BUNBURY–GREENBUSHES RAIL LINE —
LITHIUM MINING
1311. Hon DIANE EVERS to the minister representing the
Minister for Transport:
I refer to the minister's
response to my question without notice 1212, asked on 22 November 2018,
regarding the ongoing negotiations between Talison Lithium and Arc
Infrastructure on the Bunbury–Greenbushes rail line.
(1) Given that
Main Roads has responsibility for delivering and management of a safe and
efficient main road network and that the mine output is expected to increase B-double
truck traffic by at least 140 additional truck movements a day, thus increasing
damage to the road and safety issues, why is the Department of Transport not
involved in the negotiations?
(2) If Arc
Infrastructure determines that it would be uneconomical to return this line to
operating condition, is there any opportunity within the terms of the
agreement, or additional to the agreement, for the state government to resume
control of the Bunbury–Greenbushes rail line?
(3) If yes to
(2), will the government commit to a review of the feasibility of reinstating
this line should Arc Infrastructure not commit to doing so; and, if not, why
not?
(4) If no to (2),
will the government consider negotiating with Arc Infrastructure to introduce
such an option?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(4) The
minister understands that negotiations are ongoing. The Department of Transport
is contributing advice as part of the whole-of-government assessment of
transport options. Arc Infrastructure leases the Greenbushes rail line from the
state government, which makes considerations more complex.