Iron ore miner Murchison Metals is continuing to pursue the development of a new railway line in the Mid West, despite its plans being affected by the relocation of a $2 billion radio telescope project.
Iron ore miner Murchison Metals is continuing to pursue the development of a new railway line in the Mid West, despite its plans being affected by the relocation of a $2 billion radio telescope project.
Iron ore miner Murchison Metals is continuing to pursue the development of a new railway line in the Mid West, despite its plans being affected by the relocation of a $2 billion radio telescope project.
Premier Alan Carpenter announced last week the site for the proposed Square Kilometre Array would be shifted 90 kilometres to the west.
The change was made necessary because trucking activity associated with Murchison’s mining operation at Jack Hills was disrupting the ‘radio quiet’ conditions needed for the radio telescope.
The new site will require Murchison to modify its preferred rail route, to avoid the 70 kilometre buffer zone around the radio telescope.
Murchison executive chairman Paul Kopejtka said he welcomed the government’s announcement and was pleased that all parties in the Mid West could progress their plans on the basis of certainty.
Murchison project director Dick Jupp was a member of the team, comprising government, industry and scientific representatives that advised the government on the relocation.
“We have always said the location and requirements of the SKA project would be factored into our feasibility study for Jack Hills stage 2,” Mr Kopejtka said.
“The re-alignment of the rail route arising from this re-location of the SKA project will not jeopardise the economic viability of the northern rail route preferred by Murchison.”
He said certainty over the SKA location would allow Murchison to “firm up the precise rail route”.
A Murchison spokesman said the northern rail route would run to the south of the SKA site, and was still preferable to the southern route that had previously been evaluated.
Murchison has been working with fellow iron ore miner Midwest Corporation on the planning for a new rail line and deepwater port at Oakajee, north of Geraldton, to service the proposed growth of mining exports from the region.
Unlisted Sydney company Yilgarn Infrastructure has been developing a competing proposal.
Both groups say their port and rail infrastructure would be open to third parties.
The SKA project is being developed by an international consortium, which has selected Australia as one of two short-listed locations.
A final decision is due in about 2010.