EYRE Peninsula bulk handler and terminal operator T-Ports is building 70,000 tonnes of bunker storage at Kimba, and expanding its storage capacity at Lock, both in in time for this year’s harvest.

T-Ports chief executive officer Kieran Carvill said the expansion projects on the Eyre Peninsula (EP) highlighted T-Ports’ commitment to increasing grain throughput in South Australia.

“Growers at both Kimba and Lock have been strong supporters, as have many others across the EP, and given current harvest predictions, we’re now able to offer an alternative storage option for this part of the catchment zone,” Mr Carvill said.

“While Upper EP growers have had the opportunity to deliver direct to our port at Lucky Bay since it opened in 2019, this Kimba site will give them a delivery option much closer to home so they can move tonnes from the paddock more efficiently and cost-effectively at the peak of the harvest.

“We will continue to monitor other opportunities to support our grower customers right across the catchment area in the future as we know they recognise and support the benefits of competition in the EP grain supply chain.”

The T-Ports facility at Kimba will consist of four bunkers, and will be built at the Eyre Premium Hay site east of the township.

Grain intake will be via high-capacity drive-over hopper (DOH) stackers, and existing IT systems will be in place to ensure seamless receival data capture.

T-Ports will utilise the site’s existing weighbridge and partial roadways.

At Lock, a new bunker 300 metres in length, and an additional DOH stacker access road will be built, while an existing 150m bunker will be upgraded in time for the upcoming harvest.

Both sites, as well as the bunker site at Lucky Bay, will receive the major wheat and barley grades, with active binning in place to capture additional value.

T-Ports is a part grower-owned supply chain on the EP which started up in time for the 2019 harvest with its Lock and Lucky Bay facilities.

“We expect growers from around Kimba, Buckleboo, Darke Peak and nearby to notice significant benefits, particularly given we’re expecting an above-average crop this year, based on current estimates.

“We are also committed to supporting regional businesses and communities and we’re very pleased to be in partnership with Eyre Premium Hay, a locally owned and operated family company.”

Eyre Premium Hay principal and grain grower Matthew Vandeleur said the new T-Ports’ facility at Kimba would provide multiple benefits for growers on upper EP.

“It means we can reduce paddock pressure at harvest time, increase usage of our own assets and considerably lift our bottom-line profits,” Mr Vandeleur said.

“Having the option to deliver to Kimba means we can better utilise our labour on-farm and reduce our weather risk.

T-Ports will also continue to work closely with Eyre Hub, with chairman Andrew Baldock saying opportunities for collaboration with T-Ports would continue to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

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