❓ The WA government is undertaking a strategic study into future demand for the south west rail network, considering increased use by industries like Worsley Alumina, while existing rail infrastructure and local road upgrades are also being addressed.
AnsweredQoN 476Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Worsley Alumina REFINERY — TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE
In light of the recently announced expansion of Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd’s Collie refinery, what planning is being done by the state government to provide and improve transport infrastructure from Collie to the Bunbury port? Hon SALLY TALBOT
In light of the recently announced expansion of Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd’s Collie refinery, what planning is being done by the state government to provide and improve transport infrastructure from Collie to the Bunbury port? Hon SALLY TALBOT
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon Nigel Hallett for some notice of this question, to which the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has provided the following response — The use by industry in the south west region of rail to the port of Bunbury is expected to increase. The member will remember that the rail line was leased by the previous government and that the operation and capacity of the line was a matter for the lessee. Our government is committed, however, to increasing the amount of freight on the rail system. As such, the government is undertaking a strategic study into future demand for the south west rail network over the next 10 years, which will take into account increased use by existing industry, such as Worsley Alumina, and potential new industries. The study will allow industry and government to understand the situation and to make plans to avoid congestion in the supply chain for the transport task. Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd plans to increase its production of alumina from 3.5 million tonnes per annum to 4.6 million tonnes per annum. WestNet Rail Pty Ltd has advised that this increase can be accommodated on the existing rail network. It has invested in rail infrastructure in the Burekup area to add capacity to meet increased rail traffic in the short term. The upgrading of Mornington Road to better accommodate an increase in traffic servicing the Worsley Alumina refinery is planned by the Shires of Harvey and Collie. The Bunbury Port Authority has also considered the movement of materials into the port on rail as part of the structure plan that is currently out for public comment.
Hon SALLY TALBOT replied: I thank Hon Nigel Hallett for some notice of this question, to which the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has provided the following response — The use by industry in the south west region of rail to the port of Bunbury is expected to increase. The member will remember that the rail line was leased by the previous government and that the operation and capacity of the line was a matter for the lessee. Our government is committed, however, to increasing the amount of freight on the rail system. As such, the government is undertaking a strategic study into future demand for the south west rail network over the next 10 years, which will take into account increased use by existing industry, such as Worsley Alumina, and potential new industries. The study will allow industry and government to understand the situation and to make plans to avoid congestion in the supply chain for the transport task. Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd plans to increase its production of alumina from 3.5 million tonnes per annum to 4.6 million tonnes per annum. WestNet Rail Pty Ltd has advised that this increase can be accommodated on the existing rail network. It has invested in rail infrastructure in the Burekup area to add capacity to meet increased rail traffic in the short term. The upgrading of Mornington Road to better accommodate an increase in traffic servicing the Worsley Alumina refinery is planned by the Shires of Harvey and Collie. The Bunbury Port Authority has also considered the movement of materials into the port on rail as part of the structure plan that is currently out for public comment.
I thank Hon Nigel Hallett for some notice of this question, to which the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has provided the following response — The use by industry in the south west region of rail to the port of Bunbury is expected to increase. The member will remember that the rail line was leased by the previous government and that the operation and capacity of the line was a matter for the lessee. Our government is committed, however, to increasing the amount of freight on the rail system. As such, the government is undertaking a strategic study into future demand for the south west rail network over the next 10 years, which will take into account increased use by existing industry, such as Worsley Alumina, and potential new industries. The study will allow industry and government to understand the situation and to make plans to avoid congestion in the supply chain for the transport task. Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd plans to increase its production of alumina from 3.5 million tonnes per annum to 4.6 million tonnes per annum. WestNet Rail Pty Ltd has advised that this increase can be accommodated on the existing rail network. It has invested in rail infrastructure in the Burekup area to add capacity to meet increased rail traffic in the short term. The upgrading of Mornington Road to better accommodate an increase in traffic servicing the Worsley Alumina refinery is planned by the Shires of Harvey and Collie. The Bunbury Port Authority has also considered the movement of materials into the port on rail as part of the structure plan that is currently out for public comment.
The use by industry in the south west region of rail to the port of Bunbury is expected to increase. The member will remember that the rail line was leased by the previous government and that the operation and capacity of the line was a matter for the lessee. Our government is committed, however, to increasing the amount of freight on the rail system. As such, the government is undertaking a strategic study into future demand for the south west rail network over the next 10 years, which will take into account increased use by existing industry, such as Worsley Alumina, and potential new industries. The study will allow industry and government to understand the situation and to make plans to avoid congestion in the supply chain for the transport task. Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd plans to increase its production of alumina from 3.5 million tonnes per annum to 4.6 million tonnes per annum. WestNet Rail Pty Ltd has advised that this increase can be accommodated on the existing rail network. It has invested in rail infrastructure in the Burekup area to add capacity to meet increased rail traffic in the short term. The upgrading of Mornington Road to better accommodate an increase in traffic servicing the Worsley Alumina refinery is planned by the Shires of Harvey and Collie. The Bunbury Port Authority has also considered the movement of materials into the port on rail as part of the structure plan that is currently out for public comment.
Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd plans to increase its production of alumina from 3.5 million tonnes per annum to 4.6 million tonnes per annum. WestNet Rail Pty Ltd has advised that this increase can be accommodated on the existing rail network. It has invested in rail infrastructure in the Burekup area to add capacity to meet increased rail traffic in the short term. The upgrading of Mornington Road to better accommodate an increase in traffic servicing the Worsley Alumina refinery is planned by the Shires of Harvey and Collie. The Bunbury Port Authority has also considered the movement of materials into the port on rail as part of the structure plan that is currently out for public comment.
Hon SALLY TALBOT replied: I thank Hon Nigel Hallett for some notice of this question, to which the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has provided the following response — The use by industry in the south west region of rail to the port of Bunbury is expected to increase. The member will remember that the rail line was leased by the previous government and that the operation and capacity of the line was a matter for the lessee. Our government is committed, however, to increasing the amount of freight on the rail system. As such, the government is undertaking a strategic study into future demand for the south west rail network over the next 10 years, which will take into account increased use by existing industry, such as Worsley Alumina, and potential new industries. The study will allow industry and government to understand the situation and to make plans to avoid congestion in the supply chain for the transport task. Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd plans to increase its production of alumina from 3.5 million tonnes per annum to 4.6 million tonnes per annum. WestNet Rail Pty Ltd has advised that this increase can be accommodated on the existing rail network. It has invested in rail infrastructure in the Burekup area to add capacity to meet increased rail traffic in the short term. The upgrading of Mornington Road to better accommodate an increase in traffic servicing the Worsley Alumina refinery is planned by the Shires of Harvey and Collie. The Bunbury Port Authority has also considered the movement of materials into the port on rail as part of the structure plan that is currently out for public comment.
I thank Hon Nigel Hallett for some notice of this question, to which the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has provided the following response — The use by industry in the south west region of rail to the port of Bunbury is expected to increase. The member will remember that the rail line was leased by the previous government and that the operation and capacity of the line was a matter for the lessee. Our government is committed, however, to increasing the amount of freight on the rail system. As such, the government is undertaking a strategic study into future demand for the south west rail network over the next 10 years, which will take into account increased use by existing industry, such as Worsley Alumina, and potential new industries. The study will allow industry and government to understand the situation and to make plans to avoid congestion in the supply chain for the transport task. Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd plans to increase its production of alumina from 3.5 million tonnes per annum to 4.6 million tonnes per annum. WestNet Rail Pty Ltd has advised that this increase can be accommodated on the existing rail network. It has invested in rail infrastructure in the Burekup area to add capacity to meet increased rail traffic in the short term. The upgrading of Mornington Road to better accommodate an increase in traffic servicing the Worsley Alumina refinery is planned by the Shires of Harvey and Collie. The Bunbury Port Authority has also considered the movement of materials into the port on rail as part of the structure plan that is currently out for public comment.
The use by industry in the south west region of rail to the port of Bunbury is expected to increase. The member will remember that the rail line was leased by the previous government and that the operation and capacity of the line was a matter for the lessee. Our government is committed, however, to increasing the amount of freight on the rail system. As such, the government is undertaking a strategic study into future demand for the south west rail network over the next 10 years, which will take into account increased use by existing industry, such as Worsley Alumina, and potential new industries. The study will allow industry and government to understand the situation and to make plans to avoid congestion in the supply chain for the transport task. Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd plans to increase its production of alumina from 3.5 million tonnes per annum to 4.6 million tonnes per annum. WestNet Rail Pty Ltd has advised that this increase can be accommodated on the existing rail network. It has invested in rail infrastructure in the Burekup area to add capacity to meet increased rail traffic in the short term. The upgrading of Mornington Road to better accommodate an increase in traffic servicing the Worsley Alumina refinery is planned by the Shires of Harvey and Collie. The Bunbury Port Authority has also considered the movement of materials into the port on rail as part of the structure plan that is currently out for public comment.
Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd plans to increase its production of alumina from 3.5 million tonnes per annum to 4.6 million tonnes per annum. WestNet Rail Pty Ltd has advised that this increase can be accommodated on the existing rail network. It has invested in rail infrastructure in the Burekup area to add capacity to meet increased rail traffic in the short term. The upgrading of Mornington Road to better accommodate an increase in traffic servicing the Worsley Alumina refinery is planned by the Shires of Harvey and Collie. The Bunbury Port Authority has also considered the movement of materials into the port on rail as part of the structure plan that is currently out for public comment.
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