BUNBURY–GREENBUSHES
RAIL LINE — LITHIUM MINING
458. Hon DIANE EVERS to the minister representing the
Minister for Transport:
Bearing in mind that Labor members
of Parliament have been on record as supporting a review of south west rail
transport when in opposition and acknowledging the anticipated increase in
lithium mining in the south west and the associated extensive increase in the
number of trucks to transport lithium by road to plants in Kwinana, I ask the
following.
(1) Is the
government planning to reopen the Bunbury–Greenbushes rail line to
facilitate the rail freight of lithium from the mine in Greenbushes?
(2) If yes to (1), when is this
likely to occur?
(3) If no to (1), why not?
(4) If no to (1), will the
government consider a plan to reopen the line?
(5) Does the government still own
the land that the rail line occupies?
(6) Is this line leased to Arc
Infrastructure?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The Public
Transport Authority is aware that the Talison Lithium joint venture and Arc
Infrastructure are in negotiations on the rail task, which may result in
returning the Bunbury–Greenbushes rail line to operating condition.
(2) The time frame will be set out
by the Talison Lithium joint venture and Arc Infrastructure.
(3)–(4) Not applicable.
(5) The rail corridor is owned by
the state government.
(6) Yes.