Flying Around

Hi there,

I have been a busy boy since my last entry.

I went back up to Muswellbrook to do some generic training for entry into NSW coal mines on Monday prior to Easter. Shortly after finishing up for the day I found out I was needed in Western Australia!

Since one of our Perth engineers was on holidays and another was ill, I had to go over to an iron ore processing plant in Yandi, WA. Now I guess you are wondering where Yandi is?

Yandi is approximately 270km south-ish of Port Headland (on the coast). I have tried to out line this on the map, but it’s a bit hard to read because it is so small.

So flying from Sydney to Yandi was an experience. I spent approximately 15 hours traveling! The plane flights from Sydney to Barimunya were via Melbourne, Perth, Newman, Barimunya (a charter flight on an 8 seater, twin propeller plane). Finally, a half an hour bus ride to Yandi. I couldn’t see much on the way in as it was night time. See the map below, I have tried to outline the flight route.

So I was in the middle of no where. But the mining area there is huge, something like 2000-3000 people between the 2 mines and the processing plants.

Anyway, the trip was a bit of a waste of time as some the equipment I was supposed to commission was not completely installed! A couple of 12 hour days later I was glad to head back to Perth.

On the way back I got to see some of the Pilbara region around Yandi and Barimunya. It was really beautiful country side. The red of the iron ore and the green of the low scrub were quite stark against one another.

The following morning I flew out of Perth and back to Adelaide for Easter and visit quite a few of you guys.

I have a trip to Biloela here in Queensland lined up in a week or so, I then head back to Sydney for a couple of weeks. I’ll be back in Adelaide for the ANZAC Day long-weekend, so hopefully I can catch with those of you I missed at Easter.

Cheers for now,
Damo

The flight route from Sydney to Barimunya. As you can see it was a very long way, approximately 4600km!

Map of Western Australia showing the approximate position of Yandi. I have also marked Perth and Newman for reference.

The Yandi open pit mine (photo courtesy of Rio Tinto)

The Yandi processing plant (photo courtesy of Rio Tinto)

Iron ore stockpile with stacker-reclaimer in operation (photo courtesy of Rio Tinto)

New miners camp at Yandi (photo courtesy of Rio Tinto)

Overland conveyor belt at Yandi (photo courtesy of Rio Tinto)

Travelling service engineer

Hi there,

Well unfortunately I have no pictures for you this entry. But I will let you know what I have been up to.

I have been travelling around parts of Queensland and New South Wales.

Whilst in Queensland I have been to a number of quarries, including one at Beenleigh and one near Coolum Beach. I also flew to Rockhampton and drove out to a coal mine wash plant at Blackwater.

As for NSW, I have been posted in Sydney for 3 weeks before Easter and for 2 weeks prior to ANZAC Day. This is in aid of keeping up appearances because the service engineer for NSW has left the company I work for. I hope they find a replacement quickly.

While I have been based in Sydney, we have already travelled to Singleton/Muswellbrook. This is a large coal mining region and power plant area. We visited a coal wash plant for a couple of mines. We also went to a fly ash processing plant for a power station.

Next week we are set to visit another coal mine near Wollongong.

Stay tuned for my next entry, hopefully with some pics.

Cheers for now,

Damo

This map shows Newcastle for reference to Singleton an Muswellbrook. Head north west from Newcastle.