In 2004 the decision was made to change the operation to excavate material from below the water using an excavator and a dry screening plant. Jason King Simon, who became the owner in 2005 and the 5th generation of the Simon family to own the quarry, purchased a CAT 330C Long Reach Excavator. Weighing in at 43 tonnes, it had an 18 metre reach and a 9 tonne counterbalance enabling it to work safely alongside the water's edge. This method of extraction is still employed today. The sand is excavated from below the water, stockpiled along the water's edge and allowed to dry for several days. As seen here, it is loaded onto an Articulated Dump Truck with a 25 tonne payload and transported to the sand processing plant area.