On June 18, 2025, Chatham Rock Phosphate Ltd. commenced a feasibility study to develop a railway to connect its 100-per-cent-owned Korella North mine and its planned phosphate export facility in the Port of Karumba.
The RailPhos project connecting the Korella North mine, NW Queensland, to the Port of Karumba involves the building of the long-mooted Cloncurry to Normanton rail line with an extension to Karumba.
The feasibility study, under the leadership of Australia-based executive director Colin Randall, is now well under way and as at Aug. 1 had advanced through the following stages:
The company has identified the relevant native title holders and landholders along the route on either side of the Burke Development Road.
Initial meetings with the elder of native title holder, Cloncurry-based Mitakoodi Mayi, with the Cloncurry-based landholder which covers about 70 kilometres of rail line route and an Australian rail construction company.
A discussion has occurred with the local quarry owner who is the potential supplier of ballast, formation material, concrete sleepers and prestressed bridge beams.The company has met with the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) regarding existing rail corridors from Cloncurry to Kajabbi as well as from Duchess to Dajarra.The company is in the process of arranging a meeting with Queensland Rail to determine the connection point between RailPhos and the Mt. Isa-Townsville rail line.The company has mandated a party to identify Chinese state-owned enterprises interested in either buying phosphate or in railway construction.The company has obtained comparative mine to market costs based on road transport from Korella North to Port of Karumba.The company is reaching out to other phosphate companies to consider their use of RailPhos while also connecting with railway materials, locomotive and wagon suppliers.
- The company has identified the relevant native title holders and landholders along the route on either side of the Burke Development Road.
Initial meetings with the elder of native title holder, Cloncurry-based Mitakoodi Mayi, with the Cloncurry-based landholder which covers about 70 kilometres of rail line route and an Australian rail construction company.
- A discussion has occurred with the local quarry owner who is the potential supplier of ballast, formation material, concrete sleepers and prestressed bridge beams.
- The company has met with the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) regarding existing rail corridors from Cloncurry to Kajabbi as well as from Duchess to Dajarra.
- The company is in the process of arranging a meeting with Queensland Rail to determine the connection point between RailPhos and the Mt. Isa-Townsville rail line.
- The company has mandated a party to identify Chinese state-owned enterprises interested in either buying phosphate or in railway construction.
- The company has obtained comparative mine to market costs based on road transport from Korella North to Port of Karumba.
- The company is reaching out to other phosphate companies to consider their use of RailPhos while also connecting with railway materials, locomotive and wagon suppliers.
Recently the company traversed the proposed rail route from Cloncurry to its mid-point at the Burke & Wills Roadhouse and tendered to Cloncurry Shire Council to secure one of their buildings as the proposed RailPhos headquarters.
On July 23 the company participated in the industry briefing and Meet the Buyer networking event in Cloncurry organized by Queensland Department of State Development.
The project has attracted significant media interest, and the company will be providing regular progress reports.
