The New South Wales Minerals Council believes that Australia’s land transport system is currently operating below capacity in efficiency and effectiveness. Bringing transport networks, particularly rail networks, up to 21st century standards will encourage a cycle of investment and improve competitive advantage for those industries that operate in rural and remote areas such as the mining industry.
The NSWMC believes that specific investment is needed in the following regions:
GunnedahBasin: Development of high quality coal reserves in the Gunnedah Basin requires investment in a number of important projects on the Muswellbrook – Gunnedah rail line. These projects include duplication of tracks on steeper grades, loop extensions to facilitate longer trains, and in the longer term the re-alignment of rail track on the Liverpool Range to a route more accommodating of heavy coal carrying trains.
Central West and MurrayBasin: To realise the excellent mineral prospects of the Murray Basin and in the Lachlan Fold belt near Canberra in theCentral West, the provision of power and water will be essential especially in the sometimes inhospitable environments of the Murray Basin.
Lower Hunter and Newcastle: The award of a lease over the Hunter Valley rail networks to the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) should result in prompt and necessary investment in this vital infrastructure. Investment in a new coal loader is also needed to enable Newcastle to handle increasing coal exports, together with land and access corridors fully integrated into the Hunter logistics network. Port dredging is also required provided that blasting and the disturbance of sediments can be managed in the interests of the community.
Illawarra and Upper Hunter: Rail infrastructure capacity and rail logistics need to be reviewed to meet community opposition to the trucking of coal in the Port Kembla district and through Singleton.