❓ Question regarding the Bunbury-Greenbushes rail line upgrade for lithium transport, Kemerton rail extension, and the project's business case. The Minister's response indicates ongoing assessment, collaboration with multiple ministers, and consideration of cost implications due to privatisation.
AnsweredQoN 856Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BUNBURY–GREENBUSHES
RAIL LINE — LITHIUM MINING
856. Mr D.T. REDMAN to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the work being done by
Arc Infrastructure and Talison Lithium on a rail strategy for transporting
lithium product to Bunbury, Kemerton and Kwinana.
(1) Has the minister been briefed on
the merits of the project?
(2) Will the minister still honour
her election commitment to extend the Kemerton rail line?
(3) Does the business case for
lithium on rail from Greenbushes depend on the Kemerton rail extension?
RAIL LINE — LITHIUM MINING
856. Mr D.T. REDMAN to the Minister for Transport:
I refer to the work being done by
Arc Infrastructure and Talison Lithium on a rail strategy for transporting
lithium product to Bunbury, Kemerton and Kwinana.
(1) Has the minister been briefed on
the merits of the project?
(2) Will the minister still honour
her election commitment to extend the Kemerton rail line?
(3) Does the business case for
lithium on rail from Greenbushes depend on the Kemerton rail extension?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I
thank the member for the question, and in fact I had a meeting with Arc
Infrastructure yesterday. Of course, my agency has been keeping me briefed
about some of the proposals that are out there. There are a number of key
elements relating to infrastructure leading to the ports, including the upgrade
of the rail line and also the Kemerton spur. There are a number of components,
and there would be different obligations on different parties in relation to
that. That work is ongoing, and the time for the final decision will probably
be next year, but that work is continuing, and the assessment is continuing. I am
also undertaking an analysis of South Western Highway, urged by the member for
Murray–Wellington, about issues in relation to further movements on
South Western Highway, maintenance costs and other issues. I have been briefed.
We are working with industry and across government. A number of parties are
involved across government, including the Minister for Mines and Energy and
also the Minister for Regional Development, and they are all working together
and looking at what is possible, what is the cost and who would bear that cost.
I do not want to say it again, but given the former government privatised that
rail line, it creates some issues in relation to who will bear the cost, how we
will justify it from a public purse point of view, and also how it will be paid
for over a period of time. All those issues are in front of us. There are also,
of course, the ongoing arbitration issues in relation to access rights and
costs for the rail line.
thank the member for the question, and in fact I had a meeting with Arc
Infrastructure yesterday. Of course, my agency has been keeping me briefed
about some of the proposals that are out there. There are a number of key
elements relating to infrastructure leading to the ports, including the upgrade
of the rail line and also the Kemerton spur. There are a number of components,
and there would be different obligations on different parties in relation to
that. That work is ongoing, and the time for the final decision will probably
be next year, but that work is continuing, and the assessment is continuing. I am
also undertaking an analysis of South Western Highway, urged by the member for
Murray–Wellington, about issues in relation to further movements on
South Western Highway, maintenance costs and other issues. I have been briefed.
We are working with industry and across government. A number of parties are
involved across government, including the Minister for Mines and Energy and
also the Minister for Regional Development, and they are all working together
and looking at what is possible, what is the cost and who would bear that cost.
I do not want to say it again, but given the former government privatised that
rail line, it creates some issues in relation to who will bear the cost, how we
will justify it from a public purse point of view, and also how it will be paid
for over a period of time. All those issues are in front of us. There are also,
of course, the ongoing arbitration issues in relation to access rights and
costs for the rail line.
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