Oakajee Port
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Oakajee Port is a proposed deep water port to be built in the Mid West region of Western Australia, Script error: No such module "convert". north of Geraldton, to service the region's growing iron ore industry.
History
Between 1879 and 1957, Oakagee was a siding and locality on the Northampton railway line.[1] The site was first considered as a port and railway terminus in the 1980s.[2]
Opposition to the project from local residents centred on environmental concerns, especially in relation to nearby Coronation Beach.[3]
Advocacy for the project was from a partnership known as Geraldton Iron Ore Alliance, which included miners Mount Gibson Iron, Midwest Corporation, Murchison Metals, Gindalbie Metals, Golden West Resources, Royal Resources, Asia Iron Holdings and Atlas Iron.[4]
An alternative project considered by the government was to deepen and enlarge the existing Geraldton Port. However, environmental factors associated with the proposal being relatively close to Geraldton militated against it.
Including an associated rail project, the project was estimated to cost about $4 billion. The port was to have an initial capacity of 45 million tonnes of iron ore annually. Construction was expected to start in 2011, with completion possible by 2014.[5]
In 2012, media speculation about cancellation of the project increased with announcements of delays and cutbacks.[6][7] However, the premier of Western Australia, Colin Barnett, stated his desire to facilitate conciliation between the parties.[8]
In June 2013, Mitsubishi Corporation announced that work was to be suspended work until an investment partner could be found.[9] since November 2014[update]Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". the project was mothballed.[10]
In November 2019, Sinosteel purchased Mitsubishi's shareholding.[11] In January 2022, Fortescue Metals Group announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Sinosteel to investigate the feasibility of reviving the project.[12][13]
Location
The port and facilities were to be constructed within approximately Script error: No such module "convert". of land owned by the state government. The property had been used as farmland but Script error: No such module "convert". was zoned for heavy industrial and Script error: No such module "convert". zoned for support industries.[2]
It is bordered approximately by the Buller River to the south, Coronation Beach Road to the north, and the Moresby Ranges to the east.
Railway
The port was intended to be served by a 570 kilometre standard gauge railway line. To facilitate this Brookfield Rail rebuilt part of the existing narrow gauge line with dual gauge sleepers.[14][15]
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Coronation Beach between Drummond Cove and Horrocks see page 69 Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Sinsoteel acquires stake in Oakajee Port and Railway Project in Western Australia Shanghai Metals Market 3 January 2020
- ↑ Fortescue looks at Sinosteel's Midwest and Oakajee projects Mining Weekly 21 January 2022
- ↑ Fortsecue Metals Group joins pursuit of Oakajee mine and port vision The West Australian 21 January 2022
- ↑ Brookfield Rail transforming MidWest rail infrastructure Rail Express 27 June 2012
- ↑ Mixed fortunes for Western Australian rail projects International Railway Journal 16 November 2012
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
External links
Script error: No such module "Coordinates".