❓ Hon Dee Margetts questions the necessity of two-port loading for grain ships after the Geraldton Port expansion, inquiring about associated costs for farmers. The Minister responds, highlighting a reduction in loading charges and emphasizing the project's financial viability and benefits to growers.
AnsweredQoN 1589Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
One of the justifications given by the Geraldton Port Authority for deepening the channel and port basin at the cost of $100 million, was that it would eliminate two port loading for ships. With the recent expansion of the Geraldton Port now completed -
(1) Can the Minister outline how many ships that berth to load grain at Geraldton will have to continue to two port load as a result of the fact that the varieties of grains that overseas markets seek in a mixed load, are simply not produced in the Geraldton zone?
(2) Will the ships that have to continue two-port loading incur a loading fee from both ports?
(3) What costs will be transferred back to farmers?
(4) Is the Minister aware that going by the GPA’s own figures (provided to the State Treasury to secure the $100 million in funding for the expansion), the amount of grain produced in the Geraldton region will have to increase 3.3% per year for the next 15 years to break even over the 30 year payback period?
(1) Can the Minister outline how many ships that berth to load grain at Geraldton will have to continue to two port load as a result of the fact that the varieties of grains that overseas markets seek in a mixed load, are simply not produced in the Geraldton zone?
(2) Will the ships that have to continue two-port loading incur a loading fee from both ports?
(3) What costs will be transferred back to farmers?
(4) Is the Minister aware that going by the GPA’s own figures (provided to the State Treasury to secure the $100 million in funding for the expansion), the amount of grain produced in the Geraldton region will have to increase 3.3% per year for the next 15 years to break even over the 30 year payback period?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
2 March 2004
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure
Response time
83 days
(2-3) The “two port loading charge” (currently $2.94 per tonne of cargo) currently charged by the Australian Wheat Board to growers using the Geraldton port will be removed as a result of the Port Enhancement Project. This charge was historically applied to growers due to the port's physical inability to handle deeper draft vessels. It will be replaced by a $2.00 per tonne of cargo Port Enhancement Charge and therefore result in an immediate net benefit to the Mid West grower of around $1.00 per tonne of cargo. The Port Enhancement Charge will eventually be removed. Future dual port visits at the behest of marketers for reasons of grain type and quality will not impact on charges directly to or against the Mid West grower. (4) The conservative business case analysis used a grain yield growth rate forecast of 3.5% for a fifteen year period and then nil thereafter. The actual annual average compound rate achieved during the past thirty years was 4.8%. New business (i.e. Mount Gibson Iron Ltd) will only strengthen the base case and financial basis of the project including a reduced loan payback period, which will ultimately have further long-term benefits to farmers.
Future dual port visits at the behest of marketers for reasons of grain type and quality will not impact on charges directly to or against the Mid West grower. (4) The conservative business case analysis used a grain yield growth rate forecast of 3.5% for a fifteen year period and then nil thereafter. The actual annual average compound rate achieved during the past thirty years was 4.8%. New business (i.e. Mount Gibson Iron Ltd) will only strengthen the base case and financial basis of the project including a reduced loan payback period, which will ultimately have further long-term benefits to farmers.
(4) The conservative business case analysis used a grain yield growth rate forecast of 3.5% for a fifteen year period and then nil thereafter. The actual annual average compound rate achieved during the past thirty years was 4.8%. New business (i.e. Mount Gibson Iron Ltd) will only strengthen the base case and financial basis of the project including a reduced loan payback period, which will ultimately have further long-term benefits to farmers.
Future dual port visits at the behest of marketers for reasons of grain type and quality will not impact on charges directly to or against the Mid West grower. (4) The conservative business case analysis used a grain yield growth rate forecast of 3.5% for a fifteen year period and then nil thereafter. The actual annual average compound rate achieved during the past thirty years was 4.8%. New business (i.e. Mount Gibson Iron Ltd) will only strengthen the base case and financial basis of the project including a reduced loan payback period, which will ultimately have further long-term benefits to farmers.
(4) The conservative business case analysis used a grain yield growth rate forecast of 3.5% for a fifteen year period and then nil thereafter. The actual annual average compound rate achieved during the past thirty years was 4.8%. New business (i.e. Mount Gibson Iron Ltd) will only strengthen the base case and financial basis of the project including a reduced loan payback period, which will ultimately have further long-term benefits to farmers.
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