The Prov govt will put in a billion dollars, but no decision has been made yet on either the route or type of transport to be financed. They talk about wanting help from the Feds, while the feds won't commit without first seeing a solid plan. In other words, the Cons won't move until the prov Libs have the actual detailed plan, including decisions on the transport type (road, rail, or both) and the route.

CLF is still hanging in the wings, watching, and the Libs are likely hoping they will reboot their chromite plans. This is quite possible, since their capital costs obviously will be less with a government built & paid for road, even if their tonnage might be restricted by using a road with other users, while a railway would suit them just fine.

If CLF does come back this shouldn't be a problem so long as they don't get special treatment, with an exclusive private transport corridor and special low electricity rates not granted to others.

Let's hope the budget on Thursday will include more specific details of just where this money will go - Xdollars for roads, Xdollars for rail, Xdollars for hydro, etc.