A large number of respondents have provided community feedback through a survey conducted by Mid West Ports Authority on the Port Master Planning Project, prior to its commencement.
The project — announced by Minister for Transport, Rita Saffioti, in January 2018 — will investigate how the port, its corridors and the Fishing Boat Harbour should develop to accommodate potentially significant additional trade over the next 30 years.
As part of early consultation, the Port of Geraldton Pre-Project Master Planning Survey was launched to allow the community to provide feedback on what they considered to be the ‘important issues’ for the project.
The survey was extremely successful and received 230 responses from participants ranging from community members, local government representatives, port stakeholders and port staff.
“The survey was extremely well received and we wrote to the Minister for Transport to notify her of its success,” Chief Executive Officer, Peter Klein said.
“We have now been able to identify a number of issues important to the respondents, in fact the top five ranked ‘materiality’ issues identified by respondents were:
- Activating and supporting the Mid West community
- Facilitating trade growth
- Ensuring environmental protection and management of impacts
- Ensuring Port-Township interface management
- Ensuring port safety and security
“These responses will be provided to the successful consultant for incorporation into their scope of works.”
MWPA is currently finalising the selection of a project consultant and hopes to see the project underway in earnest during May 2018.
Final results are expected to be delivered by mid-2019.
