❓ The Minister for Transport expresses commitment to increasing rail transport in WA, particularly for woodchips from the south west, aiming to reduce road traffic. He mentions existing agreements, funding proposals, and potential benefits from the sale of Westrail freight.
AnsweredQoN 8Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the minister committed to maximising the use of rail for the transport of blue gum logs in the south west in order to reduce the use of almost 750 000 additional road trains on south west highways each year? (2) If so, how does the minister intend to achieve this? Hon M.J. CRIDDLE
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) As recently as a few days ago I was talking to one of the major proponents of the woodchip mill in the south west. The agreement is for Westrail to transport the woodchips from the mill to the port of Albany. This will cause a major reduction in the need to transport woodchips by road. Transport of the timber to the mill by road will remain, but we have put a proposal to the Federal Government for assistance with roadworks in the area. We hope to get an indication of support in the near future. One of the benefits of the sale of Westrail freight will be the possibility of extending a rail system into that area. I am keen to encourage transport, whether it be the transport of blue gum logs, woodchips or anything else, to move off road onto rail throughout Western Australia. Western Australia can only benefit from the removal of the task off road onto rail. I will encourage people in whatever industry to do that.
(2) If so, how does the minister intend to achieve this? Hon M.J. CRIDDLE replied: (1)-(2) As recently as a few days ago I was talking to one of the major proponents of the woodchip mill in the south west. The agreement is for Westrail to transport the woodchips from the mill to the port of Albany. This will cause a major reduction in the need to transport woodchips by road. Transport of the timber to the mill by road will remain, but we have put a proposal to the Federal Government for assistance with roadworks in the area. We hope to get an indication of support in the near future. One of the benefits of the sale of Westrail freight will be the possibility of extending a rail system into that area. I am keen to encourage transport, whether it be the transport of blue gum logs, woodchips or anything else, to move off road onto rail throughout Western Australia. Western Australia can only benefit from the removal of the task off road onto rail. I will encourage people in whatever industry to do that.
Hon M.J. CRIDDLE replied: (1)-(2) As recently as a few days ago I was talking to one of the major proponents of the woodchip mill in the south west. The agreement is for Westrail to transport the woodchips from the mill to the port of Albany. This will cause a major reduction in the need to transport woodchips by road. Transport of the timber to the mill by road will remain, but we have put a proposal to the Federal Government for assistance with roadworks in the area. We hope to get an indication of support in the near future. One of the benefits of the sale of Westrail freight will be the possibility of extending a rail system into that area. I am keen to encourage transport, whether it be the transport of blue gum logs, woodchips or anything else, to move off road onto rail throughout Western Australia. Western Australia can only benefit from the removal of the task off road onto rail. I will encourage people in whatever industry to do that.
(1)-(2) As recently as a few days ago I was talking to one of the major proponents of the woodchip mill in the south west. The agreement is for Westrail to transport the woodchips from the mill to the port of Albany. This will cause a major reduction in the need to transport woodchips by road. Transport of the timber to the mill by road will remain, but we have put a proposal to the Federal Government for assistance with roadworks in the area. We hope to get an indication of support in the near future. One of the benefits of the sale of Westrail freight will be the possibility of extending a rail system into that area. I am keen to encourage transport, whether it be the transport of blue gum logs, woodchips or anything else, to move off road onto rail throughout Western Australia. Western Australia can only benefit from the removal of the task off road onto rail. I will encourage people in whatever industry to do that.
(2) If so, how does the minister intend to achieve this? Hon M.J. CRIDDLE replied: (1)-(2) As recently as a few days ago I was talking to one of the major proponents of the woodchip mill in the south west. The agreement is for Westrail to transport the woodchips from the mill to the port of Albany. This will cause a major reduction in the need to transport woodchips by road. Transport of the timber to the mill by road will remain, but we have put a proposal to the Federal Government for assistance with roadworks in the area. We hope to get an indication of support in the near future. One of the benefits of the sale of Westrail freight will be the possibility of extending a rail system into that area. I am keen to encourage transport, whether it be the transport of blue gum logs, woodchips or anything else, to move off road onto rail throughout Western Australia. Western Australia can only benefit from the removal of the task off road onto rail. I will encourage people in whatever industry to do that.
Hon M.J. CRIDDLE replied: (1)-(2) As recently as a few days ago I was talking to one of the major proponents of the woodchip mill in the south west. The agreement is for Westrail to transport the woodchips from the mill to the port of Albany. This will cause a major reduction in the need to transport woodchips by road. Transport of the timber to the mill by road will remain, but we have put a proposal to the Federal Government for assistance with roadworks in the area. We hope to get an indication of support in the near future. One of the benefits of the sale of Westrail freight will be the possibility of extending a rail system into that area. I am keen to encourage transport, whether it be the transport of blue gum logs, woodchips or anything else, to move off road onto rail throughout Western Australia. Western Australia can only benefit from the removal of the task off road onto rail. I will encourage people in whatever industry to do that.
(1)-(2) As recently as a few days ago I was talking to one of the major proponents of the woodchip mill in the south west. The agreement is for Westrail to transport the woodchips from the mill to the port of Albany. This will cause a major reduction in the need to transport woodchips by road. Transport of the timber to the mill by road will remain, but we have put a proposal to the Federal Government for assistance with roadworks in the area. We hope to get an indication of support in the near future. One of the benefits of the sale of Westrail freight will be the possibility of extending a rail system into that area. I am keen to encourage transport, whether it be the transport of blue gum logs, woodchips or anything else, to move off road onto rail throughout Western Australia. Western Australia can only benefit from the removal of the task off road onto rail. I will encourage people in whatever industry to do that.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.