Transport and infrastructure news

Coal terminal to cut staff under new agreement
By Sam Collyer
Port Waratah Coal Services will roll out wage increases and offer voluntary redundancies to its older staff as part of a workplace overhaul.
The Newcastle coal terminal operator, which employs 437 people, will implement a single Federal Enterprise Agreement lasting three years.
About 80 employees over the age of 55 have the opportunity to take voluntary redundancy as part of an early retirement scheme.
PWCS said the scheme would reduce the risks associated with its ageing workforce.
The terminal operator said the number of forced redundancies would depend upon how many people took early retirement.

Aquila and Fortescue in Pilbara port discussions
By Rob McKay
Aquila Resources and Fortescue Metals are jointly looking at a proposal to build an iron ore export terminal in the Pilbara, Aquila said on June 23rd.
API Management, manager of Aquila’s 50 per cent-owned West Pilbara Iron Ore Project, has signed a co-operation agreement with Fortescue to investigate the potential for shared development of port facilities at Anketell Point.
The open access facility would also benefit other miners in the west and central Pilbara who are unable to develop their iron ore projects because of a lack of suitable port infrastructure.
"The opportunity remains for other developers in the region to participate in the joint development of the Anketell Point port facilities," Aquila said.
"This port site has the potential for a staged development to accommodate the export of up to 350m tonnes per annum of iron ore from the Pilbara region."

Budget boosts QLD coal port and rail assets
By Rob McKay
Coal export infrastructure was a winner in the Queensland Budget announcements made on June 16th.
The State Government will spend $862m on central Queensland coal rail infrastructure and another $305m for the further expansion of the Abbot Point Coal Terminal.
The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) welcomed the Budget commitments to the industry.
"In challenging times, this is a responsible budget which looks beyond immediate timeframes to an inevitable rebound in global demand for Queensland’s minerals and energy commodities," QRC chief executive Michael Roche said.
However, coal infrastructure spending was dwarfed by the $3bn for roads capital works plus $259m for a second Gateway Bridge in Brisbane.
Townsville will gain $36.5m over the next three years for building of the new marine precinct and assistance for industries affected by the building of the Eastern Port Access Bridge.
Funding for the Port Access Road will also continue.
Heavy vehicle rest areas will receive $5m this and next financial year through speed camera fines.
Cairns Ports will gain $11.2m in Queensland Future Growth Fund cash next financial year to redevelop the heritage-listed Wharf Shed 3 and associated wharf and landside facilities as a cruise terminal.
The liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry gains $30m for a 70km, 200 metre wide "gas super-highway" pipeline corridor between the Callide and Gladstone state development areas to support the start-up of Queensland’s gas export industry.