Fremantle Ports Portfolio Newsletter 15th October 2020

After a flat period due to COVID-19 in the last quarter of 2019-20, container trade has been better than expected in the first quarter of this financial year. Full container imports are up 5.5% while full exports are down 21.5% mainly due to decreases in hay and wheat. Non-containerised trade in the Fremantle Inner Harbour is up 11.3% or 24,363 tonnes, mainly due to a major rise in exports of scrap metals and used motor vehicles imports from the eastern states. Total port trade is down 18.7% on the same period last year, mainly due to a decrease in bulk imports of crude petroleum and bulk wheat exports.

Remedial works are being undertaken to the sheet pile walls under berths A, B and C on the western end of Victoria Quay. Works began on 14 September and should be completed by early November. The 15-minute ferry terminal parking zone between B Shed and C Shed is closed temporarily for the duration of the works but other 15-minute parking has been made available in front of E Shed. 

A new volunteering program was launched by Ports Minister Alannah MacTiernan on 7 October. The Friends of Fremantle Ports are running regular, free Port Walks along Victoria Quay on history, trade and logistics, architecture and maritime operations, and will be contributing to other projects, such as environmental initiatives.

Fremantle Ports sponsored informative signage throughout the ClimateWatch trail at Piney Lakes Environmental Education Centre, in Winthrop. This signage enables citizen science by encouraging people to walk the trail and observe and record information about the response of plants and animals to climate change.