Cortex Resources Pty Ltd -- Showcase Project -- Appleton

Appleton Dock Bulk Commodities Export Terminal

Cortex, together with its joint venture partner Walter Construction Pty Ltd, recently completed Australia's premier bulk export terminal at Appleton Dock in the Port of Melbourne. This facility represents a major investment by a joint venture between Australian Bulk Alliance (ABA) and AWB (formerly the Australian Wheat Board). The terminal will be operated by Globex International, a wholly owned subsidiary of Grainco Australia.

The facility is primarily designed to load grain into vessels ranging up to Panamax size. However, it has been constructed to handle a wide range of bulk materials other than grain. The total on-site storage capacity is 48,000 tonnes and is configured in a range of steel, conical bottomed silos and flat bottomed silos.

Grain enters the terminal via road and rail. Most grain is exported to ship via a retractable, luffing boom shiploader. Grain is also exported from the terminal for domestic use via a road outloading facility.

Feature Summary

Rail receival rate 1,000t/h
Road receival rate 450t/h
Ship loading rate 1,500t/h
Domestic road outload rate 300t/h
Storage for 48,000 tonnes
2x12,000 tonne flat bottom silos
14x1,500 tonne conical bottom silos
4x750 tonne conical bottom silos
Full fumigation and aeration facilities
Comprehensive control system and facility management system
Extensive use of air supported belt conveyors
Full dust collection for entire facility
Trade certified batch weigher, belt weighers and weighbridge
Automatic product sampling during in-feed and export operations
Full fire protection and detection system

Offices, workshops, control room, road sampling systems switchrooms and sampling laboratory.