The dredging to allow larger commercial vessels to operate from the Beadon Creek facility is almost complete, enabling the vision for Onslow to become a key marine hub a reality.
The Western Australian Department of Transport has been working with the Onslow Marine Support Base and other stakeholders over the past seven years to redevelop the Onslow (Beadon Creek) Maritime Facility.
The recent dredging campaign to increase the width and depth of the existing navigation channel is complemented by current work to upgrade the ageing breakwater at the channel entrance.
In June, Western Australian based company Ertech was awarded a $4.4 million contract to rebuild the structure using existing and additional rock (approximately 20,000 tonnes) above and below the waterline where required, increasing the height of the breakwater by up to two metres in some areas.
The project is more than 50 per cent complete and on schedule to be finished this year.
Over recent years, the facility has undergone a $2.5 million five stage infrastructure upgrade, focused on the southern part of the facility and including resealing works, the construction of a Department of Transport harbour office and implementation of CCTV.
This was followed by the relocation of overhead power underground, and improvements making vehicle and truck movements safer.
WA Transport Minister, Rita Saffioti, said, “With dredging almost complete, this will be another milestone in the transformation of the Onslow (Beadon Creek) Maritime Facility to a key hub for the marine sector servicing the offshore oil and gas industry.
“The Department of Transport is working collaboratively with the private sector to deliver major improvements that will have ongoing benefits, not only for commercial vessels involved in the resources sector but also fishing and charter vessels and recreational craft using the facility.
“It is envisaged the significant investment in infrastructure at Beadon Creek will create hundreds of job opportunities in the longer term, support sustained growth for the region and have long term social and financial benefits.”
