More jobs for Illawarra

THE Illawarra will welcome new jobs with the construction of a cargo-handling terminal at Port Kemblas Inner Harbour.

Construction will start on Australian Amalgamated Terminals (AAT) Multi Purpose Berth Number 3 and should be completed in a matter of weeks.

Minister for Ports and Waterways Joe Tripodi visited the port with Wollongong MP Noreen Hay last week.

He said he was delighted with the establishment, which will handle specialised shipping, storage and detailing of cars.

Contractors the Georgiou Group are about to commence construction of the Multi Purpose Berth 3, which has been designed to accommodate specialised vehicle transporter vessels with roll-on, roll-off capabilities, as well as conventional cargo and container vessels, he said.

At the same time, work is starting on the terminal that will provide cargo-handling services to the new berths.

The terminal will cost an estimated $45 million and provide jobs both in its construction and operating phases.

Mr Tripodi estimated the construction phase would see up to 1000 jobs, a major win for the local area.

There will be a big boom for tradesmen, lots of local jobs and prosperity for the Illawarra, he said

AATs new terminal will be a major component of the $140 million expansion of Port Kemblas Inner Harbour.

Last year $16 million was spent extending Multi Purpose Berth Number 2. That work added 130 metres to the berth meaning two large vessels can use it simultaneously.

Mr Tripodi said construction was on schedule and is confident that the terminal will be up and running by April next year.

We hope there will be a lot more movement because it means a lot more jobs for the Illawarra, Mr Tripodi said.

He said local roads are not currently being used to capacity and is confident the roads will cope with the extra traffic from the facility.

Member for Wollongong Noreen Hay welcomed the renovations, which will see more business movement in the Illawarra.

This demonstrates that we are on track with the re-development of Port Kembla Harbour, which will have a dramatic impact on the Illawarra economy, Ms Hay said.

We are already seeing a run off effect with employment in the area, she said.

Its very exciting to see the way work is progressing here.