RAIL REALIGNMENT — KALGOORLIE–BOULDER
457. Hon ROBIN SCOTT to the minister representing the
Minister for Transport:
I note that the minister will be
familiar with proposals by the City of Kalgoorlie–Boulder to reroute a 20-kilometre
length of the east–west rail line to the south of the city.
(1) Is the
government fully supportive of this plan, which will free up ground for
exploration and improve the liveability of the city for residents?
(2) What steps has the government
taken to assist the project?
(3) Has the government nominated an
individual to coordinate government assistance to the project?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The information has been provided to me by the
Minister for Transport.
(1)–(3) The
transport portfolio concluded the PortLink inland freight corridor project in
2016. It included an assessment of options for a freight railway realignment
and heavy vehicle bypass that concluded that a northern road and rail
realignment is the preferred corridor alignment. The City of Kalgoorlie–Boulder
agreed at the time to accommodate both northern and southern rail options in
its local planning policy. The council outlined its proposal broadly to the
minister in a recent conversation. The minister intends to receive a further
briefing on the details.