Earthmovers & Excavators – October 2019

TradeEarthmovers.com.au 27

A

s works depot manager for the
Corangamite Shire Council in the
Barwon South West region of Victoria,
Chris Hammond, has plenty of experi-
ence with the Hyundai wheel loader
line-up.
Corangamite has six Hyundai wheel
loaders and a long history with the
manufacturer’s machinery.
“We purchased our first Hyundai back in
2003, so I think it’s fair to say we’ve been
able to track the progress they’ve made
over that time in terms of what the machines
offer,” Hammond says.
“Overall the leap forward in technology on
these machines is impressive; especially
when you consider that we traded in a
machine bought in 1990 for our latest
wheel loader.”
The Corangamite Shire Council wheel
loader fleet numbers two ‘dash 9’ and
four ‘dash 7’ series machines at present,
including two 10-ton Hyundai HL730-7s,

two 14.5-ton Hyundai HL757-7s and a

HL757-9. A sole Hyundai HL770-9, with a

23-ton operating weight, sits at the upper-

end of the Hyundai wheel loader range.

Hammond says that, while the

Corangamite Shire Council doesn’t operate

any quarries, the wheel loaders primarily

work loading trucks and moving aggregate

and other materials on Council-operated

projects and sites. The Hyundai HL730-7s,

for example, are dedicated yard loaders,

while the bigger machines are spread

further afield.

“There are a couple of bonuses to

having a uniform machine fleet,” continues

Hammond.

“We don’t have dedicated drivers for these

machines; they might be driven by any one

of our approved operators depending on

where they’re sent and what crew they’re

being used by.

“So, with all the in-cab controls identical

across the range, it means our guys can get

From Pittong to Port Campbell and all points in between, a

large Hyundai machine fleet is kept busy across a variety of

Council-affiliated tasks in the equally large Corangamite Shire

region of Victoria.

Overall the

leap forward in

technology on

these machines

is impressive.

http://www.portergroup.com.au

Far left: A Hyundai

HL757-9 is part of a

collection of wheel

loaders owned by

Corangamite Shire

Council

Left: By having a uniform

fleet, dedicated drivers

aren’t needed

PORTERGROUP