Newcastle responds to unsought terminal bids

The port’s chief executive Craig Carmody has revealed that the port had been approached by “a number of globally-significant container port operators who are eager to take advantage of our proximity to exporters and importers, the availability of large tracts of low-cost land around the port and our access to dedicated freight transport infrastructure”.

Mr Carmody said that details could not be divulged yet but added the bids clearly demonstrated there is no doubt in the minds of private investors that a container terminal in the Port of Newcastle is economically viable.

“It’s really a matter of when, not if, we will see preparatory work commencing on the container port in Newcastle.”

The bids are contingent on the removal of the “current artificial constraint imposed on New South Wales (NSW) port competition and other regulatory issues”, he said.

The port wants to see the successful bidder developing a container terminal with a two million-plus teu capacity on the Mayfield site within five years of the NSW government constraint being removed.

“Given the speed with which we have received these bids, I invite interested parties to contact Port of Newcastle.”