Newcastle Port to add 10 additional shipping berths

16 Feb 2011 - Port Planning

• Newcastle Port lodges plans for 10 new berths

• The plans include the dredging of the Hunter River and will cost $50 million

The Australian Port of Newcastle, New South Wales, has lodged an environmental assessment of its plans to dredge the south arm of the Hunter River to create ten new shipping berths.

The Port Corporation estimates a cost of around AUS$50 million, removing more than 3 million m³ of material from the river in the process.

Initial estimations conclude that about 40% of the dredged material would be dumped off-shore, and the remainder used as fill. The environmental report says the dredging is likely to affect water quality, but suggests that impact can be managed, according to ABC Australia.

The new berths will be located along the foreshore at Walsh Point, at disused berth sites at Kooragang and Dyke Point, as well as the former BHP steelworks wharf area.