<p>Hope Downs mine was denied access to BHP Billiton’s Mt Newman rail line in the Western Australian Supreme Court last week.</p> <p>Hancock Prospecting, one of the companies behind the Hope Downs project, went to court seeking third-party access to the line.</p> <p>Justice John McKechnie ruled that Hope Downs could not be defined as a third-party because it was not an operating mine.</p> <p>Hope Downs is reviewing the decision and may appeal.</p> <p>Its other options are to try and negotiate access with BHP Billiton or build its own line.</p> <p>A recent feasibility study found the project would still be feasible even if it has to build an independent 324-km railway line liking the mine to Port Hedland.</p> <p>The preferred plan has been to build a short rail spur to BHP Billiton’s existing infrastructure.</p> <br />
