The excavation site was located at the top of a hill, which overlooks the city of Victor Harbor on the South Australian coast 85 km south of Adelaide.
"The soil needed to be removed to enable the construction of an elevator," said Colin Brook from Goolwa Tippers.
"Adding to the complexity of the project was how to transfer the excavated soil up the very steep 25 m incline into the tip truck.
"The answer came in the form of 5 x 6 m and 2 x 3.3 m conveyors from Kennards Hire Lift & Shift."
Another challenge for the machinery operators was limited site access. The steepness of the slope and working in close proximity to the house prevented using a large excavator. To overcome this, a one-tonne excavator on a wooden deck reinforced with forming ply was used.
"The conveyors were placed on the two flights of stairs and offered the safest and most efficient way to remove the soil. They also negated the need for double handling and are narrow enough that stair access wasn't impeded," added Brook.
This is the first project where Goolwa Tippers has used conveyor belts, which can operate on a maximum inclination of 30° and are well suited for areas with narrow access.
"The conveyors from Kennards Hire Lift & Shift worked perfectly. They're simple to operate and light enough for two men to easily reposition as needed," said Brook.
Brook said the conveyors saved the business about two weeks in labour.
"Knowing these conveyors are available, it's something we'll keep in mind for future projects," he said.
Kennards Lift & Shift has a range of portable conveyors, suitable for removing sand, brick and building rubble, and can be assembled in around 15 minutes without specialised equipment or tools. Featuring an in-built circuit breaker for added safety, each miniveyor can be handled well by two men. A multipurpose hopper is also available.
For further information, visit www.kennards.com.au/liftandshift.
