This project required the installation of 400km of dual 60 cores SMOF underground optic fibre cables from Port Hedland to Shaw Siding Newman.

Improving performance and efficiency

As part of the McMahon Leighton Joint Venture, Leighton Contractors was awarded a contract to develop BHP Billiton Iron Ore’s Rapid Growth Project 5 rail project (RGP5) in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Ventia installed 400km of dual 60 cores SMOF underground optic fibre cables from Port Hedland to Shaw Siding Newman under 2 portions of contract. The Duplication Heavy Haul railway was constructed along the existing Newman / Yandi Line.

Innovative solutions for complex environments

The build utilised multiple construction methodologies such as:

  • Ripping/ploughing (single and dual plough), Trenching, Rock Sawing (standard and diamond tipped dual saw), Horizontal Directional Drilling (utilising standard and pneumatic heads) & Installation and commissioning of over 145 signalling locations (FOBOTS) to Signalling Equipment Rooms and locations along the route.
  • The directional drilling was undertaken in some of the hardest rock found within WA in excess of 200mpa and required specialised pneumatic drill heads which had to be sourced from outside of Australia.

Expertise where it’s needed

Where horizontal drilling was not mandatory due to issues peculiar to the location (eg. heritage, environment, water crossings) and hard rock was encountered, a specialised dual diamond tipped saw was utilised to allow the rock to be broken/trenched for installation of the fibre optic cable.

Ventia's expert knowledge and flexibility in the resourcing sector ensures we are a trusted partner across all of BHPBIO’s operations. Ventia currently have a 5 year framework agreement with BHPB Pilbara operations.

Highlights

  • Installed 400km of dual 60 cores SMOF underground optic fibre cables
  • Preferred fibre businesses BHPBIO’s mission critical infrastructure
  • Installation and commissioning of over 145 signalling locations