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THIS EDITION

• How modularisation stacks up in mining

• Storm over Collinsville power plant

• Isa phosphate venture back on the boil

• Green light for Galilee rail corridors

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1The Mining Advocate | July 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

p. (07) 4755 0336 f. (07) 4755 0338

Email: ...............................................................info@miningadvocate.com.au

Address: .........................................U3/11 Carlton St, Kirwan, Q, 4817

Postal: ...................................................... PO Box 945, Townsville, Q, 4810

July 2012

Managing editor: .........................Robert Dark m. 0417 623 156

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Advertising booking deadlineSeptember edition: August 23

FEATURES

12 QME Coal Industry Feature

20 Industry Update

22 Between Shifts

26 Building NW Queensland

28 Living Remotely

29 Mining Families

30 Building Mining Communities

32 Heavy Machinery Review

34 Ivanhoe Feature

35 Emergency Response and Rescue

37 Training

38 Materials Handling

39 Shutdowns

40 Regional Engineering Teams

COVER IMAGE: Dozers at work on the Moranbah North product coal stockpile. Photo: Damien Carty

3 Electrical stormTh e threatened closure of the Collinsville power station under a Federal Government clean energy

campaign has sparked a community outcry and moves to form a locally-based consortium with strategies

to secure the plant’s future.

4 Drawing the line A raft of proposed links from key Galilee and Bowen basin mining projects to Queensland’s coal export hubs

has been narrowed down to a preferred pair under the Newman Government.

9 Next top modelModularisation is rapidly becoming a most valuable mining

sector construction technique, with multiple benefi ts to

combat the major challenges facing the industry.

29 Money matters Th e urge to splash out with high wages can be the undoing of some mining families, warns an adviser who

advocates setting clear fi nancial goals.

35 To the rescue After passing the tests of the Queensland Mines Rescue Service Memorial Cup competition with fl ying colours,

the Kestrel team is gearing up to take on the industry’s best in the EK Healy Cup challenge in July.

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3The Mining Advocate | July 2012 NEWS

LOCAL EXPERTS.LOADS OF EQUIPMENT.

Power struggle

The Collinsville

power plant’s future

is under a cloud.

A range of options are being fl oated for a

North Queensland electricity operation amid

opposition to plans to axe the coal-fi red plant.

Th e threatened closure of Collinsville power station under a Federal Government clean energy campaign is far from a done deal.

Station owner RATCH Australia has indicated it will consider off ers from prospective buyers or partners to upgrade the Collinsville plant to improved environmental standards.

And moves are under way to put together a locally-based consortium to back continued operations at the plant.

Th e 190-megawatt Collinsville station contributes power to the North Queensland electricity grid, generally operating as a peak-load facility.

News the coal-fi red plant had been earmarked for closure under the Gillard Government’s Clean Energy Future program sparked local outcry.

However RATCH chief executive offi cer Steve Loxton said all proposals which could keep the station operating would be considered.

“Th e process involving the Federal Government right now is simply to allow Canberra to get all relevant information to make us an off er for Collinsville,” Mr Loxton told Th e Mining Advocate.

“But a contract for closure is just one option.”

Among the options that could be considered were upgraded technology for continuation as a coal-fi red plant, the possible

switch to gas, or a scheme that used solar power to assist in running the station, he said.

Mr Loxton said upgrading to a better environmental profi le would be a prime consideration.

Th is is welcome news to Mackay businessman Randall Makin, managing director of Waterline Projects. He has been urgently promoting the idea of a consortium to save Collinsville’s power operation.

“You’d be surprised at some of the people and organisations that have contacted us to support the idea,” Mr Makin said.

He envisaged a consortium of Australian and international groups with the latest technologies in cleaner power to approach RATCH with a proposal.

Mr Makin said Abbot Point, less than 100km from Collinsville, would see its coal exports skyrocket from about 18 million tonnes per annum to 100 million tonnes within the decade.

“Th at means fi ve times the energy consumption just for that operation,” he said.

“Th ere are new mines coming online in the nearby region which would also want their power from the closest source, so it is logical to upgrade Collinsville.”

State Member for Burdekin Rosemary Menkens attacked the Gillard Government in a speech to the Queensland Parliament, saying the proposed closure had

sent shock waves throughout North Queensland.

“Th e closure of Collinsville power station will essentially mean the loss of a reliable back-up power supply, with North Queensland forced to rely on central Queensland transmission lines, equating to an additional cost to consumers in the long run,” she said. “A decent cyclone could also quite conceivably leave

the region without power for extended periods of time. Th is prospect is also creating justifi able concerns.”

Closure would aff ect about 50 employees as well as the additional contractors who maintained the plant, she said.

Ms Menkens said the Clean Energy Future program was aimed more at buying Green votes than reducing greenhouse

Regional community leaders have spoken out against the closure option for the Collinsville power station.

Mackay-Whitsunday Regional Economic Development Corporation chief executive offi cer Narelle Pearse believes loss of the power plant could leave the area dangerously exposed during cyclones or fl oods.

“Th ere are no base load power stations north of Rockhampton,” Ms Pearse said. “So there is an opportunity to increase the generation capacity of the Collinsville power station to base load either through expanded coal-fi re capacity or renewable energy (gas).”

Ms Pearse said a closure could also aff ect the region’s general economic expansion.

“Electricity pricing is critical for the agriculture industry to expand, as these are signifi cant input costs and, if too expensive, we fi nd the cost/benefi t equation is tipped in the negative and expansion is stifl ed,” she said.

Th e Whitsunday Regional Council is also alarmed at the possibility of the power station being shut down.

“Our concerns lie with the impact of the reduction of employment and loss of families in the Collinsville and Bowen region, as well as energy security for the future of North Queensland,” Mayor Jennifer Whitney said.

gas emissions. But the Federal

Government is unapologetic about

closure plans under that initiative.

Resources, Energy and Tourism

Minister Martin Ferguson said

the Government’s Contract for

Closure Program was a voluntary

program to negotiate the orderly

exit by 2020 of about 2000MW

of emissions-intensive coal-fi red

electricity generation capacity.

“Closures will be managed

to ensure energy security and

market stability outcomes are

delivered before any capacity

can be withdrawn,” he said in a

statement to Th e Mining Advocate.“Collinsville is one of fi ve

eligible generators which are in

negotiations with the Department

of Resources, Energy and Tourism

on its closure proposal.”

Any outcome must represent

value for money, he said.

Leaders voice concern

4 July 2012 | The Mining AdvocateNEWS

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Galilee rail future mapped outA raft of proposed links from key coal projects

to the state’s export hubs has been narrowed

down to a preferred pair, writes Jan Green.

Th e Newman Government’s

approval of two rail corridors to

service the Bowen and Galilee

basins has been touted as the

most effi cient solution to the

problem of connecting major

resource developments to east

coast ports.

Th e previous Bligh Government

was considering at least six

diff erent private sector railway

proposals for the region.

Th e two-corridor strategy

has been well received

by stakeholders such as

QR National and Carmichael

mine proponent Adani – who

have stated they will work

together on an integrated east-

west Galilee Basin rail proposal.

A proposed east-west corridor

- an extension of QR National’s

existing network from near

Moranbah to the central Galilee

Basin - will link to Abbot Point,

Dalrymple Bay and the planned

Dudgeon Point coal export

facility.

A north-south rail corridor

along the proposed GVK-

Hancock Coal rail project

alignment will enable new

standard-gauge rail lines to

link planned large-scale mining

operations in the southern

Galilee Basin to Abbot Point,

near Bowen.

GVK chairman and managing

director Dr GVK Reddy said the

investment would deliver wider

benefi ts as it provided initial and

additional capacity to satisfy the

Galilee and Bowen basins’ future

rail requirements.

QR National managing

director and chief executive

offi cer Lance Hockridge

said the Government’s

sensible, staged approach to

the expansion of the Bowen

and Galilee basins would

drive signifi cant growth in the

Australian resources sector.“By delivering a solution

that utilises the scalability of the existing network with an innovative greenfi elds solution, we are supporting industry needs while minimising the impact on the community and the environment,” he said.

Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said the decision to confi ne Galilee Basin rail options to just two corridors combined maximum transport effi ciency with minimum landholder impact.

“We will require that the two rail corridors are open to third party access and available to all mine proponents, negating the need for any other rail corridors,” Mr Seeney said.

Waratah Coal is continuing work on its $8.5 billion China First Coal Project near Alpha – which includes a railway proposal.

“We are still pursuing approvals through State and Federal Governments and hoping for favourable outcomes,” a company spokesman said. The preferred common rail corridors linking coalfi elds growth areas to ports.

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6 July 2012 | The Mining AdvocateNEWS

Top dollars are on off er for the

new class of skilled mining

industry worker, a workforce

segment dubbed “orange collar”

because of the distinctive high-

visibility uniforms commonly

worn.

Professionals working in the

mining and resources sector

can expect the highest salary

increases of all industries this

year, according to the 2012 Hays

Salary Guide.

Th e guide reveals salary and

recruiting trends across Australia

and New Zealand, based on

a survey of more than 1500

employers.

Key fi ndings included that:

• 55 per cent of mining and

resources employers saw salaries

increase 3-6 per cent last

year, above the average for all

industries of 46 per cent;

• 55 per cent of mining and

resources employers intend

to increase salaries between 3

and 6 per cent when they next

review;

• new major projects,

expansions and the ongoing

skills shortage are fuelling a

New projects and expansions are contributing

to a fi erce race for talent in the resources

sector, a leading recruitment group reports.

Wages on the rise for mine skills

fi erce race for the top talent.

Hays Resources and Mining

senior regional director Simon

Winfi eld said mining industry

companies were turning to new

strategies to keep up with the

staff demand.

“In response to the skills

shortage, many employers

are turning to contract staff ,

Salary trends are refl ecting high demand for mining’s “orange collar” workers. Photo: Roslyn Budd

interstate candidates or

sponsorship to fi ll skills gaps,”

Mr Winfi eld said.

“Th ey are becoming more

fl exible in terms of experience

and will provide training to get a

candidate to the required level.

“Mining-specifi c universities

in Europe and North America

are the target for a number of

mining companies looking to

secure graduates and they are

also looking further afi eld to

source specifi c tradespeople and

skilled operators that qualify for

a 457 visa.”

Mr Winfi eld said retention

was an increasingly important

priority.

“Benefi ts are rising as a result.

Th ese include health insurance,

novated car leases, share options,

income protection, fl exible super

contributions, long-service

leave and even-time rosters.

Improved FIFO (fl y in-fl y out)

rosters are also being off ered,”

he said.

“Th e sheer number of mining

projects in Australia will see

employers continue to compete

for orange collar candidates over

the years ahead.”

Each state has its own particular staff shortages.

In Queensland, the engineer is king.

Engineers are the most sought-after professionals, with demand far outstripping supply.

Second on the demand list are geologists - both production and exploration - together with maintenance planning and scheduling experts.

In the trades, there is constant demand for operators and diesel fi tters.

Who is most

in demand?

Incitec Pivot’s new $1 billion Dyno Nobel plant at Moranbah has produced its fi rst batch of product.

Production of ammonium nitrate – an essential component in the manufacture of explosives - began in the fi rst week of July.

“Th is is a great milestone for our construction, commissioning and production teams,” Dyno Nobel Moranbah operations manager Kyle Gimpl said.

“Producing our fi rst tonnes was particularly pleasing because it came after almost four

million man-hours worked on site without a

lost-time injury.”

Mr Gimpl said achieving a “zero harm”

outcome for the workforce, community and

environment was the plant’s top operational

priority.

“As an organisation that has put roots down

in Moranbah, we are proud to highlight the

skill and dedication of our people and their

commitment to the highest standards in

operating our plant,” he said.

Dyno Nobel plant cranks up

7The Mining Advocate | July 2012 NEWS

Legend plans back on the boil A change in local government is expected to

kick along the process towards developing a

major north-west Queensland resources project.

New Mount Isa Mayor Tony McGrady has wasted no time in turning into action man on the stalled Legend International Holdings phosphate venture.

Cr McGrady said company talks with the previous council had been bogged down, which showed that the former administration had been opposed to the project.

A key issue has been Legend’s role in providing aff ordable housing to off set accommodation problems caused by an infl ux of workers.

Cr McGrady, the straight-talking former State Mines and Energy Minister, immediately showed he was as good as his mayoral election slogan, “Mount Isa is open for business”.

“Within two days of being elected, I directed that council offi cers meet again with Legend representatives to make it clear that our new council has a diff erent attitude to the Legend project,” he said.

“Th ere are 420 jobs at stake in this matter, and that would be a massive boost to opportunities

here, especially for our youth.”His council’s positive approach

did not make it “a soft touch”, Mr McGrady said, and council negotiators would always be aware that their primary task was to represent the ratepayers and get the best deal for them.

But he said he felt new negotiations were going very well.

Mr McGrady said there was an area in the city that was ripe

for the development of up to 300 aff ordable houses, and if such a project was completed it would make Mount Isa more liveable for families and therefore encourage people to stay. He said Legend would have to pay its fair share of infrastructure when it came to

matters aff ecting the community.Th e mayor declined to put

a timeframe on the matter being successfully fi nalised, but considering the council application approvals process he believed Legend may have a green light early next year.

Legend’s Paradise phosphate project, worth $800 million, is expected to have a working life of up to 60 years.

Th e company proposes to build a fertiliser manufacturing plant in Mount Isa, to be fed by multiple phosphate deposits in the region.

Th e $1.25 billion MMG zinc-lead-silver

project at Dugald River, 65km north-west

of Cloncurry, is on track for a 2014 start-up,

subject to fi nal board approvals later this year.

About 100 workers are preparing the site,

including two exploration declines expected

to intersect with the main part of the ore body

before Christmas.

Th e project is based on one of the world’s

largest and highest grade undeveloped

zinc-lead-silver deposits, with a resource of

53 million tonnes at 12.5 per cent zinc, 1.9 per

cent lead and 36g/tonne silver.

MMG has bought and refurbished an

offi ce in Cloncurry, and in June entered into

a $17 million agreement with Minmetals

Australia for the supply of permanent village

accommodation for the project.

Qualifi ed local people are in the box seat to

get a job among the 500 positions expected to

be on off er when the Dugald River operation

starts in earnest. A company spokesman said MMG’s fi rst preference was to employ Cloncurry-based personnel where skill sets allowed.

“However, as the total personnel requirement is unlikely to be satisfi ed under that arrangement, a fl y in-fl y out operation will also be required with employees and contractors accommodated in the site village,” he said.

Dugald River works advance

Tony McGradyMount Isa Mayor

8 July 2012 | The Mining AdvocateNEWS

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Key postfor WhyteEnsuring accountability to members and adding

fresh vigour to negotiations in an ongoing coal

dispute are among this leader’s priorities.

Veteran miner and union offi cial

Tim Whyte is the new district

secretary of the CFMEU

Mining and Energy Division,

and he intends to use his

position to keep the pressure

on BMA in stalled talks about

wages and conditions.

Mr Whyte won the May

ballot over incumbent Jim

Valery and offi cially took offi ce

at the start of the fi nancial year.

Mr Whyte has been a miner

for 27 years and has acted as

a union representative for 10

years, taking on the full-time

position of CFMEU industry

health and safety representative

in the past six years.

He has also been the vice-

president of the Moranbah

North Lodge.

“I joined the union on the

fi rst day on the job, and I’ve

never since wavered in my

commitment to unionism,” Mr

Whyte said.

He said his immediate focus

would be the dispute with

BMA (BHP Billiton Mitsubishi

Alliance) over wages and

conditions at the company’s

seven Bowen Basin coal sites.

Mr Whyte has promised to

maintain the pressure on the

company through lightning

stoppages and certain legally

sanctioned actions, and said he

hoped to bring new vigour to

the negotiating process. Outside

of this immediate issue, Mr

Whyte said his core task was to

refocus the CFMEU’s priorities

and resources to those matters

directly aff ecting members in

their day-to-day working lives.

Th e new district secretary

said he would aim to ensure his

leadership was open, honest and

transparent, that he would be

fully accountable to all members

for their union funds, and would

ensure the CFMEU had the

appropriate resources to support

and defend the industrial,

legal and safety interests of the

membership.

Tim WhyteCFMEU district secretary

Taking snapshots during a trip around Australia more than 10 years ago opened Damien Carty’s eyes to his potential as a photographer.

Th e central Queensland-based snapper has since moved on from the weddings and family portraits side of his early commercial photography ventures to focus on his keen interest in mining and industrial work.

“It’s a lot less stressful than working with brides,” Mr Carty said. “I really like photographing machinery and industry. A lot of my work these days is capturing in-the-moment working portraits.”

Mr Carty, a regular contributor to Th e Mining Advocate, has been running the Minco Photography business with partner Hayley Hemsworth for about 18 months.

Minco Photography and major client BIS Industries are holding an exhibition in July and August to showcase Mr Carty’s images featuring machinery and workers

from mine sites throughout the

Bowen Basin and Hunter Valley

regions.

Th e photos will be on display

at Milton Gallery in Mackay

from July 24 to August 11,

with the opening night co-

inciding with the fi rst day of the

2012 Queensland Mining and

Engineering (QME) exhibition.

Th e Coalface Art Gallery

in Moranbah will host the

exhibition from August 13 to 24.

A Minco Photography image of workers operating a rapid face bolter at

Newlands mine in the Bowen Basin.

Damien CartyMinco Photography owner

Portraits of an industry

An increasing number of FIFO workers are seeking help for

gambling problems, according to one of Queensland’s leading

community support services.

Steve Dobson, from Uniting Care, said counsellors were

being called on for help and fi nancial advice by more and

more workers from Queensland’s mining sector.

Mr Dobson said the isolation, loneliness and depression

sometimes attached to the FIFO lifestyle appeared to be

leading to gambling problems, among other issues.

Rise in gambling concerns

9The Mining Advocate | July 2012 NEWS

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OUR REPUTATION IS BUILT ON SOLUTIONS NATIONWIDE

Use the word modularisation

in connection with the mining

industry and people are likely to

think of a few specially designed

“dongas” for FIFO workers on

remote sites.

But modularisation is much

more than that, and it is rapidly

becoming a most valuable mining

sector construction technique,

with multiple benefi ts to combat

the major challenges facing the

industry.

United Group Resources

business development manager

Trevor Cheeseman is one of

the industry fi gures who see

an almost unlimited future for

modularisation.

“Th e future of this technique

is expanding so rapidly, we are

going from 350-tonne modules

to 5000–7000-tonne modules and

we’ll be going to bigger modules

in the future,” Mr Cheeseman

said. “But there are a lot of

studies and feasibilities to be

done before we get that far.”

In simple terms, modularisation

is the technique of designing

The potential benefi ts of this construction

technique are attracting growing interest

throughout Australia’s resources sector.

Modular approach stacks upa project in sectional stages, or modules, which can be assembled Lego-like on site.

Th e modules can be built just about anywhere in the world, then shipped as a single unit to the site and linked into the overall infrastructure.

One of the recognised leaders in the fi eld, Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM), has reported on a dramatic success story for modularisation.

SKM was contracted to install a 261m extension of a fi nger wharf 3km off shore from Cape Lambert in Western Australia for Rio Tinto Iron Ore. After fabrication in China, seven wharf modules were transported by heavy-lift ship to the site, transferred to the piles and welded into position, with a fully modularised shiploader also being installed on the completed wharf.

SKM also applied the modularisation technique to the $1.4 billion expansion of Rio Tinto’s Dampier port facilities in WA.

Th e key to the successful delivery of the largest project in the expansion program involved a world-fi rst modular approach to heavy wharf construction that reduced on-site labour.

Th is complex expansion was

achieved while setting a new industry safety benchmark of fi ve million man hours without a single loss of an hour to injury.

SKM emphasises that the benefi ts of modularisation are not restricted to the construction of wharves and loading facilities - it has valuable applications at mining sites as well.

Th e company said while machinery for stackers and reclaimers traditionally would have been assembled

after arriving in pieces on a construction site, for example, these machines were now landing fully assembled on shore and being transferred to large, multi-wheeled self-steer platforms to transport to site.

Th e latest developments in this “build it there, install it here” world will be showcased at IQPC’s third annual modular construction and prefabrication conference, to be held in Brisbane on July 25 and 26.

BMA Peak Downs Mine raised more than $100,000 in 2012 to take out the World’s Greatest Shave Mining and Energy Challenge for the second year in a row.

More than $540,000 was raised across Queensland by resources sector participants – the highest in the history of the challenge.

Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland chief executive offi cer Bill Petch said funds raised by the 52 registered Mining and Energy Challenge teams had contributed to the world-breaking statewide result of more than $5 million generated through the 2012 World’s Greatest Shave.

Other outstanding fundraisers in the resources sector who made it into Queensland’s top 30 list were Anglo American Grasstree Mine, Bechtel Australia, BMA Blackwater Mine, BMC South Walker Creek Mine, Hatch, Peabody North Goonyella Mine, Rio Tinto’s Brisbane offi ce and Xstrata Mount Isa Mines.

Cream of the croppers

SKM successfully applied modularisation in port works in Western Australia.

11The Mining Advocate | July 2012 NEWS

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Report raises alarm on attritionHigh staff turnover rates and their impact on

productivity are at the heart of resource sector

concerns highlighted by the Kinetic Group.

A major report into the state of

the Queensland mining industry

has pinpointed three key issues

holding back the sector’s ability

to capitalise on the worldwide

commodities boom.

Th e Heartbeat 2012 report

was issued by the Kinetic Group,

18.4 per cent left within the fi rst 12 months of employment.

“Th is is really concerning for productivity because, based on these fi gures, the industry will need to replace the equivalent of its whole workforce within 5.8 years,” Mr Hunter said.

Th is view is supported by the statistics gathered on the average age of the workforce, with 22 per

Derek HunterKinetic Group chief executive offi cer

cent over 50 and 3.2 per cent over 60. One third of all new recruits are over 50.

“An ageing workforce is concerning because it exposes the industry to signifi cant risk in terms of losing critical skills knowledge and experience to retirement,” Mr Hunter said.

He urged industry leaders to create strategies to lessen the risk of this loss of skills.

Th is dilemma was linked to another key fi nding; that less than 10 per cent of the industry workforce is under 25 years old.

Th e report concludes that this doesn’t refl ect a lack of interest among young people wishing to enter the industry, but that companies appear to be actively seeking workers with previous experience or transferable skills.

A large proportion of newcomers have been recruited in their late twenties, indicating previous experience is a key consideration. “Th is highlights the lack of pathway programs for young people to enter the industry,” Mr Hunter said.

Another of the report’s

fi ndings relates to the hot-button

issue of the moment, the rapid

increase in the FIFO and DIDO

workforce.

“One third of all workers live

more than 300km away from

their place of work, and this part

of the workforce has a turnover

more than double the rest of the

industry,” Mr Hunter said.

Yet the Queensland

Resources Council expects

enormous growth in this style

of employment, which could see

75 per cent of the state’s mining

workers becoming FIFO or

DIDO staff .

Mr Hunter said it was not all

doom and gloom, and these were

challenges that could and would

be overcome.

“It’s important that we focus

our attention on the solutions,”

he said. “Th e report’s fi ndings

may paint a grim picture,

but the industry growth and

opportunities available mean we

can easily turn this around.”

formerly the Mining Industry

Skills Centre.

Kinetic chief executive offi cer

Derek Hunter said the report

contained information to help

the industry manage future skills

shortages and assist government

in developing responsive policy.

Th e most concerning fi ndings

of Heartbeat 2012 are;

• heavy costs – estimated at

$140 million annually – caused by the high turnover rate of mining staff ,

• the turnover rate among fl y in-fl y out (FIFO) and drive in-drive out (DIDO) workers is double that of the rest of the industry, but it is the fastest

growing lifestyle/work model in

the sector,

• an ageing workforce, which is

not being adequately replaced by

younger workers coming into the

industry.

Th e Heartbeat 2012 report

found an annual personnel

turnover in the sector, including

contractors, of 24.4 per cent.

Of this group, an alarming

“An ageing workforce is concerning because it exposes

the industry to signifi cant risk of losing critical skills”

Ivanhoe Australia’s fi rst copper concentrate

shipment from the Osborne mine in

north-west Queensland left the Port of

Townsville in June bound for a Japanese

smelter.

Th e 10,612 wet metric tonnes of

concentrate contained copper to the

value of about $15 million and about

$5.5 million in gold.

Ivanhoe Australia general manager

operations Neal Valk said it had taken

seven milling and processing campaigns to

produce the concentrate at the renovated

Osborne concentrator plant.

Northern Stevedoring Services was

responsible for trucking the shipment to

the port, port storage and loading.

Th e concentrate, comprising about

400 container loads, was delivered to the

Townsville port over a three-month period.

“Th at represented more than 100

truckloads,” Mr Valk said.

“From a production point of view,

we hope to be trucking 1200 tonnes

of concentrate a week to the Port of

Townsville and plan three more shipments

during the remainder of the year.”

Ivanhoe Australia chief executive

offi cer Ines Scotland described the

commencement of cashfl ow from Osborne

as an important development for the

company.

Th e company has since announced the

outcome of a strategic and operational

review launched after Rio Tinto took

control of Ivanhoe Mines.

It will see up to 50 staff positions axed

and the implementation of potential

annual cost savings of about $10 million.

Phase two of the review, expected to be

completed within the next three months,

will confi rm the direction of Ivanhoe

Australia’s development program and

consider all available options to optimise

the value of the company’s project

portfolio.

Completion of the second phase is

expected to deliver capital cost savings

of about $25 million and operating cost

savings of around 5 per cent.

• Ivanhoe Australia feature - Page 34

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13The Mining Advocate | July 2012 QME Coal Industry Feature

Grosvenor shifts into gearConstruction has kicked off for Anglo American’s $US1.7 billion Grosvenor project near Moranbah.

Th e initial focus will be on bulk earthworks, site access roads and the cut and cover tunnels for two drifts.

Anglo American announced in June that it had received Queensland Government approval for a mining lease for the greenfi eld project, expected to create up to 1000 jobs in construction and operation.

Th e new longwall mine, targeting the same coal seam as the Moranbah North operation, forms a major part of the group’s strategy to triple metallurgical coal production by 2020.

Th e other planks of this strategy include development of the proposed 12mtpa Moranbah South underground mine, effi ciencies achieved through the company’s Longwall 100 model at Bowen Basin mines and some contributions from its Canadian assets.

Anglo American has engaged Hatch to act as engineering, procurement and construction management provider for the growth projects.

Th e partners aim to implement a standard “Longwall of the Future” design and common coal handling

preparation plant (CHPP) design across the two new mines as well as Anglo’s Moranbah North and Grasstree operations.

Anglo American Metallurgical Coal business chief executive offi cer Seamus French said securing the Grosvenor mining lease was a win for local business, State Government and the local community.

It would bring with it a steady stream of royalties, supply opportunities and support through the company’s Moranbah 2020 $20 million community investment, Mr French said.

First development coal production at Grosvenor will occur in 2013 and longwall mining is set to commence in 2016.

Mr French said there would be more than 350 permanent operational roles created through the project.

Anglo American would start looking for people from a range of backgrounds and varied levels of experience by the end of this year, he said.

“To prepare our future employees without mining experience, Anglo American has a range of programs to help bridge the skills gap,” Mr French said. “We have worked with National Apprenticeships

to develop our Advanced Entry Trades Skills Program, designed for adults with aligned industry experience or qualifi cations wishing to complete a trade apprenticeship within 1.5 years.”

Th e company had also donated key underground mining equipment to Mastermyne’s new Myne Start training complex in Brisbane, where the underground miners of the future would develop their skills in a simulated environment, he said.

Th e Grosvenor construction workforce is to be accommo-dated in the existing Dyno Nobel facility, while Anglo American has pledged to build more than 50 new houses and

townhouses in the Moranbah area for the permanent workforce.

As part of this, 16 new homes were completed in February and a further 25 townhouses and four houses are under construction.

FAST FACTS

Underground longwall

operation to be built at

Moranbah;

Capacity of fi ve million

tonnes per annum of hard

coking coal for export;

Panels mined up to 6.5km

long, with a longwall

cutting face of 300m;

Development to reach

pit bottom by mid-2013,

longwall mining to begin

in 2015;

Coal to be processed

through upgraded

Moranbah North CHPP;

More than 1000 jobs to be

created in construction and

operation.

A bumper range of equipment and services will go on show at the Queensland Mining and Engineering (QME) exhibition to be held at the Mackay Showground from July 24-26.

Th e 2012 event will feature more than 650 exhibitors and will be 20 per cent larger in fl oor area than QME 2010, according to exhibition director Paul Baker from Reed Mining Events.

Mr Baker said QME 2012 came as the region’s coal industry geared up for even more growth, with a recent major projects report from the Bureau of Resource and Energy Economics showing that the industry’s boom conditions had a long way to run.

As well as showcasing products, services and techniques, Mr Baker said QME off ered a one-in-two-year chance to network with peers, suppliers and customers.

QME 2012 will include information and advice sessions from the Mining Family Matters website team as part of a strategy to attract “frontline” miners and their families.

Th e team will also be off ering mining companies strategies and information on how best to engage with and manage their fl y in-fl y out and drive in-drive out wokforces.

Th e Mackay Area Industry Network (MAIN) will partner QME organisers in hosting this year’s Bowen Basin Safety Conference on the fi nal day of the exhibition.

MAIN safety committee chair Mick Crowe said the event was aimed at providing managers with the understanding, and some of the tools, to address safety in the workplace to comply legally and to materially benefi t their operations.

About 10,700 people visited QME 2010, which featured just over 600 exhibitors.

In a bid to tackle local accommodation shortages, QME 2012 organisers have planned a tent city with the potential to accommodate several hundred people on council land at South Mackay. Reed Mining Events encourages QME visitors to use the website at www.queenslandminingexpo.com.au to register and to plan their visit.

Hyundai Construction Equipment Australia’s R1200-9 crawler

excavator is among the products to be showcased at QME 2012.

Professor Binna Kandola with Anglo American Metallurgical Coal human

resources head David Diamond.

Anglo American has highlighted its commitment to diversity as it gears up to recruit for the new Grosvenor mine.

Th e company recently joined the Queensland Resources Council and organisational culture consultancy Diversity Partners in hosting a special Women in Mining and Resources Queensland (WIMARQ) event in Brisbane with a world expert on unconscious bias.

Head of human resources for Anglo American’s Metallurgical Coal business, David Diamond, said he was delighted to welcome Professor Binna Kandola to Brisbane as he shared his insights on ways to overcome unconscious bias and build a successful organisational culture based on inclusion and diversity.

“As a global business, Anglo American is building a workplace where we embrace the real meaning of global - diff ering nationalities, religious beliefs, thinking styles, gender, ethnicity, age and ability,” Mr Diamond said.

“Anglo American has the most attractive growth strategy compared to any other coal company, but we are still faced with ever-increasing challenges

to attract people to deliver this growth.

“In terms of attracting talent, we need to increase the size of the pool by allowing more people the opportunity to enter and remain in the industry, which is why it is really important for us to understand why unconscious bias exists and recognise it in our behaviours to ensure we are not missing out on new opportunities or great people.

“Th e mining industry has come a long way from its traditional male-dominated roots, which has been refl ected by the growing representation

of women in senior roles and

improved working conditions.

“As a multiple award winner at

the QRC’s Resources Awards for

Women, we want to bring even

more women into our business.”

From early next year Anglo

American would be looking

for people from a range of

backgrounds and varied levels of

experience to operate the new

Grosvenor mine, he said.

“We will also be increasing

gender balance by encouraging

more women to consider

available positions,” Mr

Diamond said.

Anglo American keen to

broaden coalfi elds workforce Bumper year for QME exhibition

Work on the Grosvenor site access road at Moranbah.

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15The Mining Advocate | July 2012 QME Coal Industry Feature

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BMA powers ahead at new sites A raft of major Bowen Basin projects has

shifted from the planning and approvals

phase to a mighty burst of on-site activity.

More than 800 contractors are working on the construction of BMA’s new Daunia mine, which is expected to produce fi rst coal in 2013.

BMA recently reported that work had begun on the coal handling and preparation plant (CHPP) and the run of mine (ROM) area.

Other construction works under way include the mining industrial area and associated infrastructure, a rail overpass bridge and a 66kV powerline from the Millennium substation to Daunia mine.

Th e new mine, 18km south-west of Coppabella in the northern section of the Bowen Basin, is expected to reach full production of up to 4.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of semi-hard coking coal and pulverised coal injection (PCI)

material for export by 2014.Construction activity for the

$US1.6 billion project began in mid-2011, with about 1000 contractors expected to be involved in the development and 450 people employed in operations.

Meanwhile bulk earthworks have commenced for the new Caval Ridge mine, south-east of Moranbah, which is due to begin production in 2014.

Th e open-cut mine will produce up to 5.5mtpa of quality hard coking coal and a new CHPP is expected to process an additional 2.5mtpa of product coal from the expansion of the neighbouring Peak Downs Mine.

Th e Caval Ridge project and Peak Downs expansion are expected to cost $US4.2 billion combined.

BMA plans to upgrade local

intersections of the Peak Downs

Highway to support its expanded

operations, with work to start

in the second half of 2012, and

is well advanced with work on a

new Moranbah Airport terminal

facility.

Th e $46 million upgrade will

deliver a new terminal, a surfaced

public parking area, and a new

airport intersection to improve

safety and airport access.

Construction of the coal handling and preparation plant at BMA’s Daunia mine site.

BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance has set the wheels in motion for a greenfi eld mine with the potential to follow the Daunia and Caval Ridge projects in its Bowen Basin development pipeline.

An environmental impact statement is being developed for the Red Hill underground project, located beside BMA’s Goonyella Riverside mine outside Moranbah.

An expansion of the Goonyella Riverside mine was identifi ed in 2008 as one of BMA’s Bowen Basin Coal Growth Projects.

Th is growth strategy includes the Daunia and Caval Ridge mine developments as well as the ongoing Hay Point coal terminal expansion and the relocation and upgrade of the Moranbah airport.

BMA said further work on the Goonyella Riverside expansion identifi ed an underground component as a greenfi eld mine opportunity, now named Red Hill.

Th e mining giant has commenced feasibility studies, including the

development of an environmental

impact statement (EIS).

Project construction would be

expected to take about 28 months from

2015 once necessary government and

owner approvals have been obtained.

Th e project is expected to involve the

development of an underground mine

producing up to 14 million tonnes per

annum (mtpa) of product coal, with an

expected mine life of 25 years.

Facilities are likely to include a new

coal handling and preparation plant, a

network of bore holes and associated

infrastructure to de-gas the mine

footprint, and a new train load-out

facility and rail loop.

Th e Red Hill project team has been

holding discussions with landholders

and leaseholders adjacent to the project,

government, traditional owners, non-

government organisations, community

members and BMA employees.

Th e company said it would continue

to communicate and consult with

stakeholders throughout the EIS

process.

The BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) recently launched its Local Buying Program in the Bowen Basin, with community information sessions in Blackwater, Dysart, Emerald and Moranbah in June.

Th e BMA Local Buying Program aims to provide opportunities for businesses with fewer than 25 full-time employees to competitively supply goods and services to BMA mining operations and the operations of BHP Billiton Mitsui Coal (BMC).

BMA asset president Stephen Dumble said the program would deliver real value for BMA’s host communities.

“Not only will the Local Buying Program address the barriers for local small businesses in engaging with us, it will also off er pathways for them to develop their skills and capabilities, so that they can grow and achieve their own goals,” Mr Dumble said.

BMA has partnered with the Mackay Whitsunday Regional Economic Development Corporation (REDC) to deliver the program through a new entity called C-Res (Community Resourcing).

REDC chief executive offi cer Narelle Pearse said the partnership would bring signifi cant economic benefi ts to the region by opening up greater

opportunities for local business and

industry.

“Th e region has a wealth of industry

related products and services, and

this partnership enables smaller

organisations to showcase their

capabilities under a more simplifi ed

system,” Ms Pearse said.

“We look forward to seeing the

growth that follows this innovative

partnership.”

Focus on Red Hill as coalgiant eyes further growth

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17The Mining Advocate | July 2012 QME Coal Industry Feature

Yancoal lists on ASXYancoal Australia, a new fi rm created

by the merger of Gloucester Coal and China’s Yancoal, listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in late June.

Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche said Yancoal had emerged as one of Australia’s largest listed coal mining companies with signifi cant assets in Queensland.

“Yancoal’s rise over the past eight years refl ects the level of confi dence that its major shareholder – Yanzhou Coal – has in the future of the export coal industry and Queensland,” Mr Roche said.

Yancoal owns Yarrabee mine near Blackwater and Cameby Downs mine near Miles along with a 50 per cent share in the Middlemount project. It is also a stage-one owner in the Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal at Gladstone.

Springsure Creek boostBandanna Energy has committed an

extra $50 million towards advancing development of its Springsure Creek project, 36km south-east of Emerald.

A defi nitive feasibility study is under way for the underground coal project, which has an annual export allocation of 4 million tonnes through the new Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal and is expected to export fi rst coal to customers in the second half of 2014.

Managing director Michael Gray said Bandanna had accepted a senior secured bank guarantee facility with Credit Suisse for $67.3 million.

“Th is facility and the signifi cant progress made on the defi nitive feasibility study process, ensures that Bandanna is positioned to become Australia’s next coal producer,” he said.

Billion-tonne tally Coalbank has released a maiden resource

statement for its Blackall project, confi rming a total inferred resource of 1.3 billion tonnes of thermal coal for the Inverness deposit, located immediately south of Blackall in south-western Queensland.

Coalbank chief executive offi cer Bruce Patrick said one of the most exciting

Extension on a roll

Th e Kestrel Mine Extension north-east of Emerald continues to advance, with

trucks recently transporting coal from the project to Kestrel North operations

via a new coal haulage road.

Contractor Ausenco is responsible for managing underground and surface

infrastructure construction as well as coal preparation plant upgrade work on the

project for the Kestrel Joint Venture.

It is delivering these services under a project construction management

contract to extend the life of the Rio Tinto Coal Australia-managed site and

increase annual production capacity to 5.7 million tonnes.

Work on the $US2 billion extension project is due for completion in 2013.

First trucks transport coal from the Kestrel Mine Extension via the recently completed

haulage road.

aspects of the project was how shallow it was. Inferred resources of 825 million tonnes were estimated at less than 50m depth, with 1.249 billion estimated at less than 100m depth.

Maiden resource for InjuneAquila Resources has announced a

maiden resource of 826.9 million tonnes for its Injune thermal coal project, near the town of Injune in the Surat Basin.

Th is included an inferred resource of 671.4 million tonnes and a measured and indicated resource of 155.5 million tonnes.

Wilton plans advanceCoal of Queensland has completed the

fi rst step in the environmental impact statement process for its Wilton project, with the submission of the draft terms of reference to the State Government.

Th e Wilton project, next to Ensham mine north-east of Emerald, has an inferred resource of 6.3 billion tonnes of coking coal.

Saraji plant overhaulSedgman has secured a $27.7 million

engineering, procurement and construction contract with BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) to upgrade the coal preparation plant at Saraji mine, 30km north of Dysart.

Th e upgrade is scheduled to be completed in the second quarter of 2013.

Peak Downs contractLeighton Contractors has been awarded

a three-year contract worth $604 million for the provision of mining services at the Peak Downs mine in central Queensland.

Th e contract, awarded by BMA, extends the services provided at Peak Downs mine and includes project management, fl eet maintenance and operational services for overburden mining at the project.

Coal-powered jetsettersLinc Energy has demonstrated the use of

jet fuel produced at its Chinchilla facility through a 4200km fl ight across Australia.

Th is was the fi rst time that fuel produced via underground coal gasifi cation and gas-

to-liquids technologies had powered a jet

aircraft, Linc Energy chief executive offi cer

Peter Bond said.

He said the fuel performed brilliantly

during the Jet A1 Dash, which started in

Perth and fi nished in Chinchilla near Linc

Energy’s facility.

Alpha under scrutiny A decision by federal Environment

Minister Tony Burke to “stop the clock” on

assessment of GVK Hancock’s $6.4 billion

Alpha mine and rail project has been

criticised as a case of downing tools and

creating huge investor uncertainty.

“Here we have the new Queensland

Government pulling out all stops to get

the Queensland economy moving, while a

key federal minister appears to have gone

on strike,” Queensland Resources Council

chief executive Michael Roche said.

Mr Burke said the Government had been working closely with the company to ensure that it had suffi cient information and assurance on a range of matters that needed to be addressed under national environment law.

Queensland’s Co-ordinator-General has provided conditional approval for the mine, 130km south-west of Clermont.

Mr Burke said it was agreed at a meeting with key Queensland ministers in June that his department would conduct a separate national environmental assessment process for the Alpha project.

“In doing so, my department has stopped the clock on the approval timeline whilst it seeks further information from the company,” he said.

“Stopping the clock does not mean stopping the process. In fact the process has progressed signifi cantly during this recent period.”

Transporting heavy, oversize mining equipment requires specialised equipment and often extensive planning with detailed strategies.

When Toll NQX recognised this need some years ago, a straightline and project services function was set up, supported by a mining-specifi c project management capability.

“We provide a one-stop shop in the management and co-ordination of site-specifi c projects, such as shutdowns and longwall moves, in addition to traditional express mining and breakdown services, project management and contract work,” national manager, straightline and project services, Doug Rae said.

“We also operate a coastal shipping, container handling and storage business from the Port of Brisbane, all of which are a great value-add to the traditional Toll NQX network business.”

Mr Rae described a dragline shutdown as just one example of the sorts of mine-specifi c jobs Toll NQX carried out.

“A shutdown could involve 20 to 30 trailer loads plus heavy haulage in a relatively short space of time,” he said.

“With projects like this, planning and co-ordination is everything. We take care to manage capacity and stage arrival and

delivery times so we’re not choking the job with a glut of equipment, and that components and consumables arrive at exactly the right time and in the right sequence.

“None of this is possible without the right people. Attention to detail is everything and we have a great team with a lot of experience and expertise in this sort of work. Without them, this business just wouldn’t exist.”

NQX national manager, straightline and project

services, Doug Rae with regional development

manager, south Queensland, John Gunning.

Motherson Elastomers has been supplying the mining, automotive and railway industry supply chains with a wide variety of rubber and other products for the past 30 years.

Th e Victorian plant is also one of the largest non-tyre rubber manufacturers and the only manufacturer of Silentbloc anti-vibration mountings in Australia.

In addition to the domestic market, the company has supplied in Taiwan, the United States, New Zealand and India.

Motherson Elastomers has developed full in-house design capabilities including complete tool room (CAD, CAM and CNC) and product testing facilities to engineer and manufacture rubber products from initial concept to full-scale production.

“Th e rubber mixing plant has an extensive range of over 1900 material formulations which includes more than 15 diff erent polymers,” general manager Gordon Hardcastle said. “Rubber is mixed with both tangential and intermeshing mixer technologies.”

Th e company’s industrial division

produces a range of products from anti-

vibration mounts to wheel chocks, hose

ramps, couplings and bearings which carry

the world-renowned Silentbloc trademark.

Th e extrusion portfolio of the company

consists of rubber extrusion with duplex

and driplex compound extrusion lines,

providing robust product design to reduce

warranty risk and achieve cost-eff ective

performance solutions.

The Bendigo manufacturing facility.

Rubber range stretches across many applications

Heavyweights in transport

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19The Mining Advocate | July 2012 QME Coal Industry Feature

Stage one of the Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal (WICET) at Gladstone is about 20 per cent complete as proponents forge ahead with plans for an expansion to more than double capacity.

Th e initial stage of the industry-funded WICET facility will provide 27 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) in additional coal export capacity from the Port of Gladstone, with fi rst shipments planned from 2014.

Earthworks and civil works for bunds, roads, bridges and the planned 5.5km overland conveyor are continuing, while general construction of the rail receival buildings has also begun.

Meanwhile WICET recently announced that it had executed capacity commitment deeds with four coal producers for 32.2mtpa of additional export capacity to support the proposed second stage of the terminal (WEXP1), planned for completion in 2016.

Th e four coal producers were Aquila Coal – for its Washpool project, Cockatoo Coal – for the Collingwood project, Stanmore Coal - for Th e Range, and

Xstrata Coal – for the Wandoan project.

WICET is progressing engineering and early works while working with the four producers and associated infrastructure providers to plan and align fi nancing and delivery of the WEXP1 project.

A spokesman said the organisation had received expressions of interest for more than 175mtpa of coal export capacity from more than 20 prospective producers for shipments from an expanded terminal in 2015/2016.

“A feasibility study for the fi rst expansion (WEXP1) of 30-32mtpa has been completed and a feasibility study for a similar sized second expansion (WEXP2) is expected to be completed mid-2012,” he said.

All major construction and procurement packages for stage one works have been awarded.

BMD Group is undertaking the civil works for the project, John Holland secured the $220 million contract for construction works on the

Export terminal surges aheadMining companies have pledged support for

the next phase of development as this key

coal infrastructure starts to take shape.

stockyards for stage one, and a

$330 million contract for marine

works has been awarded to a joint

venture between Monadelphous

and Muhibbah Construction.

Monadelphous is also

contracted to construct the

shiploader and to supply

fabricated steelwork and

mechanical components for

stacker bridges and runway

support gantries associated with

the WICET coal stockyard.

Site preparation and initial

construction work on the

terminal began in September

last year, with bulk earthworks

contracts awarded to Civil

Mining Construction and a joint

venture between Abigroup and

Gladstone contractor Golding.

An aerial view highlights progress on the Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal (WICET) project at Gladstone.

Xstrata Coal expects to clear the fi nal hurdle in the Queensland

Government approval process for its Wandoan project - the granting of a

mining lease - within six months.

An Xstrata Coal spokesman said the associated rail and port

developments required for the thermal coal mine had all received

their necessary environmental approvals and were progressing towards

fi nancial close.

“Th e mine development is continuing with detailed design to ensure

it is aligned with the rail and port developments to trigger construction

when their fi nancing arrangements are complete,” he said

Th e Surat Basin project is in the feasibility stage and still subject to

fi nal investment decision by Xstrata, which is involved in a merger deal

with Glencore International.

“If approved, start of production remains three to four years away,” the

spokesman said.

“While the resource sector in Australia currently faces a number of

issues, we take a long-term – and global – view on each of our potential

mining investments. In the long term, we believe demand for natural

resources will remain strong so the Wandoan project continues to

rank highly on our list of potential projects and it could make a major

contribution to Australia’s resource sector and our wider economy.”

Th e Queensland Land Court in March recommended that the State

Government approve Xstrata Coal’s mining lease applications for the

Wandoan coal project after a 2011 hearing relating to objections received

from eight landholders and Friends of the Earth Australia. Th e Xstrata

Coal spokesman said the company anticipated the lease would be

granted in the fourth quarter of 2012.

A number of design packages and consultancy agreements had been

let as part of the early planning for the Wandoan coal project, however

no major contractors had been appointed at this stage, he said.

Th e Wandoan project involves an Xstrata Coal joint venture with

ICRA (Itochu) and Sumisho Coal Australia, who each own 12.5 per

cent of the venture.

Th e mining lease application area covers about 32,000ha and the

proposed operation is expected to include an open-cut coal mine, a coal

handling and preparation plant, and support facilities.

Wandoan lease

decision nearMetroCoal covers its basesSecuring export capacity for its Surat Basin projects has been a key focus for explorer MetroCoal, which has invested in two terminal proposals in the Gladstone area.

Chief operating offi cer Th eo Psaros said the Australian company had decided early on that it must be proactive on this issue and in community engagement in particular.

“We’ve invested funds in the Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal (WICET) stage two feasibility study,” Mr Psaros said.

“At the same time – with the demand for WICET being signifi cant - we took the strategic decision to invest in (Yarwun coal terminal proponent) 3TL. MetroCoal holds 20 per cent of the company and has a priority arrangement for 11.5mtpa capacity.”

Th e importance to MetroCoal of such port access, as well as development of the Surat Basin Rail, was clear.

“I present to potential investors in North America and throughout Asia,” Mr Psaros said.

“Th ey appreciate we’ve got the resources, but the No.1 question they always ask is ‘how are you going to get your coal out of Australia’?”

MetroCoal welcomed the Queensland Government’s recent declaration of Tenement to Terminal’s (3TL’s) Yarwun proposal as a signifi cant project. Meanwhile work is well advanced on the fi rst stage of WICET.

MetroCoal is concentrating its development eff orts on its Bundi and Columboola projects around Wandoan and Miles.

Mr Psaros said the company was on the verge of a signifi cant ramp-up in the Surat Basin, where it has been exploring since 2008

“Th e most exciting aspect of the Surat Basin is that the infrastructure is starting to evolve, particularly with the planned railway,” he said.

“We honestly do believe the Surat is going to

be Australia’s next energy powerhouse region and

not just on the back of the gas companies.”

With the prospect of opening two

underground coal mines within fi ve years, and

those mines likely to have a 20-year life, Mr

Psaros said MetroCoal believed it would play a

signifi cant part in that development.

“An important part of MetroCoal’s

development is we recognised very early on

that we were going to be part of the local

communities,” Mr Psaros said.

“In 2008 we met with key government and

other identities in the district - it was very, very

early but we took a long-term view. We wanted

people to know from an early stage what our

plans were.

“We also wanted them to know we were simply

exploring, but over the next two years as we

move into the approvals process we’ll have more

specifi c information - so it’s vitally important

that our communication with landowners and

local government remains very high.”

He stressed that people should not equate the

sight of drill rigs with inevitable mining, as there

was still a lot of work to be done and challenges

to be overcome.

MetroCoal’s Bundi proposal involves

development of an underground longwall mine

producing about 5mtpa thermal coal, with

development coal produced from late 2015.

Th e Columboola joint venture with SinoCoal

Resources is targeting an initial thermal coal

production target date of 2016/17, with longwall

production to begin in 2018.

MetroCoal has an offi ce in Wandoan and

is looking to establish one in Miles with joint

venture partner SinoCoal.

20 July 2012 | The Mining AdvocateINDUSTRY UPDATE GAS

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“QGC is delivering signifi cant benefi ts

across the QCLNG project area with

more than $1 billion worth of contracts

awarded in the Gladstone region and

nearly $400 million in the Western

Downs region between Toowoomba and

Roma,” Mr Fisher said.

Th e company recently awarded a

$15.5 million contract to Hutchinson

Builders to construct a two-storey

operations and production support

centre in Chinchilla.

Leighton scores contracts

Leighton Contractors will deliver

$800 million worth of gas and water

infrastructure under two key Australia

Pacifi c LNG contracts.

Th ese include a $450 million gas

gathering system being built south of

Miles and a $350 million contract to

construct water treatment facilities at

Condabri Central, Talinga and Reedy

Creek near Roma.

“At peak production it is anticipated

Leighton Contractors will employ

approximately 375 people on the gas

gathering project and a further 580

people on the water treatment facilities,

adding to the 1800 people we employ

in central Queensland’s Bowen Basin

through our coal mining operations,”

Leighton Contractors managing

director Craig Laslett said.

Th e gas gathering system and water

treatment facilities are part of Australia

Pacifi c LNG’s multi-billion dollar coal

seam gas (CSG) to liquefi ed natural gas

(LNG) export project.

Commissioners named

Th e Queensland Cabinet has approved

the appointment of six new GasFields

Commissioners.

Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said the

GasFields Commissioners would take

on the important role of working with

Commission Chairman John Cotter

in managing the co-existence between

rural landholders, regional communities

and the CSG industry.

Th ey include landholder and former

Taroom Mayor Don Stiller, cotton

Totally tubular

Sections of the largest-diameter long-distance pipeline in Australia have begun

to be lowered into the ground near Miles and Wandoan in southern Queensland.

Th e 42-inch (about 1m) diameter steel pipeline, which will be buried for more

than 540km, will take gas from fi elds around Chinchilla to Gladstone as part of

QGC’s Queensland Curtis LNG project.

All 46,200 lengths of pipe have been delivered to sites along the route. About

1250 people are involved in the job - which includes preparing the easement,

welding, testing the welds, digging the trench and burying pipe.

Th e pipeline is being engineered and constructed by a joint venture of

McConnell Dowell and Consolidated Contracting Company Australia.

Pipe jobs fl ow

Brisbane-based Murphy Pipe and Civil

Constructions has won a contract to

install gas and water gathering pipelines

throughout QGC’s gas fi elds in the

Surat Basin.

Th e initial phase of the contract is

worth about $250 million.

Th e two-year contract complements

other work the company is doing

for QGC through innovative “spider

plough” machinery and fast-fusion

welding technology.

In 2011, QGC awarded a $120 million

contract to Iplex Pipelines to supply

high-density polyethylene pipe for the

gas fi elds through a new manufacturing

plant at Toowoomba.

It recently awarded a $70 million

contract to Tyco Water to supply carbon

steel, concrete-lined trunklines and pipe

fi ttings to support water gathering in

QGC’s gas fi elds in the Surat Basin.

Billions spent locally

QGC has spent about $8 billion since

the start of 2010 in the development of

its Queensland Curtis LNG Project and

domestic gas business.

Th e fi gures are contained in QGC’s

latest six-monthly report to the

Queensland Co-ordinator-General on

Australian industry participation.

As at March 31, Queensland and

Australian companies were engaged

on contracts valued at $6.1 billion for

a wide range of goods and services for

QGC and the QCLNG project.

QGC managing director Derek Fisher

said about $4.4 billion of this contracted

work was being done by Queensland-

owned and operated businesses.

farmer Ian Hayllor, Western Downs

Regional Mayor Ray Brown, Australian

Petroleum Production and Exploration

Association chief operating offi cer

Rick Wilkinson, soil scientist Professor

Steven Raine, and Toowoomba and

Surat Basin Enterprise chief executive

offi cer Shane Charles.

Mr Seeney said chairman Cotter

would bring the group together in July

to review the 55 public submissions

and provide feedback on how the

commission should operate.

Australian input

Australia has won a seat on the

International Gas Union (IGU), with

Canberra-based Cheryl Cartwright

joining the executive committee.

Ms Cartwright has been chief executive

for the past seven years of Australia’s

peak gas transmission industry group,

the Australian Pipeline Industry

Association (APIA).

She was elected by the IGU’s 78 charter

members at the recent World Gas

Conference and Exhibition in Kuala

Lumpur, Malaysia.

Ichthys works under way

Construction has started on the

$34 billion Ichthys project, expected to

create more than 4000 new jobs.

Northern Territory Chief Minister

Paul Henderson said the benefi ts from

the massive LNG project were already

starting to fl ow, with more than half a

billion dollars in contracts awarded to

locally based companies.

“JKC shopfront is open for business

and already taking job applications

from Territorians eager to benefi t

from the massive injection into our

economy,” Mr Henderson said. “Th e

fi rst contract awarded by JKC went to

locally based companies Macmahon

and John Holland - the $340 million

site development civil works contract

is the biggest contract awarded in the

Territory’s history to date.”

JKC Joint Venture is the engineering,

procurement and construction

contractor for the Ichthys project.

A 12m length of pipe is lowered into a trench near Miles.

21The Mining Advocate | July 2012 INDUSTRY UPDATE HARD ROCK

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CuDeco has earthworks under way at its Rocklands copper project outside

Cloncurry, with all concrete and foundations planned for completion this year.

CuDeco chairman Wayne McCrae said the site’s crushing circuit was expected

to be commissioned by the end of 2012 and the processing plant in the second

half of 2013.

Th e processing plant to be installed at Rocklands has a capacity of 3 million

tonnes per annum and will produce copper/gold, sulphur/cobalt, native copper

and magnetite concentrates.

Th e project is expected to employ about 160 people in full production and up

to 350 personnel during construction of the processing facility.

Initial ground works have begun at the Rocklands project in north-west Queensland.

Path cleared for growth

Th e Queensland Co-ordinator-General

has given the green light to Rio Tinto

Alcan’s $1.45 billion South of the Embley

bauxite mining extension on Cape York.

Rio Tinto Alcan proposes to expand

its mining operations in the Weipa

area with a new open-cut bauxite mine,

processing facilities, barge and ferry

terminals and a new port and stockpile

facility near Boyd Point. Th e project

would extend the life of bauxite mining

near Weipa for

another 40 years.

Rio Tinto Alcan

president Pat Fiore

said an average

of 950 workers

would be required

for construction,

while operational

employee numbers

would range up to

1200 depending on

production rates.

He said the

company intended

to be in a position

to commence

construction as soon

as Commonwealth

approval and other

relevant permits and

authorities were received.

Little Eva heats up

Altona Mining has announced positive

results from its defi nitive feasibility

study for the Little Eva project, part

of the company’s larger Roseby project

90km north-east of Mount Isa.

Altona managing director Alistair

Cowden said the study envisaged open-

pit mining of Little Eva and three

smaller deposits.

“Th e scale of annual production of

7 million tonnes of ore for 38,800

tonnes of copper and 17,200 ounces

of gold would make Little Eva

one of Australia’s larger base metal

developments,” he said. Th e project

could be delivered for a total capital cost

Th e resource is estimated at 26.1 million

tonnes, containing 146,000 tonnes of

copper and 74,000oz of gold.

Kagara asset review

Kagara’s administrators have appointed

Investec Bank to conduct a strategic

review of the group’s assets.

Th e administrators, from Taylor

Woodings, were appointed in late April.

Th e move followed Kagara’s suspension

of mining operations at Baal Gammon

in the Mount Garnet region of North

Queensland due to tightening cash

fl ow and its decision earlier this year

to mothball its Th alanga processing

operation, Mungana underground mine

and development work at West 45 after

reporting a loss in the last half of 2011.

Taylor Woodings said a number of

staff members had been stood down in

that process and this continued after

of only $320 million, Mr Cowden said.

Financing activities and potential

partnering discussions would commence

in earnest once the status of the option

held by Xstrata to purchase 51 per cent of

Roseby had been clarifi ed, he said.

Th e company requested a trading halt at

the end of June after receiving notice that

Xstrata intended to exercise those rights.

Leichhardt project sold

Cape Lambert Resources has entered

an agreement to

sell the Leichhardt

copper project,

100km north-east

of Mount Isa, for

$25 million.

Cape Lambert

executive chairman

Tony Sage described

the deal as another

successful execution

of the company’s

strategy of acquiring

and investing in

undervalued and/

or distressed

mineral assets and

companies, then

adding value to those

assets before sale.

The Leichhardt

copper project comprises a process

plant capable of producing 9000 tonnes

per annum of copper cathode and

surrounding landholding. Cape Lambert

acquired the project in 2010 for $7.75

million after Matrix Metals went into

receivership.

Th e unnamed purchaser is proposing

to refurbish the project to produce

copper cathode using its know-how and

contractors, according to Mr Sage.

Elaine 1 numbers released

Chinalco Yunnan Copper Resources

and Goldsearch have released an initial

inferred resource for the copper and

gold mineralisation at the Elaine 1

prospect that forms part of the Mary

Kathleen Joint Venture Project in the

Mount Isa area.

the appointment of administrators,

with a total of 216 staff members made

redundant and a workforce of 95 retained.

Mineral sands outbound

Matilda Zircon has started shipping

zircon-rutile heavy mineral concentrate

(HMC) from its Lethbridge South mine

on the Northern Territory’s Tiwi Islands.

China’s Tricoastal Minerals is

contracted to acquire all the HMC

from Lethbridge South. Th is includes

the fi rst 6823 tonnes shipped in May,

earning more than $9 million, and two

more shipments are scheduled for July

and September this year.

“Th is is an outstanding achievement,

particularly given that the original plant

was destroyed by fi re mid last year and

had to be rebuilt prior to commissioning

the mining and processing operations,”

Matilda chairman Mal Randall said.

22 July 2012 | The Mining AdvocateBETWEEN SHIFTS

Mackay Area Industry Network (MAIN) breakfast

Hastings Deering Social Club Charity Ball

Ocean International Hotel, Mackay

Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre

Les Rodgers (DBCT) with Charlie Brownlow, Kevin Forbes-

Smith and Terry Holt (all from Group Engineering).

Rachael Hayles, Kasey Maunder, Luke Maunder, Aleshia McEvoy, Allan Satchell and Philip

McEvoy (Synergy Industries).

Brett Jurd, Marcus Lang and Sharon Johnston (all from

Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal).

Mark Walter (Techserve), Luke Harrison (Diamond Protective

Coating) and Tony Hutchinson (Jet Engineering).

Danny and Lara McCarthy, Lylea McMahon, Andrew Thomas, Taire Olsen, Steve Duncan, Chris and

Renae Bourke, Greg and Katrina Horan (Thiess Australian Mining).

Gary Dobbie (RPS) and Andrew Mecoles (DBCT) with Nicole

Armitage (CQ Health Assess).

Gordon Fysh, Elle Young, Trent and Angie Boylan, Jodie Moff ett, James Burns, Lauren May and

Ashley Bettini (Hastings Deering).

Uuganbayar Tsog, Tumennasan Davaa, Enkhbat Gomboobay,

Nyamkhatan Ganbold and Ochirsuren Batjargal (all from the

Mining School of Excellence, Mongolia).

Narantuya Sanjaa, Batzul Gomboobat, Myagmarsuren Tserendorj

and Bayarmaa Battsoodol (Mining School of Excellence, Mongolia).

Rod and Julie Sercome (Mackay Sand and Gravel) with Bev Ferris, Scott Harding, Daniel and Leanne

Thompson (all from EMECO).

PHOTOS: Damien Carty

PHOTOS: Donna Maree Robinson

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23The Mining Advocate | July 2012 BETWEEN SHIFTS

Cannington Women in Mining Awards

Inspiring Women in Industry Conference 2012

BHP Billiton Cannington village

Gladstone Entertainment Centre

Magali Raguenes and Ravanee Pillay (BHP Billiton) with

Sheree Sordelli (ESS).

Colleen Clark-Coolee (Betapoly Betacrete), Sian Thomas

(QGC) and Bronwyn Campbell (Broad Spectrum Australia).

Jane Moss and Greg Prove with Sonya Rogers (award winner),

Troy Wilson, Christine Pilkington and Robyn Burton (award

runners-up) and Bob Fulker (all from BHP Billiton Cannington).

Tamika Johnson (Redpath) with Linda Aitchison and Gemma

Pollock-Shields (both from BHP Billiton).

Kaitlyn Yates, Karen Bellert and Tracey Smith (from

Energy Skills Queensland).

Kristina Pye (TP Human Capital) with Emma Riles and Tania

Brierley (BHP Billiton).

Clint Spencer and Victoria Rowe (from GHD) with Anja Steinberg

(QAL) and Quinn McDonald (GHD).

Aleasha Collins and Rhonda Greensill (BHP Billiton).

Jessica Robinson, Simone Sheehy and Hunyati Groom (all from

BHP Billiton).

Lois Auld (Bullivants) and Lance McKay

(Tox Free).

Barb and Graham Benson (Gladstone

Engineering Alliance).

PHOTOS: Craig Chapman

24 July 2012 | The Mining AdvocateBETWEEN SHIFTS

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NQ Mining, Processing and Energy Conference networking dinner

Xstrata Mount Isa Mining Expo

Linc Energy Jet Dash stakeholder event

Rydges Southbank Convention Centre, Townsville

Buchanan Park Events Complex, Mount Isa

Chinchilla Cultural Centre

Mark Kelly (Queensland Nickel), Brett Judge (Townsville-Mackay

Medicare Local) and Ross Contarino (Townsville Enterprise).

Jennifer and Ray Richardson (Biotechnix). Heidi Streiner (CSIRO Education) and Kate Watson (Experis).

Sean Campbell (James Cook University) and Kali Rauk (Sun Metals). Olivia Nason and Tony Purcell (IMCD). David Retallick (Queensland Nickel) and Professor Yinghe He (JCU).

Michael Greelish (BSC) and Stuart Goates

(Cooper Bearings) with Neil Spry and Shane

Butler (both BSC).

Lee Stapleton, Brendan Cole, Neil Slack and

Thomas Belgrove (all Coates Hire).

Steve Thomas, Peter Young and Raymond

Towler (all from Sandvik).

Caitlynd Gardner, Samuel Skinner and Laura

Munday (all school-based trainees from

Spinifex Senior School).

Stephen Ainsworth, Ray Brown (Western Downs

Regional Council) and Fred Ainsworth.

Joan and Geoff rey Arnell with Craig Ricato (from

Linc Energy).

Jon Mathews (Linc Energy) with wife Kay and

Sue Kruitbosch with husband Hank (Linc Energy

Chinchilla).

PHOTOS: Kate Glover

PHOTOS: Roslyn Budd

PHOTOS: David Sproule

25The Mining Advocate | July 2012 BETWEEN SHIFTS

Bowen Basin Mining Club - Moranbah visit

Mount Isa Mining Expo networking function

Moranbah Community Centre

Lake Moondarra, Mount Isa

Anne Baker (Isaac Regional Council), Steve Mardon (Anglo

American), Peter Van Iersel (Enterprise Connect) and Jodie

Currie (Bowen Basin Mining Club).

Mike Thinee (Skytrans), Andrew Dineen (Parker Travel) and

Chris Palmer (Skytrans).

Leon Walz (Atlas Steels), Peter Hay (Australian Industrial Rental),

Rae Lobodin (Generate PR) and Andy Hodgson (SGS).

Stacey Herring, Albert Bourne and Andy Grigg (all from PUMP).

Cameron Clelland (Abigroup), Brendan Bishop (First Enterprises) and

Jonathan Carter (Abigroup).

Brett Peterson (Mount Isa Mining Supplies), Ryan MacKenzie

(Isadraulics) and Travis Crowther (BOSS Shop).

Brett Whitewood and Ryan Calkin (Hastings Deering) with Mike

Ritchie (BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance) and Luan Saiti (Viking

Mining Services).

Dale Krol, Matt Gilligan and Mark Hodges (all from Ashdown

Ingram).

Rodrigo Lefranc (Duratray International) with Frank Wickert

(Flanders of Australia).

Jennifer Finlay and Brett David (Ausfuel Gull).

Darryl Johnston (AECOM) with Justin Burnside and Simon Cohn

(both from MEC Mining).

Chris Thinee (Jays Real Estate) and Ross Thinee (Desert

Knowledge).

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27The Mining Advocate | July 2012 BUILDING NW QUEENSLAND

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Carly Herreygers, Mount Isa’s

AWX branch manager, is in her

element providing short and

long-term staffi ng solutions to

local contracting companies and

mine sites.

She also spends much of her

time assisting people to get

started in the mining industry

by researching what jobs are

available and targeting the best

contacts.

One of the things Ms

Herreygers likes most about

her role is being able to deliver

tangible value to clients and

jobseekers.

“Th rough our work-ready

program we help jobseekers get

a start in mining. Th e program

has a 98 per cent retention rate,

which is almost unheard of in

the industry,” she said.

On the fl ip side, she identifi ed

managing misconceptions about

the mining industry as one of

her biggest challenges.

“Th e media makes it sound

like anyone can walk into a

fl y in-fl y out roster with no

experience and earn $120,000

per annum,” she said.

“However, in reality, people

need to be prepared to move

here, put in the eff ort and get the

experience fi rst.”

Jobs role proves Carly’s callingManaging misconceptions about mining

work is among the challenges for this

recruitment specialist, writes Jan Green.

Ms Herreygers, who was born in Beaudesert in south-east Queensland, started her career as a property manager at Coldwell

Banker on the Gold Coast. In 2009 she was ready

for a change of scenery and returned to her regional roots by

relocating to Mount Isa. After three or four weeks, she took a job as a receptionist at AWX and in a short time was promoted into a recruitment position.

“I quickly learnt my talent was in recruiting and working with people,” she said.

Ms Herreygers was appointed as Mount Isa branch manager in early 2012.

She still gets involved with recruitment. However, much of her day is taken up with business development and working directly with clients.

Commenting on the company, she said: “AWX has a fantastic culture built on getting in and giving things a real go. It focuses on providing the right workforce that is both fl exible and safe and it also helps that the directors back me 100 per cent.”

Zoe helps steer mining city on positive courseZoe Dark thrives on the challenges and opportunities her position as Mount Isa Chamber of Commerce general manager entail.

Her role consists of providing leadership to a team of fi ve, overseeing events, business development and arranging networking opportunities for members.

She also prepares submissions and reports on issues aff ecting the region, works with all levels of government to improve the liveability of the area and works with the chamber’s executive committee in determining strategies.

“I’ve now been in the job for six months and, so far, no day has been the same. I love the diversity,” Ms Dark said.

“Th e chamber has a proud history of serving the north-west and has always been an active leader and strong voice for the region’s commercial, industrial, civic and general interests.

“We represent the business community’s views and take them to government and decision-makers at all levels.

“Prior to taking on the chamber role, I worked for Xstrata Mount Isa Mines as part of their community relations team, where I was fortunate to gain an understanding of our major industry and largest employer in the region.

“I have also run my own businesses for about four years

– a newsagency and a consultancy fi rm – in Mount Isa. “Th rough the consultancy I worked with many of

the shire councils in the region and was involved with business, tourism, community and youth development projects, regional events, board development and strategic and business planning.”

Ms Dark has also spent the past year and a half living and working before and after hours at a cattle spelling facility on the outskirts of town.

“I love working with the cattle and horses. It gives me a chance to get back to my roots and where I feel most at home,” she said.

“Like so many others, I had a two-year plan to move to Mount Isa to trim my mortgage. But almost 10 years later I’m still here.

“I fell in love with the lifestyle and the numerous opportunities to challenge myself and these have continually motivated me to achieve more. But most of all it’s the people who I admire and who I consider great friends and mentors.”

Ms Dark said Mount Isa’s new political landscape had turned the city into an increased hive of activity. “Our council is releasing more land and attracting large-scale developers to make living here more aff ordable,” she said.

Mount Isa Chamber of Commerce general manager Zoe Dark.

Photo: Roslyn Budd

AWX branch manager Carly Herreygers. Photo: Roslyn Budd

28 July 2012 | The Mining AdvocateLIVING REMOTELY

Camp satisfaction on the line

Field engineer Grahame Vinson checks an internet connection cable and

advanced telephone system.

While mining industry employees working in the most remote regions don’t have the bright lights on their doorsteps, distance does not stop them having access to advanced technological entertainment.

UXC Connect’s Campsite Entertainment and Content solution, providing entertainment and internet access, has been installed in four Queensland mining sites.

Staff retention is the biggest driver of installing such technology, according to a UXC Connect spokesman.

“By giving employees the ability to connect with friends and families, as well as enabling entertainment options, we

can help improve employee satisfaction and create a more enjoyable working and living environment,” he said.

“Obviously, because of the proliferation of the internet and other communications tools, remote employees use these technologies when they are home. So giving them access to those systems is a great way to have a positive impact on staff morale.”

UXC Connect provides three levels of service across the Queensland sites.

Th e fi rst, a base system, includes free-to-air television, basic Foxtel channels and scheduled movies provided via kiosks.

Th e intermediate level comprises free-to-air television, basic Foxtel channels and scheduled movies provided to each room via ethernet and via kiosks.

IP telephony and information services are provided to each room.

Th e top level consists of free-to-air services, basic Foxtel channels and movies on demand via an IP-based network. Internet access is available to each room via a TV set as well as through kiosks.

Room services are integrated with the site emergency warning system, training update system, information services and IP telephony.

Rural and remote households and businesses have access to improved internet connectivity via NBN Co’s Interim Satellite Service (ISS).

Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker said households and businesses in rural and remote areas with satellite internet service that had not received an upgrade for three years or were without internet access may be eligible for the ISS.

“Th e ISS can result in signifi cantly improved connectivity, service experience and speed of internet services,” she said.

“NBN Co will meet the costs of satellite dish and terminal equipment installation and maintenance.

“Th rough the ISS, a retail

service provider will arrange

for professional installation

of equipment and testing

at households or business

premises.”

Gai Syper, who lives on

a property near Capella,

said she had found the ISS

application process simple.

“Th e NBN Co was

very helpful – which was

great, because I’m not very

technically minded,” she said.

With NBN Co’s long-term

satellite service to launch

in 2015, the ISS has been

made available as an interim

measure.

Households and businesses

can check ISS eligibility by

contacting NBN Co on 1800

881 816. For details visit

www.nbnco.com.au/satellite

Temporary accommodation in remote and rural areas comes in many forms – some more comfortable than others - but the felled timber solution devised by early loggers in North America has to rank among the most impressive and ingenious.

Massive logs, which could take weeks to cut using basic tools such as heavy duty axes and very long handsaws, were hollowed out to be used as mobile offi ces and to house and feed the timber cutter crews.

Th e contrast to today’s quickly erected, easily transported, temporary mining camp accommodation and offi ces could not be greater.

Oh, wooden it be lovely . . . Internet opportunity

for regional customers

29The Mining Advocate | July 2012 MINING FAMILIES

For advice, contact ourAccredited Family Law Specialists:

Our family law system in Australia is the envy of many countries. We have the dignity of “no fault” divorce, the fairness of contributions-and-needs-based property settlements, and the best interest of children placed front and centre in parenting arrangements. Some outcomes will not please everyone of course, and may even off end some personal values. Th is is because it is a system of law and not a moral code able to cater to all value systems found within modern Australia.

One thing our family law system will never do is reap retribution. It is not designed to deliver “payback” for broken hearts and promises. Th e emotional intimacy that develops in a relationship can continue after separation, but in a negative, sometimes toxic form. When carried over into family

Keep your money and your

dignity in family law disputes

Many resource industry workers are, for the fi rst time, earning handsome incomes they’d never previously believed possible.

And with high wages comes the temptation to spend accordingly – expensive cars, motor bikes, holidays and luxury homes.

Many on the mining gravy train believe the journey will go on forever. However, all wage earners should factor the possibility of changed circumstances into their budgets, according to Mining Family Matters psychologist Angie Willcocks.

“For example, illness, pregnancy, problems with a fl y in-fl y out (FIFO) lifestyle or a job change can happen suddenly or unexpectedly and for those who are overcommitted fi nancially such changes can be enormously stressful,” she said.

“We hear a lot about workers putting in 12 hours a day for three weeks on hard boring work such as drilling. Th en, when the shift is over, they feel justifi ed in spending a lot of money on big boys toys and living it up. Th eir rationale is they’ve worked hard and earned the indulgence.

“While everyone deserves rewards and a good quality of life, the main thing is not to be impulsive. Set goals early on and stick to them.”

Ms Willcocks said those who coped well with high wages tended to have very clear fi nancial goals.

Hold back on that

urge to splurge

law disputes, separated parties continue to expose raw emotions to each other (now hurt, anger, fear), somehow thinking the family law system is a forum for moral justice or for exposing the other’s sins. Another lawyer once informed me that their client was not prepared to even talk about a property settlement while my client was (allegedly) sleeping with “person x”. How costly it then was for both parties when my client had to commence court proceedings because there were no prospects of negotiating an out-of-court settlement. My client’s relationship with “person x” did not make one iota of diff erence to that court outcome.

I have never heard a litigant say, at the end of any court battle, “thank you, I see now where I was wrong, and I’m sorry for the hurt I’ve caused. Th e slashing of my car tyres by my ex-wife, and those legal letters of vitriol have taught me the lesson I deserved.” Nor have I ever known a court to punish someone for their bad behaviour by giving them only a snippet of their actual legal entitlements.

Court proceedings create enough angst and

fi nancial cost when approached clinically.

You only add to that angst and cost, without

any corresponding benefi t, by trying to

fi nd retribution through the proceedings.

Relationship breakdown is traumatic. But

taking anything but a clinical approach to

your family law disputes will not make it

better.

Find help by all other means – counselling,

looking fabulous, doing what you could not

do before – whatever it takes, but keep your

dignity and your money in your pocket when

it comes to family law disputes.

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.

Having clear fi nancial goals helps families to

make the most of a high-wage environment

and skirt the pitfalls, an adviser explains.

Big-spending ways can bite hard. Photo: wavebreakmedia ltd/shutterstock.com

“For example, taking on a

mining job for fi ve or so years

might be a family decision to pay

a certain amount off a mortgage,

buy a new car, or plan an overseas

trip,” she said.

“To achieve such goals, it’s

important to specify how much

should be put aside each month.”

Ms Willcocks also warned

against taking on large loans,

easily serviced by FIFO wages.

“When most of the incoming

money is servicing debt, the

FIFO lifestyle can feel like a real

sacrifi ce,” she said.

Ms Willcocks stressed that

while long term goals were of

paramount importance, short-

term rewards also had a place,

“but don’t be impulsive, and factor

the rewards into a budget.”

30 July 2012 | The Mining Advocate

CanningtonProudly supporting mining communities

SUPPORTED BY BHP BILLITON CANNINGTON

Building Mining Communities

Kestrel Mine plant and equipment manager Tim McDougall recently swapped his normal job for that of Capella State High School principal for a day.

Capella State High principal Ray Clarke said the Principal for the Day initiative had been launched last year as part of State Education Week activities.

“It was such a great success that we wanted to do it again this year,” he said.

“After approaching the mine, we were pleased that they agreed to support the initiative by sending along one of their managers.

“Th e students and teachers appreciated the opportunity to network with Tim and learn fi rsthand about an industry that is economically important to our region and also plays an active role in the community.”

Mr McDougall said he enjoyed the transition from managing plant and equipment at RioTinto Coal Australia’s underground operation to

looking after 140 students and staff . “It was a

great opportunity to be a part of the school’s State

Education Week activities and share my insights

including how I got into my current role, what my

job entails, and provide information about the wider

operation including career opportunities,” he said.

“Th e year 12 students were receptive to my

presentation, which also focused on workforce

expectations including having a strong work ethic,

integrity, team work, and respect.

“I also took part in some of their lessons,

including maths and arts subjects, which was a real

eye-opener and reinforced how much school life has

changed since I was a student.”

Kestrel Mine general manager operations John

Coughlan said the site was proud to support

education and training initiatives to help build the

skills and capacity of people in the Emerald region.

Tim McDougall with year 10 students Evandri Van Zyl and Mitchell Vickers.

Kestrel boss in school stint

Members of the mining industry are being invited to take

part in the ABB Queensland Mining Golf Challenge to be

held in Townsville on August 17-18 and August 24.

Th e Rotary Club of Townsville Daybreak immediate past

president Marcel McLeod said he was optimistic the number

of participating golfers in 2012 would well exceed the 150

who signed up to raise $26,000 for various charities in 2011.

Mr McLeod said the purpose of the popular and successful

event was to give back to the mining communities, their

families and the workers.

“We are delighted that as we have been assured of major

sponsor commitment for the next three years we are in a

position to establish and fund a three-year PhD research

scholarship student to look into mental health issues and

causes relating to workers, families and communties aff ected

by fl y in-fl y out work schedules,” he said.

Th e golf challenge will provide $18,000 annually for

the three-year scholarship, with a further $11,000 per year

coming from James Cook University.

“Th e balance of funds raised during the golfi ng challenge

will then be distributed amongst various local charities,” Mr

McLeod said.

For further details visit www.mininggolfchallenge.com.au

Kestrel Mine and its employees have dug into their pockets to

host the launch of a community garden built recently with the

help of Australian gardening guru and former TV presenter

Don Burke.

Th e garden, located behind the Emerald Library, will be

maintained by interested members of the community and

provide opportunities to learn about food and agriculture.

It is one of several initiatives organised through an

inaugural partnership between CQUniversity, the Central

Highlands Regional Resources Use Planning Co-operative,

and the Central Highlands Science Centre as part of a recent

three-day event for Earth Day.

Kestrel Mine general manager operations John Coughlan

said he was proud of the site’s workforce for donating funds

to the project from their coff ee money, which was matched by

Rio Tinto.

A partnership between Toowoomba State High School and

Origin, the upstream operator of the Australia Pacifi c LNG

project, aims to foster a new crop of young agriculturalists.

Up to 500 students each year studying agricultural science,

Certifi cate II agriculture and rural operations through the

school’s Wilsonton Agricultural Centre will gain practical

experience via regular fi eld trips to Australia Pacifi c LNG’s

Spring Gully development north-east of Roma.

Th e centrepiece of the partnership will be Australia Pacifi c

LNG’s 300ha plantation of pongamia - sometimes referred to

as native wisteria.

It is trialling the conversion of pongamia seeds to biofuel

and stock feed.

Th e school has created its own pongamia research program

with a view to producing biofuel to power its facilities.

Miners hit the greens

for charity challenge

Origin aids Toowoomba

agricultural students

Workforce contributes

to community garden

Emerald’s Rundle Park sporting

facility has undergone a major

renovation incorporating six new

netball courts, three dual-purpose

netball/tennis courts, one new

tennis court and the realignment

and resurfacing of four courts.

Th e redeveloped Rundle Park

and upgraded Emerald Aquatic

Centre will be known as the

Opal St Sporting Precinct.

“Th is precinct as a whole

will off er the residents and

mining families of the Central

Highlands in the heart of the

Bowen Basin a high-quality,

modern multipurpose sports

facility that refl ects the needs

of our dynamic, thriving

region,” Central Highlands

Regional Council mayor Peter

Maguire said.

“It will attract regional and

state sporting events, as well as

providing great amenity for local

sportspeople of all abilities.

“Th e local community can

also utilise the two fantastic

green recreational areas at both

Morton and Rundle Parks.

“Th e relocation of the fl ood-

prone netball courts from

Morton Park was seriously

needed, as was the expansion

and restoration of the existing

tennis courts at Rundle Park. ”

Mackay Regional Council has reached out to local

community and not-for-profi t groups to help them

continue attracting volunteers and provide improved

services to the region.

About 70 community representatives attended

the council’s recent Volunteer Conference 2012,

supported by the Hail Creek Mine Community

Development Fund.

Mayor Deirdre Comerford said it was the fi fth

year the conference had been run, with the aim of

providing information and training to a range of not-

for-profi t organisations and community groups.

Hail Creek general manager operations Rowan

Munro said the mine was pleased to support this

event to help build capacity in the community.

“Th is is the second time we have helped fund

this conference … (and) we hope that this event

has reinforced the many positive outcomes that

volunteering can have on individuals and the

community,” Mr Munro said.

Emerald sports complex revamped

Support for Mackay district volunteers

31The Mining Advocate | July 2012

CanningtonProudly supporting mining communities

SUPPORTED BY BHP BILLITON CANNINGTON

Building Mining Communities

A partnership between BHP Billiton and Australia’s Heart Foundation is helping engage indigenous youth in physical activity and heart health awareness.

Th e Jump Rope for Heart program will this year include Australia’s fi rst all-indigenous skipping demonstration squad.

Primary school students from Townsville’s Shalom Christian College, recently selected to participate in the team, will visit other indigenous schools across north and north-west Queensland with the aim of promoting heart awareness and health.

BHP Billiton Cannington is the partner for the Jump Rope for Heart Outreach Program, providing funding for primary schools from disadvantaged and lower socioeconomic areas to participate.

Heart Foundation chief executive offi cer Cameron Prout said the Shalom students would play a very important part in this year’s Jump Rope for Heart.

“Th e Shalom Christian College students have really grasped the concept of Jump Rope for Heart and have taken their participation to the next level by creating a demonstration team,” Mr Prout said.

“A number of our school demonstration teams

have gone on to represent Australia in the Junior

Olympics and World Skipping Championships, so

there are many opportunities for these students.

“Th is team provides a positive step forward to

avoid the unfortunate reality that Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander peoples are 2.6 times more

likely to die from heart disease compared with

other Australians.

“If we can engage with these children at an

early age, we can instill confi dence, strength, co-

ordination, fi tness, heart health and knowledge and

change the habits of a new generation.”

Cannington head of HSEC Jane Moss said

BHP Billiton was proud to partner with the Heart

Foundation on such an important initiative.

“BHP Billiton Cannington believes increasing

local awareness of heart disease as well as educating

students about leading a healthy and active lifestyle

has great benefi t for the community,” Ms Moss said.

“Heart disease is the leading cause of death in

Australia and initiatives such as these, targeting

our most vulnerable communities, are excellent

community development opportunities.”

Members of the all-indigenous Jump Rope for Heart demonstration team - Lurleen Blackman, Amos Whaleboat, Zion

Blackman and Jake Brown.

Jump-start for campaign

Talented quilters from across Queensland exceeded

expectations in producing Infi nite Horizons – a travelling

exhibition of 63 red and white quilts.

Th e collection is doing the rounds of the outback prior

to being exhibited in Brisbane with support from the

Cannington Community Fund.

McKinlay exhibition organiser Carol Campbell said

women from Queensland areas including Mount Isa,

Tambo, Mackay, Aramac, Cloncurry, Barcaldine, Blackall and

Emerald, as well as two quilters from New South Wales and

one from Tasmania, enthusiastically responded to word of the

planned exhibition.

“In fact, it went like wildfi re. We thought we might get

around 30 quilts but 63 have come in. It’s a lovely way to pull

bush people together,” she said.

Ms Campbell said all money raised from the Infi nite

Horizons exhibition would go to aged care in the towns in

which the quilts were displayed.

A raffl e for the signature and heart quilts will be drawn on

November 23 after the exhibition returns to Mount Isa from

Brisbane. All other quilts will be returned to their owners.

About 60 people including representatives from Xstrata, its partner organisations and Ernest Henry Mine (EHM) employees recently attended a dinner in Cloncurry to celebrate Xstrata’s successful Community Program North Queensland.

Th e evening focused on Xstrata’s 2011-2012 achievements and the introduction of 2012-2013 partnerships under the program.

EHM general manager Myles Johnston said the company had contributed more than $4.8 million to the Cloncurry community since the partnership program began in 2005.

Achievements in 2011 included

giving more than 1100 books to about 370 students at Cloncurry State School and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, and the addition of 144 new books for each school’s library through the Books in Homes program, he said.

“Our partnership with Cloncurry Justice Association supported the Cloncurry Night Patrol project which assisted close to 3000 at-risk people in 2011 and assists in the reduction of people passing through the criminal justice system,” he said.

Two signifi cant milestones from previous partnerships with Cloncurry Shire Council - the installation of shade structures at Cloncurry Skate Park and the

opening of Robertson Park –

were also highlighted.

Mr Johnston said he was

proud to introduce Xstrata’s new

2012-2013 partnership with

Cloncurry Shire Council for the

Cloncurry cycleways project,

which involves the refurbishment

and development of pathways in

Cloncurry. Th is is expected to be

open to the public in 2013.

“We look forward to working

with our partner organisations

in 2012 to improve services and

facilities in Cloncurry and to

offi cially open the Cloncurry

Community Precinct later this

year,” he said.

Quilt exhibitions will

benefi t their local patch

Xstrata NQ partnerships celebrated In an example of mining companies pulling together for community good, six operations have contributed equally towards the acquisition of the Cloncurry Shire Council’s new community bus.

Barminco, BHP Billiton, CuDeco, Ernest Henry Mining, Exco Resources and MMG funded the purchase, which Cloncurry Mayor Andrew Daniels described as “just terrifi c”.

“Th e PCYC bus was being overworked, (so) without question having this new bus has added a new dimension to the town for the exciting opportunities it is presenting,” Cr Daniels said.

“We are very grateful to all

the mining companies who

recognised the importance of

contributing to such a valuable

community asset.”

Cloncurry Shire Council

manager community

development Karen Elphick

said the 21-seater bus had

been used every week by local

schools, sporting groups and

other organisations.

“Its usage is growing as

groups are identifying the

potential for their functions

and activities,” Ms Elphick

said.

“For example, the Merry

Muster Festival has added

a town tour to their festival

program as a partnership with

the local historical society.”

Companies chip in for

Cloncurry’s new wheels

Carol Campbell and Cannington head of projects Darryl Steane check

out some of the quilting creations.

32 July 2012 | The Mining AdvocateHEAVY MACHINERY REVIEW

Diversifi ed Mining Services (DMS) will unveil its new eight-tonne Coaltram underground utility vehicle at the Queensland Mining and Engineering (QME) Exhibition in Mackay, July 24-26.

Described as the latest in diesel-powered load haul dump/utility vehicle designs, the new Coaltram also has an ergonomically designed operator’s compartment – promoting unparalleled productivity in underground coal mines, according to DMS general manager - Coaltram Craig Anderson.

“QME will be the fi rst time the eight-tonne version of the Coaltram will have been seen in Queensland and it is sure to generate plenty of interest after the

When it comes to mining, mining support services and associated industries, Nissan has a range of vehicles and turn-key solutions to suit every application, according to fl eet sales manager Joanne Fox.

Th ese ranged from the ever-reliable Patrol cab chassis and Patrol wagon, to the hard-working range of Navaras and the versatile X-Trail series, she said.

Ms Fox said Nissan’s national and regional fl eet sales managers, a comprehensive fl eet plan and pricing model were able to cater for any type or size of fl eet from corporate, mining, leasing companies and rental use through to not-for-profi t organisations and government.

“Casting an eye to the future, a range of exciting new products are due later this year and into 2013,” she said.

“Th ey include the all-new Y62 Patrol wagon, ensuring that Nissan is at the forefront of innovation.

“New passenger vehicles including Almera, Pulsar and Altima are also planned - rounding out a full off ering to our vehicle range.”

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Sweet fl eet options for mines

Trimmer Coaltram on showbeen used with great

success in the Australian

underground coal mining

sector for the past three

years, according to Mr

Anderson.

Coaltram vehicles

are used for loading,

hauling, dumping, towing,

dragging and lifting as

well as longwall relocation

applications.

incredible success of the

10-tonne and 13-tonne

versions,” he said.

“Th e new model was

heavily infl uenced by

feedback from existing

users, DMS’s extensive

local industry expertise

and Atlas Copco’s global

network of engineering

best practice.”

Designed and

manufactured by DMS

in Beresfi eld, NSW,

the Coaltram range has

Th eir engine and electronic management system features the fi rst Tier 3 engine to be approved globally for use in an underground coal environment.

“In addition, Coaltram off ers signifi cant advantages for vehicle tracking with operational data able to be uploaded into mine site management systems with the use of WiFi technologies,” Mr Anderson said.

The 2012 Navara ST-X 550 dual-cab four-wheel-drive is among the Nissan vehicles

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33The Mining Advocate | July 2012 HEAVY MACHINERY REVIEW

Th e Cat 777G highway truck, the latest release in the Caterpillar 777 range, off ers a 7 per cent increase in torque power and new transmission controls to produce quicker haul cycles.

Th is increased power and production is balanced with fuel-saving strategies including confi gurable economy settings as well as an adaptive economy mode, according to a Cat spokesperson.

Additional fuel-saving technology includes auto-neutral idle and Advanced Productivity Electronic Control Strategy (APECS) transmission controls, where the vehicle becomes more fuel effi cient at idle in a forward gear or when climbing grades.

“Customers can also choose

features like engine idle and speed limiting to further improve fuel savings,” Cat stated.

“Drive train durability profi ts from next generation electronic clutch pressure control, and APECS further provides outstanding shift quality for a smooth ride.”

Th e manufacturer has worked towards making the 777G much quieter while producing fewer emissions.

Th e company said it had started introducing the US EPA Tier 4 Final engine on the newest truck two years in advance of the eff ective date of the regulation.

Th is gave customers an opportunity to advance their sustainability goals.

For operations outside areas

regulated by the U.S. EPA, such

as Australia, the 777G reduces

emissions with Tier 2 or EU

Stage II equivalent technology

and fuel effi ciency.

Some of Caterpillar’s strategies

for “greener” vehicles include

the Cat NOx Reduction System

and two diesel oxidation catalyst

canisters - one for each bank of

cylinders in the “V” confi gured

Cat C32 engine.

Th e Cat 777G highway truck

weighs in at 164 tonnes and is

driven by the C32 engine, which

pumps out 683kW of power and

provides a top speed of 66km/h

fully loaded.

Komatsu Australia’s PW98MR-8 is described as the fi rst in a new class of short-tail compact wheel excavators.

National sales manager - utility, Carl Grundy, said the company’s new 10 tonne-class wheeled excavator off ered features that no other manufacturers were off ering.

Th e PW98MR-8, the only short-tail wheel excavator in this size of machine, is powered by an interim Tier 4-compliant Komatsu SAA4D95LE-5 ecot3 diesel rated at 50.7 kW.

It incorporates auto-idling, an eco-gauge and fi ve diff erent working modes to minimise fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

“Key features of our new excavator concept include outstanding versatility and unmatched mobility in confi ned working spaces,” Mr Grundy said.

“Th e standard rear counterweight has been redesigned and integrated into the tail of the machine, protecting the back of the excavator from impact and damage.

“And because of the short tail swing, the PW98MR-8 has a reduced turning radius

so the operator can concentrate on the front

working area with fewer concerns about what

happens behind the machine.

“In small and tight spaces, a curved sliding

door allows easy entry and exit to and

from the cabin, which has similar internal

dimensions to cabs on much larger excavators.”

Mr Grundy said that despite its compact

design, Komatsu’s new wheeled excavator

off ered lifting capacities and working ranges

unmatched by other machines in this size class.

Th e PW98MR-8’s hydraulic system is based

around Komatsu’s HydrauMind closed-centre

load sensing system (CLSS), providing power,

speed and precision control of all combined

movements.

Th e vehicle off ers two-wheel steering

for travelling between job sites, four-wheel

steering for manoeuvrability and crab-steer for

moving in confi ned areas.

A two-speed hydrostatic transmission

allows the excavator to travel at speeds of up

to 30km/h.

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34 July 2012 | The Mining AdvocateIvanhoe Australia feature

Revamped processingunit deliversConcentrate production is under way and new

deposits are coming online at this revitalised

copper-gold operation, writes Jan Green.

Ivanhoe Australia’s recently refurbished processing plant at Osborne has been performing well, safely and cost-eff ectively - processing 80,000 tonnes of quality ore a month.

Th e plant is operating at 50 per cent capacity, however this will build to 100 per cent in line with an expected ramp-up of mine production.

Ivanhoe Australia general operations manager Neal Valk said the plant was refurbished over an eight-month period and began its new productive life in March this year.

“We’ve had a lot of new operators join us for the plant’s

second lease of life and they’ve worked together really well,” Mr Valk said.

He admitted getting to the point of production had been something of a long haul.

But Mr Valk said good planning combined with good weather and a talented work group meant the process had been relatively smooth.

Ivanhoe Australia acquired the Osborne complex, located in the Cloncurry district, from Barrick Australia less than two years ago.

Th e company has since developed the Kulthor underground resource as well

as restarting the Osborne underground mine.

Th e Starra 276 mine, located 55km north of the Osborne copper-gold operation, will also

feed the processing plant in the coming year.

“Work on Starra is progressing according to schedule with the mine

being dewatered, the decline refurbished and the fi rst sill drives being mined,” Mr Valk said. “Production from Starra is scheduled for January 2013.”

Ivanhoe

Australia’s

Osborne

operation in

north-west

Queensland.

Ivanhoe Australia has established the permanent return airway system for its Kulthor mine, being developed as the second leg of its Osborne copper-gold operation.

Ivanhoe Australia general operations manager Neal Valk said a Howden fan had been installed on top of the 4.5m diameter rise. Mr Valk said establishment of the return airway system had allowed continued sill development at Kulthor and mining of the initial stoping blocks to begin.

“Stoping also continues from the bottom of Osborne – so between it and Kulthor, combined current production is around 80,000 tonnes per month as planned,” he said.

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Kestrel fl ying highKestrel is going into July’s EK Healy Cup challenge with a confi dent approach after topping its rivals in the 2012 Queensland Mines Rescue Service (QMRS) Memorial Cup competition.

“You have to be confi dent; it’s no use just going to ‘make up the numbers’,” team captain Derrin Powell said.

Mr Powell said the Kestrel group had been rapt with its QMRS Memorial Cup win in May, coming despite fairly limited preparation and the inclusion of three new team members.

“Th e team is relatively inexperienced, with three of the members only fi nishing their mines rescue basic training three weeks before the competition,” he said.

“We actively encourage new members to join the mines rescue team to ensure we have as many people on site trained as possible.

“Th e remaining team members have competition experience ranging from two to eight years.”

Mr Powell said the team would

try to cover as many skills and scenarios as possible as it prepared for the EK Healy competition, where rivals will include the Oaky No.1 and Grasstree mines rescue teams – who are set to join an international competition in the Ukraine later in the year after excellent performances in 2011.

Th e Rio Tinto Coal Australia Kestrel site – north-east of Emerald - hosted the QMRS Memorial Cup competition this year, with teams from Moranbah North, Oaky North, Aquila, Cook Colliery, Broadmeadow and Newlands North taking on the home side.

Moranbah North placed second overall behind Kestrel, with Oaky North in third place and the Broadmeadow team fourth. Kestrel won the George Carbine Shield for excellence in fi rst aid.

Th e top four go through to compete in the EK Healy Cup on July 27 at the Aquila colliery, where they will fi ght for the right to represent Queensland at this year’s Australian Underground

Mines Rescue Competition.

QMRS operations manager

Ray Smith said they would

face the Oaky No. 1, Grasstree,

Crinum and North Goonyella

teams, who represented

Queensland last year in

the national underground

competition.

Mr Smith said the QMRS

Memorial Competition this year

put teams through four exercises

in a two-and-a-half-hour

underground challenge while

wearing Drager BG4 apparatus.

Basic skills were the major

focus, including ventilation

surveys and procedures such

as route marking and search

patterns, he said.

“Th ey carried out four surface

exercises as well,” Mr Smith said.

“One was a theory component

and we challenged them on their

fi rst-aid skills on the surface

across three exercises.”

Th e winning team included

Kestrel mine and Kestrel

extension project employees.

Participants in the 2012 EK Healy Cup event will pay tribute to those lost in the Box Flat coal mine tragedy near Ipswich 40 years ago.

Queensland Mines Rescue Service operations manager Ray Smith said the competition at Aquila colliery, near Middlemount in central Queensland, in July fell four days prior to the anniversary of that event, which resulted in 18 deaths.

“Th ere were nine mines rescue members down the hole at the time the pit exploded,” he said.

“We will recognise those members this year at

EK Healy – that’s still in

planning at the moment.”

Central Queensland is also

set to host the Australian

Mines Rescue Competition

in 2012 – the 50th year of

competition.

Mr Smith said the event

would run over two days

in October, including a

function in Mackay as well

as the rescue challenge, to be

hosted at Anglo American’s

Moranbah North mine.

Th e Grasstree mine team

won the EK Healy Cup

last year, while Oaky No. 1

rescue personnel are reigning

Australian champions.

Capital Safety has launched a new fall

protection range, the DBI-SALA Nano-Lok

self-retracting lifelines.

Capital Safety Australia and New

Zealand technical manager Rick Millar

said the company had seen a need for

an extremely lightweight and compact

device that could be directly attached to

a harness and used in place of lanyards.

“It is a unique product that will provide

solutions across industries,” he said.

The device includes an automatic

activating arrestor which locks quickly to

stop falls within centimetres, reducing

free-fall distances and providing more

protection at lower heights.

Capital says it also features a 1.8m web

lifeline for added strength.

On the line

Teams to honour

Box Flat victims

Aquila mine rescue

team members

retrieve a “victim”

during one of the

surface exercises.

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37The Mining Advocate | July 2012 TRAINING

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Bid to cut

staff churnThe Kinetic Group has designed a course to

give jobseekers the real drill on mine work and

help combat the high turnover of new recruits.

A job in the mining industry may seem like a good idea, especially with the money on off er.

But is it always a good option?As the turnover rate in the

industry demonstrates, mining is not for everybody.

Are many entering the industry just dazzled by the dollars and not ready for the reality?

To address this vital issue, and assist in stopping unnecessary staff churn in the sector, a one-day course called Drill Down is now available for those thinking about working in the mines.

Designed by the Kinetic Group - formerly the Mining Industry Skills Centre - the course aims to familiarise potential mine workers with the reality of life in the industry, from terminology and accommodation issues to shift work and isolation.

Kinetic chief executive offi cer Derek Hunter said the course grew out of the knowledge that a high workforce attrition rate was costing the Queensland resource sector $140 million a year.

Of the estimated 9500 people leaving organisations within the sector each year, 18.4 per cent had commenced their employment in the last 12 months, he said.

“Our research suggests that reasons for leaving the sector after such a short time are all around employee expectations

not being met, whether it is due

to job fi t, working conditions,

geographic location or

inadequate support,” he said.

“We believe that this Drill

Down course will go some way to

informing potential employees of

the realities of life on a mine site,

and will also help the industry

reduce the attrition rate.”

Th e one-day course covers

such aspects of mine life as

expectations and reality, working

life and daily routine, family,

relationships, lifestyle and

managing fi nancial temptation.

Th e Drill Down course

does not guarantee a job in

the industry, but participants

are assisted in developing a

portfolio suitable for mining job

applications.

“Our industry is experiencing a

massive skills shortage – 30,000

jobs over the next fi ve years – but

we need to ensure we’re fi nding

the people best suited for those

jobs,” Mr Hunter said.

“Th is obviously requires

skilling and training, but fi rst

and foremost it requires an

understanding of the landscape

you’ll be operating in, both

professionally and personally.”

Drill Down courses are

available throughout Queensland.

For more information visit

www.DrillDownMining.com.au

QRC backs ‘next generation’ One hundred engineering and science students from across Queensland are receiving a kick-start to their university studies and discovering opportunities in the expanding resources sector with a program launched by the Queensland Resources Council (QRC).

First-year students accepted into the industry-funded Students for the Future Program were recently acknowledged at an awards ceremony with State Education, Training and Employment Minister John-Paul Langbroek.

Th e successful undergraduates will each receive a $1000 bursary to help them settle into their fi rst year of university study.

Th ey will also gain exclusive networking and mentoring opportunities, and the chance to attend resource sector-focused workshops and site visits.

QRC chief executive Michael Roche said the program would provide unprecedented opportunities for young people to connect with the resource sector and learn about diverse career options available to them.

“Th e Queensland resource sector is coming into a crucial time of growth and change where we’ll rely heavily on the

next generation of engineers and scientists to realise the industry’s full potential,” he said.

QRC’s Queensland Resources Sector Growth Outlook Study forecasts the need for up to 40,000 additional skilled workers in Queensland by 2020.

Successful Students for the Future Program applicants include Sarah Coughlan of

Nanango, who has just begun a dual degree in mining engineering and geology at the University of Queensland.

Ms Coughlan said her interest in the mining industry was only confi rmed once she attended networking events and spoke to industry professionals about their jobs.

Education,

Training and

Employment

Minister John-

Paul Langbroek

with program

participants

Sarah Coughlan

and Joshua

Morotti.

Skills fund spin-off from 457 visa dealsKinetic Group has established an industry training fund fi nanced by companies employing overseas workers on 457 visas.

Th e 457 visa program is the most commonly used program for employers to sponsor overseas workers to work in Australia on a temporary basis.

But any business which applies to be a sponsor must meet training benchmarks set by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

Employers can pay into industry training

funds to meet the Training Benchmark A.Kinetic Group chief executive offi cer

Derek Hunter said the Resources Training Fund allowed eligible companies to maintain productivity while providing funds to train Australian workers.

Accelerated training programs for Australian workers should be a major priority in meeting the resource industry’s skills needs, Mr Hunter said, “but while we are developing that solution, the 457 visa program allows the sector to remain productive.”

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Aurecon steers port evolutionAfter winning kudos for its role in the creation

and expansion of the Abbot Point coal export

hub, this fi rm is helping guide future growth.

Aurecon is providing engineering services for the two latest coal terminal developments at Abbot Point, continuing a project history that began when the North Queensland export facility was still on the drawing board.

Aurecon has completed a bankable feasibility study for Hancock Coal’s proposed Terminal 3 development at Abbot Point and is providing engineering services to BHP Billiton for Terminal 2, for which the coal giant has preferred developer status.

Th e work with Hancock Coal and BHP Billiton follows the Abbot Point Coal Terminal X50 Expansion, which won Aurecon the Consult Australia Project of the Year award in December on top of a Facility of the Year award from the Australian Bulk Handling Review.

Th e X50 expansion - doubling export capacity - included

development of a third bund and associated stockyard, 6km of conveyors and several new transfer stations, four new stacker reclaimer machines, a second outloading conveyor stream and a new off shore jetty conveyor, berth and shiploader.

Aurecon - in joint venture with Hatch - was responsible for all engineering design, procurement contracts for equipment and machines, contracting of all site construction works, technical support and site supervision.

Aurecon also developed all the control system software and assisted in the plant’s commissioning.

Aurecon project director Hugh McKay said the $800 million expansion had been delivered safely, to a high quality, within budget and essentially on schedule. Th is was despite the fast-track delivery required by North Queensland Bulk Ports

and volatility in the construction

industry at the time, he said.

Mr McKay said the X50 design

included many features that

were world’s best practice for the

minimisation of environmental

impacts, such as smart control of

water sprays to curb water use.Aurecon’s involvement with

the Abbot Point Coal Terminal started in the early 1980s.

Engineering, management and specialist technical services fi rm MacDonald Wagner and Priddle - which became Connell Wagner and later Aurecon – was responsible for the design of all off shore facilities for the original terminal.

Th is included the 2.8km jetty which links the onshore facilities with the off shore berth, a wharf, 4600tph travelling gantry luffi ng shiploader and off shore materials handling.

Th at project won two Engineering Excellence Awards in 1985.

Aurecon, together with Hatch, has since provided engineering, procurement and construction management services for three expansions of the terminal – the X21 works completed in 2007, the X25 expansion completed

in 2008, and the expansion to 50 million tonnes per annum completed in 2010.

Th e Queensland Government recently announced it would focus on development of the T2 and T3 terminals and an extension of the existing terminal at Abbot Point, saying it was apparent industry was not supportive of the multi-cargo facility (MCF) put forward for the port by the previous Labor Government.

Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said a Federal Government decision to push the approval process for Abbot Point back to the end of 2012 indicated that the T4-T9 and MCF proposals might never pass the regulatory approval process.

“We consider that expansion at Abbot Point should be incremental. We will proceed with T2 and T3 and will discuss with industry what additional capacity is needed as that expansion is under way,” Mr Seeney said.

The Abbot Point Coal Terminal outside Bowen in North Queensland.

Scanners ensure coal clearedGladstone Ports Corporation is continuing work on a laser scanning system to ensure train wagons are not leaving with residual coal after unloading at export terminals.

Ensuring all coal was extracted during the unloading process had both environmental and operational benefi ts, corporation logistics and performance manager Brian Jobling said.

Mr Jobling said trials were successfully completed in one unloading system in 2011 using laser scanners to detect coal remaining in the wagons and prevent carry back of material along the rail system.

Two laser scanners had been mounted over

the entry to the fi nal pair of unloading pits at

the RG Tanna Coal Terminal dump station 3,

he said.

Th is allowed suffi cient time to stop the train

and dislodge any coal that had been caught up

before wagons left the pit area.

“Th e scanners used are capable of operating

at up to 50Hz, that is 50 scans per second,” Mr

Jobling said.

A third scanner was installed at the dump

station exit to check that any detected “hang-

ups” had been dislodged before the train left,

Mr Jobling said.

39The Mining Advocate | July 2012 SHUTDOWNS

To overcome problems resulting from the infl ux of personnel during large shutdown operations, Relocatables Australia manager Chris Burton developed the idea of a temporary, self-contained unit to meet the day-to-day living needs of even the largest work crew.

Mr Burton had personally experienced the overload dilemma when his Shutdown Solutions business carried out shutdown work.

He saw the opportunity for a change in business direction, established Relocatables Australia, and the Grub Box range evolved.

“Too often the solution to overloaded amenities is to bring in transportable buildings with the inherent plethora of added components such as water tanks, waste tanks and generators,”

Mr Burton said. “Th is makes amenity set-up a time-consuming process, which means they are rarely moved from the initial location.

“Consequently, resource workers often walk considerable distances between the work site and amenities, which means precious time – always a critical shutdown factor - is wasted.”

Mr Burton described his self-contained, easily relocated site-support facility as an “input output” solution incorporating fresh water, fl ush toilets, waterless urinals, airconditioned crib room and storage.

“Grub Boxes, available in two sizes – 6m and 12m long - can be operational within 15 minutes of site delivery, while Grub Wagons (identical to the Grub Boxes but on wheels) also come in two sizes – 6m and 8m

long. Th ese can be operational within 10 minutes of site delivery,” he said.

Th e Relocatables Australia range includes workshops and wastewater treatment plants, which also play an important role on shutdown sites.

Mr Burton said the self-contained fi eld workshops came in a number of sizes up to 15m wide and 10m high.

Th ey typically took only two to three days to be assembled with minimal site preparation required, he said.

“Th ey feature eco-friendly water-effi cient systems and bio-remediation plants to treat the wastewater and can be confi gured with offi ces, crib rooms, ablutions, workshops, storage areas and self-bunded lube storage,” Mr Burton said.

“Th ey are designed and

Grub Boxes curb set-up work

manufactured to the highest quality standards to perform in challenging conditions, meet the stringent regulations of the

resources industry and ensure our clients gain maximum value from their most valuable asset – their workforce.”

Relocatables Australia fi eld workshops take only two or three days to

assemble, with minimal site preparation required.

Liner handlers not just run-of-the-mill unitsCairns-based TME Group designs, fabricates,

commissions and installs liner handler machines with

a view to meeting client’s needs, improving safety and

minimising shutdown downtime.

Th e machines incorporate crane design tailored to

individual mills’ applications, according to TME Group

Queensland mine services manager Daniel Cook.

“A self-supporting boom design eliminates the need

for stabiliser legs while a continuous slew on cranes

allows 360-degree movement anywhere inside the mill

areas, eliminating the necessity of having to move it

during relining,” Mr Cook said.

“By incorporating a continuous slew, it’s possible to

reduce shutdown time by at least 40 per cent.

“Having 360-degree movement also saves costs as

well as time as limited manual handling is involved

during the reline process.”

Mr Cook said TME’s liner handlers were developed

to industry standards in close consultation with each

client to ensure the best machine for the end user. “We focus primarily on mineral processing plants.

However, we can build liner handler machines to suit any application,” he said.

Th e machines off er simplicity of design for ease of

maintenance and repair in remote locations, optional moveable seating positions, and standardised hydraulic hose fi ttings to minimise the necessity of stocking specialised spare parts.

Mr Cook said his company could meet client requirements including rubber-tyred or track-mounted liner handlers, gravity roller frames or powered liner carts, telescopic beams, secondary cranes and grapple head attachments.

Examples of TME’s client-specifi c liner handlers include one designed for a SAG (semi-autogenous grinding) mill in the Philippines. It weighs 12 tonnes, with a working load limit of 1.2 tonnes at 5.8m.

One fabricated for a uranium processing rod mill in Africa weighs 14 tonnes and has a working load limit of 1.2 tonnes at 12m. Access is gained through a 3m discharge end trommel screen.

Th e machine, which measures 15.8m long at full extension and retracts to 9.6m, was able to fi t into a shipping container for transport purposes.

A liner handler about to be lifted to a SAG mill grinding fl oor.

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40 July 2012 | The Mining AdvocateREGIONAL ENGINEERING TEAMS

Mentoring young engineers to think laterally and consider their long-term career opportunities is proving rewarding for Roma-based engineer Kevin Chambers.

Th e FK Gardner and Sons south-west manager’s regular role revolves around business development and engineering management.

He has recently taken on coaching and mentoring to attract and retain engineers in the industry.

“I’m very much enjoying giving young engineers an understanding of what can be achieved and the opportunities available to them,” he said.

“For many, they’ve been so busy delivering their day-to-day work, they don’t realise how their career can benefi t from working in an area such as Roma, nor have they had the time or opportunity to interact with other engineers -

many from diff erent parts of the world - working on some of the state’s major projects.

“For example, there are engineers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries, all of whom are experienced and have a wealth of knowledge of diff erent processes and procedures they can share.”

Mr Chambers stressed that not all engineering jobs were straight textbook projects.

“In some isolated areas such as Queensland’s more remote mining areas, engineers must not only apply the technical knowledge they learn at university, they also need to know how to adapt locally available materials to ‘fi t the purpose’ and deliver value for money,” he said.

“For those who prefer projects which fi t in with specifi cations straight out of a book, there are plenty of opportunities in the city.

Th inking beyond the blueprintDelivering projects outside the major cities

can require a diff erent way of looking at the

job, according to this regional manager.

“But when they move out to

remote and regional centres, it’s

necessary to change the way they

think.

“Also, once a design has

been issued, engineers have an

obligation to provide advice to

clients and designers if they

consider alternative approaches -

which can involve a lot of lateral

thinking - could be better.

“While designs are often

textbook based, at the point of

delivery or construction it’s often

necessary to take a closer look

and review for suitability in the

location where the project is to be

delivered.”

Mr Chambers said the fact

that he found younger engineers

sometimes struggling with this

concept prompted his mentoring

and coaching strategy.

“Given so much engineering

is being carried out in remote

regions, I believe it is essential,”

he said.

Kevin Chambers

(left) provides

engineering

advice to project

supervisor John

Roessler on a

project near Roma.

Push to train more engineersIn a bid to attract more students into engineering, the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) has added a degree in mechanical engineering.

Th e university has also entered into an arrangement with a number of regional schools to teach two fi rst-year subjects – success in which goes towards university credits.

USC executive projects unit director Don Maconachie said the response had been solid, with schools knocking on the door to be included in the engineering program.

Mr Maconachie said USC was also collaborating with the Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay Institutes of TAFE to bring their engineering provision up to a

point where a joint associate degree was possible.

“We are trying to make sure that the engineering

skills shortage in our region (north of Brisbane to

Hervey Bay) is not made worse as engineers leave to

work in the resources industry,” he said.

Mr Maconachie said experience showed that

around two-thirds of engineers trained in the regions

stayed there, whereas only one-third of those trained

in metropolitan areas worked in the regions.

“To attract more regional engineering students,

we are working on developing the fi rst regional

Australian visualisation laboratory, incorporating

concepts presented in 3D images,” he said.

Mountain Creek State High School students put their

engineering skills to the test at USC’s annual Science and

Engineering Challenge.

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:

TOWNSVILLE-COWBOY STOCKHAM 0419 737990MT ISA-HAG HARRISON 0428192985

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.

RELAX. YOUR SUPER IS SAFE WITH QUEENSLAND COUNTRY’S SUPERANNUATION SOLUTION.

Our Super Retirement Savings Account has:

WORRIED ABOUT

retirement?

NISSAN FLEET.WE KNOW THE DRILL.

Nissan Fleet understand the challenges of industry and offer turnkey solutions through our extensive dealer network to ensure vehicles are mine site ready without the hassle. With a dealer network of 190+ Australia wide and locations that supply the Surat Basin, Bowen Basin, Galilee Basin and surrounds, support for your local operation is always at hand.

To see how Nissan Fleet can provide a solution that’s right for you, contact Joeanne Fox your Northern Region Fleet Sales Manager.

CONTACT DETAILSJoeanne Fox

Fleet Sales Manager, Northern Region

T: 07 3345 0600 M: 0414 625 468

Joeanne_fox@nissan.com.au

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