KALGOORLIE CONSOLIDATED
GOLD MINES — MT PERCY — RAIL REALIGNMENT
80. Hon ROBIN SCOTT to the minister representing the
Minister for Transport:
I refer the minister to the
proposal for the rail realignment near the Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines
Mt Percy open pits, which are known to have abundant gold resources and which,
if mined, would increase mine life and give wider benefits to the Kalgoorlie–Boulder
community.
(1) Does the
government support the proposal to move the current rail line, which would
allow extensive open-cut mining in the area of the current rail line; and, if
not, why not?
(2) If yes, will
the government commit funding to facilitate and encourage this very important
proposal, which would allow for a very long mine life of the KCGM open-cut
mining operation?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON
replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided to me by
the Minister for Transport.
(1)–(2) Planning
work conducted by the Department of Transport to date on the rail realignment
proposal has not identified specific overall transport benefits from the
proposal and has identified issues with maintaining direct access to the town
centre for passenger rail services, including major tourism trains such as the Prospector
and Indian Pacific. Future government support for the proposal would
depend upon broader economic benefits being demonstrated and would require
consideration on regional development rather than transport grounds.