Preparing for next season

“We are making sure there is plenty of space to store as much as we can”

Following a bumper season, Brown’s Gypsum at Rainbow is expanding its storage capacity with a new shed.

Hindmarsh Shire Council granted the gypsum mining company a permit to build earlier this month.

The new storage shed will be 72 metres long by 24 metres wide and 7.5 metres high.

Brown’s Gypsum representative Carlie Ryan said the storage shed would keep gypsum dry during the season.

“Gypsum cannot be crushed, loaded or spread when it is wet,” she said.

“We plan to start construction in the next few weeks now that the season has ended. We are making sure there is plenty of space to store as much as we can.

“The shed will make a huge difference to be able to keep the gypsum dry on any wet days and during winter months.”

The permit was applied for in October and put on public notice in February. There were no objections.

A mining permit was granted for the site in January 2020.

– Carlie Ryan

Ms Ryan said in Brown’s Gypsum’s second year of operation, the team had a good year that was also educational.

“We had a bumper season, demand was up because of how much rain we had in the region last year,” she said.

“Due to a wet 2022, farmers needed gypsum to restore nutrients in their soil.

“We had a few wet days during this season where we had to close, but that’s normal.

“We had a decent year last year, but this year we have built on that and seen growth.

“We’re happy with the outcome of this season and are focused on ensuring farmers have high-quality gypsum available.”

Ms Ryan said the season concluded at the end of last week and would reopen again in October or November this year when the weather began to warm up again.