26/05/2026
A multiple bench scale instability at an iron ore site in Western Australia left high-grade ore inaccessible beneath unstable ground. Blasting or heavy machinery vibrations risked further movement. The operator required a stabilisation method that restored safe access without exposing personnel to the unstable highwall during construction.
Traditional ground-based equipment could not operate safely on the steep slope, and constructing barriers mid-slope would have placed workers beneath known unstable ground. Instead, a top-down installation using rope access and lightweight drilling equipment enabled crews to work directly on the slope face while minimising exposure.
We installed approximately 6,000m² of high-tensile mesh, secured with almost 500 rock bolt anchors across the affected slope. The anchored mesh system was designed to control surficial instability by transferring forces from unstable rock through the mesh and spike plates into stable ground behind the instability zone. TDR monitoring cables were installed to track ongoing deformation.
The proof that the installed system was effective arrived after construction, when a large boulder, about 3.5m long and weighing roughly 12 tonnes was released from the slope. The mesh system held the material back without any significant damage, providing practical confirmation that the mesh, anchors and spike plate system were capable and importantly, it did not impact mining operations below.
Read the full project story on the Geovert website in our 'What Good Looks Like' article series.
