Western Australia’s 2011-12 harvest has officially broken the record for most grain produced, with deliveries yesterday pushing the season’s total over 14.7 million tonnes, CBH Group says.
The previous record of 14,695,321 tonnes was set in 2003-04.
CBH Group general manager, operations, Colin Tutt said every zone had exceeded expectations to easily top the state forecast of 13.5 million tonnes.
“The knowledge that we have broken the record as the largest grain crop ever received in Western Australia is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved with the 2011-12 harvest which has really tested us all,” Mr Tutt said.
“Daily delivery records have been broken at 57 of our receival sites and more than half a million man hours were worked in the month of December, including by around 2,000 harvest casuals, twice the number CBH employed last year.
“Thankfully, 171 of the 181 sites that were operating this harvest also have handled this big crop without recording a lost time injury.”
Mr Tutt said the record was set to be extended over January, with around 200,000 further tonnes expected to be delivered.
“It is timely that the state and federal governments took the decision last year to invest $350 million in the grain transport network,” he said.
“It also shows the foresight of CBH Group’s decision to invest $175 million in new rail rolling stock, which will start to arrive over the next few months to be operated by new rail provider Watco.
“the need for improved rail transport performance has ever been more important.”
