More than 40 farmers and civic leaders gathered at the Co-operative Bulk Handling Group’s York receival point for the opening of upgraded storage and handling facilities.

In a world first, CBH built a newly designed , fully sealed, 96,000 tonne R-type horizontal storage linked to the existing L-type storage, allowing the new storage to be filled from both ends.

This is supplied by a new 500 tonne per hour elevator and road grid allowing the new storage and over-rail cells to be filled.

Three new over-rail cells with a total capacity of 4050 tonnes were also part of the $20 million-plus project.

As well there are new roadways and drainage as well as an extension to the rail loop line.

Regional CBH Group director Kevin Fuchsbichler from Bruce Rock officially opened and started up the new facility.

“This new storage is the biggest we’ve built in the country,” he said.

“Avon and Merredin were built by AWB and gifted to CBH.

“This is part of our streamlining our receival network and we are heavily committed to capital works.

“The original York storage was built in 1966 and opened for the 1966-67 harvest.

“It took in 83,000 bushels that season or 2200 tonnes.

“Last year it took in 120,000 tonnes and the year before was the highest ever, 121,000 tonnes.

Shire of York President Councillor Pat Hooper congratulated CBH.

“It is an outstanding achievement to get this thing up and running,” he said.

“We’re proud that CBH chose York for this facility.”

CBH general manager –grain operations Colin Tutt gave some statistics on the new facility.

There are 5600tonnes of concrete, 1031.5 tonnes of steel, 8.5 kilometres of cable, 200,000 tonnes of gravel, 12,850 square metres of hotmix inside the storage and 10,500 square metres of roadworks.