LITHIUM MINING —
GREENBUSHES — BYPASS ROAD
1275. Hon DIANE EVERS to the minister representing the
Minister for Transport:
I refer to the ''Greenbushes
Lithium Mine Expansion: Environmental Referral Supporting Report'',
which was submitted to the Environmental Protection Authority in July 2018. It
states that consultation is in progress with Main Roads WA and the Shire of
Bridgetown–Greenbushes about a suitable route for a bypass road between
the mine access points and South Western Highway.
(1) Has
an optimal route for the bypass road been determined?
(2) If yes to (1), what is the route
and what criteria were used to determine it?
(3) If no to (1),
what routes are under consideration and what criteria are being used to make
the decision?
(4) What negative
effects of any potential route have been identified that may impact on
Greenbushes Pool, and what actions will be undertaken to mitigate them?
(5) If
negotiations between the rail operator and the mine operator agree to the use
of rail transport with a spur line to the mine, what are the implications and
requirements for this road?
(6) What is the expected cost of the
bypass road?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(6) The
bypass road is a local government road; therefore, Main Roads has not been
involved in discussions about the route between the mine access points and
South Western Highway. Main Roads' only involvement has been in
preliminary discussions about possible locations for the connection of the
bypass road to South Western Highway. No decision has yet been made on a final
location for the connection of the bypass road to South Western Highway.