Late in 2001, Modern Engineering and Construction designed and constructed two on-farm grain storage projects in the Walgett area of Northern New South Wales. Grain growers in the Walgett area typically plant up to 20,000 acres each year. As the area can be subject to summer rains during the wheat harvest, it is important that grain be harvested as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Both storage and handling complexes feature 2 x 500 tonne silos and 1 x 200 tonne “Kotzur” aerated drying silo, road hopper receival and out load to truck. The central feature is a 25 metre high bucket elevator spouting to the silos with reclaim via belt conveyors. The systems are designed to handle all grains grown including wheat, barley, chickpeas, canola, sorghum. All silos are gas sealed for insect pest control.

The key advantage of the facilities is that they allow grain to be ferried from the paddock as it is harvested. Previously there were delays in trucking the grain, due to the limited availability of trucks, which often resulted in long harvesting stoppages. Now grain can be trucked off farm as trucks and road trains become available.

Future expansion has been considered in the design, allowing for a total storage capacity of up to 20,000 tonnes if required at a later date.