GERALDTON would become the state’s leading export gateway under an audacious $4.6 billion plan unveiled by the Geraldton council for a massive new interconnected rail network linking with the Oakajee deepwater port.
As reported previously by WA Business News, the council believes a $1 billion rail link between Perth and Oakajee would obviate the need for further port expansions at Fremantle and Kwinana where space is limited.
The city has now formally unveiled an even more ambitious plan that would progressively link Oakajee to all major exporting regions apart from the Kimberley.
The $4.6 billion plan envisages construction of 2,607 kilometres of new railway, including a northern extension to Newman in the Pilbara, an eastern link to Wiluna and Leonora, and a south-eastern link to the transnational railway at Koolyanobbing. It also envisages an upgrade of the Bunbury-Perth line.
The connections would provide port access to currently stranded miners in the Murchison, Yilgarn and north-eastern Goldfields, and reduce nickel and iron ore exports through Esperance.
The state and federal governments would need to provide about $1.8 billion in funding, with the remainder coming from the private sector.
The taxpayer-funded component would include $375 million to connect Leonora, $350 million for the Newman link, $350 million for a line between Muchea and Eneabba, and $150 million to upgrade the existing narrow-gauge Eneabba-Geraldton line.
It would also include $400 million to upgrade the existing Bunbury-Perth line.
Mr Brun said the council may target the third round of Infrastructure Australia funding next year.
