Learmonth Pipeline

The Learmonth limestone operation is situated approximately 8 kilometres south of Exmouth, within the Gascoyne Region of Western Australia. The site lies over 1,270 km north of Perth, placing it in a remote supply chain corridor where logistics lead times are critically extended. The terrain is characterised by coastal limestone karst formations typical of the North West Cape peninsula, presenting low-relief but structurally complex geology requiring precise geotechnical assessment prior to any civil or extraction works.

The joint venture between Whitecrest Enterprises Pty Ltd and Swan Portland Cement Ltd targets metallurgical-grade limestone extraction coupled with a dedicated quicklime calcination plant. Operational continuity in this remote corridor demands:

• Diesel-dependent haulage fleets operating under extreme ambient temperatures exceeding 45°C
• Reliance on regional power infrastructure or on-site generation substations for 24/7 kiln and crushing operations
• DIDO workforce rotations via Learmonth Airport (IATA: LEA), the nearest commercial airstrip
• Long-lead procurement cycles for consumables, wear parts, and reagents from Perth-based vendors

The extraction circuit is designed around open-cut bench quarrying of carbonate-rich limestone formations, feeding a primary crushing and screening circuit sized for quicklime kiln feed specifications. Key engineering parameters include:

• Primary jaw or gyratory crushing stage targeting CaCO₃ purity ≥95% for metallurgical lime compliance
• Rotary or vertical shaft kiln calcination plant for quicklime (CaO) production
• Dust suppression and fines management systems critical in high-wind coastal environments
• Structural geotechnical monitoring of bench faces in karst-prone substrate

Operating within a sensitive coastal ecosystem adjacent to the Cape Range National Park and Ningaloo Marine Park buffer zones imposes stringent ESG obligations. Sustainability commitments encompass:

• Progressive rehabilitation and revegetation of extracted benches in compliance with WA DMP closure plans
• Limesand and overburden stockpile management to minimise aeolian dispersion
• Zero-discharge water management protocols given proximity to sensitive groundwater lenses
• Biodiversity offset programs aligned with EPBC Act requirements for North West Cape flora and fauna