PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA — The CBH Group completed its first permanent storage expansion project for 2019-20 harvest, with works at the Gairdner receival site.

The expansion of Gairdner, located 150 kilometers north-east of Albany, included the construction of two open bulkheads that have a combined storage capacity of 46,800 tonnes. It takes the total storage capacity at the site to over 293,000 tonnes.

Throughput upgrades installed at the site include a conveyor loading system with two stackers positioned at the new open bulkheads, which will increase the rate that grain can be received from trucks. In addition, an existing conveyor system at the site is currently being upgraded to receive grain at an increased 500 tonnes per hour.

Pieter Vermeulen, CBH general manager of project delivery, said practical completion of the storage expansion at Gairdner was achieved at the end of July.

“We’re very pleased to be able to complete the expansion at Gairdner on schedule,” Vermeulen said. “The project delivery team is currently working closely with operations to ensure a safe and smooth handover process that will pave the foundation for a good start to this year’s harvest.”

CBH Director Trevor Badger (left) and CBH Albany Zone Manager Adam Wray at the Gairdner upgrade opening on August 9. Photo courtesy of CBH.

The expansion is part of CBH’s ongoing investment into the network, with more than A$150 million budgeted for capital works this year, which will add over 800,000 tonnes of new permanent storage to the network and associated inloading and outloading equipment.

Ben Macnamara, CBH general manager of operations, said investment into the network will continue to evolve to meet the requirements of growers.

“With the new storage and increased throughput capacity at Gairdner, we will be able to offer growers improved services and the option to offer additional segregations,” Macnamara said. “This is especially important in this region which continues to see steady growth in grain production every year.

“By continuing to invest into the network, the co-operative can keep its network fees competitive, increase throughput capacity and efficiency, and meet export demand at the right time to capture value for our growers’ grain.”

Perth-headquartered WCP Civil was the lead contractor at Gairdner.