The HAP is located approximately 25 kilometers (km) East to North East of Tom Price, the HAP will use over 60 percent (%) of the water produced from dewatering at Marandoo Mine WA on approximately 760 hectares (ha) of land. The NAP is located approximately 40km North to North West of Tom Price, the NAP will use over 90% of the water produced from dewatering at Nammuldi Mine WA and Silvergrass Mine WA on approximately 890 ha of land. The HAP and NAP are approximately 110 km apart by road. The HAP began operations in September 2012 and is currently irrigating approximately 760 ha of Fodder crop for Hay Production. The NAP became operational in June 2014 and has the capacity to irrigate up to 890 ha Fodder Crop for Hay Production. 

 

 

Rio Tinto requires a service provider to undertake Land Preparation for seeding, Seeding of Various crops, Spraying crop chemicals and liquid fertilizer, Spreading crop fertilizers, Mowing/Conditioning, Raking, Tedder, Baling, Stacking of various Fodder crops requirements for hay making at the HAP and the NAP; and including but not limited to:

 

 

The Service Provider must prepare the land and seed bed so that the seeding implement can plant the required crops and bale hay with minimal risk to equipment. The Service Provider may be required to reduce the size or rocks and/or remove any rocks or sticks that are brought to the surface during Land Preparation and Seeding.

 

 

The Service Provider must use appropriate tillage, seeding and equipment techniques to establish all Forage Crops not limited to but including:

 

(A)            Rhodes Grass;

(B)            Lucerne;

(C)            Oats

(D)            Sudan Grass/Forage Sorghum,

(E)            Legumes

 

The Service Provider must ensure that all equipment complies with Company Specifications and standards, including relevant Australian standards, and is weed free and inspected by the Company prior to mobilization to site. 

 

The Service Provider must use a 1.2-meter (m) x 1.2 m x 2.4 m high-density baler when performing the Baling Services.

 

 

The Service Provider must provide self-propelled mower conditioner that have the capacity to fully maintain all Fodder crops including the following:             

 

(i)              Rhodes Grass;

(ii)             Lucerne

(iii)            Oats

(iv)            Sudan Grass/Forage Sorghum

(v)             Legumes

 

 

The Service Provider must ensure that Raking and Tethering equipment are suitable for the use on Fodder Crops.

 

The Service Provider must ensure that the bales produced are of nominal dimensions of 1.2m x 1.2m x 2.4m. and capability of 600 to 700 kg Bales

 

 

The Service Provider must transport bales off the pivot area to the bale storage area concurrently with baling as far as possible so that irrigation can restart as soon as possible. The maximum total distance is expected to be 4 km return trip for transportation from the pivot area to the bale storage area.