Council moves on port plan

It has also decided to reinstate the railway line to the wharf once the expected coal shipments from new mines exceed 1.5 million tonnes a year.

The decisions were announced by Mayor Tony Kokshoorn yesterday and follow an options study for coal transport and the port redevelopment to cope with future exports from Solid Energy, Roa Mining and Pike River Coal. The options study was put out for public submissions.

Coal shipments currently total about 100,000 tonnes a year, but could top 3.6 million tonnes if all of the mines reach full production and confirm the Port of Greymouth as the preferred transport route.

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