In brief
Major Queensland rail infrastructure has been re-declared this
week, following a long-running process.
On 31 May 2020, the Queensland Treasurer, in his capacity as
Minister administering the Queensland Competition Authority Act
1997 (Qld) (the Act), decided to declare:
- the coal handling service at Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal
(DBCT) for a period of 10 years;
- the Aurizon-owned Central Queensland Coal Network
(CQCN) for a period of 20 years; and
- six routes within the Queensland Rail service for a period of
15 years.
Background
The rail routes covered by the decision are critical monopoly
infrastructure in Queensland used, in large part, to transport coal
from pit to port. Access to the service on reasonable terms is
therefore important to that industry and others. The above
mentioned services are already declared but those declarations will
expire on 8 September 2020.
