Frequently Asked Questions

Is this project related to the Kimberley Marine Offloading Facility (KMOF)?

Yes. KMOF is the facility name for the KMSB Project. 

Is KMSB related to Kimberley Mineral Sands (KMS)?

No. KMSB and KMS are entirely unrelated to each other.

KMSB is a private, Australian-owned company that will be constructing new port infrastructure in the Port of Broome.



KMS is a company that is developing a mineral sands mine in the Kimberley region. 

Who is contracted to undertake the construction activities for the KMSB Project?

TAMS has been awarded the design and construct (D&C) contract for the KMSB Project.

More information about TAMS is available here. 

What Native Title Rights apply to the KMSB project area?

Native Title rights are extinguished over the land and waters of the Broome Port area. Nevertheless, KMSB has long recognised the importance of this area to Yawuru Traditional Owners and has and will continue to engage closely with the Yawuru Prescribed Body Corporate (PBC), community members and Cultural Monitors throughout the development of the project.

Refer to the map below, for the extent of the Broome Port landside area:



How was Yawuru involved in the site selection process?

The design of the facility and site selection is cognisant of the interests and concerns of various Broome stakeholders. These elements have been iteratively refined in collaboration with key stakeholder groups to minimise environmental, cultural, and heritage impacts.

Through this refinement process, KMSB engaged Yawuru People, including Cultural Monitors and community members, via the Yawuru PBC. A Multi-Objective Land Use Assessment (MOLA) tool was used to overlay the cultural, environmental, and technical requirements for the development. A holistic perspective was taken, including examining the potential cumulative impacts of the Port of Broome’s current activities, and proposed future boat launching facilities.



A suitable development footprint was identified through the MOLA process, with this area being selected on the basis of it minimising the overall impact on environmentally- and culturally-important sites, while also supporting ongoing access to sea Country.

What’s involved in construction and when will construction commence in Broome?

There are a number of stages involved in the construction of the KMSB Facility. These phases are summarised as follows:

• Phase one: Detailed Design and Modelling – A rigorous testing regime involving numerical and physical modelling of the wharf design and its ability to withstand high-impact, low-probability cyclonic events. This phase commenced in September 2022, and ultimately informed the final design of the floating wharf structure.



• Phase two: Floating wharf fabrication – Fabrication of the main floating component of the wharf at an overseas shipyard. This phase is due to commence in Q1 2024. Once completed, the floating wharf will be delivered to Broome via a semi-submersible vessel. This is scheduled to occur in late 2024 / early 2025, subject to appropriate weather windows for transport.

• Phase three: Causeway construction – Construction of the fixed-height causeway and associated components of the infrastructure. This component of works will commence in Broome in Q4 2023 within suitable weather windows and will take the form of preliminary test piling activities. The main construction activities for this phase of the project will subsequently commence in Q1 2024. Completion of this phase of the project will align with the arrival date of the floating wharf.

• Phase four: Commissioning and testing – Following the joining of the floating wharf to the causeway structure, the construction contractor will undertake commissioning and testing activities to allow for handover to KMSB.

Will the project involve landside developments?

Yes. In addition to developments required to accommodate temporary works for construction activities, KMSB and the Kimberley Ports Authority will be optimising the road network at the entrance (i.e. immediately adjacent) to each of the facilities.

The design is being informed by the outcomes of the Multi-Objective Land Use Assessment process that KMSB previously conducted in conjunction with Yawuru and the Kimberley Ports Authority. Further updates will be made available here in the coming months, including detailed public access and traffic management arrangements to the beach adjacent to the Facility and to the nearby public boat ramp. 

Has this project been approved by the Environmental Protection Authority?

The KMSB project was referred to the Federal Government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The Department considered the KMSB project, and decided that it is not a controlled action, meaning that it is not likely to have a significant impact, so it does not require any further assessment or approval under that Act.

Similarly, the Western Australian government’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also reviewed the KMSB project. The EPA decided that the design of the KMSB project had carefully considered the ecological and heritage values in the area, and that the KMSB project is unlikely to have a significant impact on the environment. Accordingly, the EPA also determined that the KMSB project did not need to be formally assessed under the Western Australian Environmental Protection Act 1986.



It is worth noting that the Multi-Objective Land Use Assessment process undertaken in conjunction with Yawuru and the Kimberley Ports Authority has optimised the design in a way that eliminates the need for dredging and minimises the total seabed disturbance area to under 400m² – an area smaller than an average residential block of land. This has been achieved via the positioning of the floating wharf over naturally deep water and the minimisation of piling structures. 

What environmental impacts might there be during construction and operation and what is being done to mitigate this?

KMSB has consulted widely and undertaken numerous studies to understand the potential impacts of the development on the environment. This work has uncovered several potential impact areas requiring careful management in line with an Environmental Management Plan approved by KMSB and KPA. Key potential impact areas and non-exhaustive examples of the adopted risk mitigants are included below:

• Noise generation - Noise generated by piling activities has the potential to disturb marine fauna. Marine Fauna Observers (MFOs) will be engaged to keep an active watch for any marine fauna (whales, dolphins, turtles, etc). All noise generating works will cease if target marine fauna are sighted within a 100m exclusion zone for shallow water piling activities, and a 1km exclusion zone for deep water piling activities (500m for turtles).

• Water turbidity from piling activities - Piling operations are expected to result in a temporary, localised increase in turbidity within 5-20 m from the piling location. However, the marine waters in the project area are naturally turbid, particularly during spring tide conditions. Given the strong tidal currents in the proposed piling locations it is expected that any excess turbidity generated above ambient background conditions would be quickly dissipated. Periods of low tide will also be targeted to conduct piling works to mitigate against the effects of elevated turbidity, which would not be generated if piling at low tide (i.e. in air).

• Disturbance of migratory shorebirds - Site staff, vehicles and plant involved in construction activities have the potential to cause disturbance to migratory shorebirds. However, these activities will be restricted to the proposed development footprint, leaving the majority of the available habitat surrounding the area entirely unaffected. Construction lights will also be directed away from shorebird feeding and roosting areas wherever possible, and no flickering lights will be used (except where required for navigational purposes).

• Light pollution - During construction there may be small temporary increases in light levels in and around the works areas that may influence turtle nesting. However, significant or prolonged night works will be limited. Given that the nearest turtle nesting beaches are >10 km from the proposal area at Cable Beach, no impacts are predicted on any significant turtle habitats.

What are the construction and ongoing operational Local Content and First Nations’ employment targets?

KMSB will support the local community and the social advancement of Yawuru people through preferential employment, training and contracting arrangements across any and all KMSB activity (direct or indirect).

KMSB will develop a skills and capability register alongside Nyamba Buru Yawuru. KMSB will then look to recruit or engage directly from this register, with a commitment to sustainable employment outcomes and career development pathways for Aboriginal people.

KMSB will also work closely with the Broome Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) to maximise local contracting and procurement opportunities. KMSB’s procurement policy requires all local content to be exclusively procured through the Kimberley Business Network Platform - a database developed by the BCCI to provide visibility on local capabilities and procurement opportunities. The database is free for all Kimberley-based businesses to sign up to.

In addition to employment and training outcomes, KMSB supports the Broome community’s annual program of cultural events and will support and promote Yawuru’s cultural engagement programs to regular port users and tourists as part of its Reconciliation Action Plan commitments.

Will key personnel and contractors undertake cultural training?

Yes, senior personnel in KMSB (as the owner of the facility), TAMS (as the construction contractor), Petersons (as the operations contractor), and Kimberley Ports Authority (as the land holders), will all undertake the Yawuru Cultural Immersion training program. A number of senior personnel in these entities have already had the privilege of undertaking this program.

Will I be able to access the beach area and nearby reef areas to go fishing?

Yes, the beach area underneath and surrounding the jetty causeway will be accessible from shore, with the likelihood for some short-term, intermittent access interruptions. 

Specific design allowances have been incorporated (e.g. extending spacing between jetty pylons) to reduce the land-based footprint and enable ease of passage beneath the jetty causeway.



During construction, access to the beach area immediately adjacent to the jetty will be limited. KMSB and TAMS will communicate this information across multiple communication channels to ensure that the community is informed in advance.

Will I be able to fish off KMSB’s jetty?

No. Due to biosecurity, border force and safety risks, members of the public will not be permitted on the KMSB facility.

Where can I source further information?

Please send all enquiries to info@kmsb.com.au