LITHIUM RAIL SUPPLY CHAIN
389. Hon DIANE EVERS to the minister representing the
Minister for Transport:
I refer to the south west lithium
rail supply chain pre-feasibility report.
(1) Has the
Department of Transport verified the figures and modelling in the report; and,
if yes, will the minister please table the report; and, if not, why not?
(2) Was the
option of backhaul of tailings from the Kemerton lithium refinery considered in
the report; and, if yes, what were the findings?
(3) Has the
report been considered by the minister; and, if yes, will the minister please
provide an update on the likelihood of rail being used for transport from the
mine to the refinery, and from the refinery to a waste storage or disposal
site; and, if not, when will the minister consider it?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) The
proponents of the south west lithium rail supply chain proposal recently shared
the pre-feasibility study with the Department of Transport and the Public
Transport Authority for consideration. The Department of Transport has
conducted a high-level review of the report and ongoing consultation will occur
with the proponents as they undertake additional work.
(3) As only pre-feasibility work has been undertaken,
detailed work will be required to fully assess the viability of the
proposal.