Dwayne Cousens | Southwest Branch Manager
Southwest Branch Summary
Over the last three months, Southwest Branch has had some exciting developments, achieved significant milestones and tackled some interesting challenges.
After haulage in December, our partners in Newmont Boddington Gold advised that we had surpassed their all-time 12-month record for tonnes hauled together. We also surpassed their export record for the 12 months. This is a testament to the focus and commitment of the SW Ops team, employees and contractors - Well done!
We are in full swing with the storage of Lithium products for the Covalent project. We only recently met with major stakeholders to discuss the first Export campaign due March/April. This is another exciting developing arm of the Southwest to see unfold.
We continue with Bunbury Outer Ring Road construction and will see gravel supply push to 20,000 tonnes weekly in March and April. This 2+ year construction project, one of the biggest we’ve seen, will certainly be another exciting milestone when it fully opens.
Finally, there are mixed emotions as the old limestone plants are being brought down. Lots of company and family history surrounds the Limestone ventures of the past and the relationships with them. We should see the older Lido batching plant deconstructed by the end of February and the newer MGM Batching plant down by mid-March. A familiar face, Craig Drew, has taken the lead as Project Manager for this task. Thanks, Craig, for your assistance.
Luke McPartland | Northwest Branch Manager
Northwest Branch Summary
After a steady start to 2024 with plenty of staff on holidays during January, we have kicked into gear in February, with client demand now being consistently met or exceeded. On the first of February, we began hauling iron ore for an exciting new customer in Hedland Mining.
Well done to the whole team for successfully hauling the initial 80,000t shipment on time and with zero incidents. The customer praised all our operators involved and asked to thank them for their efforts and professionalism.
In our commitment to safety, we address a recent incident where a team member fell from a loader. This event highlights the critical need for vigilance and adherence to safety protocols in all tasks. It reminds us that even routine actions can carry risks. We urge all employees to prioritise safety: assess risks, implement controls, and consult with supervisors as needed. Our collective goal is to ensure everyone's safety, maintaining the well-being of our team as our top priority. Let's use this to reinforce our safety culture, providing a secure workplace for all. Together, we can prevent accidents and protect our team.
Well done to the 'Rollin in the Greens" award winners Kent Urry, Stephen Tyacke, Wayne Hyslop and Garry Page, whose names were drawn in a lottery where every green shift equalled one entry. I was happy to see the four names drawn were consistent performers who made their expected shift times while complying with company policy and procedures. Enjoy the $$$ gents.
During the quarter, we welcomed the team's two new training and onboarding coordinators, Bruno Tassone and Terry Brown. Both are very qualified and experienced trainers and are looking forward to continuing to improve training outcomes in all areas of the business. Please take the time to introduce yourself to Bruno and Terry when you get the chance.
Due to growth in the broader business, Blu Hart and Dom Williams have accepted leadership positions and transferred to MGM's SW and Central branches, respectively. While four boots will be hard to fill in the NW, we are proud to see you both progress your careers within MGM Bulk. Thank you both for your significant contributions to our successes over the last few years in the NW.
Maddington Summary
Richard Thomson | Central Branch Manager
The team at Maddington has continued to move forward during the last quarter, with further truck combinations being added to the fleet. This achievement is a testament to your hard work and dedication. April will see the introduction of the first of five specially prepared ‘pink’ combinations to the fleet, with MGM196 already proving a successful showstopper both on the road during delivery and at the recent Mack Truck Muster. Several drivers have indicated interest in driving these units, honouring the women in their lives and all women who have either lost their battle or survived breast cancer. Congratulations to all involved with this initiative.
The last quarter also saw additional ‘horsepower’ in the form of a team of 3 operations supervisors now providing direct supervision for what has now become a 24/7 operation. This expansion is a direct result of your exceptional performance and commitment. A big welcome to Bevan Walton, Dom Williams, and David Southam to MGM. We would also like to welcome Michael Staniforth to the MGM team at Maddington. Michael is behind the scenes, which brings the equipment ‘back to life’ after the rigours of unsealed road travel and presents the assets to the community with refreshed livery … well done, Michael; management and drivers alike appreciate your efforts.
At the end of April, 30 km of the 88 km of unsealed road along the haulage route into Mt Holland should also be seen, complete with a ‘tar seal’. This will significantly improve the haulage journey for all who have endured the unsealed road. The road construction will take a break over the winter months and recommence in August.
March also saw the first product shipments through the Port of Bunbury. The Picton team made a remarkable effort to meet the shipment demand over the Easter break. We appreciate your sacrifice of time over the Easter period.
Thank you to everyone involved in the continued development of the new business based in Perth
Hope Valley Summary
Andrew Daniels | Hope Valley Branch Manager
SALT demands are starting to decrease going into the cooler months, especially with pool salt, and I would like to thank everyone who has put a massive effort in over the busy times and Christmas.
I want to thank everyone in Central for keeping a safe and clean environment, especially with their truck times, and to hear great compliments from the outside world on how well all the trucks look going down the road.
I would also like to welcome Gurkeerat, Harman, and Aiden to the team. It's great to see they have slotted in nicely, are all working well as a team, and are meeting high expectations.
Let's all stay alert going into our 9th year with the Salt contract and stay safe out on the roads.
Craig Carbone | Sales & Business Development
Quarry Summary
Secondly, we have been involved in a trial with multiple government departments, consultants, and lithium producers to find a use for their waste products. 100,000t of lithium produces 1 million tonnes of waste. When the three lithium plants in WA are up and running, they will have 4 million tonnes of waste product annually.
The trial involved mixing sand in various ratios to produce a subbase product that can be used in the construction of roads. The Tonkin highway extension is Earmarked, which will require 10 million tonnes of sand. The trial involved using our plastic tipper to move the raw product and blending sand using our loader, screener, and pug mill.
The results of the trial will be known in the coming months.
The quarries department has been involved in two projects in the last quarter.
First, one of our major customers in WA Salt engaged us to construct a 3 km levy bank to install another evaporation pond for salt production to cope with increased demand in coming years.
This involved articulated dump trucks, excavators, and loaders hauling rock material up to 5 km from the pit face to the levy bank.
Led by Supervisor Ty Armitage, a crew of 8 MGM and labour hire employees went DIDO at Koolyanobbing to complete the project. This is Ty’s last involvement with MGM, and I thank him for the past five years with his involvement in the quarries and transport areas where he rose from dozer operator to Supervisor.
Southwest Workshop Summary
Leon Vadaro | Workshop Supervisor
As we approach the first quarter of 2024, the Southwest workshop has been a hive of activity.
Ryan Jocson, along with MGM Director Mario Giacci, has led a variety of projects, including the instillation of a new driveway and gate construction, bollard fabrication for the fuel-up area, and extensive welding and repairs, showcasing our workshop's diverse capabilities and commitment to quality.
We are proud to welcome Tony Curilli as mechanic along with Jan Bacacao and Richard Bunquin to the team as our dedicated auto electricians, allowing us to enhance our in-house electrical capabilities further.
We also welcome Darren Gunnell to the team he joined MGM before Christmas as our new Truck Washer and has been doing a great job ensuring our vehicle cleanliness remains at a high standard.
Cody Miller from WA Mechanical has been playing a vital role regarding air conditioning repairs and maintenance during these warmer months, and we thank him for his assistance.
We have also welcomed Carter Giacci off the gravy train and into the real world as he has joined the team throughout the school holidays for a few months of work experience; he has been helping by changing tyres, washing vehicles, shadowing our fitters when carrying out services and cleaning up around the worksite.
We have a busy year ahead, and we look forward to what we will be able to achieve as a team throughout 2024.
