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❓ Question regarding the assessment, timeline, costs, and funding of a rail option for transporting lithium ore from the Greenbushes mine, and alternative road upgrades if rail is not pursued. The government is awaiting further reports before making a decision.

AnsweredQoN 5340Legislative Assembly

Asked

7 August 2019

Member

Mr D.T. Redman

Portfolio

Transport; Planning

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to consideration by government of a rail option for transporting ore from the Greenbushes lithium mine to various destinations, and ask: (a) What work has been/is being done to assess the merits of a rail option for lithium ore transport from the Greenbushes mine; (b) Will the Minister table any reports, studies or business cases relevant to this assessment; (c) Will the Minister outline the timeline for any government decisions in regard to a rail option; (d) Will the Minister outline the likely costs of a rail option and the funding sources from which it is likely to be financed; and (e) If a rail option is not to be considered, will the Minister invest in road upgrades, in an endeavour to manage the significant increase in truck traffic as a result of mine expansions: (i) If yes, what has the Minister allocated to road upgrades and over what timeframe?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

17 September 2019

Responded by

Minister for Transport; Planning

Response time

11 days

(a)-(d) The Transport Portfolio is currently awaiting outcomes of work by Arc Infrastructure including the second stage of pre-feasibility work and the business case. A decision will be made following this process.
(e) Main Roads has been progressively upgrading the South Western Highway independently of the Greenbushes lithium mine proposal. Approximately $18.4 million has been spent upgrading the South Western Highway over the last four years.

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