Access Road, Whitehaven Blackwater Mine

Durack have been engaged by Whitehaven to construct a
re-alignment of the Northern Back Access Road at Blackwater.

The realignment is to be completed under two stages and is
necessary to allow pit progression for future coal extraction and maintain site access.

The project commenced September 2024.  The Durack team worked closely with Whitehaven Coal to enable a very successful onboarding process and smooth transition from mobilisation to commencement of the works and have got off to a flying start. 

The site team is working a 7/7 roster to ensure that construction targets and critical deadlines around this project are met, with the expected completion by March 2025..

The project scope includes:

Approximately 50,000m3 of Embankment Fill using
Cat 3 recycled material from coal operations   

3 x multi-cell culvert crossings

Pavement works

Relocation of existing overhead power cables and
poles, and construction of HV underground crossings

Relocation of existing HDPE water services

Removal of redundant HV services

Project challenges include:

Critical deadlines in line with mine planning
and progression of the coal pit

Co-ordination of HV electrical switching with
mine operations

Importation of 25,000 tonnes of pavement
material through the mine gate

Interactions with mine operations, HV haul
routes and other contractors

Durack’s team are working together with Whitehaven Coal and
the whole Blackwater Mine team to ensure that the project is completed safely and successfully for our valued client, Whitehaven Coal.