NSW Planning Minister has approved Stage two of the Port Kembla expansion plan, which comprises a $30 million cargo facility. Development will comprise offices, maintenance buildings, cargo sheds, quarantine inspection facilities, additional car parking facilities and the relocation of the existing rail spur. The NSW government has forecast the Illawarra region will be able to handle a further 250 extra ships, 50,000 containers and one million tonnes of bulky cargo per annum by 2007.

The NSW Ports Growth Plan has earmarked Port Kembla to become the state’s major car importing centre with the capacity to deal with 295,000 cars per annum. The current 600,000 tonnes handled every year will be able to rise to 2.77 million tonnes per annum. The $14 million extension of the multi-purpose berth is due to be completed in May 2005.

Under the NSW Ports Growth Plan Sydney Harbour will remain as a working port with up to 1,000 ships using the services annually. As leases in Sydney Harbour expire stevedoring will be transferred to Port Kembla, particularly car imports. The recent announcement of the redevelopment of the East Darling Harbour site suggests the demand for Port Kembla’s services will increase significantly after 2006 when the stevedoring leases expire in Sydney.

The increasing demand for Port Kembla’s services will undoubtedly have a positive affect on industrial land close to the ports facilities.