january 2012
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The Mining Advocate - January 2012TRANSCRIPT
Supporting mining and industry in Queensland and the NTSupporting mining and industry in Queensland and the NT Experience the Break you Deserve!
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Mining investment rating agency Mining investment rating agency down grades Queenslanddown grades Queensland
THIS EDITION
• ‘Grey market’ machinery warning
• Surat Basin rent capping proposal concern
• Skilled, older workers ready for resources workforce
• Curtis Island ambo boat launched
1The Mining Advocate | January 2012 NEWS
All material is copyright and cannot be reproduced in part or in full by any means without written permission of the managing editor. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher.
CONTACTS
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January 2012
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FEATURES
8 Coal and Gas UpdateNews in brief across the coal and gas industries.
10 Industry Update - Hard RockA comprehensive wrap of exploration and operations in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
12 Between Shifts
16 Regional Engineering Teams
17 Major Projects
18 Ivanhoe Australia Feature
20 Building Mining Communities
21 Health in Mining
22 Heavy Machinery Review
24 Drilling and Exploration
25 Materials Handling
26 Processing
27 Shutdowns
28 Building NW Queensland
30 Wet Season
31 Mining Families
32 Emergency Response and Rescue
COVER IMAGE: Robotic cathode strippers revolutionise processing at CST’s Lady Annie operation in north-west Queensland.
3 Older and overlookedSpecialist employment agencies say many mining companies are refusing to consider Australia’s mature-age jobseekers despite the skills shortage.
5 Down, but not out A poor result in a Fraser Institute investment ranking has drawn comment from the resource sector and government, highlighting Queensland’s strengths. An Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) head says the state’s exploration and mining industry is successfully addressing issues which contributed to the recent downgrade.
7 Mine rehab plea Th e head of an indigenous mining contractor says local Aboriginal communities want to fi x abandoned mine sites, aiding the environment and gaining valuable work experience.
17 Cruisy commute Five 35m, 400-passenger Enviro Cat ferries and another four 24m boats have been commissioned to carry Gladstone’s liquefi ed natural gas project workers on their regular commute to Curtis Island.
24 What’s the score? A new multi-sector industry group has released a scorecard providing detailed analysis of exploration performance across Queensland.
27 Keep them rolling New DunnEasy Idler assemblies set to go into production in North Queensland are being touted as a safe, effi cient means of avoiding conveyor shutdowns.
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2 January 2012 | The Mining AdvocateNEWS
THE AUSTRALIAN WORKERS' UNION:PUTTING MINERS SAFETY FIRST
ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR RIGHTS AND CONDITIONS AT WORK?
ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS?
ONLY THE AWU - QUEENSLAND STRONGEST UNION - IS COMMITTEDTO PROTECTING MINERS' JOBS AND ENTITLEMENTS DURING
THESE DIFFICULT FINANCIAL TIMES
NOT AN AWU MEMBER YET? THEN JOIN THE AWU TODAY TOFIND OUT HOW TO PROTECT YOUR ENTITLEMENTS
NORTH QUEENSLAND AWU MINING OFFICIALS:
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FOR FURTHER QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT AWU BRANCH OFFICETOLL FREE ON 1800671449 OR awu.org.au
BY STANDING TOGETHER AS A TEAM AWU MEMBERS CANENSURE THAT THEIR INTERESTS ARE PROTECTED
Authorised by Bill Ludwig, The Australian Workers' Union of Employees', Queensland.
Warning on ‘grey market’ gearBuyers opting for alternative machinery sources
risk running into compliance, parts and warranty
problems, a peak industry body has cautioned.
Australia’s heavy equipment distributors have warned about the potential pitfalls of purchasing “grey market” equipment. Th is involves “new”, “unused” or “low-hour” gear imported outside authorised original equipment manufacturers (OEM) distribution channels.
Construction and Mining Equipment Industry Group (CMEIG) chief executive offi cer John Reid said potential problems included non-compliance with Australian safety and environmental requirements, lack of warranty coverage, and limited parts availability when imported machines diff ered from the standard Australian machine specifi cation.
“Whether equipment buyers are purchasing direct from overseas over the internet or at auction in Australia, it’s important to be aware of potential issues before making their fi nal decision,” he said.
“OEM have a number of diff erent machine specifi cations, depending on which market a
particular machine is destined for.“As a rule, machines built for
the Australian market have the highest safety, environmental and machine monitoring and maintenance specifi cations such as rollover protection structure (ROPS) cabins, hose-burst protection, Tier 2 or Tier 3 low-emission engines and sophisticated on-board monitoring systems.
“However, those built for developing countries are often fi tted with older-generation engines, hydraulics and electronics systems, and, in the case of excavators – which are in the process of transitioning to international standard ROPS cabs – won’t have ROPS-compliant cabins.
“Th at means there is every chance than an ‘unused’ internationally sourced machine won’t have some key parts held by Australian distributors.
“In the event of a machine breakdown or component failure, the owners of such a machine may fi nd themselves waiting some weeks or even months for
replacement parts. Th is will be
through no fault of the local
distributor, who won’t have the
parts in stock, and will have to
order them in from overseas
factories.”
Mr Reid said that owners of
such machines hoping to work
on major projects may also
fi nd their machines would not
comply with head contractors’
and clients’ requirements.
“Without things like hose-
burst protection, ROPS cabs with OEM compliance plates, or the latest low-emission engines, ‘unused’ imported machine owners may fi nd limits on where they can work,” he said.
According to Mr Reid, even machines from New Zealand may not always comply with Australian requirements.
“Th ere have been recent examples of ‘as-new’ excavators coming across the Tasman, including with what are claimed to be ROPS cabs,” he said.
“Th is is something that buyers need to look at very carefully; New Zealand has had its own ROPS-type excavator cab for many years but this does not comply with International and Australian ISO (International Standards Organisation) standards.
“So, buyers who think they may be getting a low-cost ROPS-cab compliant excavator from New Zealand may be mistaken.”
Mr Reid pointed to a CMEIG checklist developed for end-users who are thinking of purchasing “unused”, “as-new” or “low-hour” machines, either from off shore or at local auctions.
Th e checklist outlines important questions potential
buyers should be asking before
they purchase or bid for a
particular machine.
Questions to ask include:
• Make, model number,
serial number and year of
manufacture,
• What is the claimed warranty
on the machine and is there
supporting documentation?
• What is local parts availability
for this particular machine?
(the serial number and year of
manufacture can be used to
request this information from
the local distributor),
• Will the local distributor
provide warranty coverage?
• What safety equipment is fi tted
to the machine?
• If it is an excavator, does it have
a ROPS cab and, if so, is there
an OEM compliance plate?
• What emissions standard is the
engine built to?
“By asking these and other
questions, would-be buyers will
get a much better idea of just
how much of a bargain that
seemingly low-priced machine
will be, including the levels of
service and parts availability they
can reasonably expect over its
working life,” Mr Reid said.
John ReidConstruction and Mining
Equipment Industry Group
chief executive offi cer
3The Mining Advocate | January 2012 NEWS
LOCAL EXPERTS.LOADS OF EQUIPMENT.
Th e refusal of many mining
companies to consider Australia’s
unemployed, skilled older workers
constitutes one of the country’s
worst forms of discrimination,
according to mature-age, online
employment organisations Adage
and Olderworkers.
Adage.com.au managing
director Heidi Holmes has 12,000
mature-age jobseekers on her
website, which includes mining
utilities as a category choice.
Th eir skills include engineering,
electrical engineering, project
management, energy analysis and
carbon consultancy.
“Any organisation looking
for experienced workers can no
longer aff ord to ignore the mature
market - particularly the mining
industry where skills shortages are
common,” Ms Holmes said.
“We’ve approached a
number of mining companies
about employing mature-age
workers and all insist they don’t
discriminate based on age.
“However, I believe, because of
a lot of myths and misconceptions
- many of which revolve around
workplace health and safety,
technological expertise, learning
skills and adaptability – mature-
age workers are not being
considered.”
www.olderworkers.com.au
director Shane Higgins said
that, despite the creation of the
2004 Age Discrimination Act,
Older jobseekers
out in the cold
adage.com.au
www.olderworkers.com.au
Bechtel opens its arms to adult apprenticesMore than 1700 skilled workers have expressed interest in Bechtel’s decisionto employ 400 adult apprentices to work on Gladstone-Curtis Island’s three liquefi ed natural gas projects, the company reports.
Bechtel – an engineering, project management and construction company – has operated in the Gladstone region for more than 30 years.
It will work closely with the Federal Government’s National Apprenticeships Program (NAP) in undertaking the adult apprenticeship scheme.
Bechtel’s Australian managing director Andy Greig said experienced workers would have their existing skills recognised and be given the opportunity to complete the competencies required without compromise.
Th e end result would be full trade qualifi cations in just 18 months instead of the traditional four years, he said.
“Th is innovative program is a win-win and we are pleased to be part of it,” Mr Greig said.
“It will help meet the demand for skilled labour and give adult workers
with uncompleted apprenticeships, or those working in allied industries without a trade qualifi cation, the chance to complete an apprenticeship in a reduced amount of time.”
Mr Greig acknowledged the work done by the Federal Government’s NAP team under the sponsorship of Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations Minister Senator Chris Evans.
“We have been working closely with other industries to support Premier Anna Bligh’s jobs push in Queensland and we
have been pleased to get involved with
this innovative Commonwealth-driven
scheme,” Mr Greig said.
“For us, the initiative is very closely
linked with Premier Bligh’s Jobs for the
Regions program and I am pleased to
say that recruits will be sourced from all
around Queensland as well as other parts
of Australia.”
Once recruited in a series of intakes,
the new apprentices would begin work
progressively over the year, a Bechtel
spokesperson said.
Specialist job agencies say the resources sector
is overlooking a valuable source of workers
despite the skills shortage, writes Jan Green.
“MMG recognises that
diversity is good for business
and strives to attract and employ
people from diff erent cultures,
genders and age groups,” MMG
spokeswoman Sally Cox said.
“Mature-age workers are
one group in the spectrum that
off er the skills, experience and
knowledge that we seek in our
potential employees.
“Like many other groups, we
look to promote our vacancies
to them through recruitment
websites such as Adage.”
Age Discrimination
Commissioner Susan Ryan said
older age had become a negative
in the Australian employment
sector and warned serious
problems were inevitable unless
practices changed.
Not changing could see the
creation of a class of older people
who were very often willing and
perfectly capable of working
being forced into becoming a
burden on the public purse at the
same time as the nation faced a
worsening skills shortage, she said.
even highly qualifi ed mature-age
workers continued to be ignored
by the resources industry.
“I’ve approached the mining
industry numerous times about
employing skilled mature-age
workers and the typical response
is they recruit through their own
systems,” he said.
“But in doing so, many look
at employing 457 visa people
and completely ignore a valuable
Australian resource. For this
reason, I believe a lot of education
needs to be done in the HR areas
of mining companies.”
Mr Higgins has 15,000
registered mature-age jobseekers
– including a raft of professional
people - on his website, which
includes a mining category.
MMG, which operates Century
mine in north-west Queensland,
is among the organisations
tapping into such resources.
4 January 2012 | The Mining AdvocateNEWS
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Housing aff ordability remains a pressing issue
in resource centres, as governments toss up a
range of potential solutions, writes Jan Green.
A Labor Party proposal to cap rents has raised concerns of a worsening in the availability of aff ordable homes in the Surat Basin region.
Surat Basin Corporation chief executive offi cer David Breese said the party’s draft platform, put to its recent national conference, proposed that Labor would monitor the rent costs in the private rental market and examine mechanisms to maintain aff ordability such as the introduction of rent capping legislation.
“We are already suff ering an aff ordability crisis in the Surat Basin region and capping rents would in all likelihood turn off property investors from bringing more homes to the market,” Mr Breese said.
With demand outstripping availability, he said rental prices had reached unaff ordable levels in the region, with increases in
the vicinity of 55 per cent in Chinchilla and 95 per cent in Roma since the 2006 census.
“A four-bedroom home in Chinchilla currently rents for upwards of $550 per week, compared with similar properties in Toowoomba – just a two-and-a-half-hour drive east - being a minimum of $200 per week cheaper,” Mr Breese said.
A spokesman for Federal Housing Minister Robert McClelland said the Labor Party platform recognised the need to ensure aff ordable housing for all Australians, adding that the government was aware that mining towns were experiencing signifi cant pressures as a result of the booming resources sector.
“Th e government is committed to working with stakeholders to increase the supply of aff ordable housing across Australia, including in mining regions and has implemented a number of
Rent cap proposal under fi re
programs – these include the
National Rent Aff ordability
Scheme and the Housing
Aff ordability Fund - that are
helping to address housing
aff ordability pressures,” he said.
Th e issue is also being
addressed by the Queensland
Government, with the
establishment of a Rent
Aff ordability Taskforce for Resource Communities.
Th is includes representatives from the Residential Tenancies Authority, the Urban Land Development Authority (ULDA) and relevant government departments.
Th e purpose of the taskforce is to assess the rental market in resource towns, develop strategies to provide more aff ordable rental and provide additional support and advocacy to renters, according to Housing Minister Karen Struthers.
Ms Struthers said changes to social housing eligibility would allow greater fl exibility in resource towns.
She acknowledged the rapid growth in the resources industry had made local housing supply and aff ordability a major issue.
“We are taking action to provide more support and we are addressing this concern,” Ms Struthers said.
However, following a letter on behalf of Local Government and Special Minister of State Paul Lucas, Mr Breese is not
satisfi ed action is being taken quickly or eff ectively enough.
Th e communication acknowledged that the delivery of homes in the Roma Urban Development Area was behind schedule due to issues arising during the development application process.
It went on to state that the ULDA anticipated construction of homes in stage 1 would start in March this year.
Th is will see the release of the fi rst 32 lots providing up to 46 dwellings. It is understood that each of eight stages of the development will deliver about 50 homes to the market.
“Additionally, two thirds of the homes to be built in the Roma Urban Development Area will be required to meet the aff ordability target set by ULDA,” the letter stated.
But Mr Breese was not confi dent they would be aff ord able, saying it would be interesting to see the price structure for the properties and if they fell within the government’s aff ordability defi nitions.
David BreeseSurat Basin Corporation
chief executive offi cer
5The Mining Advocate | January 2012 NEWS
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CENTRAL QUEENSLAND TRANSPORTTRADES AND MINING EXPO
State counters status slideA poor result in a Fraser Institute ranking has
drawn comment from the resource sector and
government, pushing Queensland’s strengths.
Th e Queensland exploration and mining sector is successfully addressing issues which contributed to a recent downgrade in the state’s investment status, according to an industry leader.
Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) president Alice Clark was commenting after Queensland’s invest ment status internationally was lowered from 8th to 38th in the Fraser Institute’s most recent metal, mining and exploration company report.
Ms Clark, who is also a Queensland Exploration Council (QEC) member and Queensland resource industry ambassador, said while the report focused attention on what needed to be done in some areas, she did not totally agree with the fi ndings.
She attributed the downgrade partially to remaining government inertia in dealing with overlapping and confl icting legislation issues.
Ms Clark said also that recent improvements would take a little more time to be refl ected in the results of surveys like the Fraser Institute’s.
Queensland Employment, Skills and Mining Minister Stirling Hinchliff e was adamant confi dence in the state’s resources sector was growing, not declining, with record investment in the industry over the past 12 months.
“In the Bowen Basin alone there are some 38 new projects targeted for development in the next six years. Th ese include 23 new coal mines, 12 coal seam
gas (CSG) projects and three mineral projects,” he said.
“With liquefi ed natural gas (LNG) - three fully fi nanced projects investing $45 billion in our economy mean Queensland will be the fi rst place in the world to convert CSG into LNG for export.
“Contrary to the Fraser Institute’s survey, these massive projects refl ect confi dence in, not concern about, Queensland’s investment status.”
Ms Clark identifi ed the QEC’s collaboration with government representatives to pull together key stakeholders from a broad spectrum of industry and policy development to address the observations of the Fraser Institute and other areas as a positive move to enhance Queensland’s investment status.
“Th is initiative coupled with the eff ects of the sustained
mining boom now sees
Queensland well down the path
of addressing many of these
issues and other imperatives
beyond the remit of that study,”
she said.
“Th at’s not to say that there is
no more room for improvement,
but rather that the right people
are focusing on the right things
for Queensland to emerge as a
key destination for exploration
and mining in the not-too-
distant future.”
Ms Clark said Queensland was
highly prospective for minerals
and energy.
“Having highly prospective
ground will always be a key
criterion for both exploration
and mining interests,” she said.
“Th is is supported by State
Government geoscientifi c
funding providing a pipeline of
pre-competitive geoscientifi c
data and, in addition, the
GSQ (Geological Survey of
Queensland) budget allocation is
considered high when compared
with other peer allocations.
“Th is is evident in the large
percentage of the state that has
undergone survey by gravity and
airborne magnetics since 2005.”
Ms Clark cited the number
of exploration and development
permits granted as a further
positive factor.
“Recently, we have seen strong
increases in the granting of
coal, petroleum and geothermal
permits,” she said.
“Th is is encouraging, especially when compared to the number of permits granted during 2004 and 2005.
“On the fl ip side, many companies looking to explore in Queensland are very aware of the potential restrictive impacts of the changes to land access arrangements, compensation arrangements with landowners and other regulatory, legislative and policy directions including wild rivers and strategic cropping land policies that have occurred of late.
“Government policy advisors need to remain focused on the impacts of changing policy, especially as things develop quickly in the global market.”
Ms Clark pointed out that exploration in particular was an expensive, high risk/reward-ratio business.
“Explorers will rightly argue that success comes but it involves long lead times and huge commitment on the part of companies,” she said.
“A level of uncertainty develops where there is continual change in legislation and this can have a devastating long-term eff ect on this industry.
“On the human side of things, Queensland is seen as a fantastic place to live. Great weather, world-class universities and a variety of environments to choose from – everyone wants to live here.
“Another positive to look forward to is that Brisbane will play host to the 34th International Geological Congress in August.
“Th is is a major opportunity for Queensland to showcase itself as an exploration and mining destination for an international audience.”
• State’s exploration scorecard - Page 24.
Key projects under way or
proposed for Queensland• $35B Australia Pacifi c LNG, up to 6000 jobs.
(Australia Pacifi c LNG - a joint venture between Origin
Energy, ConocoPhillips and Sinopec)
• $16B Gladstone LNG project, up to 6000 jobs.
(Backed by Santos, PETRONAS, Total and KOGAS)
• $15B Queensland Curtis LNG project, up to 6000 jobs.
(BG Group’s Queensland Gas Company)
• $7B Alpha open-cut coal mine, rail and port project
• $10.9B Carmichael coal mine and rail project
• $8.3B Galilee Coal (China First) project near Alpha
• $6.6B Kevin’s Corner coal project in the Galilee Basin
• The 250MW Solar Dawn solar thermal-gas hybrid power
plant near Chinchilla. The Commonwealth Government
will contribute $464M to the project and the Queensland
Government $75M.
Source: Offi ce of Queensland Employment, Skills and Mining Minister
Stirling Hinchliff e.
Alice ClarkAusIMM president
6 January 2012 | The Mining AdvocateNEWS
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Anglo American showed its support for regional communities when Brisbane Broncos prop Ben Hannant and former international Mick Hancock recently ran skills clinics in Biloela and Moura for more than 250 school students.
Th e clinics - part of the Anglo American Broncos 2011/2012 Regional Tour Program – constituted the third visit by members of the NRL team to Anglo American communities in four weeks, with players also spending time in Moranbah and Middlemount.
Th e Banana Shire tour kicked off with a trip to Biloela State High School followed by a skills clinic attended by more than 120 students from Biloela Primary, Redeemer Lutheran Primary, Th angool, Goovigen and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary schools.
Dawson mine general manager
Brett Th ompson said Anglo American was thrilled to bring the key Broncos players to town to meet the locals and pass on some skills.
“We are proud to support our local schools’ health and physical education curriculum by bringing the Broncos to town to meet the local kids,” he said.
Th e players also visited Dawson mine, stopping at Moura High School as special guests for the year 12 graduating ceremony.
A clinic was then held at Moura State Primary school for more than 100 students from Moura and Th eodore.
“It was great to see the look on the kids’ faces when meeting some of their football heroes,” Mr Th ompson said.
“It was a nice way to follow up after our visit to the schools last year with Jamie Whincup and his V8 Supercar.
NRL stars have been saddling up to share
their knowledge with central Queensland
youngsters under a regional tour program.
Broncos charge into coal towns
“Th e sponsorship of the
Broncos ticks all the boxes for
us as we promote active, healthy
lifestyles for our local students
while promoting employment
and training opportunities with
Anglo American. We have a
bright future in Queensland and
by partnering with a well-known
and respected Queensland team
we can really bring that future
into the limelight.”
Bronco stars Dale Copley and Corey Norman, with Broncos development offi cer Michael De Vere, share football skills
with Middlemount’s junior rugby league players.
7The Mining Advocate | January 2012 NEWS
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REMEMBERING the past • Supporting the future
‘Let us fi x them’Indigenous call on abandoned mines
Rehabilitation works have been suggested
as a way of providing skills opportunities for
local communities, writes Jan Green.
Abandoned mine sites not only pose a fl ood management risk, they are an environmental issue Aboriginal communities wantto fi x, according to the headof an indigenous mining contractor. RBY Projects managing director Derek Flucker - who is also the manager of Gulf-based mining contractor Northern Project Contracting - said RBY had approached the State Government more than twoyears ago to set up programs for local Aboriginal people to rehabilitate abandoned mine sites.
“Th ere are thousands of abandoned mine sites around Queensland and we saw it as a great opportunity for Aboriginal people to receive relevant training which could be used to address the skills shortage in the mining industry,” Mr Flucker said.
“To use abandoned sites in this way would enable local indigenous people to be looking after their land, which is what
they want to do, while receiving good skills which they can then transfer to the mining industry.
“We undertook research to fi nd out about abandoned mines and they provide a great opportunity for local people to remain in their communities while receiving meaningful training and wages.
“Indigenous people are concerned about the environ-mental impact these aban doned sites have on their land and are keen to see that the land is returned to its original state.”
Mr Flucker said the Queensland Government received bonds from mining companies to ensure sites that were eventually abandoned – either through neglect or because the mining company went bankrupt – could be properly rehabilitated.
“But we have been told the government didn’t have enough bond money to rehabilitate the abandoned
mine sites that exist,” he said.
“Th e government is throwing
signifi cant resources into the
skills shortage for the mining
industry and this is a clear
solution because it addresses
the shortage, addresses
environmental concerns and
achieves employment for local
indigenous communities.”
MMG backs Dugald River
Work is under way on South Boxcut, a continuation of the Dugald River
project north-east of Mount Isa.
MMG is investing a further $157 million in the development of its Dugald River project, described as one of the world’s largest undeveloped zinc deposits. Th e company said the planned mine, 85km north-east of Mount Isa, would produce about 200,000 tonnes of zinc in zinc concentrate annually over a mine life of more than 22 years. Th e next stage of project development will include detailed engineering, metallurgical testwork, long-lead time major equipment procurement, continuation of early site works and underground decline development.
MMG will also advance the development of key local infrastructure such as the load-out facility, power and accommodation.
Th e investment follows the recent State Government approval of the environmental impact
statement for the underground zinc mine.MMG chief executive offi cer Andrew
Michelmore said production could begin at Dugald River in early 2014.
“Dugald River is one of the largest undeveloped zinc deposits globally and a key feature of MMG’s future project pipeline,” he said.
“While we are committed to exhaustively exploring all options to extend mine life at our nearby Century mine, all mines are fi nite resources and the company is progressing a number of growth projects internationally to replace Century in zinc equivalent production.
“Th e Dugald River project is an important part of this strategy.
“Following the completion of this phase of works, the board will consider fi nal approval of project development and construction.”
8 January 2012 | The Mining AdvocateINDUSTRY UPDATE COAL AND GAS
Transport hub proposal
Th e Queensland Government is
contributing $17,000 towards a pre-
feasibility study into the establishment
of a national warehousing and
freight distribution centre in central
Queensland. Depending on size, the
project would involve an investment of
$200-$500 million and could create up
to 200 permanent jobs
in the region.
Th e intermodal
logistics hub could
handle a wide variety of
non-bulk cargo such as
mining equipment and
agricultural products
and could include a
fresh food market and
accommodation for
truck drivers.
Th e CQ Intermodal
Logistics Group has
engaged the AEC
Group to conduct the
$50,000 study. Xstrata Coal, Gladstone
Ports Corporation and the Rockhampton
Regional Council have contributed funds.
Redpath coal drive
Mining contractor Redpath has
launched a dedicated Australian
coal division after gaining a major
coal drivage operation in central
Queensland.
Th e company said the project was won
on the back of Redpath’s innovative
work on the Kestrel Mine Extension
(KME) project near Emerald.
Redpath Australia chief executive
offi cer Rob Nichols said one example
of Redpath’s innovative approach to coal
mining was the sliding fl oor technology
it had developed at that project.
Th e new contract requires 12.5km of
coal drivage mining to be completed
over two years, with 77 personnel
operating the site.
Meandu contract extended
Th iess has been awarded a $185 million
one-year extension to its contract to
operate the Meandu coal mine, taking
it to December 2012. Meandu supplies
up to 5.5 million tonnes of coal per
year to Stanwell Corporation’s Tarong
and Tarong North power stations in
Queensland’s South Burnett region.
Bundi bulks up
MetroCoal has announced a substantial
resource increase for its Bundi project,
in the Wandoan area of the Surat Basin.
Th e increase in the inferred resource
category of 900 million tonnes takes the
Bundi project coal resource estimate to
1561.8 million tonnes.
Dawson job expanded
Leighton Contractors has been awarded
a $120 million, one-year contract
extension for the provision of mining
services at Anglo American’s Dawson
Mine, outside Moura.
Th e contract has also been expanded to
include an additional excavator fl eet to
increase production capacity and scale
up project management services.
Leighton Mining has held the contract
at Dawson Mine since 2010 and
employs about 150 people at the site.
Macarthur takeover complete
Peabody Energy recently announced
that it had completed the acquisition
of all outstanding shares in Macarthur
Coal, taking 100 per cent ownership of
the Australian coal company.
“Th e Macarthur purchase advances
Peabody’s strategy of expanding
our global platform to serve major
global demand centres and raising
our contribution from higher-margin
international assets,” said Peabody
chairman and chief executive offi cer
Gregory H. Boyce.
“Our focus now is on driving
integration and operations improvement
and completing expansion projects.”
Macarthur has a number of mine
development and infrastructure projects
under way in addition to its existing
Coppabella and Moorvale coal mines in
central Queensland.
Middlemount hooks up
Th e new rail spur directly linking the
Middlemount Coal Project to the
Goonyella rail network, enabling exports
through the Dalrymple Bay Coal
Terminal, has been offi cially opened.
Built by John Holland, the project
included development of a 16.5km
electrifi ed rail spur that will enable up
to 5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of
coal to be transported for export.
Rio Tinto rail deals
QR National has signed a 10-year
contract with Rio Tinto Coal Australia
to haul 3mtpa from the Blair Athol-
Clermont operations to the Abbot Point
Coal Terminal from this year.
Th e performance-based contract is the
second secured by QR National for coal
haulage via the new Goonyella to Abbot
Point (GAP) infrastructure, following
an announcement last year of a 10-
year contract with Jellinbah Resources
to haul up to 6mtpa from the Lake
Vermont mine.
Th e GAP project, which connects the
Goonyella and Newlands coal systems,
was offi cially opened by Acting Premier
Andrew Fraser and QR National
chairman John Prescott in December.
Meanwhile Asciano’s Pacifi c National
coal haulage business has entered a
10-year contract to transport 8mtpa of
coal from Rio Tinto Coal Australia’s
Hail Creek Mine and 0.5mtpa from its
Kestrel operation.
Th e contract, from November 2013,
involves haulage to the Dalrymple Bay
Coal Terminal via the electric Goonyella
rail system.
Super port plans
Th e State Government has announced
plans for a super-expansion of the Port
of Abbot Point near Bowen.
Th e government had expected to give
the green light for an expansion to
seven terminals, but Premier Anna
Bligh said a spike in interest from
some of the country’s biggest mining
companies would push the total number
of proposed terminals to nine. Th ese
developments could be worth $9 billion
in investment, she said.
“It will increase the export capacity
of the port to almost 400 million
tonnes per annum - making it one of
the largest coal export facilities in the
world,” Ms Bligh said.
Th e Port of Abbot Point has one
export terminal (T1), and two under
development (T2-
3). Th is expansion
proposal involves
terminals four to nine
(T4-9), with fi rst coal
to be exported in 2017.
Th e preferred
respondents for
the expansion are
Anglo American
Metallurgical Coal,
Macmines Austasia,
North Queensland
Coal Terminal (a
consortium including
Peabody Energy and
New Hope Corporation), Rio Tinto,
Vale and Waratah Coal.
Signifi cant status
Th e proposed Fitzroy Terminal
development 50km south-east of
Rockhampton has been declared a
signifi cant project by Co-ordinator-
General Keith Davies. Th e project is a
$1.2 billion proposal to construct a coal
export facility adjacent to Port Alma with
export capacity of 22mtpa.
PCI source at Rockwood
Endocoal says a major coal deposit
recently discovered at Rockwood would
be suitable for use in PCI applications.
Th e company previously announced
a 505 per cent resource increase to
312.5 million tonnes at the site, north-
east of Dysart in central Queensland.
“Endocoal can now commence
conceptual mine planning at Rockwood
with great confi dence. We have a
great resource with signifi cant further
potential to create value for our
shareholders,” chief executive offi cer
Tim Hedley said
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9The Mining Advocate | January 2012 INDUSTRY UPDATE COAL AND GAS
Arrow closes in on target
Arrow Energy’s proposed multibillion-
dollar CSG-LNG project has taken a
major step forward with the lodging
of three draft environmental impact
statements with the Queensland
Government.
Th e statements apply to an LNG plant
planned for Curtis Island off Gladstone,
the upstream development of the Surat
gas project near Dalby and the 600km
Arrow Bowen Pipeline to transport
CSG from Arrow’s Bowen Basin gas
fi elds to Curtis Island.
Th e company also recently awarded
engineering consultancy Arup the
tender for the concept design of a
6km tunnel to transport CSG from
Gladstone to the planned Arrow LNG
Plant on Curtis Island.
Excavated about 35m beneath the
Gladstone Harbour seabed, the
proposed tunnel to Curtis Island will
be one of the longest off shore tunnels
in Queensland and is expected to take
about three and a half years to build and
fi t out.
John Holland in $100m deal
John Holland has won a marine
subcontract worth more than
$100 million as part of the development
of Australia Pacifi c LNG’s proposed
Curtis Island LNG facility.
Under the subcontract, to be delivered
for Bechtel Australia, John Holland
will design and construct a new product
loading facility comprising a 168m jetty
and loading platform. Construction of
the new marine facility will commence
in May 2012 with completion expected
in 2014.
Second train plan fi rms
Australia Pacifi c LNG and China
Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec)
have signed a heads of agreement
establishing non-binding key commercial
terms for the sale and purchase of an
additional 3.3 million tonnes per annum
of LNG through to 2035.
Th is would fi nalise the marketing of gas
from the Gladstone project’s second
train. Th e deal will also see Sinopec
subscribe for additional shares in
Australia Pacifi c LNG, taking its equity
interest from 15 per cent to 25 per cent.
ConocoPhillips’ and Origin Energy’s
respective ownership interests will reduce
to 37.5 per cent.
Origin Energy chairman Kevin McCann
said Australia Pacifi c LNG was well
placed to make a fi nal investment decision
on the second train in early 2012.
Th e Sinopec signing followed Australia
Pacifi c LNG inking a binding heads of
agreement with Kansai Electric for the
sale and purchase of about 1 million
tonnes of LNG per year for 20 years.
Transfi eld wins $19.5m job
QGC, developer of the Queensland
Curtis LNG Project, has awarded a
$19.5 million contract to Australian fi rm
Transfi eld Services for gas fi eld work in
the Surat Basin.
Th e fi ve-year contract, which is expected
to generate $10 million of work in the
fi rst year, includes capital works and
plant maintenance as well as other
services directly related to the project
such as fabrication and mechanical,
electrical and instrumentation work.
Transfi eld Services has indicated it
intends to use several local contractors
under the contract and will permanently
relocate personnel to the Chinchilla
area to enhance capacity in the region to
support the industry.
Building local business
QGC has announced plans to expand
a pilot program to build the capability
of local business with a $1 million
contribution to its Momentum Business
Program.
Th e pilot program, delivered by
QMI Solutions in partnership with
Enterprise Connect and the Queensland
Department of Employment, Economic
Development and Innovation, began
in June 2011 with QGC providing
$230,000 to help local businesses
implement best practices to strengthen
their capabilities in people, processes and
capacity.
Th e program is designed to help local
and indigenous businesses working in
non-LNG and LNG-related industries.
Community contribution
Gladstone’s major LNG players will
contribute to a trust fund set up to boost
social infrastructure across the region.
Th ree proponents - Australia Pacifi c
LNG, QGC and GLNG - will
collectively contribute $13.5 million;
while Arrow Energy has committed to
provide funding should its project receive
fi nal investment decision approval.
“Th rough the Gladstone Foundation,
the benefi ts of the CSG-LNG industry
will fl ow into the community and make
an ongoing signifi cant diff erence to the
development of social infrastructure
in and around Gladstone,” Australia
Pacifi c LNG chief executive offi cer Page
Maxson said.
Ichthys ties up sales
Proponents of the Ichthys LNG project
in the Northern Territory have fi nalised
sales of the total volume to be produced.
Agreements were reached recently with
CPC Corporation, Chubu Electric
and Toho Gas for the supply of
2.52mtpa of LNG.
Th is comes after a consortium of fi ve
major Japanese utility companies in
December agreed to purchase 4mtpa
of LNG from 2017 from the proposed
$20 billion Ichthys LNG project.
Proponents INPEX and TOTAL signed
a legally binding sales and purchase
agreement with Tokyo Electric Power
Company, Tokyo Gas Co, Kansai
Electric Power Co, Osaka Gas and
Kyushu Electric Power Company.
Th e NT Government recently granted
development approval for the Ichthys
project to construct an accommodation
village at Howard Springs.
It is proposed to house up to 2700
people, plus an extra 800 if required.
10 January 2012 | The Mining AdvocateINDUSTRY UPDATE HARD ROCK
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Construction begins
Th e Queensland Government has
granted the mining lease for Evolution
Mining’s Mt Carlton gold-silver-copper
project in North Queensland, allowing
construction to begin.
Evolution said detailed engineering
and procurement for Mt Carlton was
nearing completion, with all major
equipment ordered
or fabrication
commenced.
Larpro Projects
has been awarded
the construction
management role
at Mt Carlton and
has commenced
resourcing the
project.
Study steps up
Mungana Goldmines has completed
the fi rst stage of its bankable feasibility
study for the Mungana gold project,
in the Chillagoe region of North
Queensland.
Th e company described progress on the
study as a milestone in its strategy to
position Mungana as a mid-tier gold
producer over the next three years.
Stage two is scheduled for completion
in the September quarter of 2012, with
GR Engineering undertaking detailed
design work for the development of a
plant to treat 4mtpa.
Th e proposed gold project will
encompass mining of open pits at the
Red Dome and Mungana deposits, with
subsequent underground mining at
both sites.
Mining leases approved
Th e Queensland Government has
approved the mining leases which
encompass CuDeco’s Rocklands group
copper project in the Cloncurry district.
Th e company recently entered into a
share placement agreement with M&G
Investments to raise $32 million.
Th e deal is subject to shareholder
approval.
CuDeco said the funds would be used
for the construction and fabrication of
the Rocklands project.
New chief at Century
Australia’s largest zinc mine is kicking
off 2012 with a new general manager.
Former Barminco chief operating offi cer
Mark Adams, who joined MMG in
November 2011, offi cially took the
reins at Century mine in north-west
Queensland last
week following
the departure of
Karl Spaleck.
In addition to
managing Century,
Mr Adams will
provide operations
leadership for
MMG’s Dugald
River project, about
85km north-east of
Mount Isa.
Metallica cashed up for 2012
Metallica Minerals has added more than
$12 million to its cash reserve strength
for the start of 2012 with the sale of
9 million ordinary shares in ASX-listed
coal group MetroCoal.
Th e company recently began a detailed
drilling program across high-grade
scandium mineralisation within its
Lucknow deposit at the southern end
of its fl agship NORNICO tri-metal
project north-west of Townsville in
Queensland.
Exco executive move
Geoff Laing has been appointed as
managing director of Exco Resources.
Mr Laing has held the position of
acting chief executive offi cer since the
resignation of the previous managing
director, Michael Anderson, in August.
“Th is appointment sets a new phase for
the company following the successful
sale of the Cloncurry copper project to
Xstrata in June 2011,” an Exco Board
release stated.
Exco retains a substantial exploration
package in north-west Queensland as
well as the White Dam gold project in
South Australia.
Resource looking rosy
Altona Mining has announced a further
resource upgrade for its Roseby project
in north-west Queensland, taking
the estimate to 210 million tonnes at
0.6 per cent copper and 0.06g/t gold
for 1.2 million tonnes of copper and
395,000 ounces of gold.
Th e revised estimate for the Little
Eva resource within the project is
108 million tonnes at 0.52 per cent
copper and 0.09g/t gold.
Th e company also recently announced
good drilling results from the Ivy Ann
copper-gold deposit, 30km south-east
of the Roseby project area. It said the
signifi cance of the Ivy Ann deposit
was its potential to provide high-grade
supplementary feed to the proposed
new mine and mill at Little Eva.
ABB wins hoist job
Power and automation technology
group ABB has won a $24 million
contract to supply an ore hoisting
system for Xstrata Zinc’s George Fisher
Mine near Mount Isa.
ABB said the ground-mounted friction
hoist would carry ore from a depth of
1135m and help increase the mine’s
annual production 30 per cent by 2013.
Xstrata Copper’s Ernest Henry Mining has passed a major milestone in its
$589 million extension project, with the start of underground production.
Th e shift from open-pit mining is a key part of the project to extend the
north-west Queensland site’s operations to at least 2024.
During the fi rst phase of underground operations, ore will be trucked via a
decline at about 3 million tonnes per annum producing about 25,000 tonnes of
copper and 35,000 ounces of gold in concentrate.
Following the commissioning of the underground shaft in 2013, production
will ramp up to 6 million tonnes per annum producing 50,000 tonnes of copper
and 70,000 ounces of gold in concentrate.
EHM general manager Myles Johnston said the site’s new underground
mine and magnetite processing plant would create and sustain jobs and provide
ongoing economic benefi ts for the region and for the state of Queensland.
An underground haul truck carts ore out of the portal at Ernest Henry Mining, outside
Cloncurry in north-west Queensland.
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Th e company signed a memorandum
of understanding with Xstrata Zinc to
allow the feasibility study to go ahead.
Western Desert Resources said access
to the facility would accelerate the
development timeframe for the Roper
Bar project, with iron ore exports
expected to commence from late 2012 to
early 2013.
Hair we go again
Workers in Queensland’s resources sector
are being challenged to grow their hair,
beards or moustaches before losing the
lot to raise funds for the Leukaemia
Foundation.
Launching the 2012 World’s Greatest Shave Mining and Energy Challenge, Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland acting chief executive offi cer Keiran Mylrea said he was confi dent the industry would throw its weight behind the cause.
“A total of 51 mining and energy sites donated their time, money and hair to raise an amazing $400,000 in 2011 and the challenge is now on to better this fundraising total in 2012,” he said.
Th e 2012 Mine Challenge Ambassador, Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche, has committed to shaving his beard and moustache off for the cause — going clean-shaven for the fi rst time in 30 years.
Excellent electrics
MineLec’s work on the CopperChem
plant in north-west Queensland has
attracted honours at the Queensland
annual excellence awards held by Master
Electricians Australia and the Electrical
Contractors Association (ECA).
Th e Townsville-based electrical
contractor received the Industrial Project
of the Year award
for its electrical
installation work
for a new copper
concentrator plant
at CopperChem,
where it also made
modifi cations and
upgrades to the
site’s copper crystal
plant. MineLec
employee John
Birt was named
runner-up in the
Apprentice of the Year category.
Changing of the guard
Zoe Dark is the Mount Isa Chamber
of Commerce’s new manager, replacing
Patricia O’Callaghan in the role.
She left a corporate communications
role with Xstrata to take up the job.
Chamber vice-president Ken Draff en
said Ms Dark had been involved in
facilitating the strategic direction of
the chamber over the past few years as
a consultant and was a key driver in the
growth of the Xstrata Lake Moondarra
Fishing Classic in 2010.
One of the chamber’s key events is the
annual Xstrata Mount Isa Mining Expo,
to be held on May 16 to 18 this year.
Ms Dark said the chamber planned
to build on the success of the Mining
the North West Minerals Province
conference, with a full-day conference
being off ered on Monday, May 14.
Masterplan on track
An initiative to produce an integrated,
regional supply
chain masterplan
for North and
north-west
Queensland is
making good
progress, with
a full reference
group expected to
consider an interim
report early this
year.
Th e Mount Isa
to Townsville Economic Development
Zone (MITEZ) established the
Northern and North West Queensland
Supply Chain Working Group in 2011
to focus on the region’s long-term
economic infrastructure needs and to
shape a more reliable and transparent
planning and investment environment
for these requirements.
“Th e 50 Year Plan is the fi rst such
endeavour by any region in Australia
to develop a demand-driven freight
infrastructure blueprint,” MITEZ
executive offi cer Glen Graham said.
Positive results for TNG
Australian resources company TNG has
reported positive interim results from
the prefeasibility study on its Mt Peake
iron-vanadium project in the Northern
Territory. Th e company said it planned to
begin a defi nitive feasibility study in the
fi rst quarter of 2012.
New shipment proposal
Western Desert Resources is
investigating the potential use of the
McArthur River Mine loading facility
on the Gulf of Carpentaria to ship iron
ore from its Roper Bar project in the
Northern Territory.
Queensland Alumina Limited’s (QAL) Gladstone refi nery boilerhouse is equipped with additional steam supply in the form of a new 143-tonne package boiler which will be commissioned in March 2012.
Th e production of steam is an integral part of the alumina refi ning process and the package boiler will produce 100 tonnes of steam per hour at a pressure of 5000 kilopascals.
QAL managing director Phil Campbell said the boiler would bring environmental benefi ts along with increased operational stability for QAL’s existing seven coal-fi red boilers and two package boilers.
“When the package boilers are in use our greenhouse gas emissions are greatly reduced as less carbon dioxide is produced per tonne of steam compared to the coal-fi red boilers,” he said.
“Th is latest addition, the third, will further bolster our steam supplies on site while taking advantage of utilising gas.”
Package boiler project leader Paulo Ferreira inspects QAL’s third package boiler.
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13The Mining Advocate | January 2012 BETWEEN SHIFTS
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16 January 2012 | The Mining AdvocateRegional Engineering Teams
Leading a new wave of expertiseA former academic guiding the next generation
of geoscientists has earned kudos among his
professional peers, writes Jan Green.Rockfi eld Technologies senior
geoscientist Dr John McLellan
was recognised as the 2011
Resources Professional of the
Year at the recent Townsville
region Engineering and
Resources Excellence Awards.
Th e economic geologist was
acknowledged for providing
invaluable mentoring to the
next generation; successfully
transitioning from an academic
career; and for his valued
contribution to business,
education and research in the resources sector.
His skill as a subject matter expert who actively promotes sharing and further knowledge development within the industry and his dedication as a technically focused individual willing to share his knowledge were also acknowledged as major factors in the award.
Other winners in the excellence
awards included: Mark Daniell from BHP Billiton Cannington - Professional Engineer of the Year, Brian Wright from AECOM - Hall of Honour, Clint Spencer from GHD - Young Engineer of the Year, and Jill Parsons from Project Services - Woman in Engineering 2011.
Rockfi eld Technologies Australia won the Resources Project of the Year award and a wastewater upgrade project involving AECOM, the Townsville City Council, Baulderstone and Hunter Water Australia was named Project of the Year in the engineering category.
Dr McLellan said his role at Rockfi eld Technologies saw him using computer-based numerical modelling codes to simulate the deformation and associated fl uid fl ow that occured in ancient rocks during the transport of metals to form mineral deposits.
“Th ese advanced methods provide a new way for mineral explorers to try to understand how mineral deposits are formed, in and near structurally complex zones, thus potentially reducing the cost of exploration,” he said.
“Th is work is also being applied to the expansion of known resources by predicting which sets of conditions were originally
favourable for mineral deposition
in deposits that have been only
partly mined out.
“Th is technology allows
mining companies to better
predict structurally controlled
mineralisation and can greatly
assist in mineral targeting, from
regional greenfi elds through to
local mine scale. Th is is the only
commercial application of these
techniques in North Queensland
for the minerals sector and one
of very few in the resource sector
nationally.”
North Queensland-based
applications of his work have
had an impact on exploration
methods and improved mineral
targeting around Mount Isa, the
Charters Towers region and close
to Townsville.
Since joining Rockfi eld
Technologies, Dr McLellan has
worked towards building the
business’s geoscience division.
He is contributing to teaching
and learning in this area as well
as to the JCU’s minerals masters
program in geology.
He has also been an active
committee member of the North
Queensland Branch of AusIMM
and is a member of the Australian
Institute of Geoscientists.
Rockfi eld Technologies Australia, a Townsville-based professional engineering company, provides a broad range of specialist consulting services to the public and private sectors.
Chief executive offi cer Tim Reynolds said the business had grown steadily over 11 years from a mechanical engineering base into a multi-disciplinary company which included a talented group of specialist engineers and geoscientists, generally recruited at a local level.
“Th e management of Rockfi eld has off ered opportunities to unique and talented professional staff and graduates to join the company and work with a collegial team environment that is dynamic, challenging and provides a very rewarding career,” Mr Reynolds said.
In keeping with the where-possible, local employment approach, two of Rockfi eld’s key staff - Dr Govinda Pandey and Dr John McLellan (see story above) have James Cook University links.
Dr Pandey is Rockfi eld’s senior structural engineer, with
key areas of expertise including structural health monitoring, forensic investigation, seismic design, structural remediation and retrofi tting.
Th ese skills have been acquired over years of experience in Japan, where he was involved in cutting-edge research programs, as well as in Th ailand and Australia.
Dr McLellan is Rockfi eld’s senior geoscientist, with years
of experience working in varied worldwide terrains and geological systems including in New Zealand, Africa and Australia.
Rockfi eld’s services include certifi ed design and design audits, predictive engineering, root cause analysis, fatigue life analysis, engineering instrumentation and drafting as well as geotechnical and predictive mineral exploration modelling and consulting.
Rock-solid local foundations
Geoscientist Dr John McLellan - winner of the Townsville region’s 2011
Resources Professional of the Year Award.
Engineers Australia’s declaration of 2012 as the Year of the Regional Engineering Team highlights regional Australia as the heart of engineering.
Th e four key strategic areas to be addressed during the year are:
• To improve access to continuing professional development for regionally based members;
• To increase awareness of engineering opportunities in regional areas;
• To promote equity for all members of Engineers Australia; and
• To generate an under-standing of the value of the regional engineering team.
Th e Year of the Regional Engineering Team will be launched in Darwin on February 13.
Recognition for nation’s regional professionals
17The Mining Advocate | January 2012 MAJOR PROJECTS
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Th e Anglo American board has given the green light for the $US1.7 billion Grosvenor metallurgical coal project near Moranbah in central Queensland.
Th e announcement came hot on the heels of BHP Billiton’s approval of the development of the Caval Ridge mine and Peak Downs mine expansion with fi rst coal expected in 2014.
Th e greenfi eld Grosvenor project is situated immediately south of Anglo American’s Moranbah North metallurgical coal mine and is expected to produce 5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of metallurgical coal from its underground longwall operation over a projected life of 26 years.
The Grosvenor project is
100 per cent owned by Anglo American and forms a major part of the group’s strategy of tripling production of metallurgical coal from its Australian assets by 2020.
“We are excited to be developing the fi rst growth phase of our planned Moranbah hub, which will drive our target of 12 per cent compound annual production growth by 2020,” Anglo American’s metallurgical coal business chief executive offi cer Seamus French said.
In its fi rst phase of development, Grosvenor will consist of a single new underground longwall mine and will process its coal through the existing Moranbah North coal handling and preparation plant and train loading facilities.
Two mining heavyweights recently committed
to major Bowen Basin growth projects
expected to deliver fi rst coal within two years.
All systems go at Moranbah
A prefeasibility study is underway for a second longwall.
First development coal from Grosvenor is expected in 2013 and the commissioning of the initial longwall in 2016.
Anglo American said the key mining lease was expected to be granted early this year.
BHP Billiton said its joint venture project with Mitsubishi Development, also located outside Moranbah, would add 8mtpa capacity in export metallurgical coal, including 5.5mtpa from the new open-cut Caval Ridge mine. A rapid expansion to 10mtpa is planned.
Th e initial project is expected to cost $US4.2 billion, of which BHP Billiton’s share is $US2.1 billion.
Th is will include construction of a new coal handling and preparation plant at Caval Ridge to process product from that mine and the Peak Downs expansion to the south.
News of the approval for this investment followed BHP Billiton’s commitments in March 2011 to the new Daunia mine, the life extension of the Broadmeadow mine and the 11mtpa expansion of the Hay Point Coal Terminal near Mackay.
“Th is is a continuation of BHP Billiton’s strategy of investing in large, low-cost, expandable mines with long lives,” the company’s metallurgical coal president, Hubie van Dalsen, said.
“Additional expansion projects are being advanced to follow this investment in due course.”
Five 35m, 400-passenger Enviro
Cat ferries and another four
24m boats, each capable of
carrying 200 commuters, have
been commissioned for use on
Gladstone’s liquefi ed natural gas
(LNG) developments.
Th e vessels will transport some
6000 of the 12,000 workers to be
employed on the projects between
Th e hulls have no external protrusions. Th eir rounded profi les create a minimal impact zone and very shallow drafts have no keel, external intake objects or propeller protrusions.
“Th e boats have amazing manoeuvrability in all conditions and, with the combin ation of hull shape and jet propulsion, we have dramatically reduced the vessels’ draft (about 1.3m) - a critical factor in what is predominantly a fairly shallow operating environ ment,” Mr Whitewood said.
Th e smaller catamarans, the ambulance boat and two of the 35m boats are already in operation. Th e third 35m vessel is expected to be commissioned
in February, the fourth in April and the fi fth in June.
Mr Whitewood said he took pride in the fact the vessels had been and would continue to be produced by permanent, full-time workers and not contracted out.
“Also, there’s not a lot of entrenched Australian manufacturing in relation to the resources industry – most of the machinery, tanks and pipelines etc are produced overseas – so, as the largest builder of fast ferries on the east coast (if not the southern hemisphere), we are also proud of substantially contributing to the Australian economy,” he said.
• High-speed harbour response - Page 32.
Gladstone and Curtis Island.Aluminum Boats Australia’s
larger catamarans are worth in excess of $42 million in total, while the estimated value of the smaller craft – plus a state-of-the-art ambulance boat also produced by the company - is between $8 and $12 million.
“In conjunction with One2Th ree Naval Architects, we have created a ground-breaking, environmentally friendly transport system which boasts lower fuel use per passenger than a small four-cylinder car,” company director Roy Whitewood said.
Mr Whitewood described the boats as setting an important environmental benchmark.
Big cats the cream of commuter transport
Outlook from the Moranbah North coal handling and preparation plant, which
will process coal from the new Grosvenor longwall operation.
Enviro Cat ferries will transport workers to Curtis Island LNG construction sites.
Ivanhoe Australia Ltd is an Australian based company, with principal activities focussed in North-West Queensland. Situated near Mount Isa at our Cloncurry and Osborne operations, we are concentrating on the exploration and development of our portfolio of Copper-Gold-Molybdenum-Rhenium projects in this region.
In 2010 Ivanhoe Australia acquired the Osborne mine site, which will be utilised to further develop the Merlin Mine. We are now developing several large projects in this region, and 2011 is a year of rapid growth, with the expansion of our current infrastructure and installation of new facilities, as well as the continuous improvements and upgrades to the Osborne mine site.
Due to the recent growth and expansion of our company, we currently have a number of vacancies for experienced people:
Project Geologists We are seeking Project Geologists to work from our exploration site south of Cloncurry. You will report to a Senior Geologist based at the project. We have a large, multi-national exploration team within which mentoring and cross-pollination of ideas is actively promoted. There is also scope for future work and interaction with other subsidiaries of the parent company Ivanhoe Mines (Asia and Africa).
Required skills and experience:
• Over 3 years exploration in IOCG, porphyry, epithermal, VMS and/or Sedex systems.
• A BSc Geology degree; a higher quali cation (Honours, Masters and PhD) is an advantage.
• The ability to plan and run exploration programs (mapping, geochemical and drilling) at the prospect level.
• Strong eld geology skills (mapping and interpretation).
• Drill-hole planning and logging; as well as supervision of drill site activities (sampling etc) and eld crews.
Mine Geologist, Mining Engineers, Geotechnical EngineersWe are seeking Mine Geologist, Mining and Geotechnical Engineers to work at our Osborne and Merlin Mines.
Required skills and experience:• Experience working in a underground mining operation. • Applicable degree, quali cations and licences• Base metal experience is desirable.• Demonstrate safe work practices; Ivanhoe Australia has a strong work safety culture.• Display good leadership traits and be a conscientious team player.• Current open unrestricted Queensland driver’s licence
Further information on the above roles, and other current vacancies, including skills and experience required, and employment conditions can be found on our website www.ivanhoeaustralia.com
Ivanhoe Australia Limited (Corporate Of ce)Level 13, 484 St Kilda Road Melbourne VIC 3004Tel: 03 9090 8800
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19The Mining Advocate | January 2012 Ivanhoe Australia feature
Osborne poised for lift-off
Ivanhoe Australia’s Osborne
copper-gold mine is on track to
start processing ore in March.
Th e plant refurbishment is
almost complete. Final work is
being carried out on the fi ne ore
bin, after which the whole plant
will be cleaned in preparation
for commissioning.
General manager operations
Neal Valk said run of mine
stockpiles were nearing 60,000
tonnes, ready to be fed into the
primary crusher.
“Underground development
continues to mine towards slot
rise targets with production
drilling commenced in two
areas to allow blasting of the
initial stopes,” he said.
“Other activities being
undertaken include
underground delineation
diamond drilling for the
Kulthor ore body as well as
raise boring of the ladderways
and vent rises
“Work is nearing conclusion
on the main exhaust rise, with
a post sink and concrete line
of the top 100m of the rise
almost complete. Installation of the exhaust fan - which now allows primary ventilation to be commissioned for the Kulthor production schedule - will be undertaken shortly.”
Mr Valk said Ivanhoe was recruiting processing team operators for familiarisation and training on the Osborne concentrator.
“In addition, we are still looking to fi ll roles in mine planning and design, geology, metallurgy and mining engineering to get to the production levels required,” he said.
As part of the Osborne copper-gold business,
refurbishment of the Starra 276 mine, about 50km away, has also begun.
“Further costings and evaluations are being undertaken for the mining of the Osborne open pit,” Mr Valk said.
“Th is project is located adjacent to the Osborne concentrator, and requires eight to 10 months of pre-strip, prior to ore production.
“Th is assessment will take two months to complete.”
Th ese multiple ore sources would allow full utilisation of the Osborne assets and, in doing so, provide the basis for a strong copper-gold business, Mr Valk said.
Faces of Ivanhoe Australia - north-west QueenslandAndrew Willis(Townsville resident) – mature-age apprentice After working in the construction and fi shing industries for many years, Andrew Willis has found his career niche and, in his opinion, a great employer in Ivanhoe.
Mr Willis originally worked for the company
as a contracted maintenance technician and enjoyed it so much he proposed being given a diesel fi tting apprenticeship. To his delight, Ivanhoe agreed.
He is now four months into his four-year apprenticeship.
“I do maintenance on all the underground gear - loaders, dump trucks, jumbos, excavators and graders - all the big machinery,” he said.
“It’s a satisfying and enjoyable job and mining is a much more stable industry than either fi shing or construction. My career prospects are so much better than they ever were and that means a better life for me and my family.”
Brendan Kerr (Townsville) – lightvehicle fi tter Brendan Kerr started as a light vehicle fi tter with Ivanhoe a few months ago, but that’s all it has taken to convince him he has the world’s best job.
After completing a contract with the company through an
employment agency, he applied for his current position.“I love it because I get the opportunity to work on lots
of diff erent things,” he said.“One day it’ll be forklifts or cruisers and then the
next I could be in the middle of the bush servicing a generator. Th ere’s such a diverse range of things to do.”
Ivanhoe Australia is Mr Kerr’s fi rst mine experience. But he and partner Madeleine are taking everything, including regular periods of separation in his eight on-six off roster, in their stride.
“It is a sacrifi ce not being at home every day, but when I do have time off we spend all of it together, so it all works out in the end,” he said.
Gavin Kaurila(Forrest Beach) –process technician
Osborne process technician Gavin Kaurila estimates he’s chalked up about 550,000 air miles in the 13 years he has been fl ying in and out to the north-west Queensland mine site.
He started work there with Placer Dome/Asia Pacifi c, continued when Barrick took over, then joined the Ivanhoe Australia team just over 12 months ago following the company’s acquisition of the project.
Th e Townsville/Forrest Beach-based technician said his job entailed a variety of responsibilities including fl otation, grinding and general “007” servicing - a humorous reference to secret service agent James Bond who “went everywhere and did everything”.
Mr Kaurila suspects he goes close to holding the commuting FIFO record for Osborne, but doesn’t see it as anything exceptional. “After a while it just becomes part of the way of life,” he said.
Neal ValkIvanhoe Australia
general manager operations
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20 January 2012 | The Mining Advocate
CanningtonProudly supporting mining communities
SUPPORTED BY BHP BILLITON CANNINGTON
Building Mining Communities
Th anks to the generosity of BHP Billiton’s Cannington Mine, the local council and other corporate support, the Cloncurry Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) has been able to signifi cantly enhance community life through youth development.
Anyone in the town has access, if they wish, to the club’s local youth drop-in centre which is equipped with internet, pool tables, games, cafeand movies.
An indoor activity hall hosts sport and recreation activities such as boxing, netball, a gymnasium, circuit and fi tness classes and community events.
“Our branch raises funds via sponsorships, partnerships, grant funding, activity income and fundraising at events such as discos and movie nights,” Cloncurry PCYC branch manager Mick Hughes said.
“Th e income derived from this is then used to run the club as well as provide diverse and challenging programs and activities based on community social, welfare and cultural needs.”
Sgt Hughes cited BHP’s Field of Dreams program as a great example of how the PCYC’s
relationship with Cannington had benefi ted the
local community.
“For the last two years, Cannington Mine
has relied on the PCYC to deliver this annual
program, which involves taking 30 local children
disadvantaged by socio-economic and remote
living circumstances to NRL Cowboys games in
Townsville,” he said.
He said the PCYC had recently further
strengthened its relationship with Cannington
Mine by becoming a major partner in the mine’s
2011 Indigenous Trainee Program.
Th e club assisted in selecting trainees, provided
“ready for work” training, transport and mentoring.
It also put the trainees and Cannington
supervisory staff through a fi ve-day self-development
course at a PCYC facility on the Gold Coast.
“Cannington Mine and its staff are not just about
giving funds to organisations and communities
within its area of operations,” Sgt Hughes said.
“Th ey take a real interest in trying to improve the
services and lifestyles of all the people who live and
work in this region.”
PCYC branch manager Sgt Mick Hughes with Gabrielle Biffi n, Christopher Crisp and Shakira Turrell on a Cannington-
sponsored trip. They are pictured in the Gold Coast hinterland, preparing to abseil down a mountain.
Cannington digs PCYC work
CQ University and Hail Creek Mine are continuing their support of
local students by off ering seven scholarships this year.
Th e Hail Creek Mine CQ University Partnership Program has been
off ering scholarships worth $4000 over two years to fi rst-year nursing,
health, business, science, IT and engineering students since 2009.
Former recipients Levi Houley and James Mogg, who are studying
engineering at CQ University, strongly encourage their peers to start
applying.
Mr Houley, 21, has only six months to go of his electrical
engineering degree and said he was hoping to get a job in the mining
industry upon graduation.
“In my course I’ve undertaken two six-month work placements,
including at Hail Creek Mine where I was mentored and got to solve
real engineering problems,” Mr Houley said.
“For example, I did my thesis on a project that involved modeling
the site’s two electrical rope shovels, one that ran on DC drive and the
other on AC drive. Th e AC shovel was the fi rst in Australia of its type
so it was a great opportunity to help the team determine the impacts
of this shovel on the site’s electricity loading.”
Mr Mogg said it was a challenge moving from year 12 to university.
“With all the changes going on, I was glad that I had the
scholarship to help out with expenses like text books,” Mr Mogg said.
“It’s been a great year and now I’m working over the break at the
Dumbleton Water Pump Station upgrade to put what I’ve learnt in
mechanical engineering into practice.”
For more information on the scholarships contact Rio Tinto Coal
Australia Hail Creek Mine’s Marie Cameron on (07) 4951 6437 or
email [email protected]. Applications close February 24.
Partnership provides step up for CQ youth
Queensland Governor Penelope Wensley presents high-achieving scholarship
winner James Mogg with a Queen’s Scout Award.
BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) has contributed $2.5 million and Anglo American Australia $1 million to assist in the upgrade of Moranbah’s Greg Cruickshank Aquatic Centre.
Isaac Mayor Cedric Marshall described the $6.5 million project, which is due to re-open shortly, as more than just a swimming pool.
It would be a hub for relaxation, exercise and family fun, completely revitalising the town square, he said.
BMA asset president Stephen Dumble said the aquatic centre donation was part of BMA’s ongoing commitment to the community which in 2011 saw the company invest $85 million in Moranbah.
Anglo American Metallurgical Coal chief executive offi cer Seamus French said that organisation’s contribution towards the upgraded children’s play pool was part of Anglo American’s $20 million Moranbah 2020 community infrastructure investment fund.
Local CQ University student Denica Hope was shocked but thrilled on being recently awarded the 2011 Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) scholarship.
Ms Hope, a fi rst-year bachelor of accounting and diploma of professional practice student, will receive $5000 per annum from QAL throughout her degree.
QAL managing director Phil Campbell said the scholarship provided much-needed fi nancial support to students and their families.
“Th e QAL scholarship allows us to invest in Gladstone’s future by assisting a student to develop into a valued member of our community and someone who will contribute to the economic sustainability of our local area,” he said.
In addition to Ms Hope’s scholarship, a $1000 encouragement award was presented to bachelor of engineering and diploma of professional practice student Damien Hensen.
Th e scholarship is open to full-time, fi rst-year CQU students residing in the Gladstone Regional Council area and studying in the areas of applied science - including environmental studies, business/commerce, engineering or information technology.
Coal giants splash out for Moranbah
QAL managing director Phil Campbell and scholarship
winner Denica Hope.
QAL supports tertiary studies
21The Mining Advocate | January 2012 HEALTH IN MINING
Mining industry workers –
particularly those involved in
exploration and drilling – often
work alone and in remote areas.
Consequently serious medical
problems or accidents can be life
threatening if help isn’t quickly
to hand.
Th e launch of the Iridium
Extreme - the fi rst satellite
handset in the world to
feature a dedicated two-way
emergency SOS button - is
expected to revolutionise
emergency communications in
remote Australia, according to
distributor Pivotel.
“Th e two-way communic-
ations channel, using both voice
and data - which are established
when the SOS button is pressed,
allows emergency responders
to accurately locate an injured
worker and maintain a dialogue
to assist with the rescue
operation,” Pivotel managing
director Peter Bolger said.
Iridium Extreme features
include GPS, tracking, SMS
and data services. It has been
designed to military standards
to withstand tough Australian
outback conditions.
Mr Bolger said Pivotel was the
only service provider in Australia
able to integrate the new
handset with TracerTrak, one
of Australia’s leading tracking
exception management services
that allows companies to track
personnel and manage valuable
assets in remote areas.
“Th e Iridium Extreme
and TracerTrak signifi cantly
improve the management of the
emergency response to better
ensure a co-ordinated and
effi cient emergency response
eff ort,” he said. “For example,
if a lone worker has suff ered a
serious medical problem, the
emergency response team can
gather further information about
the injury and ensure appropriate
Satellite handset acts as safety net for personnel
Th ere is increasing awareness that
the harsh surroundings, climatic
extremes, social isolation and long
periods of intense concentration
typical of mining work can result
in serious injury or death.
Th e Australasian Centre
for Rural and Remote Mental
Health is particularly concerned
that depression, anxiety, post-
traumatic stress disorder and
social phobias as well as alcohol
and substance abuse are just the
tip of the iceberg and that these
aspects are just as likely to aff ect
stay-at-home partners as they are
fl y in-fl y out (FIFO) workers.
Th e centre’s chief executive
offi cer, Dr Jennifer Bowers, said
mental health and emotional
wellbeing was not a priority for
many companies. It was for this
reason the centre had recently
focused on mental health in the
resource sector, she said.
“Th ere’s fi erce competition for
personnel and once employees
have been recruited, inducted and
trained, a lot of time and money
goes into retaining them,” Dr
Bowers said.
“So we all know retention is
important. All employers tell us
that their employees are their
most valuable asset. But do they
realise just how valuable?”
Dr Bowers said while pay rates
were an important consideration,
Industry’s battle of the mindsconditions,” she said. “It includes a focus on health and wellbeing and an organisational culture where people feel comfortable talking about things like work-life balance, managing split lifestyles and the consequent stresses and mental health.”
To help deal with what Dr Bowers believes is a hugely under-recognised problem, the centre has produced a brochure, “Th is Place is Doing My Head In” , which aims to heighten awareness of mental health in the resource sector.
“Overall, the sector hasn’t yet fully recognised that mental ill-health can have a very serious impact on productivity and profi t,” she said.
“However, the centre is working with some far-sighted top-tier mining and construction
companies and contractors with heartening results.”
Dr Bowers said the centre had designed a “road map” for resource sector companies. Th e mental health and wellbeing initiatives involved were primarily designed to:
• Be proactive and preventative with early interventions available when required,
• Change attitudes to mental health and change the culture of a workplace, and
• Be integrated into occupational health and safety and human resources induction policies.
“If followed, the end result is to everyone’s advantage. Workers are happy, healthy and effi cient and the companies ultimately reap the benefi ts both fi nancially and productively,” Dr Bowers said.
people were also attracted to organisations which looked after their workforces.
“Being ‘looked after’ is more than just about pay and
Dr Jennifer Bowers
The Iridium Extreme satellite phone in use in the fi eld.
medical resources are brought
by the recovery team directly to
the injured worker’s pinpointed
location.”
He believed the technologies
together made for the most
powerful remote safety
monitoring system seen in
Australia.
Mr Bolger said there was a
major opportunity for Australia’s
mining sector to utilise satellite
services in a way never before
possible and believed this
technology would enable the
most co-ordinated and effi cient
management of personnel
available anywhere in the world.
The mental wellbeing of resource sector
employees is attracting some much-needed
attention, writes Jan Green.
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22 January 2012 | The Mining AdvocateHEAVY MACHINERY REVIEW
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by a Tier 2-compliant Komatsu
engine rated at 1316kW net.
Th e loader is available in
standard boom and high-lift
boom confi gurations.
In standard boom confi guration,
the WA1200-6 can load the
144-tonne capacity Komatsu
A range of upgraded features should see this
big yellow fellow deliver effi ciency gains on a
number of fronts, writes Jan Green.
HD1500-7 and similar-class trucks in four passes. It can load the 184-tonne capacity 730E trucks in fi ve passes.
In high-lift boom confi guration, it can load 830Es (222 tonne capacity) in seven passes.
Mr Hall said the WA1200-6’s net engine power was almost 100kW higher than its predecessor, and even higher than equivalent competitors in the same class.
“High productivity is achieved through higher breakout and
traction forces than any other loader on the market and large bucket capacity,” he said.
“Th ese features allow it to economically and eff ectively load all but the largest mining dump trucks currently in operation.”
Other productivity features include its “Hi-Cab” design, which gives the operator an eye-level height of 6380mm – suffi cient to look directly into the body of a 220-tonne dump truck – and a payload meter capable of providing detailed information on material volumes being loaded.
“In terms of operating economy, tests carried out by Komatsu indicate that the WA1200-6 uses 15 per cent less fuel compared with the WA1200-3, while fuel effi ciency (cubic metres of material moved per litre of fuel) is more than 20 per cent better,” Mr Hall said.
Th ese gains are achieved through developments including:
• Operator-selectable maximum traction power,
• A dual-mode active working system, which can be selected depending on the type of material being worked – either “powerful loading” mode giving more tractive power in blasted
rock and hard ground, or “normal loading” mode for loading loose material where higher traction forces are not required,
• Automatically selected economy and power engine modes,
• Th e use of more effi cient hydraulic systems,
• A modulated clutch system which automatically raises the bucket faster when approaching a dump truck, while reducing forward travel speed.
“Th ese upgrades to the WA1200-6 make it a signifi cantly more fuel-effi cient loading tool than its predecessor,” Mr Hall said.
“Th ese fuel-saving features, combined with operator-effi ciency improvements, including low-eff ort precision joystick control, automatic transmission and a pillarless cab for a wide and uninterrupted fi eld of view, ensure optimum production while minimising operator fatigue.”
Another cost-reduction feature is Tyre Saver, which reduces tyre slip and extends service life by sensing a slipping tyre, then controlling the torque converter via the modulated clutch to minimise slip.
Atlas Copco Construction Tools is introducing six new hydraulic compactor attachments with operating weights ranging from 1-40 tonnes.
Designed for use on carriers, they incorporate a housing attachment off set at 15 degrees.
Atlas Copco Construction Tools business line manager Glenn Illingworth said this innovation improved force distribution on the vibrator plate.
“Th ese compactors are virtually maintenance-free thanks to their PermanentLube continuous lubrication system and the integrated fl ow rate and pressure control protects them from overload, particularly if compactors are used on diff erent carriers,” he said.
“An Atlas Copco compactor is easily attached.“No special mount is required for fi tting to
carriers, while standard adapter plates and attachment brackets simplify attachment to the compactor.
“Th e hydraulic system functions without pressure-less tank return fl ow, saving time and money.
“Optional backfi ll blades make compactors easier to use. Th ey level the way, enabling work to progress smoothly while also defl ecting material.”
Mr Illingworth said compactor attachments were suitable for compacting trenches, ground soil and embankments as well as for driving in and pulling out formwork, posts and sheet piling.
New range of compactors
Komatsu’s WA1200-6 mining wheel loader has an operating weight range of
216 to 220 tonnes.
23The Mining Advocate | January 2012 HEAVY MACHINERY REVIEW
This Sandvik rig promises high penetration rates
for hard rock applications and was designed
with a focus on safety, writes Jan Green.
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Manitou has released the MHT 10225, the world’s largest telescopic handler with a lifting capacity of 22,500kg and 10m lifting height.
Since inventing the fi rst Rough Terrain forklift in 1958, Manitou has delivered powerful solutions to the logistic and materials handling problems of the mining industry, according to managing director – Australia Stuart Walker.
He said the company was now the world’s leading supplier of such solutions to the resources sector.
Th e 10225 model is part of the MHT range, which Mr Walker described as off ering enhanced versatility and safety compared with cranes and forklifts.
“Th e ability to handle oversize loads as a forklift instead of having to lift as a suspended load means (it has) less stability concerns than a crane,” he said.
“And when compared with a forklift, the load management system and pre-programmed loads charts for each attachment ensure that lifts are carried out in complete safety.
“When it comes to versatility, the MHT range can handle freely suspended loads either with a single hook system or it can be off ered
with a fully integrated winch system.”
Other attachments include work platforms up to 1000kg, all fully compliant with AS1418.10.
Additional mining specifi c attachments include tyre handlers for all size tyres, hub and strut handlers, hydraulic cylinder handlers and suspension strut handlers.
“Designed to operate on very rough terrain, the MHT range can handle very heavy and bulky loads,” Mr Walker said.
“Th e machine/accessories torque is key for applications requiring both versatility and capacity.
“Far from being ‘just another loader’, the MHT off ers manoeuvrability, precision and versatility for a true operating performance.”
Manitou lifts the bar
Rotary drill with bite
Sandvik Mining and
Construction’s DR460 crawler
rotary drill delivers almost 40 per
cent more rotary horsepower
than its nearest competitor,
according to rotary drills
regional product line manager
Neil Emery.
“Designed for 251mm to
311mm-diameter blastholes, the
drill delivers high penetration
rates (particularly in hard
rock formations), ease of
maintenance, good availability
and an ergonomic work
environment,” Mr Emery said.
“When ground conditions
allow, the operator can increase
bit rotation speed without
sacrifi cing torque, which
allows for substantially higher
penetration rates.
“In addition, the feed system,
designed with extreme hard rock
conditions in mind, includes
extra heavy duty pulldown chains
to ensure a constant load can
be applied at increased rotation
speeds.”
Th e rig’s pulldown is up to
356kN, while bit load is 445kN
for maximum productivity in
hard rock formations.
Th e DR460 is capable of
drilling to depths of 75m using 194mm-diameter by 12.8m long drill pipes, or to 62m deep using 219mm-diameter pipes.
Mr Emery said operator safety was a key design criterion for the new rig.
“It incorporates a full-perimeter walkway and maintenance platforms that comply with AS1657 for improved access and service security,” he said.
“Th is allows the operator and service technicians free and safe access around the rig.
“Th is rig meets stringent Australian Standards and MDG15 specifi cations for electric and hydraulic design, with the hydraulic system incorporating a reduced number of hoses in one location by positioning hydraulic
valves so they are closer to their
points of use.
“Furthermore, by focusing on
routing, securing and shielding
of hydraulic hoses and electric
wiring, the reliability and
maintainability of these systems
is dramatically improved.”
Th e 4.4sq m operator cabin has
chair-mounted joystick controls.
Sandvik off ers its patented
Compressor Management
System (CMS), which cuts fuel
consumption and emissions
levels, as an option on the DR460
and other rotary drill rigs.
Designed for
251mm to
311mm-diameter
blastholes, the
DR460 delivers
high penetration
rates, particularly
in hard rock
formations.
24 January 2012 | The Mining AdvocateDRILLING AND EXPLORATION
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Stock available for immediate delivery
Sector survey shows the scoreWork by a new industry group highlights the
factors aff ecting Queensland’s performance as a
site for resource exploration, writes Jan Green.
A recently released scorecard provides a detailed analysis of exploration success across Queensland.
Queensland Resources Council (QRC) chief executive Michael Roche described the Queensland Minerals and Energy Exploration scorecard as a tool for industry and policy-makers to monitor performance and steer the sector towards meeting the objectives outlined in the Vision 2020 document.
Th e scorecard was published by the Queensland Exploration Council, a multi-sectoral group established by the QRC. It is believed to be the fi rst detailed analysis of statewide exploration success measured by drivers including prospectivity and endowment, resource prices, political stability, explorer/investor confi dence and access to the essential factors of production including capital, land and skills.
Mr Roche said consolidating the sector’s reputation as a reliable, long-term supplier of choice was invaluable in increasingly competitive global markets.
However, while some areas of the scorecard were positive for the state, room for improvement existed in others, he said.
Th e fact that minerals and energy exploration were “under the pump” was identifi ed as an issue.
“Th e public is being fed a constant diet of inaccurate information about the nature of exploration tenures across Queensland and, erroneously, that’s being tied to the inevitability of each and every
exploration tenure turning into a mine,” Mr Roche said.
For example, some rural lobbyists claimed about 86 per cent of the state was under some form of mining tenure, he said.
But in reality, Mr Roche said a little over 50 per cent was under some form of exploration tenure and the historical conversion rate from exploration to mining lease in Queensland – one of the most mineralised regions in the world - was 0.5 per cent.
Included in the positive perspectives was an improvement in geoscientifi c knowledge.
“For example, in the past six years, airborne magnetic/radiometric coverage has increased from 64 to 89 per cent and gravity survey coverage from 34 to 65 per cent,” Mr Roche said.
“Another is the liveability of Queensland with Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns all ranking
highly with the geoscience professionals living there.”
Th e scorecard was based on a survey of Australian resource companies with interests in Queensland, Mr Roche said.
“Th e survey results showed a
strong rating for Queensland in terms of resources prospectivity...on an equal footing with other states on pre-competitive geoscientifi c data,” he said.
However, the survey reported negative sentiment on factors
such as policy certainty, tenure processes and land access.
“I was therefore pleased by the Queensland Government’s announcement it would streamline tenure and project approval processes,” Mr Roche said.
Anger over aquifer moveTh e Federal Government’s
agreement to establish a scientifi c
committee for the referral of
mining and exploration activities
interacting with aquifers has
been condemned by a peak
industry body.
Association of Mining
and Exploration Companies
(AMEC) chief executive offi cer
Simon Bennison said the
legislation would directly aff ect
all mineral exploration and
mining activities throughout
Australia - and every AMEC
member - if passed.
“It is another policy
announcement where the
Federal Government has not
fully thought through the
consequences,” he said.
“Robust and regulatory
systems already exist and are
working well in all Australian
states and territories to protect
water resources.”
Mr Bennison expressed
concern that the agreement
constituted yet another example of lack of industry and state/territory consultation which would result in signifi cant increases in administrative costs, project costs and project delays.
Th e Federal Government said the new independent expert scientifi c committee would:
• Provide scientifi c advice to governments about relevant coal seam gas and large coal mining approvals with signifi cant impacts on water,
• Oversee research on impacts on water resources from such projects and,
• Commission and fund water resource assessments for priority regions.
A statement from the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer said that the states would remain the primary regulators and businesses would not be required to change the way they applied for a licence.
However their applications would be subject to rigorous and independent scientifi c assessment by the committee before states granted approval for a relevant activity.
“Th is is a good outcome as it will inform better environmental regulation of coal seam gas and large coal mine developments’ impacts on ground water across Australia without imposing additional Commonwealth regulation,” the statement said.
AMEC has
criticised aquifer
controls set to
aff ect mineral
exploration and
mining activity.
Photo: Christopher
Knight
Michael RocheQRC chief executive
25The Mining Advocate | January 2012 MATERIALS HANDLING
MATERIAL HANDLING SOLUTIONS
Conveyor Belt Splicing Conveyor System Maintenance Conveyor Maintenance System Training
Conveyor System Design & Fabrication Continuous Improvement ProgramsConveyor Equipment Supply Solutions Wear And Flow Solutions
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Conveyor belt breakages can result in huge revenue losses when they halt production.
Australian company BeltSpy has developed a conveyor belt inspection system, used in underground mines, which applies machine vision technology to help prevent such disasters.
BeltSpy managing director Alexandre Aivazian said the system was used during production hours with a full conveyor load.
A single workstation located on the surface allows operators to inspect carry and back sides of all belts in the mine by visually analysing high resolution images anywhere along the belts.
Th e system provides instant access to images of all fl agged locations.
“Potential damage points can be fl agged online and during full production, allowing conveyor downtime to be utilised for maintenance activities,” Mr Aivazian said.
“SpyBelt also allows for online monitoring of damage to predict when maintenance or repairs need to be undertaken.”
He said the system employed proprietary image processing algorithm to automatically detect and fl ag points of interest (POI) such as clip joins, splice joins, damaged belt surface and damaged edges.
“It also maintains precise belt metrics relative to reference location (RL) and the locations of all POI (distances from RL) are stored, thus providing instant access to POI images,” Mr Aivazian said.
Machine vision technology is being used to
help keep underground material handling
systems belting along, writes Jan Green.
“In addition, it provides
sequential and random (given a
location) belt image browsing.
“Th e surface user workstation
uses a two-monitor confi guration
if only the carry side of the belt
needs inspection (single-sided
installation) or three-monitor
confi guration if both sides need
to be inspected (double-sided
installation).”
Mr Aivazian said the
system could be instructed
to automatically stop the
conveyor in a particular position
guaranteeing that the location to
be repaired would arrive at the
repair station.
Under close watchBelow: A coal clearance co-ordin ator
uses the BeltSpy system to inspect
conveyor belt joins before stopping
for scheduled maintenance.
Th e Stamler Feeder-Breaker is designed to supply continuous feed to conveyors at surface coal operations, minimising operating costs and increasing production.
Th e effi ciency of the device - which acts as the interface between haulage and process plant - is refl ected in the fact Stamler Feeder-Breakers can average throughput rates of up to 6000 tonnes per hour, according
to P&H MinePro Services mining equipment product manager for Stamler products, Amy Hanson.
Feeder-Breakers are employed in the initial stage of the crushing process where they are linked to run of mine where the coal is dumped on one side and a conveyor on the other.
Th e Feeder-Breaker reduces larger pieces of material into smaller sizes the conveyor can handle.
Ms Hanson said each Feeder-Breaker featured a fl ight conveyor, rotary pick breaker and, if required, an integral surge hopper.
Specifi c material output size was achieved by breaker picks and a pick pattern designed to work with conveyor fl ights, eliminating slabs, she said.
Optional crawler, wheel or skid mounting allows the Feeder-Breakers to effi ciently move with the mine face to reduce haulage cycle time.
“P&H MinePro Services is well established in Australia and Asia Pacifi c,” Ms Hanson said.
“Stamler Feeder-Breakers have been installed globally since the ’50s and with our fi rst Queensland surface machine in 1982.”
Th e critical component in any conveyor transfer point is an eff ective sealing system.
Th e seal should be located where material being loaded becomes stable, according to Kinder and Co managing director Neil Kinder.
Th is is the last position to eff ect-
ively control spillage and dust.K–Superline Containment
Seal is used to enhance the eff ectiveness of the outer seal or skirting when the loading area is properly supported.
Mr Kinder said in many cases outer fl exible seals were ineff ective in controlling spillage
as unsupported belts trying to contain the full weight of the material load could be inadequate.
To eff ectively contain bulk material, the K-Superline Containment Seal, which can be supplied beveled or straight, should be installed inside the chute to handle high internal chute pressure and reduce the load on the skirting seal.
“Th e engineered polyurethane system off ers exceptional resistance to wear while the slotted arrangement allows for installation adjustment to ensure that material cannot be entrapped leading to premature belt damage,” Mr Kinder said.
Feeder-Breaker aids conveyor coal fl ow
Seal the deal to control spillage
The K-Superline
Containment Seal
inside a chute.
The Stamler Feeder-Breaker can deliver a throughput rate of up to 6000
tonnes per hour.
26 January 2012 | The Mining AdvocatePROCESSING
To optimise coal processing fl otation circuits, meet challenges associated with increasing throughput and manage bottlenecks, it’s essential all coal handling preparation plant (CHPP) components operate effi ciently.
Unfortunately, this is not always a straightforward process because it is diffi cult to see the inside workings of various pieces of equipment.
However, as CSIRO research scientist Dr Peter Koh explains, computational fl uid dynamics (CFD) - a sophisticated numerical modelling tool - can simulate the complex processes that occur within such plant, allowing problems to be identifi ed and solutions developed.
CFD modelling was used to
predict the turbulence and shear levels in the Microcel and Jameson cell processes in a recent Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) funded project.
A key aim of the project was to identify the means to enhance the performance of existing equipment through minor engineering modifi cations.
Th e CSIRO’s CFD fl otation cell modelling capability generates outputs which highlight regions where particles are being detached from bubbles by turbulent eddies in the Jameson cell.
Dr Koh said CHPP operators often sought to increase throughput by increasing pulp density.
Th e viscosity went up with pulp density and there was the possibility of non-Newtonian
A model tool for fi ne tuning fl otation circuits
Bubble-particle detachment rates predicted by a CFD model for a vertical slice
through the Jameson cell with 20 downcomers.
rheology and yield stress, he said.
Bubble-particle attachment
became more diffi cult in a viscous
pulp, although detachment rates
would decrease.
“CFD is also well suited to
evaluating new fl otation cell
designs or identifying how
minor engineering modifi cations
to existing cells can be used
to enhance performance,” Dr Koh said. “In a number of such cases, our CFD modelling capabilities have been applied very successfully.”
Dr Koh identifi ed equipment wear due to particle impacts caused by localised high pulp velocities as a major contribution to maintenance costs.
“Signifi cant reductions in wear rates can be achieved if minor changes are made to the fl otation cell design to eliminate excess localised pulp velocities,” he said.
“Alternatively, pulp velocities can potentially also be reduced by using high pulp densities. If the fl otation cell is well designed to overcome the pulp viscosity problem, then decreasing the velocity will defi nitely reduce the wear rate, maintenance and energy costs.”
After 14 months in the planning,
a $2.3 million robotic cathode
stripping machine has been
commissioned at the CST Lady
Annie mine 126km north-west of
Mount Isa.
CST Mining process
superintendent Wally Gohdes
said it was great to see the
ground-breaking technology up
and running following its delivery
to the mine site last August.
“Since that time, we’ve been
working on the foundations and
installations to the point where
commissioning could go ahead,”
he said.
Th e technology – a joint Mesco,
Xstrata Technology and CST
project – is the fi rst if its type to
be applied in Australia’s mining
industry.
Mr Gohdes described the new
system as a revolutionary advance
on the site’s previous handling
system, in operation since 2005.
“Th e now obsolete manual handling machine was capable of about 22,000 tonnes per annum output,” he said.
“Th e new robotic copper stripping system can produce in excess of 35,000 tonnes in that period.
“It uses two 600kg payload robots with patented end-of-arm tooling for cathode plate handling and stripping and has a capacity of 150 cathode plates per hour.”
Factors behind the upgrade included the need for a “smarter” cathode stripping system requiring less maintenance as well as a desire for increased throughput plus improved safety
Cutting-edge technology has given a copper
producer the chance to lift output and reduce
maintenance eff orts, writes Jan Green.
Robotic strippera ripper for CST
and enhanced product quality. “At this point, we’ll still
produce the same amount of copper annually,” Mr Gohdes said.
“However, as demand increases to the stripper’s capacity, we’ll be able to comfortably meet it.
“It’s a massive piece of equipment. Its footprint on the ground is probably 15m square, it sits on 85 cubic metres of
concrete and each robot weighs six tonnes. It looks so futuristic, it’s almost like having a space shuttle at our back door.
“It’s exciting to be leading the way in what is indisputably cutting-edge, mining industry technology and it’s equally exciting to be the showcase for the most up-to-date copper stripping process in the country.”
Lady Annie’s two new 600kg payload robots have patented end-of-arm
tooling for cathode plate handling and stripping which gives them a capacity
of 150 cathode plates per hour.
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Invention keeps them rolling
A method of replacing worn out conveyor system rollers without shutting down operations has been described as a breakthrough for cost and safety. Th e new idler assemblies – banana-shaped frames which hold rollers – are the brainchild of Les Dunn, an episode winner on ABC Th e New Inventors. Mr Dunn, from Capella on the Central Highlands, said the safety benefi ts of his invention plus time and cost savings in avoiding unnecessary shutdowns were astronomical.
For example, in a coal mine, a 2m wide conveyor generally ran at 6000 tonnes per hour at $230 per tonne, he said.
“So any savings in change-out
are at the rate of $2 million per hour,” Mr Dunn said.
“Mine production downtime due to change-outs can be between two and 24 hours, so at the top end of the scale that can amount to $48 million in lost production.
“However, using the DunnEasy Idler assemblies we once changed 24 rolls in 53 minutes using two unskilled labourers. Th at constitutes a massive saving.”
Mr Dunn said using his DunnEasy Idler assemblies was a much simpler and safer process than the standard procedure for roller failure.
“Most Queensland miners working on conveyors carry a 250kg chain block set-up, often
New idler assemblies set to go into production
in North Queensland are being touted as a
safe means of avoiding conveyor shutdowns.
called a come-along or smithy,
and everyone carries a shifter.
“So changing a roller simply
involves hooking the come-along
on to the end of the assembly,
disconnecting it, dropping it
down (this eliminates hazards),
undoing the clamp on the
cassette, sliding the cassettes out
on to the walkway, changing the
roll out, reassembling and putting
it back into place, making it safe,
tidying up and walking away.
“Th ere’s no need to stop
the conveyor, so there’s no
downtime and the replacement
can be carried out regardless of
whether the conveyor is loaded
or unloaded.
“Th e only diffi culty we have at
moment is, because ours is a new
product, we don’t yet have the
protocols in place for one man to
do the job on his own.
“We’ve had a number of
assemblies on trial for the past
six years or so in a number
of Queensland and Western
Australian mines and we haven’t
had a single failure in that time.
“We’ve proved they work so
we are now in discussion with
potential joint venture partners
and anticipate going into volume
production within three months
or so in North Queensland.”
Balloons beat ore bin hazard, cut downtimeAn innovative solution to an underground
maintenance challenge has seen BHP
Billiton’s Cannington operation in north-
west Queensland shave days off key
shutdown times.
To allow safe access to underground
transfer chutes, maintenance teams use
two purpose-made balloons to lift and
hold storage bins containing loose ore.
Th e equipment is part of Minvent
Solutions overhead protection systems
technology which is widely used in
underground mining – metalliferous and
coal – and also in processing.
Th e balloons were successfully employed
at Cannington in 2009 and are due to be
used again in March when it is time to
replace the transfer chute liner plates.
Cannington maintenance planner
Gordon Batley said the method was
ground-breaking when fi rst implemented
at the site.
It replaced a more time-consuming and
less reliable method that involved entering
the bins from above, spraying a concrete-
like product within the cavity and waiting
for it to set.
“It might sound like a simple process,
however the logistics and planning to
make this happen was quite lengthy and
required at least four 12-hour shifts to
complete – if all went well,” he said.
“Our previous method required two
cranes approved for underground work,
back-up drivers and riggers on call.
“On a number of occasions, with all
this work completed, we still made last-
minute decisions to cancel the job due to
stabilising product not setting correctly.”
Th e two storage bins involved are part
of the silver-lead-zinc mine’s underground
fi xed-plant ore transfer system and each
holds several thousand tonnes of ore.
“Th e construction of the internals of
each bin is such that large pieces of ore are
able to be trapped within the bin walls and
this ore poses a falling hazard to anyone
working in the chutes below,” Mr Batley
said.
Mr Batley turned his mind to fi nding
an easier and safer way of stabilising ore
hanging in the bins.
Cannington maintenance and safety
personnel worked with West Australian
business Minvent Solutions to develop
two purpose-built balloons.
Th e balloons are infl ated to about
3kpa and include alarm systems to warn
personnel at the top and bottom of the bin
of any malfunction.
Mr Batley described the project as an
outstanding success, especially in reducing
shutdown duration.
“Th e original estimate using the old
method was a 156-hour shutdown. With
the balloons we estimated 120 hours for
the shutdown (in 2009) and we actually
came in 11 hours under that time,” he said.
“Th e time saved with our new process
also allows us to repair both chutes on one
shutdown – which is a great result.”
Les Dunn explains how his device works on ABC Television’s The New Inventors.
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Twenty-eight-year-old Ryan
MacKenzie’s drive, foresight
and confi dence in Mount Isa as
a great place to start a business
have earned double honours in
the 2011 North West Queenland
Business Awards.
Named Young Business Person
of the Year, Mr MacKenzie is the
managing director of Isadraulics.
He also purchased the local
Enzed franchise – the business
which won him the New
Investment Award – and between
the two he employs some 21 local
people.
Mr MacKenzie attributed his
success to recognising and seizing
business opportunities, as well as
to a great team of employees.
“Staff are the backbone of any
company and in ours we’ve tried
to create a sense of family as well
as achievement,” he said.
Among the staff are three
hydraulic apprentices and one
hose doctor apprentice.
“I believe it’s extremely
important for local business to
take on apprentices. We strongly
recommend anyone who can,
should,” Mr MacKenzie said.
Mr MacKenzie moved to
Mount Isa from the Atherton
Tableland 12 years ago and, up
until two and a half years ago,
worked for another employee.
As a qualifi ed hydraulic fi tter
machinist, he could see the
opportunity to start his own
business was too good to pass up.
“I decided to give it a go myself
and it has worked out really well,”
Mr MacKenzie said.
Young gun fi res up in the IsaHeading up Isadraulics and the local Enzed
franchise, this entrepreneur can attest to the
opportunities on off er in the north-west.
“All our work is mining related.
“We overhaul and maintain
hydraulic systems and associated
equipment and in May 2011 I
took on the Enzed franchise,
which deals in hydraulic hose
and fi ttings and complements the
work we do at Isadraulics.
“Each business can work
independently but in combining
the two we provide a one-stop
shop for all mining hydraulic
needs.
“Th at’s better for the customer
and good for our business.”
Mr MacKenzie had no idea
upon arriving in Mount Isa that
it would develop at the pace and
to the extent it has.
“It’s always been a mining town
but 12 years ago it was relatively
quiet and much slower compared
to what it is now,” he said.
“I came here because we had
family friends living in the town,
I thought it was an interesting
place and I enjoyed camping and
fi shing on the lake.”
Mr MacKenzie described
Mount Isa as an outback mining
town with a lot to off er.
“Few other places have such
great opportunities for business
people and employees,” he said.
“For anyone prepared to give it
a go, the sky can be the limit.”
Stage all the rage in this mining community
Ryan MacKenzie, fl anked by Lisa and Dave Clancy (Clancy’s Electrical), accepts
his award for Young Business Person of the Year.
Th e old adage “there’s no
business like show business” is
wholeheartedly embraced by
Mount Isa Th eatrical Society
president of 12 years standing
Jenelle Robartson.
Th e society has been going
strong for 56 years, so it’s one
also shared by Mount Isa theatre
lovers and performers alike.
“We do four shows a year
- mainly straight theatre, but
we also put on the occasional
melodrama or song and dance,”
Ms Robartson said.
She believes the transient
nature of Mount Isa’s population
is a major contributing factor to
the vibrant aspect of the society.
Not surprisingly, many
members work in mining and
mining related industries.
“Some are so keen they’ve even
taken annual leave and swapped
shifts – it’s very much a shift-
working town – to take part in
our productions,” Ms Robartson
said.
“But we also have members
with a wide variety of
backgrounds and ages ranging
from 10 (these take part in
junior classes) to 75-year olds.
“We try to have a lot of fun
in what we do, which is why, I
think, so many people enjoy it
and want to be involved.”
Despite the huge amount
of work required to stage an
amateur production, there’s never
a shortage of people to assist in
getting shows “on the road”.
Drinking Habits, a comedy
about a bunch of nuns who
secretly sell alcohol to keep a
convent afl oat, will be the fi rst
2012 production. It is scheduled
to open the fi rst weekend of
March.
“We’ll be auditioning on
the 22nd of January and, as we
invariably have more people
interested in parts than the
number of parts available, we
can be spoilt for choice when
it comes to deciding roles,” Ms
Robartson said.
“But for those who miss
out on acting roles, there are
plenty of other aspects such
as technical areas, lighting, set
work, costumes and so on where
anyone who wants to can be
involved.”
She admits that when she
is not working in her job at
Centacare, the society takes up
most of her time.
“You could say it’s something
of a consuming passion,” Ms
Robartson said.
“I don’t think many people
realise just what a huge
undertaking putting on a show
starting from scratch is. But
I enjoy the challenge and the
rewards at the end make it all
worthwhile.”
In addition to her
management tasks, Ms
Robartson also enjoys treading
the boards.
“Even though I’ve performed
in about 30 productions over the
last 12 years, it’s hard to pick my
favourite role,” she said.
“It just depends. Comedy can
be more fun but a successful
dramatic role is very satisfying.”
Caravans the Trailer,
featuring Jacob Adams,
Greg Poppell, Tyne
James and Maddy Sacco
(pictured above), was
one in a long line of the
Mount Isa Theatrical
Society’s successful stage
productions.
The society is gearing up
for its next production,
Drinking Habits.
The comedy is scheduled to
open on the fi rst weekend
of March.
30 January 2012 | The Mining AdvocateWET SEASON
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Th e Queensland Government’s new Fitzroy Basin model water conditions allow increased fl exibility for discharges, in what has been hailed as a timely change for the coal industry.
C & R Consulting director Dr Chris Cuff , who has off ered geochemical and hydrological solutions to the mining industry for the past 15 years, commended the Department of Environment and Resource Management’s (DERM’s)report on Final Model Water Conditions for Coal in the Fitzroy Basin.
“Any mine needing to release water must follow the conditions of this document, which are more realistic in terms of how water can be disposed of or dispersed than it has been in the past,” he said.
With this wet season predicted to be above average, Dr Cuff described the new model conditions as very timely.
“Last year, Queensland lost around several billion dollars of coal exports due to fl ooding,” he said.
“However this year, with DERM’s model in place, the state should fare much better both economically and environmentally.”
DERM acting regional manager, environmental services (mining), Andrew Connor said the model conditions continued to uphold environmental
protection standards and the department’s expectations of environmental authority holders in protecting Queensland waters.
Mr Connor said release limits were determined by ensuring concentrations of contaminants did not exceed in-stream water quality objectives.
Th e amount of fl ow generated by extended rain events was also identifi ed as an important part of determining sustainable limits.
“Coal mines in the Fitzroy Basin are not permitted to release water until such time as a minimum passing fl ow is reached,” Mr Connor said.
“Th e previous model conditions only included one passing fl ow trigger with associated quality and volume limits. Th e new model conditions include three fl ow triggers – low, medium and high.
“All include separate limits to achieve water quality objectives under those fl ow conditions.”
Th e new model conditions also consider water quality objectives for mines in diff erent zones within catchments.
Diff erent calculations are used based on whether a mine is high in the catchment, mid-catchment or further down.
Th is approach incorporates potential cumulative eff ects from multiple mine discharges in the Fitzroy Basin.
Mr Connor said the department always intended to
At this time of year severe weather plans are foremost in the minds of mining and other resource strategists.
Th e issues concerning them include not only fl ash fl ooding and the danger that poses to personnel, but the potential for serious environmental harm and damage to equipment.
An Australian company, Flood Control Australia (FCA), has sourced a tubing system it believes will address many of those issues.
“We off er a range of water management solutions including our fl agship product, the Tiger Dam system,” FCA director Jamie Bartlett said.
“Th e Tiger Dam is made from reinforced vinyl material and uses water to fi ght water in that it consists of a fl exible, sealed and deep water-fi lled barrier able to be put in place faster and more eff ectively than sandbags.
“Th e tubing provides a rapid response solution as a single Tiger Dam tube replaces approximately 500 sandbags and can be fi lled in as little as 90 seconds with the right equipment.
“It’s an exciting new way to manage storm run-off and other issues associated with excessive rain, such as pooling, which can create areas of ground instability and boggy conditions in operational areas.
“Th e environmentally friendly, re-usable tubes
have also been used to capture silt run-off in
construction sites, reduce sand erosion and even
divert waterways.
“And when they are no longer required in a
particular location they can simply be packed up
and moved elsewhere.”
Th e product has been engineered to interlock and
stack in tiers from 90cm to 10m high.
It was described by Mr Bartlett as a quick and
easy system that may eff ectively divert fl ood waters,
create channels and increase levy heights to limit
property and environmental damage.
“Tubes can be quickly and easily fi lled with a fi re
hydrant, water truck or garden hose. Th ey can be
virtually any length, take any shape and be stacked
seamlessly for miles,” he said.
“In addition to the Tiger Dam, FCA supplies
a chemical tube which can be fi lled with a
fi re retardant gel which would be useful in
underground mines.
“Th ese tubes can be used to make a bund wall to
hold sludge and water back from work areas while
the tubes can be used to increase levy heights to
hold pump water from open cut.”
A revamped set of water standards has been
welcomed after last wet season’s lingering
impact on coal producers, writes Jan Green.
conduct a review once a better quality of discharge monitoring information had been obtained and this occurred through monitoring regimes required by the former 2009 model conditions.
“Th is data provided the department with an improved understanding of the cumulative eff ects of releases from mines,” he said.
DERM has completed 30 Fitzroy Basin coal mine site inspections in the lead-up to the 2011-12 wet season.
State adjusts mine discharge rules
Water tubes fi ght fl ooding
The Tiger Dam system is
engineered to interlock
and stack in tiers from
90cm to 10m high and can
be virtually any length.
31The Mining Advocate | January 2012 MINING FAMILIES
I get married in June. It’s the second
time and I’m more cautious. I want to
keep my assets for my children from
my fi rst marriage. I think my fi ancee
understands this, but I don’t want to
upset her by asking for a pre-nup.
In a break-up, nothing you own is protected
without a “pre-nup”.
Your wife will have entitlements ahead of
your children. Property you owned before
marriage is not excluded from a property
settlement.
A property settlement involves a close
assessment of each spouse’s contributions
(non-fi nancial as well as fi nancial) to all
property regardless of when, or how, it was
acquired, and to the welfare of the family,
and a comparison is drawn between each
spouse’s needs at the time of settlement.
A court must then consider what is just and
equitable between the couple. Th is is not a
straightforward process and the outcome
isn’t easily predicted, as apparent from the
high number of property cases processed
through the Family Law Courts. Rarely
are both spouses happy with the result, or
with the fi nancial and human cost of court
proceedings.
A pre-nup, or binding fi nancial agreement
(BFA) as it’s formally known, can protect
property against a spouse’s claim and
bypass court processes. BFAs are available
to de factos (including same-sex) as well as
married couples, and may be entered before,
during or after a relationship.
Almost everyone entering a new
relationship has a view about what might
happen with property in a break-up, but
don’t assume your partner shares the same
view as you. Some candid discussion is
required. Clients have told me that having
a BFA turned out to be healthy for their
relationship: it put everyone on the same
page; got them thinking about and planning
their fi nancial future; and removed fear of
being open about what they each owned.
If your fi ancee is off ended by the
discussion, you might assume that she holds
a diff erent view to you about your pre-
marriage assets. You then have opportunity
to reassess the relationship, or at least
proceed with your eyes open.
Susan Th omson is a partner in the
MacDonnells Law state-wide Family
Law team and a Queensland Law Society
Accredited Family Law Specialist. Susan
is based in the fi rm’s Cairns offi ce. Email:
Pre-Nups – at least think about it
For advice, contact ourAccredited Family Law Specialists:
Dealing with shiftwork pitfallsAn expert details the potential challenges
and some strategies for families tackling the
rosters and separation typical of mining jobs.
Adjusting to shiftwork and being away from home over extended periods places many demands on relationships and family life.
Recognising the challenges is the fi rst important step in preventing possible problems, according to Gryphon Psychology director Richard Jones.
“Clearly, shiftwork places additional stresses on relation-ships, so shiftworkers and families must plan for dealing with these pressures,” he said.
“On the other hand, many survive shiftwork, thrive and become more cohesive because of it. However, if problems do arise, it’s recommended they be dealt with sooner rather than later for the best results.”
Mr Jones identifi ed the following as potential issues:
• Family and social activities are out of phase with the working roster and there’s little opportunity for quality time together. Th is might lead to feelings (on both sides) that there is not suffi cient companionship, intimacy, support and sharing,
• Shiftworkers can sometimes feel excluded, less needed and guilty for missing out on important family events,
• Shopping, recreation and socialising with friends are diffi cult to arrange at convenient times because of the need to rest on days off ,
• Many shiftworkers fi nd it hard to do anything on days off other than eat and try to catch up on sleep, which reduces opportunities for leisure activities and family time,
• Spouses often complain that
their partners are not available
when they are needed and
they must develop their own
interests, pastimes and lifestyles
– sometimes in a direction that
does not support a relationship,
• Fatigue and mood,
sometimes complicated by stress
and long shifts, will make the
shiftworker less pleasant to be
around and some spouses will
not have friends over because of
the tension. Sexual relationships
can also suff er because of fatigue
and reduced opportunity,
• Confl icts over these matters
can accumulate over time which
can escalate in intensity into
domestic abuse or the couple
stop talking or being around
each other. Th ey just give up,
• Both partners initially feel
guilty over the resentment of
work interfering in family life
and they then feel resentment
toward each other.
Mr Jones said eff ective
strategies included being
realistic about shiftwork-
related challenges, discussing
concerns at family meetings,
balancing home and family care
responsibilities and drawing
up a family schedule calendar
involving all members of the
family, just to name a few.
“While many people are able
to work through the challenges
shiftwork brings on their own,
not everyone can,” Mr Jones said.
“In such instances, getting
professional help is important
for relationships to survive and
families to stay together.”
Many families can work through the challenges of shiftwork for a happy life.
Photo: ©iStockphoto.com/skynesher
32 January 2012 | The Mining AdvocateEMERGENCY RESPONSE AND RESCUE
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A high-speed ambulance boat
designed for emergencies between
Gladstone Harbour and Curtis
Island has a faster response
capability in its operational area
than a rescue helicopter, according
to its manufacturer.
Th e 18m, jet-propelled Transit
Systems vessel was commissioned
by Bechtel Corporation and
designed by One2Th ree Naval
Architects.
It was delivered ahead of
schedule and under budget by
Transit Systems after being built
and fi tted out by Aluminium
Boats Australia (ABA).
Th e vessel is believed to be the
only one its kind in Australia
designed for a resources project.
Features include room for
multiple stretchers, paramedic
seating, gas and oxygen supplies,
a defi brillator, plus other medical
supplies and equipment including
a full ambulance kit-out.
ABA general manager Stuart
Pascoe said the internal system was
identical to that used by Queens -
land Ambulance Service (QAS).
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High-speed harbour responseThe contractor building three LNG plants off
Gladstone has commissioned a jet-propelled
vessel to deal with urgent medical cases.
“Having the same system as
QAS means in an emergency
situation the team can move
quickly and effi ciently and all the
stretchers can roll straight off the
boat into a waiting ambulance,”
he said.
“Th e vessel can do over 35knots
- close to 75km/h – and will
be manned 24/7 on standby to
air after all pre-fl ight, fuel and landing checks are completed, whereas our boat is ready to go at a moment’s notice.
“Bechtel and Transit Systems have worked together to create an innovative vessel that delivers on multiple objectives and so the ambulance boat has been designed as a mobile intensive care vessel while still factoring in environmental sustainability.
“Not only does it provide a state-of-the art emergency response unit, it incorporates environmentally sustainable features to protect and preserve the local marine life and waterways in which it will operate.”
The jet-propelled Transit Systems ambulance boat comissioned by Bechtel.
Rio Tinto’s $10 million, 10-
year sponsorship of the EMQ
Helicopter Rescue service has
been hailed as a commitment
to community safety across
Queensland.
Th e service operates a fl eet of
fi ve helicopters from bases in
Cairns, Townsville and Brisbane.
“While the dedicated and
professional pilots and crews
save lives almost every day, most
Queenslanders will particularly
remember the work of the two
Brisbane-based crews in rescuing
43 people from the devastating
inland tsunami which hit the
Lockyer Valley in January,”
Emergency Services Minister
Neil Roberts said.
“Th eir eff orts were recognised with two international rescue awards and most recently with the Pride of Australia national heroism medal.
“Rio Tinto’s sponsorship of $1 million a year over the next 10 years will be in addition to what the State Government provides, and I thank Rio Tinto for their support of this vital service.
“Already we are looking at using the fi rst year of the Rio Tinto funds to increase the capacity of the three AW139 rescue helicopters, allowing them to fl y for longer without the need to refuel.”
Rio Tinto chief executive offi cer Doug Ritchie said while safety was a company core value, Rio’s commitment to it went far beyond the mine gate.
“Th rough this sponsorship Rio Tinto is providing an enduring safety commitment to Queensland, a place we have called home for more than 40 years,” he said.
respond to issues on Curtis Island.“Th e trip from Gladstone to
Curtis Island on the vessel is under seven minutes - a much faster time than any other form of transport.
“It can take half an hour or more to get a helicopter into the
Queensland Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts, EMQ chief pilot Trevor
Wilson and Rio Tinto chief executive offi cer Doug Ritchie in the back of one of
the fi ve helicopters Rio Tinto will sponsor.
In lieu of traditional corporate Christmas cards, Rio Tinto
Coal Australia employees have chosen to donate $20,000 to
the CQ Rescue helicopter service.
Employees and contractors were asked to choose the charity
they were most passionate about as part of Rio Tinto Coal
Australia’s inaugural “Choose Your Own Charity” initiative.
Rio Tinto Coal Australia managing director Bill Champion
said more than 300 employees and contractors voted, with
CQ Rescue receiving the most votes from a shortlist of 10
charities.
“Based in Mackay, CQ Rescue has two helicopters that
provide a vital lifeline when people need it most, providing
24-hour immediate medical support to areas that are remote
or diffi cult to access by ambulance,” Mr Champion said.
“Th e service was a major support during the fl oods (last
year) in central Queensland.
“One of the helicopters was also deployed to Brisbane to
assist with disaster relief and the crew also spent several days
in Townsville in the wake of Cyclone Yasi.”
CQ Rescue chief executive offi cer Phil Dowler thanked Rio
Tinto Coal Australia and its workforce for the donation and
said it would be used to train an extra rescue crew member.
Miner gives choppers a $10m lift Christmas bonus
for CQ Rescue
THE SUCCESS OF ANINDUSTRY DEPENDS ON
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