Better support is needed for infrastructure developments that underpin resource projects in Western Australia, according to some West Australian miners.
Iron ore company Midwest Corporation’s CEO Stephen de Belle said the viability of some projects was being threatened by a delayed, uncompetitive response from both the State and private sector to the infrastructure needs of miners
He said the State Government needed to display clear support for a project early on.
"Spending three to five years ‘umming’ and ‘ahhing’ just prevents you proceeding, so it’s an absolutely critical issue," Mr de Belle said.
He added that its support did not have to be financial; rather, he suggested infrastructure developments could be built and operated privately.
Midwest is developing an iron ore mining operation near Geraldton and is investigating possibilities to develop new rail and port infrastructure separate from the region’s existing rail and port facilities.
Mr de Belle said infrastructure access was a big issue for bulk commodity or concentrate producers throughout Australia, however, he said it was the least addressed in WA.
“Part of that blame falls on the private suppliers as well as government," he said.
LionOre Australia managing director Mark Ashley agreed, saying because miners found resources in remote locations government support was particularly important.
He said it took three years of grinding negotiation to gain access to gas just 30km from LionOre’s Thunderbox gold mine in the North Goldfields – an area that he also suggested might need more co-ordination with gas access arrangements if diesel prices continued to increase.
