The Western Australian Farmers Federation (Inc.) (WAFarmers) believe further investment into the State’s grain rail network is necessary, in light of a recent incident where a grain truck rolled over at the intersection of Albany and Brookton Highways in Kelmscott, threatening the safety of metropolitan road users, and causing significant delays to peak hour traffic.

WAFarmers President, Mike Norton, said the accident should strengthen the State Government’s resolve to implement the ‘Brookton Strategy’ and increase the productivity of some of the grain rail lines in the Eastern Wheatbelt, to ensure that only minimal amounts of grain are transported by road.

The ‘Brookton Strategy’ involves developing the Brookton grain receival site into an efficient road-to-rail transfer station for farmers transporting grain from sections of the south-eastern Wheatbelt.

“By transporting the majority of grain to Kwinana by rail from the Brookton site, there will be less opportunity for accidents like the one seen yesterday,” said Mr Norton.

“Make no mistake, without further investment into the State’s grain rail network, and the implementation of plans such as the ‘Brookton Strategy’, Western Australian road users will be put at risk.

“To prevent this, significant funding is required from the State and Federal Government to upgrade Western Australia’s grain rail network, to make rail an efficient and cost effective method of grain transportation.

“The State Government has taken an initial step towards State’s grain freight situation, however further action is needed to ensure the safety of rural and metropolitan road users,” Mr Norton concluded.