01

Results at a Glance

• 22,000 tonnes of on-site cottonseed storage
  

• 2+ trucks loading simultaneously, removing queuing bottlenecks

• 65m clear-span structure, no internal columns

• 54 growers currently served across the Moree Plains Shire

02

Client Overview

North West Ginning is the leading independent cotton gin in the Moree Plains Shire, processing cotton for 54 growers across the region. In the 2025 season alone, the business ginned over 160,000 bales and processed more than 6,500 modules.

Before this facility existed, the gin had no way to hold cottonseed on site. Every tonne produced had to leave immediately, either sold or collected by growers before processing could continue. When trucks were short, the only option was to stop.

Shutdowns during peak season put casual staff at risk and left growers with no flexibility, forced to accept the market price at ginning time rather than holding and selling when conditions suited. The workaround was bunker storage, but it required significant manual labour that had become increasingly hard to find each season.

03

Key Outcomes

North West Ginning now operates with 22,000 tonnes of on-site cottonseed storage, with the gin running continuously regardless of truck availability. Seed accumulates on site while the market is assessed and loads out when the timing suits.

The 7,200m² facility was designed around continuous gin operations. The 65m clear-span structure gives the floor an unobstructed layout with no columns to interrupt storage or constrain machinery access. The layout accommodates at least two trucks loading simultaneously, removing the queuing bottleneck that had contributed to previous operational pressure. A weatherproof roof prevents moisture ingress and maintains seed quality through extended storage.

For growers, the change has been significant. Rather than being forced to accept the spot price at ginning time, they can store seed at the gin and monitor the market before selling.

Bunker storage has been eliminated. The labour requirement to manage it no longer exists, and the operational complexity of short-horizon seed contracts has been removed. Seasonal staff retention has improved because ginning operations now run consistently through the season.

The facility also stores other commodities including grain during the off-season, earning its footprint year-round.