Yalata, SA

Project Description

This project involved the installation of a 60 Single Mode opticalal fibre to be laid from Yalata on the Eyre for 96 kilometres to the Iluka Resources Jacinth-Ambrosia Mine Site.

Pre-ripping of the optical fibre route was achieved using a Komatsu D275A dozer.

Any rock that could not be negotiated by the Komatsu was sawn by our Trencor 1360RS rock saw which cut to a depth of 1.2 metres.

The laying of the optical fibre cable was carried out using Streamlines Vermeer P185 and Caterpillar D7H zero-tension dozers. Our 80tonn float was also on site to mob the rocksaw to rock areas. Large capacity cable drums carrying over 13 kilometres each were used throughout the project so to minimise the number of cable splices required.

Some 570 cable route markers were installed along with 13 concrete cable pits.

Our Ditchwitch 2720AT rock drill was mobilised to site to directional drill under the Eyre Highway, so to extend the new optical fibre cable to the Yalata Amplifier Site.

To minimise disruption many Aboriginal social and heritage guidelines were followed along with strict flora and fauna obligations.