Grain handler CBH has budgeted $150 million for projects to add 800,000 tonnes of new storage and associated inloading and outloading equipment across its WA network this year.
The company said this week it would continue to deliver a Network Strategy that already added more than 650,000 tonnes of new capacity last year.
Key projects planned for the next 12 months include 236,000 tonnes of additional storage at CBH’s McLevie receival site, 122,000 tonnes at Dowerin, 152,000 tonnes at Cranbrook, 96,000 tonnes at Wickepin, and 84,000 tonnes at Lake Grace.
“Our growers are operating in an increasingly competitive environment and with this in mind, we’re preparing the network so it’s not just the best in Australia but it rivals the best in the world,” CBH chairman Wally Newman said.
“By continuing to invest significantly into the network, CBH 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.”
More than 96 per cent of CBH growers’ crop last season was received at the cooperative’s top 100 sites, identified in the Network Strategy.
General manager for operations Ben Macnamara said investment via the Strategy was helping meet growers’ requirements and on farm harvesting and logistics capacity.
“CBH has adopted the Plan-Build-Operate model, which ensures the significant ongoing investment into the network is well thought out and delivered on-time and effectively built for the benefit of growers,” Macnamara said.
“Our plan is refreshed every year after extensive analysis and consultation, and this helps us to inform decisions on inloading and outloading grain and storage options at each of the core sites.”