AGY-531 | Port Kembla Port Corporation

Full description

The Port Kembla Port Corporation, was established by the Ports Corporatisation and Waterways Management Act, 1995 (Act No.13,1995) on 1 July 1995 (1) to replace the Illawarra Ports Authority. The new independent Corporation, was managed as a commercial business, under the terms of the State Owned Corporations Amendment Act, 1995 (Act No.32, 1995). The purpose of this change in the administration of the ports, was to separate "the commercial port operations in the State of New South Wales from the policy and regulatory aspects." (2)

The functions of the Corporation as outlined in the State Owned Corporations Act,1995, were to be a successful business, to promote and facilitate trade through its port facilities and to ensure its port safety functions are carried out properly. (3) The main activities of the Corporation are:
a) provision of Port Shipping management and safety devices including vessel movement scheduling, navigation services and channels
b) provision of pilotage services
c) provision of unload and load facilities such as berths and equipment for private sector tenure or common use
d) provision of on-shore facilities such as land and access to enable the movement and storage of cargo or the Development of Port-related industries
e) the management and maintenance of Corporation and Ministerial assets, including land, berths and wetland areas
f) active facilitation of business growth in the Port by planning, marketing and promoting the Corporations services and facilities
g) leading, planning and facilitating the development of efficient, effective and reliable services in the Port. (4)

From 1 July 2009 when the Ministry of Transport was abolished the Port Kembla Port Corporation became a branch of the new Principal Department, the Department of Transport and Infrastructure. (5) The name of this department was changed to Transport NSW from 1 July 2010. (6)

From 4 April 2011 when the name of Transport NSW was changed the Port Kembla Port Corporation became a branch of the Department of Transport. (7)

In 2013, Sydney and Port Kembla Port Corporations amalgamated into the Newcastle Port Corporation under the Ports Assets (Authorised Transactions) Amendment Act 2013 No 52 (8) and, on 1 July 2014, began operating as the Port Authority of New South Wales with responsibility for the ports of Yamba on the Clarence River; Newcastle; Sydney Harbour and Port Botany; Port Kembla and Eden. (9)

On 1 September 2016, the Port Kembla Port Corporation was dissolved. (10)

Endnotes
1. New South Wales Government Gazette No.79, 30 June 1995, p.3435
2. Annual Report of the Office of Marine Safety and Port Strategy and the Marine Ministerial Holding Corporation, year ended 30 June 1996, p.4
3. Annual Report of the Port Kembla Port Corporation, year ended 30 June 1996
4. Port Kembla Port Corporation, report for the year ended 30 June, 1998 p. 25
5. Public Sector Employment and Management (Departmental Amalgamations) Order 2009 (2009 No 352) cls. 34; notified on NSW Legislation website, 27 July 2009.
6. Transport Administration Amendment Act 2010 (Act No.31, 2010) Sch. 1.2 [1] amending the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 2002 (Act No.43, 2002) Sch. 1; Commencement Proclamation (2010 No 294); notified on NSW Legislation website, 25 June 2010.
7. Public Sector Employment and Management (Departments) Order 2011 (2011 No 184) cls. 44; notified on NSW Legislation website, 3 April 2011.
8.Ports Assets (Authorised Transactions) Amendment Act 2013 (No. 52, 2013), Section 2.
9. Port Authority of New South Wales, Annual Report 2014-2015, p.11.
10. Ports Assets (Authorised Transactions) (Dissolution of Port Corporations) Proclamation 2016, NSW Legislation website, 17 August 2016.