5.63 Each of the priority projects had been assessed adequately in terms of their strategic fit. By way of comparison, there was significant variability in the assessed merits of the 28 pipeline projects. Specifically:
• two projects had not been profiled either during the development of recommendations for the Interim Priority List (as neither had originally been submitted for Infrastructure Australia's evaluation) or subsequently. One project was the Moorebank Intermodal Terminal in New South Wales which, as outlined at paragraph 5.10, was added to the list of pipeline projects at the 30 January 2009 Council meeting after the Minister had directed the Infrastructure Coordinator to assume lead responsibility for various processes aimed at facilitating development of this project. The other project, the Bonython Port in South Australia, was submitted by the South Australian Government as part of its October 2008 submission. No profiling assessment or BCR was provided for this project in the submission;
• another project (the Abbot Point Multi‐cargo Facility in Queensland) had been assessed by Infrastructure Australia in December 2008 as Weak in terms of its strategic fit. No further information was submitted by the proponent after the Interim Priority List was published with the result that a summary of the project and its evaluation was not provided to the Council prior to its 30 January 2009 meeting. At that meeting, the Council asked that progress with Queensland be reviewed by the Office of the Infrastructure Coordinator and the project was subsequently included as a pipeline project, although the Council meeting records do not indicate when this occurred or what advice (if any) was provided by the Office of the Infrastructure Coordinator;172 and
• the profiling assessment for the remaining 25 projects varied considerably between Basic (nine projects), Good (12 projects), Very Good (two projects) and Excellent (two projects).
5.64 For the Oakajee Port Common‐User Services project in Western Australia, the allocated appraisal rating of Good had been allocated on the basis of an October 2008 submission. The project summary provided to the Council for its 30 January 2009 meeting did not include any profiling assessment or the results of any economic appraisal. Instead, the Council was advised that:
The Western Australian Government has identified Oakajee - a greenfield site north of Geraldton - as its preferred option for a new port.
The Western Australian Government's original request was for funding for common use facilities at the port for iron ore purposes. The revised submission (January 2009) re‐focuses on establishing infrastructure to enable a multi‐user, multi‐purpose port. This will lay the foundations for a future 'Oakajee Industrial Estate' for industrial expansion in the region and expanded, integrated transport infrastructure.
Due to the recent changes to the approach of the submission and the broader focus that it now entails, it has not been possible for the Western Australian Government to undertake a cost‐benefit analysis in the form outlined by Infrastructure Australia.
5.65 At its 30 January 2009 meeting, the Council asked the Office of the Infrastructure Coordinator to undertake further work on this, and four other projects. In February 2010, the Office of the Infrastructure Coordinator advised ANAO that:
The Oakajee Port Development - Common Use Infrastructure proposal was subsequently assessed as not being sufficiently developed to meet the criteria for recommendation as being 'ready to proceed'. It was however assessed as having sufficient potential merit to warrant further consideration,173 following development of the business case. As a result, it was included in the 'priority pipeline'.
The assessment of the Oakajee Port Development - Common Use Infrastructure proposal will be continued when the Western Australian Government provides a copy of the bankable feasibility study currently being finalised by the Oakajee Port Development.
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172 The Evaluation Report outlining the Office of the Infrastructure Coordinator's recommendations for the Interim Priority List records that this project was assessed as having a Satisfactory economic appraisal.
173 The May 2009 Budget included $339.0 million for an 'equity injection' for the Oakajee Port Common User Facilities project.