Supporting the Restart of Wonawinta Through Rapid Remote Mobilisation
Client: Manuka Resources
Location: Cobar Region, NSW
Mobilisation: Under 48 hours
Project: Wonawinta Silver Project – Processing Plant Restart & Construction Support
Hire Term: Yellow Hire service vehicle and Kobelco excavator on site at the Mt Boppy Gold Mine, NSW
the challenge
As Manuka Resources progressed works associated with the restart of the Wonawinta operation, the site required reliable access to key support equipment for construction activities and processing plant recommissioning works.
Located over 600km from Yellow Hire’s Bendigo branch and approximately 1.5 hours south of Cobar, the project presented the logistical and operational challenges common across remote NSW mining operations.
The site required:
- Fast mobilisation into a remote location
- Flexible hire terms during a restart phase
- Reliable mine support equipment
- Transparent pricing without hidden costs
- Ongoing support capability should issues arise onsite
A major focus for the site was sourcing a telehandler solution that allowed the operation to trial equipment before committing to a capital purchase.
THe AIH | yellow hire approach
From the early stages of the restart process, Atlas Industrial Holdings engaged directly with the site team to understand what equipment was already secured, where operational gaps existed and how Yellow Hire could support the restart timeline.
Multiple equipment solutions and hire configurations were discussed throughout the planning phase, with Yellow Hire maintaining regular communication and conducting site visits to better understand the operational requirements of the project.
Ultimately, Yellow Hire supplied:
- 4T Telehandler
- 60ft Knuckle Boom
- 3T All Terrain Forklift
The equipment package was secured on an initial 3-month hire arrangement, allowing Manuka the flexibility to continue progressing restart works while evaluating longer-term equipment requirements.
Rapid weekend mobilisation
Late on a Friday, Yellow Hire received confirmation that the equipment was urgently required onsite for Monday morning operations.
Understanding the importance of avoiding delays during a mine restart, Yellow Hire coordinated mobilisation over the weekend and delivered the equipment to Wonawinta on the Sunday — ensuring the site could commence work first thing Monday morning without interruption.
All equipment was mobilised from Bendigo across three separate deliveries using Yellow Hire’s own tilt tray capability, allowing freight costs and scheduling to be controlled internally rather than relying on third-party transport availability.
The mobilisation was completed in less than 48 hours.
Proactive regional support
Supporting remote mining operations goes beyond simply delivering equipment. To ensure ongoing support capability for the project, AIH proactively inducted a dedicated field service technician to site during the mobilisation phase.
While no servicing issues have occurred to date, this preparation allows AIH to respond rapidly should breakdowns, servicing or operational support be required. This proactive approach is a key part of how AIH supports regional mining operations across NSW, SA and VIC.
continued project support across manuka operations
Following the successful mobilisation and ongoing support provided during the Wonawinta restart works, Atlas Industrial Holdings continued expanding its support across Manuka Resources operations within the Cobar region.
As project activity increased, AIH went on to supply additional operational support equipment and site solutions including:
— 20T Excavator supplied to the Mt Boppy Gold Mine operation
— VMS boards and traffic management support equipment
— Additional 100kVA generator package supplied to Wonawinta
— Continued ongoing equipment and field service support across both sites
This continued engagement demonstrated AIH’s ability to support mining operations beyond initial mobilisation requirements, providing scalable equipment solutions and responsive regional support as operational demands evolved.
With operations spread across remote NSW locations, responsiveness, flexibility and reliable service remained critical. AIH’s ability to rapidly deploy equipment, manage freight internally and maintain direct communication with site teams allowed support requirements to be handled efficiently across multiple project locations.
what we delivered
✓ Rapid mobilisation into a remote mining operation — under 48 hours
✓ Flexible short-term hire arrangements with no minimum lock-in
✓ Transparent pricing with no hidden freight costs
✓ Trial-before-purchase flexibility on telehandler solutions
✓ Reduced risk of restart delays during critical construction activities
✓ Dedicated field service technician inducted and ready onsite
✓ Ongoing equipment, temporary power and site support across multiple Manuka operations
✓ Continued support expansion from Wonawinta into Mt Boppy operations
Atlas Industrial Holdings | atlasholdings.com.au | Yellow Hire — Equipment Rental Division
End-to-End Equipment Solutions & Regional Mining Support
Supporting remote mining, civil and infrastructure operations across VIC, NSW & SA.
Call us on 1800 784 453 or email enquiries@yellowhire.com.au
We’ll work out a solution that gets your project moving.
broader AIH Capability
Temporary Power – Static and trailer-mounted generator hire from 20kVA to 1MW+
Earthmoving Plant – Excavators and construction equipment across multiple weight classes
Field Service – Diesel maintenance and field service support at remote locations
OTR Tyres – Full OTR tyre management for mine site fleets
Site Support – General mine site support services across the project lifecycle
