A parliamentary question regarding the impact of the Bridgetown heavy freight deviation on future rail use across the Blackwood River. The Minister's response indicates the existing rail reserve will be retained, balancing infrastructure needs with landowner impact, and future rail options remain a possibility.

AnsweredQoN 862Legislative Council
Asked
28 September 2006
Portfolio
Planning and Infrastructure

QuestionView source ↗

BRIDGETOWN HEAVY FREIGHT DEVIATION
(1) How will the proposed heavy freight deviation alignments at Bridgetown impact the future use of rail across the Blackwood River? (2) What measures are being put in place to ensure that the existing railway reserves and alignment are retained so that a rail freight option across the Blackwood River is preserved? (3) Has the option for designing the heavy freight deviation while retaining the rail reserve and alignment over the Blackwood been ruled out? (4) If yes to (3), could the minister give reasons for that decision? (5) Will the minister give the Bridgetown community her assurance that it will not lose the future rail option in resolving the heavy freight traffic problems? (6) If no to (5), why not? Hon ADELE FARINA

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(6) In finalising the Bridgetown heavy freight deviation alignment consideration was given to widening the existing rail reserve to accommodate both road and rail infrastructure.  However, this would have resulted in significant impacts on adjoining landowners.  In view of the limited opportunity for future rail freight movement on this route, the government decided to retain the existing rail reserve and minimise impacts on local landowners.  Under a lease agreement between the Public Transport Authority and Main Roads, if agreed to by the community, the deviation would be constructed within the existing rail reserve.  In future years, if there is sufficient demand, the reinstatement of the rail line on the existing reserve is an option that could be considered.  However, other alternatives, such as the creation of a new rail or road alignment that skirts the township, would also need to be assessed.
(2) What measures are being put in place to ensure that the existing railway reserves and alignment are retained so that a rail freight option across the Blackwood River is preserved? (3) Has the option for designing the heavy freight deviation while retaining the rail reserve and alignment over the Blackwood been ruled out? (4) If yes to (3), could the minister give reasons for that decision? (5) Will the minister give the Bridgetown community her assurance that it will not lose the future rail option in resolving the heavy freight traffic problems? (6) If no to (5), why not? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(6) In finalising the Bridgetown heavy freight deviation alignment consideration was given to widening the existing rail reserve to accommodate both road and rail infrastructure.  However, this would have resulted in significant impacts on adjoining landowners.  In view of the limited opportunity for future rail freight movement on this route, the government decided to retain the existing rail reserve and minimise impacts on local landowners.  Under a lease agreement between the Public Transport Authority and Main Roads, if agreed to by the community, the deviation would be constructed within the existing rail reserve.  In future years, if there is sufficient demand, the reinstatement of the rail line on the existing reserve is an option that could be considered.  However, other alternatives, such as the creation of a new rail or road alignment that skirts the township, would also need to be assessed.
(3) Has the option for designing the heavy freight deviation while retaining the rail reserve and alignment over the Blackwood been ruled out? (4) If yes to (3), could the minister give reasons for that decision? (5) Will the minister give the Bridgetown community her assurance that it will not lose the future rail option in resolving the heavy freight traffic problems? (6) If no to (5), why not? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(6) In finalising the Bridgetown heavy freight deviation alignment consideration was given to widening the existing rail reserve to accommodate both road and rail infrastructure.  However, this would have resulted in significant impacts on adjoining landowners.  In view of the limited opportunity for future rail freight movement on this route, the government decided to retain the existing rail reserve and minimise impacts on local landowners.  Under a lease agreement between the Public Transport Authority and Main Roads, if agreed to by the community, the deviation would be constructed within the existing rail reserve.  In future years, if there is sufficient demand, the reinstatement of the rail line on the existing reserve is an option that could be considered.  However, other alternatives, such as the creation of a new rail or road alignment that skirts the township, would also need to be assessed.
(4) If yes to (3), could the minister give reasons for that decision? (5) Will the minister give the Bridgetown community her assurance that it will not lose the future rail option in resolving the heavy freight traffic problems? (6) If no to (5), why not? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(6) In finalising the Bridgetown heavy freight deviation alignment consideration was given to widening the existing rail reserve to accommodate both road and rail infrastructure.  However, this would have resulted in significant impacts on adjoining landowners.  In view of the limited opportunity for future rail freight movement on this route, the government decided to retain the existing rail reserve and minimise impacts on local landowners.  Under a lease agreement between the Public Transport Authority and Main Roads, if agreed to by the community, the deviation would be constructed within the existing rail reserve.  In future years, if there is sufficient demand, the reinstatement of the rail line on the existing reserve is an option that could be considered.  However, other alternatives, such as the creation of a new rail or road alignment that skirts the township, would also need to be assessed.
(5) Will the minister give the Bridgetown community her assurance that it will not lose the future rail option in resolving the heavy freight traffic problems? (6) If no to (5), why not? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(6) In finalising the Bridgetown heavy freight deviation alignment consideration was given to widening the existing rail reserve to accommodate both road and rail infrastructure.  However, this would have resulted in significant impacts on adjoining landowners.  In view of the limited opportunity for future rail freight movement on this route, the government decided to retain the existing rail reserve and minimise impacts on local landowners.  Under a lease agreement between the Public Transport Authority and Main Roads, if agreed to by the community, the deviation would be constructed within the existing rail reserve.  In future years, if there is sufficient demand, the reinstatement of the rail line on the existing reserve is an option that could be considered.  However, other alternatives, such as the creation of a new rail or road alignment that skirts the township, would also need to be assessed.
(6) If no to (5), why not? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(6) In finalising the Bridgetown heavy freight deviation alignment consideration was given to widening the existing rail reserve to accommodate both road and rail infrastructure.  However, this would have resulted in significant impacts on adjoining landowners.  In view of the limited opportunity for future rail freight movement on this route, the government decided to retain the existing rail reserve and minimise impacts on local landowners.  Under a lease agreement between the Public Transport Authority and Main Roads, if agreed to by the community, the deviation would be constructed within the existing rail reserve.  In future years, if there is sufficient demand, the reinstatement of the rail line on the existing reserve is an option that could be considered.  However, other alternatives, such as the creation of a new rail or road alignment that skirts the township, would also need to be assessed.
Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(6) In finalising the Bridgetown heavy freight deviation alignment consideration was given to widening the existing rail reserve to accommodate both road and rail infrastructure.  However, this would have resulted in significant impacts on adjoining landowners.  In view of the limited opportunity for future rail freight movement on this route, the government decided to retain the existing rail reserve and minimise impacts on local landowners.  Under a lease agreement between the Public Transport Authority and Main Roads, if agreed to by the community, the deviation would be constructed within the existing rail reserve.  In future years, if there is sufficient demand, the reinstatement of the rail line on the existing reserve is an option that could be considered.  However, other alternatives, such as the creation of a new rail or road alignment that skirts the township, would also need to be assessed.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(6) In finalising the Bridgetown heavy freight deviation alignment consideration was given to widening the existing rail reserve to accommodate both road and rail infrastructure.  However, this would have resulted in significant impacts on adjoining landowners.  In view of the limited opportunity for future rail freight movement on this route, the government decided to retain the existing rail reserve and minimise impacts on local landowners.  Under a lease agreement between the Public Transport Authority and Main Roads, if agreed to by the community, the deviation would be constructed within the existing rail reserve.  In future years, if there is sufficient demand, the reinstatement of the rail line on the existing reserve is an option that could be considered.  However, other alternatives, such as the creation of a new rail or road alignment that skirts the township, would also need to be assessed.
(1)-(6) In finalising the Bridgetown heavy freight deviation alignment consideration was given to widening the existing rail reserve to accommodate both road and rail infrastructure.  However, this would have resulted in significant impacts on adjoining landowners.  In view of the limited opportunity for future rail freight movement on this route, the government decided to retain the existing rail reserve and minimise impacts on local landowners.  Under a lease agreement between the Public Transport Authority and Main Roads, if agreed to by the community, the deviation would be constructed within the existing rail reserve.  In future years, if there is sufficient demand, the reinstatement of the rail line on the existing reserve is an option that could be considered.  However, other alternatives, such as the creation of a new rail or road alignment that skirts the township, would also need to be assessed.

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