According to media reports, the Australian Government is still in dispute over a building tycoon’s plan to build a private bulk commodity port in Kwinana, Western Australia.
The man behind the venture, Len Buckeridge, says he signed a framework agreement with the Court government back in 2000, which included plans to build the bulk commodity and live animal export berth, as well as an associated second stage offshore container port in Cockburn Sound. But he says that the deal wasn’t finalised due to ideological disagreements with the Gallop and Carpenter governments at that time.
According to The West Business, Mr Buckeridge is now suing the State for AUS$1bn in damages for what he claims is a broken contract to allow him to construct a rival port to Fremantle in Cockburn Sound.
MP Wendy Duncan from the National Party, has called on Mr Buckeridge to drop his port legal action to help ease negotiations.
The government is said to have considered leasing land for the first stage of the port as it would help overcome capacity constraints and boost the local economy with live animal exports.
But Mr Buckeridge is argugin that the lease and conditions mean that project is not financially viable as a stand-alone venture.
He is understood to be prepared to forgo the profitable container part of the agreement and only build the bulks in order to resolve the dispute.
