Thousands of jobs to be supported by $182m Port Kembla berth upgrades

A $182 million upgrade of three berths at Port Kembla in New South Wales has been granted planning approval, ensuring the continued supply of Illawarra-made steel for various infrastructure projects. 

Not only will this project help rebuild the local manufacturing industry in the State, but it will also support the over 14,500 jobs. 

“Our construction industry is the largest user of Port Kembla’s steel, using more than 70% of the site’s total output. This approval provides more capacity to import coking coal for steelmaking and keep production flowing when local coal supplies are scaled back from 2028. 

“It’s an investment in jobs, training, and the Illawarra community, but importantly it’s a vote of confidence in NSW manufacturing and construction, providing the locally sourced steel they need to build homes, hospitals, and transport infrastructure NSW needs,” Minister for Planning and Public Space, and Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said. 

Upgrading the three berths at Port Kembla will mean more locally made steel to be used on major State Government projects which, in turn, supports the creation of thousands of local jobs. 

“Illawarra steel contributes around $10.3 billion to the NSW economy each year, and this decision secures the continued direct employment of around 4,500 people, together with another 10,000 people in the supply chain. 

“Steel-supply certainty is vital for the home building industry as we work to fast-track ways to supply new homes in the Illawarra, in Sydney and across the entire state,” Minister for Illawarra and the South Coast, and Member for Keira Ryan Park said. 

The berth upgrades are critical to enabling BlueScope – an innovative steel materials, products, systems and technologies provider – to handle coal sourced from Queensland after 2028. 

The company utlises a unique blend of coal in the operation of its blast furnaces used for steelmaking, and this coal blend is needed to be shipped into Port Kembla. 

“The berths are more than 50 years old and need improvements to meet the expected increase in steel demand as NSW continues to grow. 

“The project will create 100 immediate construction jobs as the steelworks continues to support hard-working local families as it has for generations,” Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson said. 

According to BlueScope Australian Chief Executive Tania Archibald, the granting of planning approval to the project is a demonstration of the State Government’s commitment to securing the future of the nation’s steelmaking industry. 

“BlueScope operates 5 berths at Port Kembla to import a range of raw materials such as iron ore, coal, limestone, recycled steel scrap, and export steel products to customers, and the continues supply of these raw materials is critical to the operations of the steelworks. 

“This infrastructure upgrade represents a significant investment to secure the asset for the long-term whilst supporting future technology options for low-emissions steelmaking,” Ms Archibald said. 

Source: NSW Government – Media Releases; Member for Wollongong; ABC News; News.com.au; Australian Mining