The Port Kembla Port Corporation will release the environmental studies for the outer harbour expansion tomorrow.
The plans include seven new berths with associated container and multipurpose terminals, supported by enhanced road and rail infrastructure.
Seventy-two hectares will be filled in with coal wash, slag and other materials collected from Sydney tunnelling projects.
The corporation’s chief executive officer, Dom Figliomeni, says only inert materials will be used below the waterline.
“So coal wash won’t actually be mixed with seawater,” he said.
“It forms a fairly stable platform above the high water mark, so as such all of the studies that have been done have shown that is a stable platform and doesn’t compromise the environment at all.”
Meanwhile, the corporation has announced Wollongong businesswoman and public relations consultant Janine Cullen as a new board member.
Ms Cullen says it is an exciting time to be involved with the port as it undergoes a period of major growth and development.
She says she was appointed to the position by a Government Minister.
“It’s a position that hopefully the Government thinks about long and hard,” Ms Cullen said.
“It’s recommended by a Minister, then it goes to three ministers, the Treasurer gets the final call to put it up to Cabinet, then Cabinet puts it up to the Governor.”
The study results will be on public display for six weeks from tomorrow.