Peculiar Knob Iron Ore Project – Studies and Infrastructure Delivery

Como Engineers’ involvement in the Peculiar Knob Iron ore project for WPG Resources spanned three phases: feasibility studies, design of the project infrastructure, and delivery of the Peculiar Knob Infrastructure Project through to onsite implementation.

Studies: Como Engineers was originally engaged by WPG Resources to complete feasibility and definitive feasibility studies for a number of options for the Peculiar Knob Iron ore project, including numerous conceptual designs and DFS level CAPEX models for various train and port load-out facilities. The studies comprised a 4.5Mtpa Study and Definitive Feasibility Study, the Hawknest Scoping Study and a 3.3Mtpa Definitive Feasibility Study.

Design: Como Engineers completed the design of a 100km haul road to carry 400T quad road trains from the Peculiar Knob Mine to the Wirrida rail siding, designed the 125km water supply pipeline, including development of the borefields, to supply water along the length of the project to the mine for both construction and operational requirements, designed the new Stuart Highway underpass and prepared traffic management plans. A number of subcontractors were contracted and managed by Como Engineers to complete designs for the 248 man accommodation village, 4.2km rail loop, full project communications infrastructure and Stuart Highway underpass bridge.

Project implementation: Como Engineers was engaged by the client as a member of their steering committee to deliver the Peculiar Knob Infrastructure Project from detailed design through to onsite implementation. The implementation was a complete greenfields development comprising construction of the 248 man accommodation village; procurement and construction of the complete project water infrastructure, including development of two bore fields and the 125km water pipeline; construction of the 100km haul road, 27km borefield access road, 6km camp access road and Stuart Highway underpass; construction of hardstand for crushing and haulage contractors, including roads and ROM pads; and procurement and construction of complete communications infrastructure, including camp entertainment system, connection to the NextGen fibre optic line, 3 communications masts/towers, microwave links, a digital radio package and a water supply telemetry system.