Koorda

The Koorda operation sits within the South West Mineral Field of Western Australia's Wheatbelt region, characterised by flat to gently undulating ancient lateritic plains with shallow regolith profiles. This low-relief terrain significantly reduces bulk earthworks complexity, enabling efficient strip-ratio management during topsoil removal and overburden stripping. However, the expansive clay-pan and salt-lake geology typical of this corridor demands precise drainage engineering to prevent seasonal waterlogging from disrupting active mining benches.

As a regional open-cut gypsum operation, Koorda relies primarily on DIDO (Drive-In Drive-Out) roster arrangements given its proximity to Wheatbelt service towns. Workforce scheduling typically follows compressed weekly rotations rather than extended FIFO cycles. Key B2B operational considerations include:

• Local contractor mobilisation from Koorda, Merredin, and Northam hubs
• Light vehicle fleet management for personnel movement across site access tracks
• Minimal permanent camp infrastructure due to DIDO viability
• Reliance on regional fuel and consumables supply chains

Gypsum extraction at Koorda employs conventional open-cut drill-and-blast or rip-and-push methodology, given the soft-to-medium competency of sedimentary gypsum deposits. Material handling infrastructure is streamlined for high-throughput bulk commodity processing:

• Primary crushing and screening circuits at pit-head level
• Conveyor systems transferring crushed gypsum to stockpile or direct-load zones
• Bulk truck-and-shovel fleet optimised for shallow-bench extraction
• Road-train load-out facilities for agricultural and industrial gypsum dispatch

Gypsum mining in the Wheatbelt operates under WA DMP rehabilitation obligations, requiring progressive land restoration aligned with agricultural land-use post-closure. ESG priorities for this operation include:

• Progressive topsoil stockpiling and reapplication for native vegetation rehabilitation
• Minimal tailings generation given gypsum's direct-sale commodity nature
• Dust suppression protocols critical across flat, wind-exposed Wheatbelt terrain
• Water management plans addressing salt-lake proximity and seasonal runoff
• End-product value chain serving soil amendment and construction sectors