The Mount Isa Line is 1030kms of track which extends from Stuart (near Townsville) to Mount Isa and includes the Phosphate Hill branch. The line services a number of communities along the line through passenger transport, the conveyance of general freight and remains a major employer along the corridor. The line is the critical link from the North West Minerals Province to the Port of Townsville where the majority of bulk products are exported.
The Mount Isa Line is of particular national interest as it runs along some of the world’s largest deposits of copper, lead, zinc, silver and phosphate rock. The region surrounding the Mount Isa Line produces 75% of Queensland’s non-coal mineral output. As a result of strong international demand for commodities, exploration in the North West Minerals Province has increased significantly in recent years.
Last year we helped our customers rail 5.8 million tonnes on the Mount Isa Corridor. This supported mineral production of $6.67 billion in the region. We are now working on plans to help our customers rail more than 40 million tonnes each year.
Significant new mineral deposits coupled with the discovery of coal in the Northern Galilee Basin indicates that the Mount Isa Line is on the cusp of exponential growth opportunities. We are committed to facilitating the transport of the forecast tonnage anticipated to be railed on the Mount Isa Line to suit the needs of our customers
We are focussed on developing Queensland Rail from its previous asset based focus to a fundamentally customer centric orientation.
We are working closely with our customers to understand their individual markets and growth opportunities and we will be there to help grow and improve their business.
We want to continue our proud history within the region and continue to support the communities along the Mount Isa Line and remain a dominant driver of economic activity in North and North West Queensland.
Queensland Rail has now released its Consultation Draft of the Mount Isa Line Rail Infrastructure Master Plan 2012 to customers, industry, government and other stakeholders. Queensland Rail is seeking written feedback on the current draft.
Contact
To obtain a copy of the current Consultation Draft and/or to provide feedback contact:
Tammy Phelan
Principal Advisor (Commercial & Operations Strategy)
Network Business
Queensland Rail
Mail: PO Box 1102
Townsville Queensland 4810
Email: tammy.phelan@qr.com.au
All written feedback should be received by the 19th January 2012.