❓ Hon Jim Scott questions the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure about a proposal to transport coal from Collie to Chandala by road, its impact on truck movements, and its alignment with the government's policy of shifting freight to rail. The Minister acknowledges the issue, explains the economic factors favoring road transport in this case, and highlights the government's broader success in increasing rail freight in other areas.
AnsweredQoN 2167Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the Minister aware of a proposal to truck over 100 000 tonnes of coal from Collie to the Ti West refinery at Chandala near Muchea?
(2) Would this proposal mean that and extra 100 truck movements daily through Collie and areas to the north?
(3) How does this proposal fit in with the State Government’s attempts to transfer road freight to rail?
(2) Would this proposal mean that and extra 100 truck movements daily through Collie and areas to the north?
(3) How does this proposal fit in with the State Government’s attempts to transfer road freight to rail?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
25 August 2004
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure
Response time
55 days
TiWest was able to take advantage of back-hauling opportunities, for both road and rail freight. In the rail operation, the opportunity for back haulage arose because the train hauling coal from Collie returns to Kwinana Port carrying mineral sands from Muchea. It then travels empty to Collie to start the cycle again. TiWest has decided to relocate its export of mineral sands activity from Kwinana port to Bunbury port. This change required the renegotiation of transport contracts for the company. The five-year contract was for the transport of around 100,000 tonnes per annum of coal. The relative cost structures for road and rail freight means that road freight is typically more competitive than rail for low tonnages and short haul distances, as is the case here. As a result, road transport won the contract. As a consequence the rail service will cease operations around September, with road transport taking over the transport of coal and mineral sands. 2. I am advised that this proposal equates to an additional 17 truck movements per day. 3. We are disappointed with the outcome on this matter. However, the Government?s policy of increasing the amount of freight carried by rail is working. For example, the carriage of containers through Fremantle Port by rail had grown by 164 per cent over the past year. Rail now accounts for about five per cent of the land-based container movements to and from the port, compared with less than three per cent 18 months ago. In addition, rail has won back a significant share of the fertiliser freight task between Perth and Bunbury in a move which will take 2000 heavy vehicle movements off the South Western Highway each year. This was a major breakthrough as it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.
TiWest was able to take advantage of back-hauling opportunities, for both road and rail freight. In the rail operation, the opportunity for back haulage arose because the train hauling coal from Collie returns to Kwinana Port carrying mineral sands from Muchea. It then travels empty to Collie to start the cycle again. TiWest has decided to relocate its export of mineral sands activity from Kwinana port to Bunbury port. This change required the renegotiation of transport contracts for the company. The five-year contract was for the transport of around 100,000 tonnes per annum of coal. The relative cost structures for road and rail freight means that road freight is typically more competitive than rail for low tonnages and short haul distances, as is the case here. As a result, road transport won the contract. As a consequence the rail service will cease operations around September, with road transport taking over the transport of coal and mineral sands. 2. I am advised that this proposal equates to an additional 17 truck movements per day. 3. We are disappointed with the outcome on this matter. However, the Government?s policy of increasing the amount of freight carried by rail is working. For example, the carriage of containers through Fremantle Port by rail had grown by 164 per cent over the past year. Rail now accounts for about five per cent of the land-based container movements to and from the port, compared with less than three per cent 18 months ago. In addition, rail has won back a significant share of the fertiliser freight task between Perth and Bunbury in a move which will take 2000 heavy vehicle movements off the South Western Highway each year. This was a major breakthrough as it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.
TiWest has decided to relocate its export of mineral sands activity from Kwinana port to Bunbury port. This change required the renegotiation of transport contracts for the company. The five-year contract was for the transport of around 100,000 tonnes per annum of coal. The relative cost structures for road and rail freight means that road freight is typically more competitive than rail for low tonnages and short haul distances, as is the case here. As a result, road transport won the contract. As a consequence the rail service will cease operations around September, with road transport taking over the transport of coal and mineral sands. 2. I am advised that this proposal equates to an additional 17 truck movements per day. 3. We are disappointed with the outcome on this matter. However, the Government?s policy of increasing the amount of freight carried by rail is working. For example, the carriage of containers through Fremantle Port by rail had grown by 164 per cent over the past year. Rail now accounts for about five per cent of the land-based container movements to and from the port, compared with less than three per cent 18 months ago. In addition, rail has won back a significant share of the fertiliser freight task between Perth and Bunbury in a move which will take 2000 heavy vehicle movements off the South Western Highway each year. This was a major breakthrough as it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.
TiWest has decided to relocate its export of mineral sands activity from Kwinana port to Bunbury port. This change required the renegotiation of transport contracts for the company. The five-year contract was for the transport of around 100,000 tonnes per annum of coal. The relative cost structures for road and rail freight means that road freight is typically more competitive than rail for low tonnages and short haul distances, as is the case here. As a result, road transport won the contract. As a consequence the rail service will cease operations around September, with road transport taking over the transport of coal and mineral sands. 2. I am advised that this proposal equates to an additional 17 truck movements per day. 3. We are disappointed with the outcome on this matter. However, the Government?s policy of increasing the amount of freight carried by rail is working. For example, the carriage of containers through Fremantle Port by rail had grown by 164 per cent over the past year. Rail now accounts for about five per cent of the land-based container movements to and from the port, compared with less than three per cent 18 months ago. In addition, rail has won back a significant share of the fertiliser freight task between Perth and Bunbury in a move which will take 2000 heavy vehicle movements off the South Western Highway each year. This was a major breakthrough as it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.
The five-year contract was for the transport of around 100,000 tonnes per annum of coal. The relative cost structures for road and rail freight means that road freight is typically more competitive than rail for low tonnages and short haul distances, as is the case here. As a result, road transport won the contract. As a consequence the rail service will cease operations around September, with road transport taking over the transport of coal and mineral sands. 2. I am advised that this proposal equates to an additional 17 truck movements per day. 3. We are disappointed with the outcome on this matter. However, the Government?s policy of increasing the amount of freight carried by rail is working. For example, the carriage of containers through Fremantle Port by rail had grown by 164 per cent over the past year. Rail now accounts for about five per cent of the land-based container movements to and from the port, compared with less than three per cent 18 months ago. In addition, rail has won back a significant share of the fertiliser freight task between Perth and Bunbury in a move which will take 2000 heavy vehicle movements off the South Western Highway each year. This was a major breakthrough as it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.
The five-year contract was for the transport of around 100,000 tonnes per annum of coal. The relative cost structures for road and rail freight means that road freight is typically more competitive than rail for low tonnages and short haul distances, as is the case here. As a result, road transport won the contract. As a consequence the rail service will cease operations around September, with road transport taking over the transport of coal and mineral sands. 2. I am advised that this proposal equates to an additional 17 truck movements per day. 3. We are disappointed with the outcome on this matter. However, the Government?s policy of increasing the amount of freight carried by rail is working. For example, the carriage of containers through Fremantle Port by rail had grown by 164 per cent over the past year. Rail now accounts for about five per cent of the land-based container movements to and from the port, compared with less than three per cent 18 months ago. In addition, rail has won back a significant share of the fertiliser freight task between Perth and Bunbury in a move which will take 2000 heavy vehicle movements off the South Western Highway each year. This was a major breakthrough as it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.
2. I am advised that this proposal equates to an additional 17 truck movements per day. 3. We are disappointed with the outcome on this matter. However, the Government?s policy of increasing the amount of freight carried by rail is working. For example, the carriage of containers through Fremantle Port by rail had grown by 164 per cent over the past year. Rail now accounts for about five per cent of the land-based container movements to and from the port, compared with less than three per cent 18 months ago. In addition, rail has won back a significant share of the fertiliser freight task between Perth and Bunbury in a move which will take 2000 heavy vehicle movements off the South Western Highway each year. This was a major breakthrough as it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.
2. I am advised that this proposal equates to an additional 17 truck movements per day. 3. We are disappointed with the outcome on this matter. However, the Government?s policy of increasing the amount of freight carried by rail is working. For example, the carriage of containers through Fremantle Port by rail had grown by 164 per cent over the past year. Rail now accounts for about five per cent of the land-based container movements to and from the port, compared with less than three per cent 18 months ago. In addition, rail has won back a significant share of the fertiliser freight task between Perth and Bunbury in a move which will take 2000 heavy vehicle movements off the South Western Highway each year. This was a major breakthrough as it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.
3. We are disappointed with the outcome on this matter. However, the Government?s policy of increasing the amount of freight carried by rail is working. For example, the carriage of containers through Fremantle Port by rail had grown by 164 per cent over the past year. Rail now accounts for about five per cent of the land-based container movements to and from the port, compared with less than three per cent 18 months ago. In addition, rail has won back a significant share of the fertiliser freight task between Perth and Bunbury in a move which will take 2000 heavy vehicle movements off the South Western Highway each year. This was a major breakthrough as it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.
3. We are disappointed with the outcome on this matter. However, the Government?s policy of increasing the amount of freight carried by rail is working. For example, the carriage of containers through Fremantle Port by rail had grown by 164 per cent over the past year. Rail now accounts for about five per cent of the land-based container movements to and from the port, compared with less than three per cent 18 months ago. In addition, rail has won back a significant share of the fertiliser freight task between Perth and Bunbury in a move which will take 2000 heavy vehicle movements off the South Western Highway each year. This was a major breakthrough as it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.
In addition, rail has won back a significant share of the fertiliser freight task between Perth and Bunbury in a move which will take 2000 heavy vehicle movements off the South Western Highway each year. This was a major breakthrough as it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.
This was a major breakthrough as it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.
TiWest was able to take advantage of back-hauling opportunities, for both road and rail freight. In the rail operation, the opportunity for back haulage arose because the train hauling coal from Collie returns to Kwinana Port carrying mineral sands from Muchea. It then travels empty to Collie to start the cycle again. TiWest has decided to relocate its export of mineral sands activity from Kwinana port to Bunbury port. This change required the renegotiation of transport contracts for the company. The five-year contract was for the transport of around 100,000 tonnes per annum of coal. The relative cost structures for road and rail freight means that road freight is typically more competitive than rail for low tonnages and short haul distances, as is the case here. As a result, road transport won the contract. As a consequence the rail service will cease operations around September, with road transport taking over the transport of coal and mineral sands. 2. I am advised that this proposal equates to an additional 17 truck movements per day. 3. We are disappointed with the outcome on this matter. However, the Government?s policy of increasing the amount of freight carried by rail is working. For example, the carriage of containers through Fremantle Port by rail had grown by 164 per cent over the past year. Rail now accounts for about five per cent of the land-based container movements to and from the port, compared with less than three per cent 18 months ago. In addition, rail has won back a significant share of the fertiliser freight task between Perth and Bunbury in a move which will take 2000 heavy vehicle movements off the South Western Highway each year. This was a major breakthrough as it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.
TiWest has decided to relocate its export of mineral sands activity from Kwinana port to Bunbury port. This change required the renegotiation of transport contracts for the company. The five-year contract was for the transport of around 100,000 tonnes per annum of coal. The relative cost structures for road and rail freight means that road freight is typically more competitive than rail for low tonnages and short haul distances, as is the case here. As a result, road transport won the contract. As a consequence the rail service will cease operations around September, with road transport taking over the transport of coal and mineral sands. 2. I am advised that this proposal equates to an additional 17 truck movements per day. 3. We are disappointed with the outcome on this matter. However, the Government?s policy of increasing the amount of freight carried by rail is working. For example, the carriage of containers through Fremantle Port by rail had grown by 164 per cent over the past year. Rail now accounts for about five per cent of the land-based container movements to and from the port, compared with less than three per cent 18 months ago. In addition, rail has won back a significant share of the fertiliser freight task between Perth and Bunbury in a move which will take 2000 heavy vehicle movements off the South Western Highway each year. This was a major breakthrough as it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.
TiWest has decided to relocate its export of mineral sands activity from Kwinana port to Bunbury port. This change required the renegotiation of transport contracts for the company. The five-year contract was for the transport of around 100,000 tonnes per annum of coal. The relative cost structures for road and rail freight means that road freight is typically more competitive than rail for low tonnages and short haul distances, as is the case here. As a result, road transport won the contract. As a consequence the rail service will cease operations around September, with road transport taking over the transport of coal and mineral sands. 2. I am advised that this proposal equates to an additional 17 truck movements per day. 3. We are disappointed with the outcome on this matter. However, the Government?s policy of increasing the amount of freight carried by rail is working. For example, the carriage of containers through Fremantle Port by rail had grown by 164 per cent over the past year. Rail now accounts for about five per cent of the land-based container movements to and from the port, compared with less than three per cent 18 months ago. In addition, rail has won back a significant share of the fertiliser freight task between Perth and Bunbury in a move which will take 2000 heavy vehicle movements off the South Western Highway each year. This was a major breakthrough as it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.
The five-year contract was for the transport of around 100,000 tonnes per annum of coal. The relative cost structures for road and rail freight means that road freight is typically more competitive than rail for low tonnages and short haul distances, as is the case here. As a result, road transport won the contract. As a consequence the rail service will cease operations around September, with road transport taking over the transport of coal and mineral sands. 2. I am advised that this proposal equates to an additional 17 truck movements per day. 3. We are disappointed with the outcome on this matter. However, the Government?s policy of increasing the amount of freight carried by rail is working. For example, the carriage of containers through Fremantle Port by rail had grown by 164 per cent over the past year. Rail now accounts for about five per cent of the land-based container movements to and from the port, compared with less than three per cent 18 months ago. In addition, rail has won back a significant share of the fertiliser freight task between Perth and Bunbury in a move which will take 2000 heavy vehicle movements off the South Western Highway each year. This was a major breakthrough as it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.
The five-year contract was for the transport of around 100,000 tonnes per annum of coal. The relative cost structures for road and rail freight means that road freight is typically more competitive than rail for low tonnages and short haul distances, as is the case here. As a result, road transport won the contract. As a consequence the rail service will cease operations around September, with road transport taking over the transport of coal and mineral sands. 2. I am advised that this proposal equates to an additional 17 truck movements per day. 3. We are disappointed with the outcome on this matter. However, the Government?s policy of increasing the amount of freight carried by rail is working. For example, the carriage of containers through Fremantle Port by rail had grown by 164 per cent over the past year. Rail now accounts for about five per cent of the land-based container movements to and from the port, compared with less than three per cent 18 months ago. In addition, rail has won back a significant share of the fertiliser freight task between Perth and Bunbury in a move which will take 2000 heavy vehicle movements off the South Western Highway each year. This was a major breakthrough as it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.
2. I am advised that this proposal equates to an additional 17 truck movements per day. 3. We are disappointed with the outcome on this matter. However, the Government?s policy of increasing the amount of freight carried by rail is working. For example, the carriage of containers through Fremantle Port by rail had grown by 164 per cent over the past year. Rail now accounts for about five per cent of the land-based container movements to and from the port, compared with less than three per cent 18 months ago. In addition, rail has won back a significant share of the fertiliser freight task between Perth and Bunbury in a move which will take 2000 heavy vehicle movements off the South Western Highway each year. This was a major breakthrough as it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.
2. I am advised that this proposal equates to an additional 17 truck movements per day. 3. We are disappointed with the outcome on this matter. However, the Government?s policy of increasing the amount of freight carried by rail is working. For example, the carriage of containers through Fremantle Port by rail had grown by 164 per cent over the past year. Rail now accounts for about five per cent of the land-based container movements to and from the port, compared with less than three per cent 18 months ago. In addition, rail has won back a significant share of the fertiliser freight task between Perth and Bunbury in a move which will take 2000 heavy vehicle movements off the South Western Highway each year. This was a major breakthrough as it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.
3. We are disappointed with the outcome on this matter. However, the Government?s policy of increasing the amount of freight carried by rail is working. For example, the carriage of containers through Fremantle Port by rail had grown by 164 per cent over the past year. Rail now accounts for about five per cent of the land-based container movements to and from the port, compared with less than three per cent 18 months ago. In addition, rail has won back a significant share of the fertiliser freight task between Perth and Bunbury in a move which will take 2000 heavy vehicle movements off the South Western Highway each year. This was a major breakthrough as it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.
3. We are disappointed with the outcome on this matter. However, the Government?s policy of increasing the amount of freight carried by rail is working. For example, the carriage of containers through Fremantle Port by rail had grown by 164 per cent over the past year. Rail now accounts for about five per cent of the land-based container movements to and from the port, compared with less than three per cent 18 months ago. In addition, rail has won back a significant share of the fertiliser freight task between Perth and Bunbury in a move which will take 2000 heavy vehicle movements off the South Western Highway each year. This was a major breakthrough as it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.
In addition, rail has won back a significant share of the fertiliser freight task between Perth and Bunbury in a move which will take 2000 heavy vehicle movements off the South Western Highway each year. This was a major breakthrough as it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.
This was a major breakthrough as it sees fertiliser moving back on to rail after almost 10 years of road transport.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.