million in foundation investment to work with the private sector to construct the Maldon-Dombarton rail link.

Comments attributable to Michael Daley MP:

“Business leaders, community leaders and union leaders all recognise the importance of the Port of Port Kembla to the future potential of Illawarra and NSW economy.

“We want to see Port Kembla continue to grow and this growth needs to be supported by investments in key infrastructure of state significance such as the Maldon-Dombarton rail link.

“This stands in contrast to the Berejiklian Government which is more interested in building new toll roads in Sydney.”

Comments attributable to Adam Searle MLC:

“As imports and exports continue to grow the Port of Port Kembla will become an increasingly important part of international trade in NSW.

“Labor Governments of the past have backed the Illawarra and this will continue under a future Foley Labor Government as we look at ways to cater for expanded and new trade which provides an important role for Port Kembla.”

Comments attributable to Paul Scully MP:

“We have seen the Port of Port Kembla grow and we want to see this continue with increases in existing activities and development and growth of new ones.

“Labor understands the need to invest in the Illawarra’s potential which stands in direct contrast to the Berejiklian Government continuing to ignore our region’s potential.

“NSW Labor’s plan to support local jobs is outlined in our $225 million Illawarra Jobs Action Plan.”