The Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA (CME) will play a pivotal role steering the future of Perth’s strategic industrial areas after being appointed to a new Industry Reference Group (IRG) tasked with providing advice on development of the Western Trade Coast.
The Western Trade Coast – which covers the Kwinana Industrial Area, Rockingham Industry Zone, Latitude 32 General Industrial Area and Australian Marine Complex – contributes $15 billion to the WA economy each year and supports around 42,000 direct and indirect jobs.
CME Chief Executive Officer Rebecca Tomkinson welcomed the WA Government’s establishment of the IRG, which comes at a critical time for Perth’s heavy industrial sectors.
“The combination of AUKUS, the development of Westport and the global energy transition means Perth’s strategic industrial areas (SIAs) need to be completely reimagined over the next decade,” Ms Tomkinson said.
“CME has long advocated for the importance of project-ready SIAs to attract international investment and remove roadblocks to the development of new ventures, particularly for future-facing industries where speed to market is key.
“Our report on the readiness of WA’s 13 SIAs found Kwinana was the State’s most attractive – but it is also heavily constrained with little opportunity for new projects.
“We welcome the opportunity to shape the delivery of common-user infrastructure in the Western Trade Coast that will unlock jobs and investment opportunities for generations to come.”
Last August the WA Government released its Western Trade Coast Infrastructure Strategy, which identified the priority upgrades needed to futureproof the area while accommodating the new Westport outer harbour and a significant new defence precinct associated with AUKUS.
With US and UK nuclear-powered submarines expected to begin rotating through HMAS Stirling from 2027, before housing Australia’s own nuclear submarines from the early 2030s, Ms Tomkinson said there was no time to waste.
“Perth is already desperately short of well-located and well-serviced industrial land, so it is vital we work to quickly develop a suitable replacement for any we may lose to AUKUS,” Ms Tomkinson said.
“The global energy transition presents a generational opportunity to expand Perth’s industrial and manufacturing bases but it will pass us by if we can’t provide the land needed to house new businesses.”
Media contacts:
Josh Zimmerman j.zimmerman@cmewa.com / 0404 947 719
Natasha Mutch n.mutch@cmewa.com / 0435 383 382
