<p>The National Competition Council (NCC) has called for submissions on the Fortescue Metals Group’s application to have the Mt Newman and Goldsworthy rail lines declared a service.</p> <p>FMG is seeking access to the BHP Billiton-owned lines for a $1.8bn iron ore project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.</p> <p>The council has asked that stakeholders restrict submissions to one threshold issue – whether the lines that FMG seeks access to are services for the purposes of Part IIIA of the Trade Practices Act.</p> <p>"The council does not, at this stage, seek submissions on other aspects of the FMG application," the NCC said.</p> <p>The application is for access to the part of Mt Newman railway line, which runs from a rail siding to be constructed near Mindy Mindy to facilities at Nelson Point in Port Hedland – a distance of 295 km.</p> <p>It also requests access to a 17 km section of the Goldsworthy Railway line where it crosses the Mt Newman railway line to port facilities at Inucane island, Port Hedland.</p> <p>The application does not seek a railway haulage service and is not aimed at rollingstock or locomotives, the NCC said.</p> <br />
