Enterprise zone and common user port may be a long way off yet

Town of Port Hedland Mayor Kelly Howlett has acknowledged it may be a long time before a Pilbara Enterprise Zone and common user port at Lumsden Point were up-and-running.

But she said the initiatives were important steps towards diversifying the Pilbara economy and had been discussed with Premier Barnett during his visit to Hedland last month.

"The Premier noted that we are in a pretty unique location and sit perfectly next to existing markets and local industries, but we also need to be realistic that projects such as Lumsden Point need time to materialise," she said.

"It's a project that we all see merit in and will continue to work with the State and other agencies on progressing.

"If we look at (the) Henderson Point (common user port south of Perth) as an example, this took more than 10 years to get up and running."

Ms Howlett said by pushing the projects now, Hedland could be ready to seize opportunities outside the resources industry.

"Port Hedland needs be prepared and ready to expand our export opportunities," she said.

"Being in close proximity to existing food bowls, cattle grazing and our Asian neighbours, we are in a unique position to harvest the significant prospects for agricultural exports."