government report on third party access, page-3

Just out from WA news:

Rail access plan to help juniors: Ripper

10th June 2008, 14:45 WST

A plan to allow third party access to private rail lines will lead to more development of the state's iron ore industry and more successful junior miners, Treasurer Eric Ripper said today.

Mr Ripper was speaking after the release of a Treasury draft proposal for a regime that would provide junior iron ore miners access to the Pilbara rail network operated by BHP and Rio Tinto.

The companies have refused third party access to their infrastructure in the past, but the State Government proposal has set out a structure Mr Ripper hopes will be amenable to both BHP and Rio and the junior miners.

However, the regime is unlikely to come into effect until next year at the earliest, and a suitable pricing structure is yet to be set.