NSW general manager for Alkane Resources, Dubbo-based Mike Sutherland, yesterday suggested that “one in, one out per day” was on the cards, although he confirmed the investigations into rail transport for the Dubbo Zirconia Project (DZP) based at Toongi were not finalised.

The prospect of trains near residential areas has caused angst among some residents, while others have heralded economic growth and development for Dubbo.

Mr Sutherland anticipates that “How many trains?” and “When is it going to happen?” will be the key questions posed at the meeting that is open to the public.

Perth-based Alkane Resources, operating mostly in central west NSW, has placed Dubbo on the cusp of its own mining boom.

While the company waits on state government approval for a gold mining operation at Tomingley, it is preparing an environmental impact statement on the DZP for lodging later this year.

The DZP is based upon one of the world’s largest in-ground resources of the metals zirconium, hafnium, niobium, tantalum, yttrium and rare earth elements at Toongi.

Federal funding helped establish a demonstration pilot plant in Sydney to refine a world-first processing technique and produce samples for perusal by overseas buyers. Alkane Resouces has been securing memorandums of understanding for the sale of DZP products, across decades.

Mr Sutherland yesterday told of the project reaching towards the year 2100, if given the green light.

“It would operate for at least 80 years based on the current resources,” he said.“We hope to start construction at the end of 2013. It would be operational some time in 2015.”

Mr Sutherland said the construction phase of the DZP would require “maybe 500” workers and the production phase about 230.

He said most jobs would be filled by people living in Dubbo and surrounding communities.

About 10 per cent of the production workforce would be specialists, including chemical engineers and hydrometallugists, who would by necessity be found elsewhere.

Alkane Resources intends to spend $893 million building a processing plant and other DZP infrastructure, including a railway line from Toongi to railway yards near Dubbo Railway Station.

The figure does not include the cost of a train or a quarry supplying limestone to the project for “neutralising of waste rock”.

Mr Sutherland will head to Geurie tomorrow to talk with its residents about the village’s capacity to help in that regard.

Tonight he will be part of a panel of Alkane Resouces staff and consultants, keen to tell of the DZP and answer questions.

They include the company’s managing director Ian Chalmers, commercial manager Tony Wright and Diana Gibbs, a consultant from Cootamundra advising on socio-economic impacts.

Tea and coffee will be provided along with insight into a project that Mr Sutherland reports has not led the community to “push back”.

“It’s been a good environment to operate in,” he said.

The meeting will run from 7pm to 9pm at the Dubbo RSL Theatrette.