Yilgarn offers WA latest specs on Oakajee project

<p>Yilgarn Infrastructure has presented the Western Australian Government with specifications for the Oakajee port and rail infrastructure, the company has said.</p> <p>&#8220In accordance with the Government’s consultative process, Yilgarn’s current project definition document (PDD) was recently handed over to the Office of Development Approvals Co-ordination (ODAC) to continue the process of obtaining proponent status and necessary approvals,&#8221 the WA company said.</p> <p>Yilgarn executive director Derek Bone said the documents were Yilgarn’s most comprehensive view of the Oakajee port and rail project to date and details an estimated cost of $2bn- $2.5bn, &#8220dependant on staged rail options for Yilgarn’s independently owned and operated infrastructure proposal.</p> <p>&#8220It also shows Yilgarn’s independent economic modelling, demonstrating the company’s open-access, multi-user model for the port and railway could provide a benefit to the Australian economy of up to $21bn,&#8221 he said.</p> <p>"Yilgarn’s project definition document is a flexible blueprint for the best way forward for the mining industry and the midwest.</p> <p>"The only way for this region to realise its full potential is to put in place a master plan to ensure all mines, not just one or two, are able to access rail to get their product to the new Oakajee port for export.</p> <p>"Yilgarn’s plan will enable communities to grow and prosper and it demonstrates a responsibility to the midwest and its people, not only to our shareholders and future customers."</p> <p>The PDD draws on the 15-month pre-feasibility studies undertaken for the company by WorleyParsons Systems, environmental consultancy Strategen, the China National Overseas Engineering Corporation in cooperation with the China Railway Engineering Consulting Corporation and the China National Machinery &#38 Equipment Import &#38 Export Corporation in co-operation with China Communications First Design Institute of Navigation Engineering.</p> <p>The PDD forecasts construction to start in the last quarter of 2008, with operations beginning in 2011.</p> <br />