Greatland welcomes first Cat® machine at Telfer

Greatland Resources has rapidly emerged as a leading gold and copper producer in Australia, with the Telfer operation at the heart of its growth plans. Acquired in December 2024, the Telfer gold-copper mine is one of the country’s largest processing centres, combining open pit and underground mining at significant scale.

With the capacity to process up to 20 million tonnes a year and a workforce of more than 1,500 people, Telfer is central to Greatland’s ambition to build a long-life mining business.

Since taking ownership, Greatland has performed strongly – increasing open pit output by more than 50 per cent and improving recovery rates. These gains have been driven by smarter planning, operational efficiency, and investing in the right equipment for the job.  

A key priority is expanding the West Dome open pit and delivering future cutbacks – work that demands reliable, high-performance loading equipment. That’s ultimately what led Greatland to invest in its first Cat Hydraulic Mining Shovel: The Cat 6060.

Watch Part 1

Watch Part 2

A seamless experience with WesTrac

For Greatland, bringing in the Cat 6060 Hydraulic Mining Shovel wasn’t just about adding new equipment – it marked the beginning of a partnership with WesTrac.

With production ramping up at Telfer, Greatland needed the right loading solution – and a partner who could deliver. From day one, the focus was on understanding requirements, moving quickly, and getting the machine to work.

“WesTrac took the time to understand our requirements and deliver what we needed to be efficient,” said Managing Director Shaun Day.

“The experience – from delivery through to deployment – was really positive.”

Delivering a 600-tonne class hydraulic mining shovel to a remote site like Telfer is no small feat – requiring detailed planning, coordinated logistics and a three-week on-site assembly to get the job done. Despite the challenges, WesTrac Mining Business Manager, Ben Morris said the outcome was seamless.

“The 6060 was delivered on time as required, and assembly was well supported by WesTrac’s new Digger and Drill Services team,” he said.

“That allowed Greatland to integrate the machine into their operations with confidence.” 

From a customer perspective, Open Pit Manager Craig Rintoul said the build and commissioning process was a standout to them.

“It went absolutely to procedure – from safety through to commissioning,” he said.

“Everything was in sync. There were no missing parts, no delays. The machine came up exactly as it was supposed to and went straight to work.”

Support remained just as strong beyond delivery, with on-site technical specialists and data-driven monitoring, allowing Greatland access to immediate support and performance insights.

“If there’s anything we need to know, it’s dealt with straight away,” says Craig. “WesTrac’s service and backup support is perfect.”

It’s a partnership approach that’s helped keep operations running smoothly and performance on track.

The right machine for Telfer

The Cat 6060 Hydraulic Mining Shovel is a next-generation machine engineered for productivity, reliability and efficiency in large-scale mining operations.

For Greatland, it was a natural fit for Telfer’s scale and rugged conditions. Since commissioning, Greatland Superintendent Alan McGuinniss said the results have been immediate.

“In 1,300 hours, it hasn’t missed a beat,” he said.

“Our new 6060 has been running at around 92 percent availability, with downtime only for scheduled maintenance.”

The impact on production has been equally as significant, with consistent digging performance and minimal interruptions reducing bottlenecks across the operation.

“It just performs day in and day out,” Craig said. “It’s doing exactly what we bought it to do – maximising tonnes.”

In terms of technology, the 6060’s onboard diagnostics provide real-time machine data, allowing both site teams and Caterpillar® experts to monitor performance and flag any potential issues early.

“We can see everything happening on the machine in real time,” says Alan. “It allows us to address issues before they become problems.”

Equally as important is the operator experience. The next-generation cab is designed to reduce fatigue and improve overall performance. 

“The 6060 is quieter, smoother and much more comfortable,” said operator Rachel Chamberlain.

“The controls are easier to use, and it really reduces fatigue over long shifts.” 

Supporting remote mining

For remote operations like Telfer, equipment performance is only part of the equation – support capability is just as important.

WesTrac’s branch network and field service footprint across Western Australia ensures customers are never too far from extra support. With hubs like Port Hedland backed by Perth-based technical teams, the business is able to deliver rapid and consistent service, even in the most isolated locations.

“WesTrac is well positioned to support customers operating sites in the most remote and harsh conditions across WA and NSW,” says Ben Morris.

This network is complimented by on-site personnel, dedicated product support teams, and strong parts availability – which CEO Jarvas Croome said ensures machines stay productive and downtime is minimised.

“Customers know they can rely on WesTrac for consistent support in complex environments.”

A new era of support: Launching Digger + Drill Services (D+DS)

As part of this success story, WesTrac is officially launching its new Digger + Drill Services (D+DS) team – designed to redefine how primary production equipment is supported across the mining industry.

Developed in response to increased customer demand, D+DS bring together a specialised group of technicians dedicated exclusively to hydraulic mining shovels and drills. The goal is simple: maximise uptime, reduce cost of ownership, and deliver expert support across the entire equipment lifecycle.

“We recognised our customers wanted a specialised group of individuals,” said Jarvas Croome.

“So we’ve hand-selected a team to provide that expertise – from assembly through to ongoing support.”

The D+DS team is involved from the moment a machine is built, following it to site and supporting it throughout its working life with shutdown support, maintenance services and technical expertise.

This approach aligns with WesTrac’s strategic mission to help customers “reduce the total cost of ownership and maximise equipment uptime” through industry-leading expertise and tailored solutions.

D+DS is designed to meet the need of specialised support – offering responsiveness, technical excellence, and scalable solutions that evolve with customer requirements.

“Our focus is on delivering solutions that matter,” Jarvas said. “Making sure customers get the maximum performance from their equipment every single day.”

As mining operations become more complex and production demands increase, initiatives like D+DS represent the next step in equipment support – ensuring customers like Greatland can operate with confidence, efficiency and long-term success.

---

Contact Our Team