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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 1311 asked in the Legislative Council on 5 December 2018 by Hon Diane Evers

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

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.