Contract awarded for Moora rapid rail outloading and siding project

CBH Group has awarded the construction contract for the Moora rapid rail outloading and siding project.

Laing O’Rourke will be responsible for the construction of both the rail siding upgrade and fixed rail loading facility at Moora.

Construction is scheduled to commence in December 2024, starting with site establishment, fencing and bulk earthworks. 

Both components of the project – the rail siding and the fixed rail loading facility – are expected to be finished mid-2026.

Moora is one of 11 rail siding upgrade projects at CBH sites, funded in partnership with the Western Australian and Federal Governments under Package 1 of the Agricultural Supply Chain Improvements (ASCI) Program. 

Rail siding upgrades have been completed at Brookton (August 2023) and Konnongorring (November 2024). Meanwhile the Broomehill rail siding project is complete with the loading facility scheduled for operational handover in the March quarter of next year. The Cranbrook rapid rail outloading and siding project is expected to be finished in the September quarter of 2025.

Chief Project Delivery Officer Sam Gliddon said it was great to have yet another rapid rail outloading and siding project approved and under construction.

“We are pleased to welcome Laing O’Rourke, a highly respected international construction business, as our head contractor at Moora,” Mr Gliddon said.

“Laing O’Rourke is also constructing CBH’s Cranbrook rapid rail outloading and siding project, which is progressing well.

“The Moora rapid rail outloading and siding project consists of a new 1,440m rail siding which will run alongside a new, six silo, 6,600 tonne fixed rail loading facility.

“Improving the outloading capabilities of WA’s grain supply chain is a major focus for CBH, and we are proud to invest in fixed rail loading infrastructure alongside the Western Australian and Federal Governments investment in rail siding upgrades.

“These projects will enable CBH to reduce train loading times and get grain to port more efficiently, maximising the value to WA growers today, and future generations.”