Shutdown Support Mackay & Bowen Basin That Shows Up, Suited Up and Gets It Done
Your shutdown window doesn't move. Neither do we.
SureAccess delivers a fully mobilised, multi-trade access crew to your site faster than
it takes most contractors to return a phone call.
We have one job: keep your shutdown on schedule.
Every Hour of Shutdown Downtime Has a Price Tag
Coal handling and processing plants across the Bowen Basin run on tight shutdown windows 48 to 96 hours in many cases. Conveyors, stacker-reclaimers, transfer towers, pressure vessels and structural steel all need access, inspection and repair in that window. Then the plant needs to start back up.
The single biggest cause of shutdown overruns isn't the work itself. It's fragmented access. Multiple contractors. Miscommunication. Safety paperwork that arrives late. Scaffold crews who aren't there when the rope access team finishes. NDT technicians who need to wait on a scaffolder before they can begin.
Every hour your plant stays offline beyond the scheduled window is money no one gets back.
What a Fragmented Shutdown Looks Like
WITHOUT SureAccess
WITH SureAccess
3 or 4 separate contractors
Multiple site inductions
SWMS and safety docs chased from each
Scaffold delay holds up NDT crew
Trades waiting on scaffold to be built
Overrun. Budget blown. Pressure all round.
One contractor, one point of contact
One site induction
Risk assessments, rescue plans before mobilisation
One crew does access, inspection & the repairs
Parallel scopes run simultaneously
Shutdown finished. Plant back online.
One Call. Full Scope. Shutdown Done
SureAccess is the only contractor in Mackay that delivers all of the following from a single crew, under a single scope
Rope Access - The Fastest Access to Any Point on Your Asset
Our IRATA-certified technicians are on structure and working within hours of arrival, not days.
No scaffold permit delays, no ground space consumed, no disruption to concurrent operations. For shutdown access to conveyor structures, transfer towers, bins, vessels, stacks and bridges: rope access is the right call.
Scaffolding and Rigging - When You Need a Platform
Some shutdown scopes require a scaffold or a rigging solution. We provide Layher modular scaffolding, kwikstage, and V-Deck suspended platforms — engineered and certified. One crew handles the planning, build, inspection and strip.
NDT Inspections - Find the Problem Before It Finds You
Our NDT-qualified technicians perform Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI), Ultrasonic Testing (UT), Penetrant Testing (PT) and Visual Testing (VT) while they're already on structure. You don't pay for a separate mob-in, the inspection happens in the same access window. Defects get found and documented before your plant restarts.
Fabrication and Welding at Height - No Scaffold Required
Our trade-qualified boilermakers hold IRATA rope access certification. That means we can inspect, mark, weld and repair structural steel, pipework, vessels and conveyor components, all without erecting scaffolding. First visit in, weld repaired, inspection done, out.
Blast and Paint - Protective Coatings in the Access Window
Shutdowns are the right time to address corrosion. Our painters and blasters work alongside the access crew, completing surface preparation and protective coating application in the same mobilisation. No second visit. No second invoice.
Most contractors provide access. SureAccess provides access and does the work, inspections, weld repairs, NDT & coatings, all in a single mobilisation.
Shutdown Crews Ready When You Need Them
We are not a fly-in company. SureAccess is based in Mackay. Our crew knows the Bowen Basin, Moranbah, Dysart, Middlemount, Clermont, Collinsville. They know what site inductions look like, what the SMS requirements are, and how to operate on a live mining site.
Tell us your shutdown dates and scope. We will confirm crew availability and send a response within 24 business hours. For urgent shutdowns: call 0498 131 997 directly.
Shutdown Support Across Queensland's Most Asset-Intensive Industries
Coal Handling and Processing Plants (CHPP)
CHPP facilities across Moranbah, Dysart, Middlemount and Clermont operate on strict planned maintenance schedules. Our crew has worked Bowen Basin CHPPs. We know the environment, the safety requirements and the paperwork. Rope access, NDT and structural repair in a single scope, your maintenance planner deals with one point of contact for the entire shutdown scope.
Conveyor Systems and Transfer Stations
Conveyor structures, head frames, transfer towers and tripper cars require access at height and in confined locations. Rope access is consistently faster and cheaper than scaffolding for these structures. We deploy rope access teams alongside riggers and welders to inspect, measure, repair and coat, all in the same window.
Marine and Port Infrastructure
Mackay Harbour, port structures, ship-loader arms and marine assets require IRATA-certified access methods. SureAccess operates in marine environments with the appropriate equipment, safety protocols and coatings expertise for corrosion in salt-air exposure zones.
Sugar Mills and Processing Plants Mackay Region
The Mackay region's sugar industry operates on annual crushing season shutdowns. Structural steel, storage vessels, elevated walkways, stacks and boiler structures all require access and maintenance. Our crew mobilises quickly for Mackay-region mill shutdowns.
Pressure Vessels, Tanks and Storage Infrastructure
Internal and external inspection of pressure vessels, storage tanks and silos requires certified rope access or confined space access, combined with NDT capability. Our team conducts the inspection and any required remediation work in the same mobilisation.
Why Site Managers and Maintenance Planners Choose SureAccess
Trade-Qualified Crew - Not Just Rope Access Technicians
The difference between SureAccess and most rope access companies: our technicians are trade-qualified. Boilermakers who hold IRATA certification. NDT inspectors who are also rope access technicians. Painters and blasters who work at height. You get the full trade capability without the additional contractor.
IRATA Certification - Not Just Trained Individuals
SureAccess delivers rope access services using technicians who hold current IRATA certification at the appropriate level for the work being performed. Our work is carried out in accordance with the IRATA International Code of Practice (ICOP) and AS/NZS ISO 22846. When your safety team requests certification documentation, it's provided well before mobilisation, not the day before startup.
We are based in Mackay. When you call us for a Bowen Basin shutdown, you are not paying a fly-in premium. Our crew is nearby, site-familiar, and ready to mobilise. For Mackay and Bowen Basin sites.
Single Point of Accountability
One contract. One point of contact. One crew that coordinates internally. If something changes on-site — scope grows, additional defects are found, access needs to change, you talk to one person. No coordination between multiple contractors. No inter-contractor blame when something goes wrong.
Safety Documentation Ready Before Day One
Every SureAccess shutdown mobilisation includes a complete documentation package, with project-specific SWMS, risk assessments, emergency rescue plans, method statements, competency records and verification documents. Our documentation is prepared to meet principal contractor and client requirements, helping your HSE team onboard crews quickly and keep the shutdown moving.
Free Download:
Shutdown Readiness Checklist for Site Managers
Planning a shutdown? Use this checklist before you engage your access contractor.
The SureAccess Shutdown Readiness Checklist covers:
• Scope definition - what access do you need and when
• Contractor qualification requirements (IRATA, trade certs, insurance)
• Safety documentation - what to request before mobilisation
• NDT planning - what to inspect while you have access
• Shutdown timing - how long does each access type take
Download the PDF - no obligation. Used by maintenance planners and HSE teams across Queensland.
Mackay
Blackwater
Rockhampton
Moranbah
Bowen
Gladstone
Dysart
Whitsundays
Collinsville
Clermont
Townsville
Remote/FIFO
Middlemount
Cairns
Frequently Asked Questions - Rope Access Queensland
How quickly can SureAccess mobilise for a shutdown in Mackay or the Bowen Basin?
For Mackay and Bowen Basin shutdowns, we confirm crew availability within 4 business hours of receiving your scope. For urgent or unplanned shutdowns, call 0498 131 997 directly. Most Mackay and Bowen Basin mobilisations are on-site within 24 - 48 hours of scope confirmation, depending on crew availability and access requirements.
What trades and capabilities does SureAccess bring to a shutdown?
SureAccess provides IRATA-certified rope access technicians, scaffolders, riggers, trade-qualified boilermakers (welding and fabrication), NDT inspectors (MPI, UT, PT, VT), and painters and blasters, all under one crew, one ABN, one scope. This means you deal with a single point of contact for your entire shutdown access requirement.
What safety documentation do you provide before a shutdown mobilisation?
Every SureAccess mobilisation includes a site-specific Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS), risk assessment, emergency rope access rescue plan, and method statement - all aligned to IRATA ICOP, AS/NZS ISO 22846 and Safe Work Australia guidelines. IRATA technician certificates and trade qualifications are also provided. All documentation is delivered before work commences, not on the day.
Can SureAccess perform NDT inspections during a shutdown without a separate contractor?
Yes. Our NDT-qualified technicians are also IRATA-certified rope access technicians. This means we can access structures via rope and conduct MPI, UT, PT and visual inspections in the same operation, no second contractor required. If defects are found, our welders can perform repairs in the same shutdown window.
Do you work on CHPP shutdowns in the Bowen Basin?
Yes. SureAccess regularly services CHPP and mining infrastructure shutdowns across the Bowen Basin including Moranbah, Dysart, Middlemount, Clermont and Collinsville. We are familiar with Bowen Basin mine site inductions, safety management system requirements and the operational demands of CHPP environments.
Is rope access cheaper than scaffolding for shutdown work?
For targeted shutdown access - conveyors, transfer towers, vessels, structural steel at height, rope access is typically 30-50% cheaper than scaffolding and significantly faster to deploy. Scaffolding can take days to erect; our rope access crew is on structure and working within hours of arrival. We will always recommend the most cost-effective access method for your scope and will tell you honestly if scaffolding is the better choice.
How does SureAccess handle scope changes during a shutdown?
Shutdown scopes change - additional defects are found, access requirements grow, timelines shift. Because SureAccess is a multi-trade crew under one point of contact, scope changes are managed internally. You call one person, not three separate contractors. We have the trade capability to respond to most scope additions without bringing in additional contractors.
What geographic areas does SureAccess service for shutdowns?
SureAccess is based in Mackay and services shutdowns across the Bowen Basin (Moranbah, Dysart, Middlemount, Clermont, Collinsville), the Mackay region (including Mackay Harbour and regional sugar mills), and throughout Queensland including Townsville, Rockhampton, Gladstone and North Queensland FIFO sites.
How do I request shutdown crew availability from SureAccess?
Fill in the quote form on this page with your shutdown dates, site location and scope. We will respond within 4 business hours. For urgent shutdowns or if you prefer to speak directly: call 0498 131 997. You can also email us at the address on our contact page. We will confirm crew availability, clarify any scope questions and provide a no-obligation quote.
Your shutdown window doesn't wait. Neither do we.
Planning an upcoming shutdown? Tell us about your scope, schedule and resource requirements, and we'll provide practical advice and a competitive proposal tailored to your project. Most enquiries receive a response within 1-2 business hours.
Prefer to call? Reach us directly on 0498 131 997. Based in Mackay. Servicing all of Queensland.