Construction commences at Newcastle Agri Terminal

The terminal will have 60,000t of storage, comprising two 20,000t and three 6,780t silos and capability to unload trains and load Panamax vessels. Infrastructure includes rail receival facilities, conveyors and shiploading facilities.

Cargotec will supply a Siwertell SBL 1600TTL 2,000tph shiploader, as well as a cascade chute and a 182m long enclosed jetty belt conveyor with tipper, which it says will provide dust-free grain transfer.

Cargotec sales manager, Bertil Andersson, said “[NAT] needed a tailored solution to fit an existing berth… the technology provides an environmentally friendly solution, which will fit well with planned efficiency and environmental issues.”

SSPBS, a joint venture between Silo Services and Protective Building Systems, will handle NAT’s project management. US based supplier Inter Systems is supplying the materials handling equipment and the silos are being manufactured by Brock.

Newcastle Agri Terminal’s executive director, Jock Carter, said the new terminal will create competition amongst NSW port operators for the first time and the facility will provide Australian grain growers more efficient access to export markets and an alternative to GrainCorp.

Grain exporters Glencore Grain, Olam and CBH Grain are investors in the project and the executive team comprising Carter and Martin MacKay stumped up their own cash as well.