Southdown is a reasonable resource, but it does have its warts,...

Southdown is a reasonable resource, but it does have its warts, which is why it was not a no-brainer.

Operating in an area of WA where free-hold land is the norm didn't help it either.

But the biggest immediate issue was power. The govt was going to upgrade the main transmission line on the back of Grange's mine, then it backed out. The capital impact on Southdown if Grange had to do it alone was too much.

Royalties for Regions wasn't around then and a new higher capacity line would do wonders for industry in Albany, so maybe now is the time?