In short:

Businesses in Kwinana's industrial area in Perth's south say infrastructure is not keeping up with growth.

The Kwinana Industries Council has released its 'Election Manifesto' urging the next state government to invest more in roads, rails and housing.

The state government says it's committed to investing in the area by maximising land use, while the opposition has committed to delivering a 10-year infrastructure pipeline.

It's 4pm and the roads are quickly filling with cars as people knock off work and head home.

Red brake lights line the roads as vehicles sit bumper to bumper and tempers begin to fray.

Some drivers curse and others mount kerbs to get around traffic — but this isn't St Georges Terrace in Perth's CBD, it's the Kwinana industrial area in the city's south.

And with the expected $4 billion Westport program to move container trade from Fremantle to Kwinana, and AUKUS defence projects already in progress, it's got workers worried things are about to get a whole lot worse.

'It's quite challenging'

One of the local businesses that gets gridlocked at the end of each working day is Cockburn Cement.

At its worst, 400 workers can be backed up as they try to get on to Rockingham Road at change-of-shift time.

Cockburn Cement general manager of WA Operations Colin Powers said the problem was only going to get worse.

"The local workers already work quite long days and then to add into that the congestion they face trying to leave shift at the end of the day … it's quite challenging," he said.

"When you talk about projects like Westport, existing industries decarbonising and the AUKUS submarine program, all of this continued growth and expansion will put a lot of pressure on roads and infrastructure."

The cement business operates two sites – one in Munster and one in Kwinana – but is in the process of consolidating all work at its Kwinana site.

It's currently got an additional 3,000 people working on a $400 million upgrade which is adding to local congestion.

Mr Powers said housing for new workers had also been an issue.

"I think like all of Perth there certainly is a challenge with housing, but it will be particularly prominent in this area especially as it continues to grow," he said.

'A jewel in the state's crown'

Kwinana might not be a big ticket item for the main parties ahead of next year's state election, but the area's industries council thinks it should be.

The area area employs around 40,000 people and brings in $15 billion each year.

The council has today released its 'Election Manifesto' outlining priority issues for the major parties.

"The Kwinana industrial area is a jewel in the state's crown," Kwinana Industries Council director David Harrison said.

"We're now looking at an industrial revolution here with things like clean energy, critical minerals, batteries, lithium, biofuels, hydrogen – you name it, it's all happening here."

It might be a jewel, but something Mr Harrison hears regularly from his members are the many concerns about congestion and dwindling housing availability.

"Over 60-odd years there's been considerable investment and growth, but the local infrastructure hasn't kept pace," he said.

"The local roads are congested, there's bottlenecks, it's hard for people to get in and out, the electricity transmission lines are at capacity."

Kwinana's industrial area already experienced a major blow this year with US aluminium giant Alcoa announcing its closure back in January.

He thinks the area is a "victim of its own success" and the current infrastructure is putting the brakes on realising the region's potential.

"We're saying to the state government that for opportunities to be properly realised, there needs to be significant investment particularly in things like roads, railways, land – all of those building blocks that will allow industry to thrive."

Wind With Purpose chief executive officer Chris Kearney thinks part of those building blocks is decarbonising the area as it expands.

He's in the process of developing six onshore wind turbines in Kwinana's industrial area and currently has four companies on board, but he wants more help.

"The more government support you can get in the transition to decarbonise would be a huge help to companies," he said.

"The appetite to decarbonise has certainly grown in the last year or two compared to four or five years ago – it's very much moving towards ambitions to do so."

No immediate solution

WA Premier Roger Cook is the sitting member for Kwinana and says he's "always happy" to talk about the area.

"We've already got significant investment in terms of our transport infrastructure, roads, rail and obviously the precursor to the development of Westport," he said.

"Westport is going to be a massive development.

"There's going to need to be continued investment around that strategic industrial area making sure we maximise the use of the land there."

WA Opposition Leader Shane Love described the area as the "cornerstone" of the state's economy, but was worried about what he said was the the lack of investment.

"I recently met with the Kwinana Industries Council and share their concerns about the lack of coordination and investment into this critical industrial area," he said.

"The Nationals WA have committed to delivering a 10-year infrastructure pipeline within our first 200 days of forming government following the 2025 state election."

Although the official Westport price tag is still unknown, there are plans to tackle congestion issues with projects like the future Anketell Thomas Road Freight Corridor, but as yet there is still no schedule or funding for construction.

In the meantime, driver anger in the area continues to rage on without any immediate relief in sight.