CBH Group makes largest ever annual investment into the network

17/10/2019

$240 million invested in network capital and maintenance for the 2019/20 harvest
Approximately 1 million tonnes of new permanent storage added to the network
Throughput enhancements completed at 36 sites to increase the rate of grain being received into the storage network
16 new longer weighbridges at 36 metres set up
Interactive network map launched to provide greater visibility of network projects

The CBH Group has made the largest ever annual investment in the network this year, with approximately $240 million invested to enhance supply chain efficiency, maintain the network and expand storage capacity.

In the 12 months to the end of September 2019, CBH added approximately 1 million tonnes of new permanent storage, installed throughput enhancement projects at 36 receival sites and set up 16 new weighbridges.

The investment is part of CBH’s significant ongoing investment into the network to keep fees competitive, increase throughput capacity and efficiency and meet export demand at the right time to capture value for growers’ grain.

CBH General Manager Project Delivery Pieter Vermeulen said the works completed this year built on the accelerated pace of delivery of network projects in recent years.

“Since 2018, we have added more than 1.7 million tonnes of permanent storage and delivered more than 45 throughput enhancement projects that enables CBH to receive grain faster, meaning reduced waiting times at site during harvest,” Mr Vermeulen said.

“We have worked closely with the contractors to ensure the builds are delivered safely and to the highest quality for the benefit of growers.”
CBH General Manager Operations Ben Macnamara said the ongoing investment in the network would provide growers with an improved and more efficient network.

“By adding storage to the network and improving our capabilities in inloading grain we are steadily working towards meeting the increased pace at which growers are delivering at harvest time,” Mr Macnamara said.

Storage expansion projects

CBH has completed the last of the permanent storage expansion projects for harvest including the largest of this year’s projects at the McLevie receival site.

McLevie has permanently tripled in size with 236,000 tonnes of new storage added through six new open bulkheads, with two new fixed conveyor loading systems that can receive grain from trucks at 500 tonnes per hour. The site’s total capacity is now approximately 330,000 tonnes.

Other sites include:

Broomehill – 77,400 tonnes added from two open bulkheads, two Drive Over Grids (DOGs) installed, and an exit weighbridge.
Cranbrook – 152,000 tonnes added from six open bulkheads, three new conveyor loading systems and one conveyor loading system upgraded to 500 tonnes per hour. In addition, traffic flow has been improved across the site.
Wickepin* – 106,000 tonnes added from two open bulkheads and the permanent upgrade of two existing emergency open bulkheads, two new conveyor loading systems, a new exit weighbridge, a new truck marshal area and relocation of sample hut to improve traffic flow.

Throughput enhancement projects

CBH has improved grain inloading infrastructure at more than 36 grain receival sites to increase the speed that grain is received from trucks into the storage system.

The projects include the replacement or installation of additional equipment at the sites, including grain inloading machinery to open bulkheads, elevators, weighbridges, augers and stackers.

The following sites received inloading upgrades:

Geraldton Zone: Arrino, Mingenew, Moonyoonooka
Kwinana North Zone: Bodallin, Bruce Rock, Cadoux, Koorda, Merredin, Narembeen, Piawaning
Kwinana South Zone: Avon, Narrakine, York
Albany Zone: Broomehill, Gairdner, Kojaneerup
Esperance Zone: Chadwick, Munglinup, Salmon Gums, West River.

New weighbridges

CBH has set up 16 new permanent 36-metre weighbridges. The longer weighbridges will eliminate the time-consuming process of weighing individual axles and ensure accuracy.

The following sites received new:

Inloading weighbridges: Bonnie Rock, Broomehill, Doodlakine, Kellerberrin, Lake Grace, Merredin, Metro Grain Centre, Mindarabin, Morawa, Muntadgin, Warralakin, Wellstead and West River.
Exit weighbridges: Konnongorring, Moonyoonooka and Narngulu.

Mr Vermeulen said Moonyoonooka received an exit weighbridge following bottlenecks experienced at the site last year.

“Adding a second weighbridge now allows trucks to weigh out without impeding the flow of traffic into the site. We hope this will significantly reduce cycle times, congestion and the number of vehicles on site at a given time and improve safety,” Mr Vermeulen said.

CBH has also installed mobile exit weighbridges at the Brookton, Corrigin and Moora sites, while longer term solutions are being determined.

New network investment map

CBH has published an online interactive network map that shows the major enhancements performed on receival sites since 2016. Users can click on the map to see an overview of network investment projects completed for each site.

This map will be regularly updated with new projects once construction begins.

* Storage expansion works at the Wickepin receival site are due to be completed next week.