Quarterly News • June 2003 - Leighton Holdings

HVE’s decade of serviceleads to ongoing operationsFor more than 10 years, Thiess subsidiary Hunter Valley Earthmoving (HVE) hasbeen providing contract mining services to key clients in the Hunter region.This presence has recently been extended, with the award of ongoingoperations at the Liddell and Westside coal mines.Awarded in April 2003 andwith a combined value of$380 million, the extensionswill see HVE maintain a miningpresence in the region until atleast 2011.HVE General Manager BrettLewis said the award of ongoingworks at Liddell and Westsidewas a reflection of HVE’s abilityto continually meet clientexpectations.“We are proud of the longtermrelationships we haveestablished in the Hunter Valleyand look forward to being a partof the continued development ofthe Liddell and Westside mines,”he said.“The extensions are a reflection ofthe dedication of the project teamand their ability to add value toour clients’ businesses.”Located 20 kilometres north westof Singleton, Liddell Open CutMine is characterised by a stripratio of approximately 4.5:1. HVEwill be responsible for an initialnominal ROM coal of 3.5Mtpa,with a client option to increaseproduction to a nominal 5.0Mtpa.The seven-year contract requiresthe blasting and removal ofoverburden and the mining andhaulage of coal to the client’sprocessing plant. Overburdenis removed using a 5500 Hitachiexcavator and Cat 789 trucks, andThe new 5500 Hitachi excavator mining at the Liddell Open Cut Coal Minecoal is mined with a 992G loader,together with a dozer to rip andpush up the coal.Westside Mine is located on thesouthwest outskirts of Newcastle.Under a life of mine contract,estimated at eight years, HVE isresponsible for the blasting andremoval of overburden and thewinning, haulage and crushing ofcoal to the client’s product bin.Established in 1961 as a familyowned company, HVE commencedoperations undertaking clearingworks for powerline construction,with a plant fleet comprisingone D6 dozer. Today, HVE hasdiversified and developed a strongreputation for cost competitiveand timely performance ofcontract mining, heavy civilengineering and earthworksprojects, with a plant fleet valuedin excess of $30 million.The company pioneered open cutcoal mining in the Hunter Valleyduring the 1970s, and since thenhas undertaken mining operationsat Lemington Open Cut, UnitedCollieries, Pelton Open Cut andGunnedah Brickworks Open Cut. ■15 THIESS