Full community consultation on Kalgoorlie rail proposal

4/6/01
No changes will be made to the alignment of Kalgoorlie's rail system until there is full consultation with the local community, Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said today.
In Kalgoorlie-Boulder for tomorrow's Road Train Consensus Conference and Wednesday's regional meeting of State Cabinet, Ms MacTiernan said she supported the current study of the Kalgoorlie rail system.
The Minister also welcomed the participation of a number of different groups, including the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, in the assessment process.
She said the new Government did not have a predetermined view on the proposal to realign the rail line to take it out of the city centre.
"The Government will await the findings of the steering group established to assess the feasibility and other issues relating to the proposal," Ms MacTiernan said.
"We recognise that there are arguments both for and against the proposal and I am confident that the process put in place by the steering group will provide a comprehensive and balanced assessment."
Ms MacTiernan said that taking rail passengers out of the city centre would pose particular challenges.
"When the railway station was moved out of the centre of Bunbury, the effects were detrimental for passengers and for tourism," she said.
"There are now moves afoot to bring the rail back into the town."
Ms MacTiernan said that at the same time, Kalgoorlie was the State's rail interface with the East and as such, was one of the major railway junctions in Western Australia.
"With the planned growth of the resources sector there is potential for significant growth in train numbers through Kalgoorlie over the next 10 years," she said.
"Interstate rail traffic is expected to increase at a rate of 4.5 per cent per annum and intrastate rail passenger numbers are estimated to grow in the order of 20 to 30 per cent over the next decade.
"With these figures in mind it is important we plan, in consultation with the local community, to accommodate the future demand on this important piece of rail infrastructure."
The Kalgoorlie Rail Realignment Steering Group has established three working groups to examine key areas of the proposal.
A Transport Demand Assessment Working Group, chaired by Transport, is managing a study to determine future demands on the transport system in and around Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the impacts a realignment may have on rail users.
A Land Use Planning Working Group, chaired by the Ministry for Planning, is managing a study of land use planning issues related to any realignment.
A Social, Environmental and Business Case Working Group, chaired by the Mayor of the City of Kalgoorlie, is managing a study to determine the benefits and drawbacks of the proposal from a social and environmental standpoint. This group will also prepare a preliminary business case on the proposal.
Ms MacTiernan said the working groups were scheduled to report to the steering group later this month (June).
"After consideration of these reports, the steering group will meet to consider its findings," she said.
"After the Government receives the steering group's findings there will be full and thorough community consultation regarding issues and options.
"No change will be made until that process is complete."

Media contact: Kaye Hopkins 9213 6400