The first 11 Brookton rail siding extensions have commenced to optimise the safe and efficient conveyance of Western Australia’s (WA) bumper grain harvest to domestic and international markets.
The $200 million Agricultural Supply Chain Improvement (ASCI) Program, financed jointly by the State and Commonwealth Governments, includes the renovation as part of Package 1.
The Brookton rail siding extension, built by Multiplant, will connect to the Co-operative Bulk Handling (CBH) grain bin, allowing longer trains to load grain adjacent to the Great Southern Line without generating congestion on the main line.
CBH will invest in rapid loading bins and elevators at all 11 rail siding upgrading sites to supplement government financing and improve grain handling and loading.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti stated that WA’s agricultural products contribute roughly $8 billion annually to the State economy and are exported to more than 30 nations worldwide.
“With WA’s recent run of record-breaking grain harvests, it’s more important than ever to optimise the efficiency of our agricultural freight transport supply chains to manage the increase in product,” Minister Saffioti said.
In addition to providing an economic boost, Minister Saffioti added that the capacity to transport more grain by rail would improve community safety while also lowering environmental emissions and road maintenance costs by reducing the need for road freight.
The locations include Broomehill, which will start building after Moora and Cranbrook in March. Construction is anticipated to begin on the final seven sites in 2024 at Avon (Meenaar), Kellerberrin, Dowerin, Konnongorring, Ballidu, Mingenew, and Perenjori North.
According to the State Government, the upgrades to freight rail in the Wheatbelt, Mid-West, Great Southern, and Goldfields-Esperance regions are the main objectives of ASCI Package 1 funding.
Aside from the $68 million budgeted for 11 rail siding upgrades, $60 million has been committed to upgrading the major Midland Rail Line between Carnamah and Mingenew, and $72 million has been provided for the investigation and recommissioning of rail lines in the Narrogin-Wickepin-Kulin area.
Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis stated the Brookton rail siding extension, in conjunction with CBH’s new rapid loading infrastructure, will maximise value for WA growers by bringing more tonnes to port and meeting worldwide demand for WA grain, allowing us to collect early shipping price premiums.
“In recent years, we’ve seen record-breaking grain harvests, and while our supply chains have stood up to the huge level of demand, we need to keep investing in projects that will support greater capacity in the future,” Minister Jarvis said.
