First grain load received at new SA port facility

SOUTH Australian port infrastructure company T-Ports has received its first load of grain at the new Wallaroo transhipment port facility.  

T-Ports announced the milestone along with news that the company had received its one-millionth tonne from growers in this year’s bumper harvest.

Construction began at the Wallaroo facility around two years ago. T-Ports’ first loads of grain were exported via its nearby Lucky Bay port facility in early 2020.

T-Ports’ business development and client relations manager Tim Gurney said the company exists to drive a shift in South Australia’s grain export pathway.

“T-Ports was founded with a mission to bring port facilities closer to growers and this is what we are doing, evidenced by two ports built in four years,” he said.

“We are empowering local growers and communities to export to the global market, achieving better returns to growers and seeing more money coming back into local communities.

“This harvest is promising to be at record production and the launch of the Wallaroo facility boosts our capacity, benefiting local growers and our grain trade partners.”

A local Paskeville grower delivered the first load of grain at Wallaroo on 8 November, and the one-millionth tonne (malt) was delivered to T-Ports’ inland bunker site at Lock on 11 November.

Mr Gurney said reaching the milestone of one million tonnes was a proud moment for T-Ports.

“In an industry that has promised many port developments across South Australia, we have been the ones to achieve this and are now receiving grain at our second port at Wallaroo,” he said.

“This harvest is promising to be at record production and with the launch of the Wallaroo facility our capacity is growing, which will be of great benefit to local growers and our grain trade partners.”