New South Wales (NSW) Treasurer Mike Baird has launched the formal transaction process for the 98-year lease of the Port of Newcastle.
The contract will include a 99-year lease of Newcastle port's precincts where three coal terminals sit. They are owned and operated by Port Waratah Coal Services and Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group. In 2012, Newcastle port's three terminals together shipped around 132.5 million mt of coal - 105.8 million mt for PWCS and 26.7 million mt for NCIG.
The lease will include more than 700 hectares of land owned by the Newcastle Port Corporation (NPC), as well as all road and rail infrastructure and wharves owned by NPC within the port boundary.
NSW Government indicated that NPC will retain a number of important maritime functions and services, including the Harbour Master, dangerous goods approvals, emergency response and administration of the existing coal chain Capacity Framework Arrangements.
Mr Baird said:
The Port of Newcastle has huge development and growth potential, including extensive strategic port-side land available for the future growth of general cargo, dry bulk and bulk liquids.
The deadline for lodging responses to the Government's Request for Expressions of Interest is 10am (AEDT) on December 9.
Parties interested in receiving a copy of the Government's Request for Expressions of Interest document should contact the Government's financial adviser atnewcastle.port@morganstanley.com