Iluka’s balranald mineral sands mine
Site Access Road
After completing a wide ranging package of bulk earthworks for Iluka in 2020 to construct the proof of concept site for this mine, Potter Excavations was engaged again by Iluka to build the main access road for the new BMS Mine. This project was a key piece of infrastructure, allowing all weather access to the mine, ensuring deliveries of mine processing plant modules would be able to reach the mine and cut the travel times in half for all traffic to the mine. The 23km road was delivered between December 2023 and January 2025.
400,000 m3 of dirt moved
Covering 23km of land between Ivanhoe road and the mine site on Kara Station, the Site Access Road passes through, farm land, mallee forest and flood plain. Cut to fill methodology was used for all sub base material with an engineered gravel pavement and spray seal applied to the finished road.
Highly controlled environmental impact
Between Ivanhoe Road and Kara Station sits a large section of Mallee Forest, Potter Excavations worked closely with Iluka’s environmental team to ensure best practice methodology was applied at all times during the clearing of 115 hectars of land, protecting all essential environmental, and cultural heritage assets.
25 culverts installed
The Site Access Road has been built to meet and exceed 1-in-100 year flood levels, to ensure adequate water management and minimised environmental impact, robust drainage solutions were included in the design, including 25 double or single cell box culverts along the road, as well as large retention basins, swale drains, silt fencing and turbid water management.
Camp Earthworks
In conjunction with the delivery of the Site Access Road, Potter Excavations also delivered the earthworks for the establishment of Iluka’s Camp Village. This approx. 7 hectare site would provide accommodation for the vast majority of Iluka’s workforce during production, and included other features such as a 120 space car park, multiple retention ponds and other civil structures.
