4.4 Transformative project highlights

Air freight and general aviation servicing opportunities at Busselton Margaret River Airport (BMRA) are available across a flat 15ha industry-zoned development area.

Growth in passenger flights with underbelly freight capability will generate opportunities, particularly in future years as key international routes open to markets demanding premium perishable products.

However, the uniquely spacious greenfield development site and Code 4C and 4E aircraft accessibility offer opportunities that are unavailable in other airports. BMRA has the space for passenger and commercial aircraft hangars with associated servicing.

The need for a relocated new, fit-for-purpose saleyards to replace the Boyanup yards is well established. Demand persists, with stakeholders indicating the efficiency of selling stock from the South West catchment through Capel rather than through facilities in the Wheatbelt or Great Southern. Maintaining sale yards close to their current location is crucial for aggregating cattle herds, supporting feedlots, aiding small producers in competitive sales, and serving as a transit point for a variety of destinations.

Establishing a new location also opens up other opportunities as appropriate buffers, biosecurity, animal welfare, access to the RAV 4 network, water availability and other systems can be put in place.

Stakeholders have indicated a variety of large businesses across several different agricultural industries that could potentially act as an anchor, including an abattoir, horticulture processing facility, and grains processing. Indeed, a modern fit-for-purpose agribusiness precinct would offer opportunities in value adding, would be technologically advanced and would promote the circular economy.

It is notable that the existing saleyards within Boyanup townsite creates land use conflicts with neighbours including odour, noise, dust and effluent disposal, as well as constraining development of fully serviced land. Relocating the yards opens the door to residential development.

Harvey Water’s market-led proposal phase of the ‘Collie to Coast’ has progressed. The project offers to deliver a water infrastructure undertaking designed to improve water availability and quality for the benefit of agriculture and industrial water users in the South West, particularly supporting agricultural expansion in a proposed 500ha horticulture zone – Myalup Primary Industries Reserve.

Originally funded in partnership with the Australian and WA Government, a business case was developed to deliver a reduction in water salinity sourced from the 185GL capacity Wellington Dam, and to reduce water loss in the distribution network. The potential of Wellington Dam asset is constrained by salinity levels that exceed potable water two-fold.

The Collie to Coast work considers long-term forecasting and includes stakeholder engagement to maximise inputs and benefits. The preliminary business case was completed in 2024 but details are not yet public. Options considered include: project scale; the existing Binningup desalination plant; construction of a new 20GL capacity Wellington Dam desalination plant; upgrade and extension of water networks; establishment of managed aquifer recharge; and, better utilisation of existing storages in a drying climate.

Reducing salinity remains a South West priority issue and boosts regional water security.

Manufacturing is undergoing a dynamic transformation globally and plays a vital role in Australia’s economy.

Manufacturers are diversifying their focus across different stages of the manufacturing process, ranging from research and development, and ethical resource acquisition to responsible processing of waste materials.

Government policy supports the benefits of expanding regional production opportunities by decoupling the over-reliance on imports, alleviating dependency on global supply chains in materials, medical technologies and other goods. Advanced manufacturing is linked with competitive advantage and requires affordable energy, with an emphasis on promoting renewable energy as having leading credentials.

An Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Hub (AMTECH) in the region will enable the adoption of new technologies, processes and practices to attract increased private sector investment and encourage high-skilled, high-value job creation for the long-term growth and prosperity of the regional economy.

New technologies produce specialised and valuable inputs linked to downstream processing, improved efficiencies in the innovation process to target and supply growing Australian export markets and support the nation’s energy transition.

Skilled and knowledgeable workforces will be a prerequisite, building strength and underpinning investment attraction.

AMTECH development begins

In early 2025 the WA State Government announced plans to develop AMTECH in Picton and establish facilities to support the local manufacture of major energy infrastructure. The State’s Made in WA plan details its commitment to installing a Western Power Manufacturing Facility as the anchor tenant for AMTECH and enable local industry to leverage opportunities.  

This is an important first step in the development of WA’s first dedicated advanced manufacturing, technology and renewables zone which will unlock local supply chain opportunities and create jobs as the energy transition takes pace.

It also signals WA Government commitment to the energy transition pipeline. This encouraging development will underpin future investment in partnerships and facilities designed to increase industry collaboration, skills development and R&D innovation.  

AMTECH will elevate the region’s manufacturing potential by clustering private enterprise, education and skills training, and research to drive high-value industry transformation and workforce development.

At both a State and Commonwealth level there is increased investment in manufacturing innovation to support new and emerging markets. The South West is poised to benefit and play a major role in a ‘Future Made in Australia’ building on the region’s existing strengths and comparative advantages.

Critical minerals are essential components in modern technologies, particularly in generating clean energy. The Department of Industry, Science and Resources lists 33 critical minerals: Nine are produced in the South West. They are alumina, graphite, lithium, silicon, tantalum, titanium (ilmenite and rutile) and zircon.

The Australian Government’s critical minerals

strategy emphasises sovereign capability, supply chains and renewable energy development as key issues with $566m made available from 2024-25 for Geoscience to map critical mineral and rare earth deposits across the continent.

These actions and investing in a “Future Made in Australia” highlight the importance of the South West in advanced manufacturing, port expansion and a renewable energy future. The South West is approaching a watershed period in which it value adds its potential or exports materials for another region to benefit.

Backed by the WA Government, Collie is transitioning away from coal-fired generation to new industries and jobs. Work is progressing to refresh the commitment through to 2030.

Australia’s first low emissions steel mill and WA’s first steel recycling mill is one step closer with Green Steel of WA closing on its final investment decision. The project has undertaken front-end engineering design and construction is anticipated to begin in late 2025 and complete in 2027.

Magnium Australia’s state-of-the-art pilot plant is now operational in Collie’s Light Industrial Area, marking a major milestone in the development of sustainable magnesium production. Magnium’s facility represents a significant step forward in establishing a domestic supply of this critical defence and automotive metal.

International Graphite has now commissioned and is operating its pilot project as it continues to move towards commercial scale processing. The company has commenced a Battery Anode Material Facility Feasibility Study, demonstrating industry interest in developing projects at Coolangatta Industrial Estate. The facility will produce graphite products for battery materials and a variety of industrial uses.

In support of attracting new job-creating industries, the State Government has allocated $134m to activate Collie’s Coolangatta Industrial Estate.

Tesla’s battery re-manufacturing facility is also powering ahead with construction due for completion in October 2025. The facility will service, repair, and renew Tesla’s battery products, including industry scale Megapacks.

It is expected that Synergy and Neoen projects will bring battery energy storage capacity to more than 1GW (4+GWh) by the end of 2025, with proposals to double that in the future.

Other projects include Renergi’s waste-to-fuel pyrolysis plant at the commissioning stage, Cannaponics’ medicinal cannabis project moving towards certification and Quantum Filtration Medium’s water treatment systems.

The timber and forestry industry is under-rated as an economic contributor to the region and points towards a more sustainable future; growing, harvesting and then growing more trees to store carbon.

Innovations range from replacing plastic packaging to building more energy efficient and affordable housing. Planet Ark is promoting a Wood Encouragement Policy, a call to lock up carbon and think of timber first as a building material.

A timber future also raises new opportunities in education and training, developing expertise in construction, architecture, design, technology and manufacturing.

An integrated processing facility would add value to the sector by utilising whole logs to maximum value and reducing costs through efficiency in processing by exploiting synergies within the industry cluster. A full merchandising yard would also support an Advanced Timber Manufacturing Hub.

The timber industry is a leading prospect for private sector investment. Creating the preconditions for investment in plantations at one end of the industry and high-end manufacturing at the other would set the sector on a solid course given the UN’s prediction that demand for timber products will treble by 2050.

Blue sky thinking establishes a path that leads to the development of a CLT or LVL plant and is underpinned by expansion of the Dardanup Timber Precinct to include an industry-leading processing yard serving a variety of related customers.

A shortage of fill materials and challenging soil types on land at the future suburb of Wanju will require lightweight construction techniques. Since the customary approach of brick and concrete on raised pads will not be an option, the opportunity for quick-build alternatives comes to the fore.

Timber construction on raised frames is the future in a suburb already being promoted as one where environmental values will dominate. That opportunity points to affordable and energy efficient homes erected in half the typical build time.