Construction commences on new $115m Lucky Bay port in SA

The first sod has been turned to signal the beginning of construction on the $115 million Lucky Bay port project that will deliver a new shallow harbour port for grain handling and export near Cowell in South Australia.

This project is being delivered by T-Ports, a consortium comprised of mostly South Australian private investors.

According to T-Ports CEO Kieran Carvill, planning for this project has been underway for several years. He also said that growers, investors as well as the Eyre Peninsula community will be benefitting from this project.

“We have been meeting with growers on the Eyre Peninsula over the past week and the enthusiasm and excitement for a real, tangible alternative grain supply chain in which they have equity is obvious.

“We know growers have been promised many things over the many years but turning the sod today and having earthmoving equipment already at the site demonstrates this project is here to stay and we see a long and beneficial partnership with Eyre Peninsula communities,” Mr Carvill said.

This multi-million dollar project will include:

• The new Lucky Bay port facility
• A state-of-the-art shallow draft transhipment vessel that has a capacity of 3,500 tonnes
• Grain storage facilities at the port that can hold approximately 27,000 tonnes of grain
• Bunkers at Lucky bay that has a storage capacity of 360,000 tonnes
• An up-country storage at Lock that can hold up to 150,000 tonnes

Once completed, the new shallow harbour will cater to vessels that will transport out grain to larger ships docked in deeper waters. The new Lucky Bay port will also provide local farmers another option for transporting their produce.

Construction is already underway on the bunker sites at Lock and Lucky Bay and major construction works at the port is expected to commence by mid-July.

This project has already employed local contractors to deliver various works. Local companies employed include Ahrens, Lucas Total Contract Solutions and Buttrose Earthmovers.

The Lucky Bay port is expected to be completed in time for the 2018-19 harvest.

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Source: Grain Central, Dry Bulk