¶ COLLIE residents will have to tolerate increased Coalfields Highway traffic associated with Green Steel of WA’s proposed Collie Steel Mill as the price of Just Transition progress.
This was the message at Collie Shire Council’s June meeting as councillors mulled an amendment to Green Steel’s previously approved development application, requesting the go ahead for additional truck movements to and from the mill.
It is planned to extend the existing Griffin Coal Mine rail loop to service the mill, however councillors raised concerns about traffic movements and the timeframe within which the 2.2 kilometre extension can be completed.
The amendment enables transportation of scrap metal to, and finished products from, the mill while the proposed rail infrastructure is developed.
It increases the number of truck movements from the previously approved 10 a day to 50 a day, resulting in 100 two-way movements.
Coalfields Highway will accommodate about 85 percent of the traffic, with trucks to service the mill Monday to Friday for around 250 days a year from 10am to 7.30pm.
In its application for the amendment, consultancy GHD, acting on behalf of Green Steel, described it as a “necessary interim solution” to maintain the project timeline while awaiting approvals to extend the rail network.
Green Steel has been “actively pursuing implementation of the rail extension”, GHD stated, however the process is lengthy due to a host of regulatory requirements, further complicated by the Griffin State Agreement.
Shire development services director Alex Wiese told council the approval is limited to five years, with Green Steel required to secure rail access within this timeframe.
“After that five-year timeframe, if Green Steel wants to continue to use road as its transport method, it would need to have council give further approval,” Mr Wiese said.
However, councillor Dale Hill-Power questioned what the alternative would be if rail access is not secured within this timeframe.
“We’re not able to predict what might happen in five years' time,” shire president Ian Miffling said.
“If it all doesn’t come to pass and they take the risk of developing, then the risk is on them.
“If there’s no approval for rail by that time, they might not be able to get a permit to transport by road.”
However, councillor Paul Moyses said “ratepayers will be asking questions”, given the project has been in the pipeline for a number of years.
“The railway line was the stumbling block and they knew they had to get that sorted,” Cr Moyses said.
Cr Moyses asked why the State Government could not facilitate a solution, given they had “made a commitment to Collie that they will look after the community”.
“The reverse of the public angst is, do we want to have development in our shire for when the coal industry does wind down?” Cr Miffling said.
Deputy shire president Joe Italiano said Collie is “crying out for industry”.
“Unless we do get some industrial development, we’re going to have a real, real problem on our hands,” Cr Italiano said.
“I believe that while this traffic is a problem, I believe that the upside to something like Green Steel being established is far, far greater than the downside.
“We’re experiencing growing pains and when you experience growing pains you just have to live with it.”
However, councillor Michelle Smith argued it would be “devastating for our town”.
“It’s going to have an effect on businesses,” Cr Smith said.
“It’s going to have an effect on getting people from one side of the town to the other side of the town.
“I am wary of the danger. I am wary of the number of trucks. And I am fearful for the town’s future because I think it will have a huge impact on the people in this town.”
Green Steel managing director Azlan Ho told the Bulletin Green Steel looks forward to “finalising the investment in Collie”.
“The recent council decision provides confidence to investors that, while rail is the preferred long-term transport solution, the mill will be able to commence operations even if rail infrastructure is not fully completed by day one,” Mr Ho said.
“Regarding traffic, studies indicate that vehicle movements during mill operations will be less than volumes resulting from the construction of the battery projects which are happening now and will be complete before the mill commences operations.”
Green Steel is continuing to work with the State Government and other stakeholders on the rail extension, Mr Ho added. 
“The project team remains confident that rail will be delivered,” he said. 
“The council’s decision to amend the development approval improves the project’s bankability and enhances its ability to deliver jobs for Collie.”
The motion was carried six votes to two, with councillors Smith and Hill-Power voting against.