Gunnedah TLO, reclaim tunnel system

Project Details
Owner: Whitehaven Coal Mining Pty Ltd
Consultant: EMA Consulting
Contractor: EMA Mining Solutions Pty Ltd
Location: Gunnedah, New South Wales, Australia

Project Scope

The Gunnedah TLO project was a part of a larger initiative by Whitehaven Coal Mining to maintain transportation of coal between sites due to the development of a new road crossing. The Multi-Plate Arch Type HA38 tunnel was required to support a conveyor that would transport coal from the mine to a stockpile area. The Multi-Plate Arch tunnel also needed to withstand the weight of the permanent backfill that would be placed around it to support the coal stockpile.

The construction of the Multi-Plate Arch tunnel began with the excavation of the existing tunnel and surrounds. Once the excavation was complete, a suitable foundation was prepared to support the Multi-Plate Arch tunnel as well as a concrete arch that supports the overlying coal stockpile. The Multi-Plate Arch tunnel components were then delivered to the site. The components of the concrete arch were pre-fabricated in Townsville and then transported to the site for assembly within the required delivery schedule.

The assembly of the Multi-Plate Arch tunnel began with the placement of the first plates. Each plate was bolted to the adjacent plate until the entire arch was complete. Once the arch was assembled, stiffeners were added over the crown arc to support the conveyor system. The escape tunnel was also constructed by adjoining into the bulkhead at the blind end of the main arch tunnel.

The Multi-Plate Arch Type HA38 Hot Dip Galvanised steel finish is a reliable choice for tunnels, bridges and more. This arch tunnel was able to support the weight of the conveyor and the permanent backfill. The project was completed within the required delivery schedule, which was a testament to the efficiency of the pre-fabrication and assembly processes. The successful completion of this project has improved the transportation of coal from the mine to the stockpile site and has contributed to the growth of the local economy.

Photo Gallery

Merger of Australian Construction Products and Safe Direction

We are delighted to announce the merger of Safe Direction Pty Ltd and Australian Construction Products Pty Ltd (ACP).
On 1 May 2023 Jaybro, Australia’s leading supplier to the civil construction and infrastructure sector, and owner of ACP, purchased 100% of the share capital of Safe Direction. Under Jaybro’s ownership the two businesses will be merged to form Australia’s preeminent company manufacturing and supplying vehicle barrier systems.

A compelling motivation for the merger is the value created for our customers from combining the collective resources and knowledge of the two companies. Notably there will be significant broadening of the product range and enhancement to distribution reach and capacity. There will be transitionary steps as the two businesses assemble under the one entity, Safe Direction. Part of this transition includes the consolidation of the products and services offered by the merged business into a single web domain www.safedirection.com.au

We trust that this merger will provide increased value to you and we look forward to the opportunity to be of assistance.