Western Australia invests $200m in regional rail freight network

Key agricultural areas in Western Australia are set to get a $200 million funding boost from the federal government and state government for the first package of the Agricultural Supply Chain Improvement (ASCI) program.

The joint funding from the commonwealth ($160 million) and state ($40 million) rides on the back of a record 24 million tonne harvest, which is worth around $8 billion to WA’s economy.

Transport Minister Rita Safiotti said the $200 million funding will ensure our regional freight network continues to keep up with demand now and into the future.

“The recent record harvest of 24 million tonnes shows that we need to continue to invest in road and rail to provide an increasingly efficient transport network,” the minister said.

“The ASCI rail project funding, closely aligned with CBH’s train loading investments, will deliver freight cost savings and grain price benefits each year to grain growers throughout the agricultural region,” she said.

Under the ASCI package, four projects will be funded to help WA grain growers and other primary producers transport their product to markets across Australia and the globe.

These projects were determined in close consultation with CBH, rail network manager Arc Infrastructure, grower groups and local government.

As part of the $200 million funding, four rail siding extensions ($22 million) will be constructed for CBH grain bins at Moora, Brookton, Cranbrook, and Broomehill.

Seven additional grain rail siding upgrades ($46 million) will also be created at Avon, Kellerberrin, Dowerin, Konnongorring, Ballidu, Mingenew, and Perenjori North to help CBH load longer trains more quickly.

Another project will invest in a $60 million upgrade for Midline Line Main Line from 16 Tonne Axle Loading (TAL) to 19 TAL. This will go to the section between Carnamah and Mingenew, which carries about 400,000 tonnes of grain every year.

The remaining $72 million will go the Southern Wheatbelt region towards the progressive recommissioning of the Narrogin-Kulin rail line and associated works to service grain and other potential customers in the Narrogin-Wickepin area via a Tier 3 line.  The project is expected to increase the amount of grain moved by rail and decrease the number of trucks on regional roads.

Equally important, it will provide the capacity for other primary producers, for example hay exporters, to use a rail service.

All four projects are set to be complete in 2025.

The Morrison government and McGowan government  have already partnered to deliver $187.5 million in funding for the Wheatbelt Secondary Freight Network program. An additional $36 million in joint funding will commence the Mid-West and Great Southern Secondary Freight Network programs to further improve export connections throughout the agricultural regions.

Source: Hon Rita Saffioti BBus MLA media statement