Pilbara Ports is continuing to conduct condition inspections of its facilities at the Port of Dampier and the Port of Ashburton following Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle (34U).
Port of Dampier The port reopened on 28 March 2026 however significant damage was identified across Pilbara Ports general cargo precinct, and all general cargo import operations remain suspended. The Dampier Cargo Wharf and adjacent floating deck facility remain inoperable due to structural damage. The Bulk Liquids Berth is operable, and fuel imports are not affected.
Further engineering assessments, including underwater inspections and marine surveys will continue over the next few days. These assessments will inform when safe general cargo import operations can resume.
Port of Ashburton The port reopened on 28 March 2026 however Pilbara Ports Ashburton Cargo Wharf remains closed. Engineering teams are now able to access the port, and inspections will be carried out over the next few days.
Port of Varanus Island The Port of Varanus Island re-opened on 28 March 2026. Its operations are not impacted.
Pilbara Ports is committed to effecting repairs and restoring capability as safely and efficiently as possible across the ports of Dampier and Ashburton. It will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
Refer to Media Statement Update 1 - Saturday 28 March 2026 for more detail.
In 2024 Pilbara Ports received final approval under Section 133(1) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) to construct and operate a southern wharf extension to the Dampier Cargo Wharf at the Port of Dampier (2022/09237). Compliance with the conditions of the permit will be managed under a Construction Environmental Management Plan.
Pilbara Ports is approved to conduct capital dredging in accordance with an approved Dredge Environmental Management Plan and associated Sea Dumping Permit, issued by the Commonwealth environmental regulator under the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981.
Capital dredging will be required to construct the Dampier Bulk Handling Facility.
An Annual Compliance Report (ACR) is required under Condition 24 of Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999 approval (EPBC 2022/09237) for the Dampier Cargo Wharf (DCW) Extension and Landside Redevelopment Project (DCWELR) by the 27th December each year.
Pilbara Ports conducts maintenance dredging in the Port of Dampier in accordance with an approved long-term dredge management plan and associated sea dumping permit, which is issued by the Commonwealth environmental regulator under the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981.
Pilbara Ports is required to report annually to the regulator for this activity.
The Maintenance Dredging Permit for Dampier is valid from the 14th May 2025 for a period of five years.
In 2011, Pilbara Ports was granted environmental approvals under Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (State) and Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth) to develop the Dampier Marine Services Facility.
Once constructed, this multi-user general and specialised cargo loading and unloading facility will provide additional services to new and existing Port of Dampier customers in addition to those offered by the adjacent Dampier Cargo Wharf.
Pilbara Ports has made available the environmental referral information that supported the initial application for this project.
Pilbara Ports is required to report annually to the state environmental regulator (Office of the Environmental Protection Authority) for this project.