Re: Site of new steel mill

["Alex Pout" <alpout@optusnet.com.au>]

David Bromage <dbromage@fang.omni.com.au> wrote in message
xw0k6.41$2U6.1328@news0.optus.net.au">news:xw0k6.41$2U6.1328@news0.optus.net.au...
> Despite all the publicity about the proposed new steel mill in Newcastle,
> I haven't been able to find out the actual location. The NSW government is
> to provide $240 million in port and rail facilities.
>
> Also, does anybody know exactly what type of steel and what products
> Austeel is proposing to make?
>
> In somewhat related news, Graincorp is proposing to expand its operations
> at Newcastle.
>
> Cheers
> David

My wild, totally impossible suggestion here: if the mill goes ahead at Tomago,
build the train line with passenger facilities (i.e. stations) and extend it
to Raymond Terrace.

If the mill goes ahead, there's 1500 jobs, while there must easily be another
1000 there now (I work in one place that employs about 120 alone, and it's not
the smelter).  Add in the connection to Raymond Terrace, and surely there'd be
the numbers there to justify it, considering the line would be paid off by the
steel traffic.  It wouldn't need that many services either, only a few around
shift changes.

Besides, Tomago Rd is crap, can't handle the traffic, and it's a hazard
getting across the highway.

Opinions?

Al