Ann: Annual Report to shareholders, page-4

Sabine, I believe the infrastructure corridor that is being negotiated, refers to the railway spur that Hancock wants to build to join its main railway that takes ore to the port. Hancock had wanted to build part of this spur line adjacent to FMG's line as it would have minimal impact on the environment. However, by all reports, Hancock wasn't able to get any agreement from FMG so they've had to put in a proposal that takes a different course and thus requires extensive consultation around native title and environmental concerns. The following is taken from a January 2023 * article https://unauthorised investment advice/resources/monsters-of-rock-gina-rineharts-hancock-seeks-support-from-twiggys-fmg-in-epa-iron-ore-rail-bid/

Gina Rinehart is reaching out to fellow iron ore magnate Twiggy Forrest in her bid to develop a new iron ore mine on her family station in the Pilbara.EPA approval documents were submitted this week for a new iron ore hub and rail spur to be operated by Roy Hill, the mining company 70% owned by Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting, which ships 60Mt of iron ore from its mine of the same name out of Port Hedland each year.The spur opens up around 45Mtpa of third party iron ore production for export through Hancock and Roy Hill’s expanded facilities at the port.That is believed to include Hancock’s proposed 100% owned 20Mtpa Mulga Downs and 5Mtpa Murray’s Hill mines, and is understood to support the development of Mineral Resources’ (ASX:MIN) and Brockman Mining’s (ASX:BCK) 20Mt Brockman hub. Hancock and MinRes announced a deal in November 2021 to share port and rail infrastructure in Port Hedland, operated by Roy Hill, to support the development plans.But the preferred path for the new stretch of railway is to run close to the Solomon rail line owned by Fortescue Metals Group (ASX:FMG), where major shareholder and fellow WA billionaire Andrew Forrest returned as executive chairman last year.That has been identified by Traditional Owners as the preferred route for the spur, according to documents lodged with WA’s environmental authorities.An alternative path would see the amount of priority ecological community lost to the rail spur and hub nearly double from 191.81 hectares to 344.26ha.According to the proposal, the hub and rail spur would operate for over 20 years, with a 2.5 year construction lead time once approved. Discussions ongoingAccording to Roy Hill’s EPA submission, it sought FMG’s consent to the rail investigation licence for the Mulga Downs spur in February last year but is yet to receive it.Roy Hill says around 14.8 km of track of the 70km long spur will be located within a shared corridor parallel to the FMG Solomon Rail Spur, and that a “100m separation between the FMG Solomon Spur centreline and Mulga Downs Railway Spur centreline is sufficient for the purposes of this option.”“RHI has confirmed to FMG that investigation activities will not impact FMG’s operations, nor future development plans,” it said in its submission.A spokesperson for Hancock Prospecting said discussions with FMG were ongoing.“The Mulga Hub and Rail Spur will support a unique opportunity in West Australia’s Pilbara by allowing third parties to access bulk ore handling and rail transportation, unlocking growth assets across the region which otherwise would have remained stranded,” he said.“Two potential options for the location of the Mulga Rail Spur have been referred, the Mulga Hub will remain the same for either rail alignment.“Roy Hill is in continuing discussion with Fortescue Metals Group regarding shared land access to allow progress on a preferred alignment identified by ongoing consultation with Traditional Owners.“Roy Hill supports the wishes of the Traditional Owners in relation to their preferred shared land access route and is seeking the cooperation of FMG to enable the necessary shared land access.”“Measures which seek to avoid, reduce, and manage the potential of emissions will apply to the design, construction, and operational phases of the Proposal, including energy efficiency initiatives and potentially the phased introduction of battery powered locomotives.“Roy Hill was the first Pilbara iron ore producer to purchase an electric locomotive, with delivery scheduled this year for integration into current operations.”FMG has been contacted for comment.

The EPA approval process is in stage 2 of 5 (oh joy) https://www.epa.wa.gov.au/proposals/mulga-downs-hub-and-rail-spur