Second ASCI project underway at Broomehill

The CBH Group has started construction of a new rail siding at Broomehill, the second of 11 rail projects underway as part of the $200 million allocated to Package 1 of the Agricultural Supply Chain Improvements (ASCI) Program.

Contractors have now mobilised to site and commenced works in preparation for the rail siding extension and new rapid loading facility.

The rail siding works will consist of over 2 kilometres of track being laid adjacent to the mainline, replacing the existing rail siding, enabling the loading of a 60-wagon train. The new rail siding will also allow a third train set to be run in the Albany Zone, a transformative move for the outloading program in the region.

Following commencement of works on Brookton in February, Broomehill is the first of the ASCI projects to include a new fixed rail loading facility. The fixed rail loading facility will consist of four 1,100 tonne V-bottom silos, a 500 tonne per hour auger pit, 500 tonne per hour elevator with drag conveyors, a 1,500 tonne per hour loading elevator, a state-of-the-art control room, and the ability to recirculate grain and outload to train or truck.

The proposed works will support existing on-site facilities which include ten open bulkheads, weighbridges and associated sealed roads.

CBH Group CEO Ben Macnamara said it was an exciting development to have a second ASCI project underway so quickly this year.

“I want to thank the Western Australian and Commonwealth Governments for their commitment to invest in our State’s agricultural infrastructure to boost regional economies,” Mr Macnamara said.

“Improving the outloading capabilities of Western Australia’s grain supply chain is a major focus for CBH, and we are proud to invest alongside the Government’s rail siding projects with rapid rail loading infrastructure to ensure longer trains can be loaded faster and get to port more efficiently.

“The back-to-back record WA harvests highlight the need to continue investing in the supply chain so that we have a network that can sustainably deliver value to WA growers for the long term.”

Mr Macnamara said the rail siding project will bring economic benefits to Broomehill and surrounding areas.

“Once complete, we expect Broomehill to add almost 100,000 tonnes to our monthly peak export capacity, thanks to a significant increase in rail outloading capability,” Mr Macnamara said.

“Bigger trains will be able to be loaded in less than half the time, and with a rail passing loop being built, we will be able to run additional train sets in the Albany Zone.

“This will help us achieve our first peak monthly export target of 2 million tonnes by 2024 on our ‘Path to 2033’ Strategy, where we want to achieve a peak monthly export of 3 million tonnes by 2033.

“These improvements provide greater flexibility within our supply chain, meaning more grain on rail, reducing road transport costs and freeing up road resources for upcountry sites. Safety will be improved, and there are also environmental benefits with putting more grain on rail.”