THE Federal Budget has allocated funding for a new seaport in the Australian Capital Territory and the construction of a corresponding waterway.
The initial stages of development will be in addition to the planned $17.9 billion investment in new and existing infrastructure projects, announced on Tuesday.
A potential location for the port has been identified around 15 kilometres north of Canberra Airport, to be connected to Batemans Bay on the NSW coast via a new canal.
Once completed, the port will be able to accommodate small container vessels of up to 5000 TEUs.
A government source told DCN the project is a first for Australia, connecting the nation’s capital to the coast and reinforcing its position in the freight sector.
“The construction of this port will link Canberra to the Australian maritime industry, which has been an elusive ambition for many years,” the source said.
“The port will bolster freight opportunities for the ACT, particularly for local exporters who have had limited opportunities to reach international markets due to their inland location.”
The government source said the allocation of funding reflects the Australian government’s commitment to strengthening the nation’s supply chain.
“This new port will not only connect our nation’s capital to ocean freight networks, but it will also create thousands of employment opportunities for the ACT and surrounding regions in New South Wales,” they said.
“There are also plans in the works to connect this new port directly to Inland Rail, via a spur from Illabo.”
Plans for the port and the corresponding canal are expected to go to tender in November this year.
