GrainCorp’s sites in northern NSW are on track for their second-best season on record with Coonamble, the largest in its network, having already surpassed the 400,000-tonne mark this season.
What’s more, Coonamble’s harvest began with a historic milestone when trucks rolled through the gates 20 days earlier than ever before.
According to area manager Tom Koerstz, the site’s success is a testament to the dedication and adaptability of the site team.
“We faced some delays while waiting on extra equipment, like mobile stackers, but our team adapted quickly and efficiently,” Tom said.
“Once the additional equipment and people arrived, we brought turnaround times back to standard and kept operations running smoothly.
“Overall throughput has been impressive, with peak days exceeding 23,500 tonnes across wheat, barley, and canola combined.”
This unprecedented early start saw tonnes of grain pile onto the bunkers at pace – and to manage the surge, the team had to adapt swiftly, reallocating people and equipment from other sites to meet growers’ needs.
In response to increased canola deliveries, the team shifted a stacker from wheat to canola, significantly boosting site efficiency.
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This adjustment led to a record-breaking performance: for seven consecutive days, the team received over 4,500 tonnes of canola, setting a new daily record for canola receivals by 2,000 tonnes.
The Coonamble team comprises a mix of seasoned locals and new recruits brought in to manage the bumper harvest.
The harvest has also highlighted the exceptional quality of grains and oilseeds being delivered across the region. With nearby Gulargambone and Gilgandra sites receiving their fair share of this whopping crop, this harvest will be one for the books.
Gilgandra and Coonamble sites have benefited from GrainCorp’s recent investments, with an extra 500,000-plus tonnes of storage built across the region in recent years.