❓ The WA parliamentary question addresses the protection of the South West rail easement, the strategic value of the rail connection to Hester Industrial Site, and the need for a heavy haulage detour for Bridgetown. The Minister provides assurances regarding the rail easement and supports the heavy haulage detour in principle, outlining ongoing work and funding considerations.
AnsweredQoN 62Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Does the Minister guarantee that the entire South West rail easement will be protected into the future in order to accommodate the possible reintroduction of rail services?
(2) Does the Minister agree that there is strategic value in maintaining the rail connection to Hester Industrial Site?
(3) Does the Minister support a dedicated heavy haulage detour for Bridgetown?
(4) If yes, will the Minister support the modified Option 3 of the Bridgetown Road Planning Study, as seems certain to be recommended today by the Bridgetown-Greenbushes Shire Council?
(5) If yes to question (3), what is the time frame for design and construction of a heavy freight detour, and will the State Government fund it’s construction?
(6) Will the Minister make urgent arrangements to meet with representatives of the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes to discuss both mitigation of the short-term implications of the additional heavy haulage traffic through the Bridgetown CBD and the longer term solution of heavy haulage deviation?
(7) Will the Minister support the urgent completion of the Hampton Street Upgrade Project, thus ensuring that the additional heavy haulage traffic generated by the closure of the rail line can be safely accommodated in the short term before construction of the heavy haulage deviation?
(8) When will the ‘inter modal rail/road freight link’ be constructed at North Greenbushes?
(2) Does the Minister agree that there is strategic value in maintaining the rail connection to Hester Industrial Site?
(3) Does the Minister support a dedicated heavy haulage detour for Bridgetown?
(4) If yes, will the Minister support the modified Option 3 of the Bridgetown Road Planning Study, as seems certain to be recommended today by the Bridgetown-Greenbushes Shire Council?
(5) If yes to question (3), what is the time frame for design and construction of a heavy freight detour, and will the State Government fund it’s construction?
(6) Will the Minister make urgent arrangements to meet with representatives of the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes to discuss both mitigation of the short-term implications of the additional heavy haulage traffic through the Bridgetown CBD and the longer term solution of heavy haulage deviation?
(7) Will the Minister support the urgent completion of the Hampton Street Upgrade Project, thus ensuring that the additional heavy haulage traffic generated by the closure of the rail line can be safely accommodated in the short term before construction of the heavy haulage deviation?
(8) When will the ‘inter modal rail/road freight link’ be constructed at North Greenbushes?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
3 May 2005
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure
Response time
28 days
(1) The South West railway corridor between North Greenbushes and Manjimup will be protected for use in the future, should commercially viable traffic be identified.
(2) The section of railway between North Greenbushes and Manjimup passes through the Hester Locality. The South West railway infrastructure will remain in place for possible use in the future.
(3) The Government recognises the need for an alternative route to the main street for heavy freight traffic. The concept for a future heavy haulage route retains the flexibility for either a general traffic or dedicated freight route.
(4) Yes, in principle.
(5) More detailed work is being undertaken to finalise the design concept, reservation boundaries, cost estimates and statutory approvals before construction can proceed. The design and construction work would take about three years. Priority for the proposed heavy haulage route will be subject to whole of Government funding commitments and priorities.
(6) The Department for Planning and Infrastructure has been consulting with the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes and WA Plantation Resources regarding ways to mitigate the impact of additional heavy haulage traffic through Bridgetown in the short term. The company has agreed to minimise negative impacts of additional truck movements through scheduling to avoid peak traffic times.
(7) The State Government has made funding of $240,000 available for the project to be completed in 2005/06.
(8) The implementation of the North Greenbushes Intermodal Facility project has commenced. Rail services have now be diverted so an engineering assessment for the railway upgrade works between Picton and North Greenbushes is being undertaken. If WAPRES is successful in gaining planning approval for it's chip mill by mid 2005, the new intermodal facility should be completed by October 2005.
(2) The section of railway between North Greenbushes and Manjimup passes through the Hester Locality. The South West railway infrastructure will remain in place for possible use in the future.
(3) The Government recognises the need for an alternative route to the main street for heavy freight traffic. The concept for a future heavy haulage route retains the flexibility for either a general traffic or dedicated freight route.
(4) Yes, in principle.
(5) More detailed work is being undertaken to finalise the design concept, reservation boundaries, cost estimates and statutory approvals before construction can proceed. The design and construction work would take about three years. Priority for the proposed heavy haulage route will be subject to whole of Government funding commitments and priorities.
(6) The Department for Planning and Infrastructure has been consulting with the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes and WA Plantation Resources regarding ways to mitigate the impact of additional heavy haulage traffic through Bridgetown in the short term. The company has agreed to minimise negative impacts of additional truck movements through scheduling to avoid peak traffic times.
(7) The State Government has made funding of $240,000 available for the project to be completed in 2005/06.
(8) The implementation of the North Greenbushes Intermodal Facility project has commenced. Rail services have now be diverted so an engineering assessment for the railway upgrade works between Picton and North Greenbushes is being undertaken. If WAPRES is successful in gaining planning approval for it's chip mill by mid 2005, the new intermodal facility should be completed by October 2005.
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