{{Short description|Proposed port in Western Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2011}} '''Oakajee Port''' is a proposed deep water port to be built in the Mid West region of Western Australia, {{convert|24|km|mi|0}} north of Geraldton, to service the region's growing iron ore industry.

==History== Between 1879 and 1957, Oakagee was a siding and locality on the Northampton railway line.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66221437 |title=Military Camp at Oakagee. |newspaper=Geraldton Guardian |location=WA |date=26 October 1906 |access-date=8 November 2012 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The site was first considered as a port and railway terminus in the 1980s.<ref name=mwdc />

Opposition to the project from local residents centred on environmental concerns, especially in relation to nearby Coronation Beach.<ref> Coronation Beach between Drummond Cove and Horrocks see page 69 {{Citation | author1=Murray, Ian | author2=Hercock, Marion | author3=Murray, Ian | author4=Hercock, Marion | title=Where on the coast is that? | publication-date=2008 | publisher=Hesperian Press | isbn=978-0-85905-452-2}}</ref>

Advocacy for the project was from a partnership known as Geraldton Iron Ore Alliance, which included miners Mount Gibson Iron, Midwest Corporation, Murchison Metals, Gindalbie Metals, Golden West Resources, Royal Resources, Asia Iron Holdings and Atlas Iron.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gioa.com.au/|title=About us|website=Gioa.com.au|access-date=2008-07-30}}</ref>

An alternative project considered by the government was to deepen and enlarge the existing Geraldton Port. However, environmental factors associated with the proposal being relatively close to Geraldton militated against it.

Including an associated rail project, the project was estimated to cost about $4&nbsp;billion. The port was to have an initial capacity of 45 million tonnes of iron ore annually. Construction was expected to start in 2011, with completion possible by 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/CurrentMinistersSearch.aspx?ItemId=130606&search=oakajee&admin=Carpenter&minister=MacTiernan&portfolio=&region=|title=Oakajee Port and Rail to build new Mid-West iron ore port|work=Premier of Western Australia|date=29 July 2008|access-date=2008-07-30}}{{Dead link|date=July 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In 2012, media speculation about cancellation of the project increased with announcements of delays and cutbacks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-08/opr-more-difficult-to-get-up/4301946|title=OPR going to be harder to get up and running|date=8 October 2012|access-date=22 November 2021|website=ABC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-08/oakajee-port-and-rail-project-on-hold/4361300|title=WA's Oakajee Port and Rail project scaled back|date=8 November 2012|access-date=22 November 2021|website=ABC News}}</ref> However, the premier of Western Australia, Colin Barnett, stated his desire to facilitate conciliation between the parties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.skynews.com.au/business|title=Busines|website=Sky News Australia|access-date=22 November 2021}}</ref>

In June 2013, Mitsubishi Corporation announced that work was to be suspended work until an investment partner could be found.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dsd.wa.gov.au/8080.aspx |title=Oakajee Project Status|website=Department of State Development|access-date=26 November 2014 |archive-date=3 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140603073946/http://www.dsd.wa.gov.au/8080.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> {{As of|2014|11}} the project was mothballed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-27/tradional-owners-reach-agreement-on-mid-west-mine/5919636|title=Traditional owners reach agreement on Mid West mine after five years|date=26 November 2014|access-date=22 November 2021|website=ABC News}}</ref>

In November 2019, Sinosteel purchased Mitsubishi's shareholding.<ref>[https://news.metal.com/newscontent/101012704/sinosteel-acquires-stake-in-oakajee-port-and-railway-project-in-western-australia Sinsoteel acquires stake in Oakajee Port and Railway Project in Western Australia] ''Shanghai Metals Market'' 3 January 2020</ref> In January 2022, Fortescue announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Sinosteel to investigate the feasibility of reviving the project.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220122042624/https://www.miningweekly.com/article/fortescue-looks-at-sinosteels-midwest-and-oakajee-projects-2022-01-21 Fortescue looks at Sinosteel's Midwest and Oakajee projects] ''Mining Weekly'' 21 January 2022</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220122043340/https://thewest.com.au/business/iron-ore/fortescue-metals-group-joins-pursuit-of-oakajee-mine-and-port-vision--c-5395679 Fortsecue Metals Group joins pursuit of Oakajee mine and port vision] ''The West Australian'' 21 January 2022</ref>

==Location== The port and facilities were to be constructed within approximately {{convert|6400|ha}} of land owned by the state government. The property had been used as farmland but {{convert|1100|ha}} was zoned for heavy industrial and {{convert|200|ha}} zoned for support industries.<ref name=mwdc>{{cite web|url=http://www.mwdc.wa.gov.au/Oakajee%20Deep%20Water%20Port.aspx|title=Oakajee Deep Water Port, Industrial Estate and Murchison Rail Link|work=Mid West Development Commission|access-date=2008-07-30}}</ref>

It is bordered approximately by the Buller River to the south, Coronation Beach Road to the north, and the Moresby Ranges to the east. ==Railway== The port was intended to be served by a 570 kilometre standard gauge railway line. To facilitate this Brookfield Rail rebuilt part of the existing narrow gauge line with dual gauge sleepers.<ref>[https://www.railexpress.com.au/brookfield-rail-transforming-midwest-rail-infrastructure/ Brookfield Rail transforming MidWest rail infrastructure] ''Rail Express'' 27 June 2012</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220122071833/https://www.railjournal.com/regions/australia-nz/mixed-fortunes-for-western-australian-rail-projects/ Mixed fortunes for Western Australian rail projects] ''International Railway Journal'' 16 November 2012 </ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.opandr.com Oakajee Port & Rail]

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Category:Mid West (Western Australia) Category:Ports and harbours of Western Australia Category:Proposed transport infrastructure in Australia