T-Ports Wallaroo port development kicks off

The $70-million grain export facility will be ready to receive and export grain in time for the 2022-23 harvest.

About 50 growers attended the launch, where T-Ports chief executive officer Kieran Carvill said the YP site was the "logical next step" in the T-Ports journey.

"We're excited to see the opportunities for Yorke Peninsula growers after witnessing the significant returns delivered to Eyre Peninsula growers this past harvest," Mr Carvill said.

"We're looking forward to offering competition for growers in the YP and Mid North regions and delivering supply chain savings."

Mr Carvill said T-Ports was also proud to announce the successful negotiation of an Indigenous Land Use Agreement with the Narungga Nation Aboriginal Corporation.

"We look forward to building a strong partnership with the Narungga Nation Aboriginal Corporation and bringing development and career opportunities to the traditional landowners," Mr Carvill said.

"All businesses need to recognise that native title needs to be taken seriously and at T-Ports, we are actively working to develop a culture of respect and inclusion."

Mr Carvill said the Wallaroo site would follow on from the success of T-Ports' Lucky Bay port site, which received almost 600,000t of grain this harvest.

Primary Industries Minister David Basham was in attendance at the launch, and said the infrastructure would have a widespread beneficial impact well into the future, which would be particularly important in successful seasons.

"We've seen about a 7.7mt grain crop this (2021-22 harvest), worth about $3-billion, which is probably the most valuable crop we've ever seen in SA, due to high prices and high volume," Mr Basham said.

"This is another great opportunity for graingrowers in this region to benefit from those prices going forward. Dealing with high volume, we will need more facilities like this to make sure the prices are competitive and farmers are getting good returns."

The facility will feature two steel silos with 20,500 tonnes of grain capacity, and a 500-metre rock causeway with grain conveyed to a ship loader for loading onto the transhipment vessel MV Lucky Eyre - which also services the Lucky Bay site - and a bunker site with six bunkers and an overall 240,000 tonnes of grain capacity.

Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey said the dual use of the transhipment vessel and hence greater efficiency, would flow on to have positive effects for growers.

"With a terminal on either side of the (Spencer) Gulf, T-Ports will have a better ability to utlise their equipment and staff. The more round the year work you've got for your equipment, the better opportunity you have to drop your cost down, and pass that along to growers," Mr Ramsey said.

He too believed the increased competition was a positive for farmers.

"It's been a concern of growers for a long time that there's been a lack of diversity over the belt. Viterra do a brilliant job at handling and exporting grain, but it's always good to have competition in the market, and that's what this is providing."

Up to 200 jobs are expected to be created during the construction phase. Once in operation, it is expected that employment at the grain facility will be between 25-30 jobs, made up of 10-15 jobs at the loading facility, and 15-20 jobs associated with transhipment operations.

Other T-Ports facilities across SA include bunker sites at Kimba and Lock, and the Lucky Bay port site.

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