The delegation – which comprised Zambia’s chief inspector of machinery Brighton Keteka, Papua New Guinea’s deputy chief inspector of mines Lave Michael, and two representatives from Indonesia’s Department of Mines and Energy, Sonny Widyagara Nadar and Muhammad Hardi – recently visited Farleigh Quarry in Mackay, Queensland for a professional benchmarking tour.
The international guests were accompanied by quarry manager Dennis Marchant and Mackay district inspector of mines (mechanical) Bruce McKinnon in an inspection of the quarry’s plant, pit and laboratory. Norm Morris, the laboratory supervisor, also provided a demonstration of the quarry’s crushing cylinders.
The Hanson-operated quarry was selected by Mackay district inspector of mines Darryl Casey to host the tour because it is one of Queensland’s largest and safety quarries.
“Our visitors are part of a development program for inspectors and represent three nations with growing industries, so we wanted to provide them with insights into how our best quarries work,” Casey said.
Marchant commented that the tour provided an excellent opportunity to show the company’s quarry protocols and processes – as well as its commitment to safety, environmental management and local community – to the international inspectors, who reportedly gave positive accounts of the experience.
“We wanted to demonstrate one of the state’s leading examples of a well managed, large capacity and safety-focused quarry that has a working laboratory and services Rockhampton to Townsville,” Casey added. “Farleigh Quarry ticks all those boxes and it’s gratifying to know that we have such a good role model for quarries right here in our region.”
Farleigh Quarry is one of almost 50 quarries operated by Hanson. The company, which is part of leading aggregate supplier HeidelbergCement Group, also owns 240 concrete plants and two precast concrete product sites across Australia.