Bunbury Port Authority chief executive Kevin Schellack said a feasibility study had been carried out to assess the viability of the extra berth, which would cost about $200 million.

The port now has five berths, two of which are multi-use.

Coal exports would involve large volumes and the port does not currently have the capacity, Mr Schellack said.

Coal stockpiles would have to be located near Alcoa.

“There is still a lot of work to do, in terms of funding, that needs to be looked at before we go to the Government for approval,” he said.

If approval was gained, it would be ready for use by the end of 2013 or the start of 2014.

Premier Coal general manager Patrick Warrand said a Bunbury coal port would make export more viable then going out of Kwinana.

“If we are going to export, then Bunbury is the place to go,” he said.

Mr Schellack said the authority had worked with Griffin Coal on building the berth.

Griffin Coal administrator Brian McMaster said he had spoken to Kwinana about the future of exporting from the Kwinana port and there had been discussions about whether exporting from Bunbury made sense.

“But from what we know it is still in early stages of discussion,” he said.

Stage one of the Bunbury Port Access Road was officially opened last week. The upgrade includes 4.7 kilometres of single carriageway from Estuary Drive to the South Western Highway in Picton, linking midway with the new Perth-Bunbury Highway.

New traffic signals have been installed at the intersection of Alyxia Drive and the Australind Bypass, which form part of a new four-way intersection linking the Port Access Road.