Barnett still trying to make Oakajee happen

The WA state premier Colin Barnett is in China again at the moment in the hope of being able to drum up support for the stagnant Oakajee Port and Railway line project.

Oakajee is a suburb just north of Geraldton where governments and private enterprise have been trying unsuccessfully to build a port and a large industrial precinct surrounding the port for decades.

But many Geraldton locals are sick of hearing about it. After being promised so many times of untold prosperity for their town when the project happens, people have stopped believing that it's possible.

Even Mr Barnett admits getting the Chinese on side will be a tough sell. Places like South America and Africa seem to have less red tape and more iron ore, and are thus somewhat appealing to the Chinese.