T-Ports plans to open its Wallaroo facility on Chatfield Terrace in time for the 2021 harvest. Image: T-Ports

EARLY site works will begin in the next month at T-Ports proposed grain export facility at Wallaroo on the Yorke Peninsula following the South Australian Government signing off on the project’s Crown Development status.

T-Ports chief executive officer Kieran Carvill said the Wallaroo facility, which also has the support of the Copper Coast Council, will be ready to receive grain from the 2021-22 harvest.

“The port at Wallaroo is the logical next step in the T-Ports journey following the successful first harvest and export season at Lucky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula,” Mr Carvill said.

Planning has included scoping studies of the coastal environment, shoreline, inland freight networks and economic feasibility to ensure the port’s long-term sustainability.

“There are efficiencies and cost savings in building this port on the opposite side of the Spencer Gulf to Lucky Bay as we will use the same transhipment vessel, the MV Lucky Eyre.

“We’re looking forward to offering competition for growers in the Yorke Peninsula and Mid North regions, and
delivering significant supply-chain savings.”

The Wallaroo grain-export facility will incorporate a 500-metre rock causeway used to convey grain to a shiploader, and silos able to hold 20,500 tonnes of grain in total.

Storage for a 240,000t of grain will be provided by six bunkers.

“The construction process will take between 12 and 18 months and during that phase we will look to utilise South Australian expertise and contractors as we have done at Lucky Bay,” he said.

Allied Grain Systems will be building T-Ports’ Wallaroo facility.

Mr Carvill said T-Ports’ use of disruptive state-of-the-art technology provided an alternative for infrastructure projects in South Australia.

“South Australian grain growers are the first to benefit from our innovative transhipment technology positioning port infrastructure close to a product’s origin.

“Having a larger number of regional shallow-water ports, rather than transporting commodities to city ports on trucks or trains, makes sense.”

Source: T-Ports