Rumours silica sand is set to be exported from the port

IT COULD be a hat-trick of success for the Bundaberg Port if plans for silica sand to be exported from the site come to fruition.

EARTH COMMODITIES: A sign on Palm Beach Rd, Coonarr. Photo: Zach Hogg / NewsMail. Picture: Zach Hogg BUN270814COO2

IT COULD be a hat-trick of success for the Bundaberg Port if plans for silica sand to be exported from the site come to fruition.

The NewsMail understands the port is in talks with Coonarr Beach sand mine, Earth Commodities, about costings to ship the widely used variety of sand out of Bundaberg waters.

But the Gladstone Ports Corporation will neither confirm or deny the reports, and Earth Commodities did not return the NewsMail's calls or email.

The Bundaberg Port has been the subject of two major government project announcements in the past two weeks - an $11 million new gas pipeline that will extend to the port and also plans for extra Lady Musgrave tour operators to utilise the port.

A source told the NewsMail there were plans to ship out in excess of 100,000 tonnes of silica, a sand commonly used in industrial processing, next year.

"Thousands of tonnes will go by road unless they do the barge thing they are discussing (with the port)," the source said.

"A $6 million plant has been purchased from the UK which will be erected out at Coonarr at Earth Commodities Bundaberg.

"There's also going to be some ships going to Japan from the port with silica sand."

The source said the million dollar piece of machinery got rid of unwanted materials in the sand.

They also said Earth Commodities had signed a five-year contract with a glass company.

"They have never supplied a glass company before," the source said.

"It got signed at least two months ago."