WA Gov chops at timber industry’s shift to road

<p>The Western Australian Government will regulate the land transport of woodchips and logs to the port of Bunbury in an effort to make rail haulage compare well to competitive truck contracts presently dominating the south-west.</p> <p>WA planning and infrastructure minister Alannah MacTiernan yesterday (Thursday, June 14) signed an order to change the state’s Transport Coordination Act from December this year.</p> <p>Ms MacTiernan said the legislation would combined with $14.5m of funding that had been injected into ensuring the state’s rail network did not fall into disuse because it was seen as uncompetitive.</p> <p>&#8220We want to provide the best balance between road and rail freight, to ensure the impacts of freight on communities are minimised and that valuable rail infrastructure is not lost,&#8221 Ms MacTiernan said.</p> <p>&#8220Without some regulation, it is clear it will be impossible to keep important rail infrastructure in operation.&#8221</p> <p>The State Government hopes the funding will keep about 7m tonnes of plantation woodchips and logs on the rail network over the next 10 years.</p> <p>Timber companies had found road transport to be cheaper and more convenient.</p> <p>&#8220It was proving impossible for the timber companies and the rail operators to reach agreement on a realistic price because of the amount of product being lost to competitors using road transport.&#8221</p> <br />