Pinnacle Hire’s range of dewatering, pumping and water treatment solutions are helping businesses across Australia tackle key pain points.
In Western Australia, a mining operation faced a significant headache with its expansive on-site sedimentation pond.
The mining company wanted to manage the sedimentation safely, but it did not know where to begin. The project would be no small feat. The sedimentation pond measured 126 metres by 126 metres, with an average depth of three metres, and a slurry volume of approximately 29,392m³.
After exploring its options, the WA-based mining company engaged Pinnacle Hire to design and install a solution that would not only manage the sedimentation but minimise any operational disruptions.
Established in 2021, Pinnacle Hire has supported quarry, mining and civil construction clients manage their water. Since its establishment, the company has successfully delivered more than 2032 projects across five states in the past two years. With this range of project experience to draw upon, Pinnacle Hire highlighted three key issues the WA-based operation faced.
The site’s sedimentation pond had an inconsistent depth across it, which made sediment removal difficult. The pond’s expansive size further complicated the matter, creating a safety risk for on-site personnel and a challenge to keeping the site operational while the sediment was removed.
The Pinnacle Hire team knew the equipment would have to be flexible and adaptable to match the variable pond depth while also being able to be operated remotely to increase safety and maintain the site’s operations.
A pontoon system, which was able to be remote controlled, and equipped with a high-capacity slurry pump from Pinnacle Hire was able to achieve all of these requirements.
The pontoon system’s capacity was 450m³/h, which was significantly higher than conventional methods, which managed a third of that capacity at 150m³/h. This reduced the project’s duration and avoided the need to shut down the mining site.
This system worked with the resources the mining company already had on-site and lowered the project cost significantly despite using high-capacity equipment.
Using the remote control, operators could safely operate the slurry pump from the shore without the need to enter the water. By eliminating the need to work on or around the pontoon, Pinnacle Hire was also able to keep the site operational while the sediment management was ongoing.
Pinnacle Hire managing director Jeremy Sailsbury said the project was a testament to the company’s expert team and their skills.
“We’ve carefully selected staff who are experienced and dedicated, but also know the value of teamwork,” he said.
“We’ve also invested in a formidable new fleet of pumps and treatment equipment that is the envy of the industry. This has enabled us to grow from just a single location based in Victoria, to 10 locations in five states in just the last 24 months.
“No matter where you are around Australia, you can find a Pinnacle Hire specialist to help plan and deliver your next pumping or watering treatment project.” •
For more information, visit pinnaclehire.com.au