WA urged to hurry up on infrastructurewww.theage.com.au/business/wa-urged-to-hurry-up-on-infrastructure-20070925-gdr6ni.html September 24, 2007 - 4:00PM
The West Australian government should decide on how to proceed with vital infrastructure in the state's Mid West region in the next three months if it is to avoid reputational damage and iron ore project execution risks.
The warning was made by Gindalbie Metals Ltd chairman George Jones on Monday as he unveiled the company's plan to merge with Sundance Resources Ltd, a firm that he also chairs.
The future of vital new port and rail infrastructure in the Mid West came under a cloud recently when WA Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan was reported to favour a tender process to deal with several competing bids.
"A multi-user port (at Oakajee) makes a lot of sense to iron ore miners .... it's now up to the government to make a decision," Mr Jones said.
Many fear the minister's proposal will increase WA's sovereign risk, and Mr Jones noted that Australia's standing in this respect had slipped recently.
Mr Jones said Gindalbie would be a substantial customer of the Oakajee port through its Karara Magnetite and Mungada Hematite projects in the Mid West.
Gindalbie could effectively underwrite the new port.
