Client
Cooperative Bulk Handling
Location
Cunderdin, Western Australia
Sector
Infrastructure & Transport
Services Delivered
Geotechnical Site Investigation and CharacterisationGroundwater Investigation & AnalysisMaterial Suitability AssessmentPavement & Rail Formation Design Support
The challenge.
CBH is a grower-owned cooperative that operates an integrated grain supply chain across Western Australia, supporting growers through storage, handling, transport, marketing, trading and export of grain. As part of its annual ongoing investment in network infrastructure, CBH proposed an upgrade to its Cunderdin site to support increased operational capacity. The site, located approximately 160 kilometres east of Perth, contains established rail and bulk handling infrastructure within an active operational environment. A clear understanding of subsurface conditions was required to support design development while managing constructability risks associated with variable ground conditions and existing rail assets.
The approach.
FSG undertook a comprehensive geotechnical investigation to inform the proposed upgrade, focusing on understanding subsurface conditions relevant to rail infrastructure, pavements and structural foundations. The investigation combined field testing, laboratory assessment and groundwater monitoring and was reviewed alongside previous site investigations. Engineering judgement was applied to develop a consistent understanding of site conditions, ensuring that geotechnical considerations aligned with CBH’s operational requirements and long-term infrastructure performance objectives.
The outcome.
The investigation confirmed subsurface and groundwater conditions relevant to the proposed expansion and supported informed planning and design decisions for the facility upgrade. The outcomes provided confidence in geotechnical design assumptions and decisions relating to site upgrades. This work supported CBH’s broader objective of maintaining reliable, efficient grain handling infrastructure that underpins Western Australia’s grain supply chain.