Shire seeks conditions on Kimberley Mineral Sands road trains

Published on 20 September 2023

The Shire of Broome has called on Main Roads WA to impose several conditions on the Kimberley Mineral Sands (KMS) proposal to use 60-metre road trains to transport produce from the Thunderbird mine site to Broome Port.

Shire of Broome CEO Sam Mastrolembo has written to Main Roads WA (MRWA) to express community concerns about the proposal and seek a commitment they be considered during the approval process for using the Performance Based Solution (PBS) Quad Road Trains.

The proposed conditions include scheduling Kimberley Mineral Sands truck movements to avoid busy periods such as school drop off and pick up hours and events and for KMS to implement a complaints management system approved by the Shire and MRWA before vehicle movements to Broome Port commence.

The Shire had received significant representation from the Broome community regarding the KMS proposal, approved under the Mining Act and environmental approvals issued by the State Government, to Broome Port. 

Public submissions included meetings with elected members and Shire officers and questions submitted to the Council at Ordinary and Annual Electors meetings. 

Shire president Cr Desiree Male said while the Shire has no authority over any of the roads used in the proposal, and there is no legislative or policy requirement for Council to consider this proposal, Shire officers prepared an agenda item on the matter for Council consideration at the August 31, 2023 Ordinary Meeting of Council. 

The agenda item included recommendations based on assessing the results of the community engagement undertaken by KMS as required by MRWA and various technical reports commissioned by both organisations.

The purpose of the agenda item was to ensure that the community had a clear understanding that the commitment to advocacy that Elected Members and Shire staff have previously made was being met.

However, due to several elected members declaring a conflict of interest, this item did not achieve a quorum and could not be considered by the Council. 

“To honour the commitment made to the community by Council, and after receiving advice that a Council resolution is not required, the Shire has now formally provided written advice to Main Roads, KMS and Kimberley Ports Authority on the range of issues identified in the reports and by the community,” said Cr Male.

“This advice includes three conditions directly related to the KMS proposal, 13 recommendations related to the road network more generally, and a formal request to KMS to undertake a traffic impact statement for ship loading activities at the port”.