Port Botany Expansion Project Reaches Milestone
A key milestone for the $1 billion Port Botany Expansion Project will be reached at the end of this month as the last concrete counterfort unit is placed to form the outer wall of the new container terminal.
Ports and Waterways Minister Paul McLeay said the final counterfort would complete the 1850 meters of new wharf face for the third terminal.
“There are a total of 216 counterforts forming the new quay-side which will provide five new shipping berths at Port Botany,” Mr McLeay said.
“Visually they are quite spectacular; they range in height from four to seven stories. Their scale is quite impressive,” he said.
“Ports are our economic gateway to the world. The role they play in our state’s prosperity cannot be over estimated. Continued port growth is the key to helping us build a strong future for the families and workers of NSW.”
Around 250 workers had been involved in the production and placement of the massive counterfort wall units since mid 2009.
Regional NSW has also benefited from the expansion, supplying many of the materials used in the construction of the new terminal:
- 62,000 tonnes of gravel - from Peats Ridge and Emu Plains
- 34,000 tonnes of sand - from the Nepean and Kurnell
- 24,000 tonnes of cement - from various locations around NSW
Mr McLeay said the Port Botany Expansion has also seen a substantial investment in environmental works.
“Sydney Ports is investing $8 million in environmental works, including constructing an estuary lookout and a bird hide for migratory birds and expanding the salt marsh and seagrass habitats. Around 230,000 salt-marsh seedlings have also been planted,” Mr McLeay.
“Port Botany broke it’s trade records last financial year, with total container trade increasing by 8% to reach a record 1.928 million TEUs (containers measured as twenty foot equivalent units,” he said.
“All trends indicate this is going to continue, and that is why we’re building the third terminal. We’re building for the future growth and prosperity of NSW.
Mr McLeay said there were two interesting trends at the Port:
“One is our growing trade relationship with Asia, which accounts for 62% of all volume in and out of the Port.
“The other is the continued growth of exports from regional NSW.
“The higher exports of cereals, cotton, non-ferrous metals and paper products have been the primary drivers of the growth. China, New Zealand, Japan and the United States continue to be the main consumers of these local products.
“However, the standout export commodity is cotton, with demand from Asian countries boosting cotton exports by 138.7 %,” Mr McLeay said.
Other exports to experience strong growth were:
- wood, timber and cork grew 22%,
- vegetables and legumes grew almost 10% while
- oil seeds, nuts and kernels grew 12.4%