Flinders Port Holdings John Ranaldo and Terre Property Partners’ Mark Brammy explain their joint efforts in developing the South Australian Bulk Commodity Storage facility.
Flinders Port Holdings is set to make a leap in South Australia’s trade infrastructure with the development of a new bulk commodity storage facility at the Inner Harbour East precinct.
This project is more than just an upgrade – it’s a milestone in the company’s long-term vision, closely aligned with its Masterplan designed to enhance both import and export capabilities for South Australia.
John Ranaldo, Executive General Manager – Commercial at Flinders Port Holdings, and Mark Brammy, Chief Executive Officer at Terre Property Partners, share insights into how this development fits into the Group’s broader strategy.
Flinders Ports’ Long-term Masterplan
In 2020, Flinders Port Holdings commissioned a long-term Masterplan to guide decisions around port and land side infrastructure development. The new bulk commodity shed project is being developed in collaboration with Terre Property Partners.
John explains that the company’s long-term ownership of port and land infrastructure is necessary to its strategic planning.
“Our long-term Masterplan is designed to ensure we make well-informed decisions for the future of South Australia’s trade and logistics capabilities,” he says.
The Inner Harbour East precinct was identified as a key opportunity for facilitating bulk commodity imports and exports.
“We’ve been developing Inner Harbour East since 2011 and have invested over $100 million in infrastructure there,” John says.
“This new bulk commodity shed is another major step in transforming the precinct into a world-class trade location.”
“The planning approval process is straighforward. It’s a local council planning consent issued by the City of Port Adelaide given the site is compliant with industrial and port-related activity use,” adds Mark.
Supporting South Australia’s growing commodities sector
The new facility is tailored to meet the growing demand for bulk commodities in South Australia, particularly from sectors like mining and manufacturing. John highlights the increasing pipeline of mining activities in the state, particularly in magnetite iron ore and copper.
“South Australia’s resource sector is thriving, and we believe this facility will be instrumental in supporting that growth,” he says.
However, the focus is not just on exports. John emphasises the importance of supporting the state’s import needs as well.
“Our Masterplan identified that we can’t focus solely on exports. The bulk commodity shed will initially cater to customers importing essential materials such as fertiliser and soda ash, which are crucial for industries like mining and glass manufacturing,” he explains.
Mark points out that Terre Property’s experience, having previously developed two nearby fertiliser storage facilities, gives it a distinct advantage.
“We’ve developed facilities for Incitec Pivot Fertilisers and Wengfu Fertilisers, so we understand both the planning and operational requirements for prospective tenants,” he says.
This expertise is reflected in the design, particularly in accommodating bulk commodity storage.
The facility is being engineered to support high floor loadings and large stockpiles.
“We’re implementing a ground improvement strategy to support an 80 kPa floor loading, allowing stockpiles up to 10 metres,” explains Mark.
He also addresses the challenges of storing corrosive materials like fertiliser.
“The building requires epoxy paint treatments on steel and timber LVLs instead of steel purlins to ensure the facility’s longevity,” he adds.
Enhancing supply chain resilience
John is enthusiastic about the role this facility will play in improving supply chain resilience.
“Resilience in the supply chain means having the capacity and bandwidth to support short-term peaks in volume,” he says.
The Inner Harbour East precinct has already seen the development of other commodity storage facilities, and the new shed will add further capacity to handle increasing trade volumes.
“This precinct has the potential to become a world-class hub for bulk commodities. By adding this new facility, we’re not just boosting capacity – we’re also improving operational efficiency and creating flexibility to accommodate future growth,” says John.
Optimising operational efficiency
Efficiency is a key design principle for the new bulk commodity storage facility.
John reveals that the facility will be constructed with the capability to include a conveyor system that facilitates direct transfer of commodities from ship to shed.
“While the conveyor system isn’t part of the initial construction, we’ve been very clear with our design consultants that it’s something we want to add in the future. This will reduce manual handling and transport time, making the entire operation more efficient,” he explains.
In addition to this, Flinders Port Holdings is conducting a feasibility study on integrating a conveyor system across multiple sheds in the precinct, linking them directly to Berth 29.
“This would create a seamless flow of goods from ship to storage, greatly enhancing operational efficiency across the precinct,” says John.
Expanding rail infrastructure
Flinders Port Holdings is exploring the potential to expand the rail infrastructure within the precinct. Currently, the rail spur into Berth 29 is limited to 400-metre-long trains.
John explains that the Group is investigating options to acquire additional land and develop a rail loop that could accommodate longer trains.
“Completing the rail loop would reduce downtime and improve the overall efficiency of not just this shed but the entire precinct,” he says.
“We’ve enjoyed working with Terre Property over the past year to bring this project to fruition. We’re now approaching the final decision points within Flinders Port Holdings that will allow us to start construction early in 2025.”
Flinders Port Holdings will meet the needs of South Australia’s trade sector. The project will be completed in Q1 2026 and will align with key agricultural seasons, targeting pre-commitment from tenants.
“We are offering spaces ranging from 4000 to 22,000 square metres, with flexibility in division walls and location,” says Mark.
Mark sees this development as part of a broader strategy.
“Our long-term vision is aligned with the port’s ability to attract new users and provide an integrated end-to-end solution,” he says. “It’s one thing to have a port user, but they need storage, and that’s where we come in.”
The new bulk commodity storage facility is a component of the company’s strategy to support both imports and exports, improve supply chain resilience, and enhance operational efficiency.
Terre Property’s efforts are set to strengthen the port’s capabilities and provide infrastructure for South Australia’s bulk commodity sector.
As construction plans move forward, the Inner Harbour East precinct is set to become a world-class hub for bulk commodity trade, benefiting the state for upcoming decades.
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