Sustainable development helps decide best rail route in the Pilbara

Using sustainable development principles has shifted the way the business approaches its decision-making methodology for major projects.

The sustainable development decision-making methodology has changed that approach by placing equal importance on social, environmental and economic considerations.

Applying the methodology to Hope Downs

Rio Tinto reached agreement with Hancock Prospecting in 2005 to purchase a 50 per cent interest in the Hope Downs iron ore assets. The project development of the Hope Downs mine is being managed by RTIO Expansion Projects.

One of the key project decisions was to determine which rail route was the best option to transport ore from the mine to the existing RTIO rail network.

The sustainable development decision-making methodology was chosen to assess the options and deliver a recommendation to the business. The methodology included several elements:

• a rigorous analysis of stakeholders
• determining the economic, social and environmental factors that influence the project
• engaging stakeholders
• developing informed priorities for the economic, social and environmental factors and the acceptable limits
• evaluating the impact of each option
• developing mitigations where the options do not meet acceptable limits.

Three routes were assessed by the project team and a broad range of sustainable development factors considered for each (based on their significance to stakeholders and importance to Rio Tinto). Some of those factors included concern over construction dust, retention of Mulga trees, proximity to borrow material for embankment construction, visual amenity, changes in flood characteristics of the area, and construction time and costs.

Based on the criteria used, the third option contributed most to our sustainable development objectives and was rated highest by the majority of stakeholders. A decision was made to slightly alter the path of the rail line to avoid a population of Mulga trees.

With construction of the railway now underway we are confident that by applying the sustainable development methodology we have addressed and balanced all elements to deliver the best possible outcome.