Dredging contract awarded to Hall Contracting for long awaited Spoilbank Marina

Port Hedland’s long gestating Spoilbank Marina has moved forward after a more than $20 million dredging contract was awarded with works to begin mid-year.

Plans for the Spoilbank Marina began in 2012 before the project was revised in 2017 with a master plan released two years later.

In June 2020, the State Government announced the design had been finalised for the now $121.5 million project before announcing the budget had been adjusted to $187.5 in December.

The State Government announced on April 29 the $21.4 million contract was awarded to Queensland based Hall Contracting to dredging a new navigational channel, linking the marina basin to deep water.

It will see up to 190,000 cubic metres of material will be removed from the channel to create the required depth.

Local business will benefit from the contract with $6.6 million committed locally.

Mobilisation of equipment and commissioning works will begin in May, with dredging works expected to start mid-year.

Ports Minister Rita Saffioti said more than 85 per cent of the spend for this project so far had been awarded to local and registered Aboriginal businesses.

“The Spoilbank Marina project will make sure our recreational boaters have safe access to boat launching and berthing facilities, and support the community through a pipeline of works within the region that creates new jobs and opportunities for local businesses,” she said.

Pilbara MLA Kevin Michel said 30 per cent of the dredging contract had been committed locally.

The $187.5 million Spoilbank Marina project is funded by the State Government, Town of Port Hedland and BHP.