Port of Melbourne upgrades Appleton Dock for critical minerals

The Port of Melbourne, in collaboration with the Victorian Government, Qube, and Australian Amalgamated Terminals (AAT), has completed infrastructure upgrades at Appleton Dock to facilitate the handling of dry bulk commodities. These improvements are designed to strengthen Victoria’s critical minerals supply chain, supporting sectors such as renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and emerging technologies.

The upgraded rail-connected facilities allow for the efficient transport of critical minerals from the Qube Ultima Intermodal Terminal to the port, where they are transferred from rail to vessels for processing. The first rail shipment successfully departed the port on September 28, 2026.

These port investments complement the Victorian Government’s rail line investments through Korong Vale to Manangatang. Port of Melbourne CEO Saul Cannon noted that the upgrades unlock new export capacity and improve supply chain performance. Since 2016, the port has invested over $1 billion in infrastructure, with an additional $1.5 billion planned by 2030 to meet growing trade demands.