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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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NEWS
The Mining Advocate | July 2012
1
COVER IMAGE: Dozers at work on the Moranbah North product coal stockpile. Photo: Damien Carty
July 2012
FEATURES
3 Electrical storm
12 QME Coal Industry Feature
The threatened closure of the Collinsville power station under a Federal Government clean energy
20 Industry Update
campaign has sparked a community outcry and moves to form a locally-based consortium with strategies to secure the plant’s future.
22 Between Shifts
4 Drawing the line
26 Building NW Queensland
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 model Modularisation is rapidly becoming a most valuable mining sector construction technique, with multiple benefits to combat the major challenges facing the industry.
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32 Heavy Machinery Review
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34 Ivanhoe Feature
29 Money matters
35 Emergency Response and Rescue
The urge to splash out with high wages can be the undoing of some mining families, warns an adviser who
37 Training
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38 Materials Handling
35 To the rescue
39 Shutdowns
After passing the tests of the Queensland Mines Rescue Service Memorial Cup competition with flying colours, the Kestrel team is gearing up to take on the industry’s best in the EK Healy Cup challenge in July.
40 Regional Engineering Teams
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NEWS
The Mining Advocate | July 2012
3
The Collinsville
Power struggle
power plant’s future is under a cloud.
A range of options are being floated for a North Queensland electricity operation amid opposition to plans to axe the coal-fired plant. The 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 offers 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. The 190-megawatt Collinsville station contributes power to the North Queensland electricity grid, generally operating as a peak-load facility. News the coal-fired plant had been earmarked for closure under the Gillard Government’s Clean Energy Future program sparked local outcry. However RATCH chief executive officer Steve Loxton said all proposals which could keep the station operating would be considered. “The process involving the Federal Government right now is simply to allow Canberra to get all relevant information to make us an offer for Collinsville,” Mr Loxton told The 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-fired 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 profile would be a prime consideration. This 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. “That means five times the energy consumption just for that operation,” he said. “There 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
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sent shock waves throughout North Queensland. “The closure of Collinsville power station will essentially mean the loss of a reliable backup 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. This prospect is also creating justifiable concerns.” Closure would affect 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
Leaders voice concern Regional community leaders have spoken out against the closure option for the Collinsville power station. Mackay-Whitsunday Regional Economic Development Corporation chief executive officer Narelle Pearse believes loss of the power plant could leave the area dangerously exposed during cyclones or floods. “There 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-fire capacity or renewable energy (gas).” Ms Pearse said a closure could also affect the region’s general economic expansion. “Electricity pricing is critical for the agriculture industry to expand, as these are significant input costs and, if too expensive, we find the cost/benefit equation is tipped in the negative and expansion is stifled,” she said. The 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-fired 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 The Mining Advocate. “Collinsville is one of five 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.
4
NEWS
July 2012 |
The Mining Advocate
Galilee rail future mapped out A 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. The Newman Government’s approval of two rail corridors to service the Bowen and Galilee basins has been touted as the most efficient solution to the problem of connecting major resource developments to east coast ports. The previous Bligh Government was considering at least six different private sector railway proposals for the region. The 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 eastwest 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 GVKHancock 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 benefits as it provided initial and additional capacity to satisfy the Galilee and Bowen basins’ future rail requirements. QR National managing director and chief executive officer Lance Hockridge said the Government’s sensible, staged approach to the expansion of the Bowen and Galilee basins would drive significant growth in the
Australian resources sector. “By delivering a solution that utilises the scalability of the existing network with an innovative greenfields 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 confine Galilee Basin rail options to just two corridors combined maximum transport efficiency 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 coalfields growth areas to ports.
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6
NEWS
July 2012 |
The Mining Advocate
Wages on the rise for mine skills New projects and expansions are contributing to a fierce race for talent in the resources sector, a leading recruitment group reports. Top dollars are on offer for the new class of skilled mining industry worker, a workforce segment dubbed “orange collar” because of the distinctive highvisibility 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. The guide reveals salary and recruiting trends across Australia and New Zealand, based on
a survey of more than 1500 employers. Key findings 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
Salary trends are reflecting high demand for mining’s “orange collar” workers.
fierce race for the top talent. Hays Resources and Mining senior regional director Simon Winfield 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,
Dyno Nobel plant cranks up Incitec Pivot’s new $1 billion Dyno Nobel plant at Moranbah has produced its first batch of product. Production of ammonium nitrate – an essential component in the manufacture of explosives - began in the first week of July. “This is a great milestone for our construction, commissioning and production teams,” Dyno Nobel Moranbah operations manager Kyle Gimpl said. “Producing our first 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.
interstate candidates or sponsorship to fill skills gaps,” Mr Winfield said. “They are becoming more flexible in terms of experience and will provide training to get a candidate to the required level. “Mining-specific universities
Who is most in demand? 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 fitters.
Photo: Roslyn Budd
in Europe and North America are the target for a number of mining companies looking to secure graduates and they are also looking further afield to source specific tradespeople and skilled operators that qualify for a 457 visa.” Mr Winfield said retention was an increasingly important priority. “Benefits are rising as a result. These include health insurance, novated car leases, share options, income protection, flexible super contributions, long-service leave and even-time rosters. Improved FIFO (fly in-fly out) rosters are also being offered,” he said. “The sheer number of mining projects in Australia will see employers continue to compete for orange collar candidates over the years ahead.”
NEWS
The Mining Advocate | July 2012
7
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 affordable housing to offset accommodation problems caused by an influx of workers. Cr McGrady, the straighttalking 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 officers meet again with Legend representatives to make it clear that our new council has a different attitude to the Legend project,” he said. “There are 420 jobs at stake in this matter, and that would be a massive boost to opportunities
for the development of up to 300 affordable 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 affecting the community. The mayor declined to put a timeframe on the matter being successfully finalised, 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. The company proposes to build a fertiliser manufacturing plant in Mount Isa, to be fed by multiple phosphate deposits in the region.
Dugald River works advance
Tony McGrady Mount Isa Mayor
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
The $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 final 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. The 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 office in Cloncurry, and in June entered into a $17 million agreement with Minmetals Australia for the supply of permanent village accommodation for the project. Qualified local people are in the box seat to get a job among the 500 positions expected to be on offer when the Dugald River operation
starts in earnest. A company spokesman said MMG’s first preference was to employ Cloncurry-based personnel where skill sets allowed. “However, as the total personnel requirement is unlikely to be satisfied under that arrangement, a fly in-fly out operation will also be required with employees and contractors accommodated in the site village,” he said.
8
NEWS
July 2012 |
The Mining Advocate
Key post for Whyte Ensuring accountability to members and adding fresh vigour to negotiations in an ongoing coal dispute are among this leader’s priorities. Veteran miner and union official 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 officially took office at the start of the financial 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 vicepresident of the Moranbah North Lodge. “I joined the union on the first 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
A Minco Photography image of workers operating a rapid face bolter at Newlands mine in the Bowen Basin.
Portraits of an industry Tim Whyte CFMEU district secretary
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 affecting members in their day-to-day working lives. The 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.
Taking snapshots during a trip around Australia more than 10 years ago opened Damien Carty’s eyes to his potential as a photographer. The 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 The 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. The photos will be on display at Milton Gallery in Mackay from July 24 to August 11, with the opening night coinciding with the first day of the 2012 Queensland Mining and Engineering (QME) exhibition. The Coalface Art Gallery in Moranbah will host the exhibition from August 13 to 24.
Damien Carty Minco Photography owner
Rise in gambling concerns 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 financial 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.
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NEWS
The Mining Advocate | July 2012
9
Modular approach stacks up The potential benefits of this construction technique are attracting growing interest throughout Australia’s resources sector.
SKM successfully applied modularisation in port works in Western Australia.
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 benefits to combat the major challenges facing the industry. United Group Resources business development manager
Trevor Cheeseman is one of the industry figures who see an almost unlimited future for modularisation. “The 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
a project in sectional stages, or modules, which can be assembled Lego-like on site. The 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 field, Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM), has reported on a dramatic success story for modularisation. SKM was contracted to install a 261m extension of a finger wharf 3km offshore 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. The key to the successful delivery of the largest project in the expansion program involved a world-first modular approach to heavy wharf construction that reduced on-site labour. This complex expansion was
achieved while setting a new industry safety benchmark of five million man hours without a single loss of an hour to injury. SKM emphasises that the benefits of modularisation are not restricted to the construction of wharves and loading facilities - it has valuable applications at mining sites as well. The company said while machinery for stackers and reclaimers traditionally would have been assembled
Cream of the croppers 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 officer 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 office and Xstrata Mount Isa Mines.
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NEWS
The Mining Advocate | July 2012
11
Report raises alarm on attrition High 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. The Heartbeat 2012 report was issued by the Kinetic Group,
$140 million annually – caused by the high turnover rate of mining staff, • the turnover rate among fly in-fly out (FIFO) and drive in-drive out (DIDO) workers is double that of the rest of the industry, but it is the fastest
“An ageing workforce is concerning because it exposes the industry to significant risk of losing critical skills” formerly the Mining Industry Skills Centre. Kinetic chief executive officer Derek Hunter said the report contained information to help the industry manage future skills shortages and assist government in developing responsive policy. The most concerning findings of Heartbeat 2012 are; • heavy costs – estimated at
growing lifestyle/work model in the sector, • an ageing workforce, which is not being adequately replaced by younger workers coming into the industry. The Heartbeat 2012 report found an annual personnel turnover in the sector, including contractors, of 24.4 per cent. Of this group, an alarming
Derek Hunter Kinetic Group chief executive officer
18.4 per cent left within the first 12 months of employment. “This is really concerning for productivity because, based on these figures, the industry will need to replace the equivalent of its whole workforce within 5.8 years,” Mr Hunter said. This view is supported by the statistics gathered on the average age of the workforce, with 22 per
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 significant 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. This dilemma was linked to another key finding; that less than 10 per cent of the industry workforce is under 25 years old. The report concludes that this doesn’t reflect 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. “This highlights the lack of pathway programs for young people to enter the industry,” Mr Hunter said.
Another of the report’s findings 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. “The report’s findings may paint a grim picture, but the industry growth and opportunities available mean we can easily turn this around.”
First exports after Osborne reboot Ivanhoe Australia’s first copper concentrate shipment from the Osborne mine in north-west Queensland left the Port of Townsville in June bound for a Japanese smelter. The 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.
The concentrate, comprising about 400 container loads, was delivered to the Townsville port over a three-month period. “That 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 officer Ines Scotland described the commencement of cashflow from Osborne as an important development for the company. The company has since announced the outcome of a strategic and operational
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QME Coal Industry Feature
The Mining Advocate | July 2012
13
Grosvenor shifts into gear Construction has kicked off for Anglo American’s $US1.7 billion Grosvenor project near Moranbah. The 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 greenfield project, expected to create up to 1000 jobs in construction and operation. The 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. The other planks of this strategy include development of the proposed 12mtpa Moranbah South underground mine, efficiencies 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. The 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 officer 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
FAST FACTS
Work on the Grosvenor site access road at Moranbah.
to develop our Advanced Entry Trades Skills Program, designed for adults with aligned industry experience or qualifications wishing to complete a trade apprenticeship within 1.5 years.” The 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. The Grosvenor construction workforce is to be accommodated in the existing Dyno Nobel facility, while Anglo American has pledged to build more than 50 new houses and
Anglo American keen to broaden coalfields workforce Anglo American has highlighted its commitment to diversity as it gears up to recruit for the new Grosvenor mine. The 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 - differing 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
Professor Binna Kandola with Anglo American Metallurgical Coal human resources head David Diamond.
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. “The mining industry has come a long way from its traditional male-dominated roots, which has been reflected 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.
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.
Underground longwall operation to be built at Moranbah; Capacity of five 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.
Hyundai Construction Equipment Australia’s R1200-9 crawler excavator is among the products to be showcased at QME 2012.
Bumper year for QME exhibition 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. The 2012 event will feature more than 650 exhibitors and will be 20 per cent larger in floor 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 offered 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. The team will also be offering mining companies strategies and information on how best to engage with and manage their fly in-fly out and drive in-drive out wokforces. The Mackay Area Industry Network (MAIN) will partner QME organisers in hosting this year’s Bowen Basin Safety Conference on the final 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 benefit 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.
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QME Coal Industry Feature
The Mining Advocate | July 2012
15
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 first 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. The new mine, 18km southwest 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. The 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. The Caval Ridge project and Peak Downs expansion are expected to cost $US4.2 billion combined. BMA plans to upgrade local
Construction of the coal handling and preparation plant at BMA’s Daunia mine site.
intersections of the Peak Downs Highway to support its expanded operations, with work to start in the second half of 2012, and
Focus on Red Hill as coal giant eyes further growth BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance has set the wheels in motion for a greenfield 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 identified in 2008 as one of BMA’s Bowen Basin Coal Growth Projects. This 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 identified an underground component as a greenfield mine opportunity, now named Red Hill. The 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. The 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. The Red Hill project team has been holding discussions with landholders and leaseholders adjacent to the project, government, traditional owners, nongovernment organisations, community members and BMA employees. The company said it would continue to communicate and consult with stakeholders throughout the EIS process.
is well advanced with work on a new Moranbah Airport terminal facility. The $46 million upgrade will
deliver a new terminal, a surfaced public parking area, and a new airport intersection to improve safety and airport access.
Help for local businesses 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. The 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 offer 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 officer Narelle Pearse said the partnership would bring significant economic benefits to the region by opening up greater
opportunities for local business and industry. “The region has a wealth of industry related products and services, and this partnership enables smaller organisations to showcase their capabilities under a more simplified system,” Ms Pearse said. “We look forward to seeing the growth that follows this innovative partnership.”
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QME Coal Industry Feature
The Mining Advocate | July 2012
Yancoal lists on ASX Yancoal Australia, a new firm 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 significant assets in Queensland. “Yancoal’s rise over the past eight years reflects the level of confidence 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 boost Bandanna Energy has committed an extra $50 million towards advancing development of its Springsure Creek project, 36km south-east of Emerald. A definitive 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 first 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. “This facility and the significant progress made on the definitive 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, confirming 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 officer Bruce Patrick said one of the most exciting
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.
Extension on a roll
Maiden resource for Injune Aquila 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. This included an inferred resource of 671.4 million tonnes and a measured and indicated resource of 155.5 million tonnes.
Wilton plans advance Coal of Queensland has completed the first step in the environmental impact statement process for its Wilton project, with the submission of the draft terms of reference to the State Government. The Wilton project, next to Ensham mine north-east of Emerald, has an inferred resource of 6.3 billion tonnes of coking coal.
Saraji plant overhaul Sedgman 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. The upgrade is scheduled to be completed in the second quarter of 2013.
Peak Downs contract Leighton 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. The contract, awarded by BMA, extends the services provided at Peak Downs mine and includes project management, fleet maintenance and operational services for overburden mining at the project.
Coal-powered jetsetters Linc Energy has demonstrated the use of jet fuel produced at its Chinchilla facility through a 4200km flight across Australia. This was the first time that fuel produced via underground coal gasification and gas-
Rubber range stretches across many applications 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. The Victorian plant is also one of the largest non-tyre rubber manufacturers and the only manufacturer of Silentbloc antivibration 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. “The rubber mixing plant has an extensive range of over 1900 material formulations which includes more than 15 different polymers,” general manager Gordon Hardcastle said. “Rubber is mixed with both tangential and intermeshing mixer technologies.” The company’s industrial division
17
The Bendigo manufacturing facility.
produces a range of products from antivibration mounts to wheel chocks, hose ramps, couplings and bearings which carry the world-renowned Silentbloc trademark. The 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-effective performance solutions.
First trucks transport coal from the Kestrel Mine Extension via the recently completed haulage road.
The 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.
to-liquids technologies had powered a jet aircraft, Linc Energy chief executive officer Peter Bond said. He said the fuel performed brilliantly during the Jet A1 Dash, which started in Perth and finished 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 sufficient 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 significantly during this recent period.”
Heavyweights in transport 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-specific project management capability. “We provide a one-stop shop in the management and co-ordination of sitespecific 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 minespecific 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
NQX national manager, straightline and project services, Doug Rae with regional development manager, south Queensland, John Gunning.
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.”
Harness Master Wiring Systems QLD is an advanced wiring harness facility based in Rockhampton QLD that specialises in wiring harness design, manufacture, modiďŹ cation and repairs for mining, construction and transportation vehicles and equipment. Harness Master can reverse engineer and modify genuine wiring harnesses for genuine replacement identical to original equipment manufactures such as Caterpillar, Komatsu, Liebherr, Hitachi and other OEM manufacturers. For more info visit: www.harnessmasterqld.com.au or visit us at stand 1121 at QME
Harness Master Queensland manufactures the high quality Rocky Lightbar range. Designed and engineered in Australia for Australian conditions, the Rocky lightbar range uses only the best quality components and are easy to install. These lightbars make working light vehicles highly visible on mine sites and can be conďŹ gured with varying work light options as per mine site requirements. For more info visit: www.rockylightbars.com.au or visit us at stand 1121 at QME
QME Coal Industry Feature
The Mining Advocate | July 2012
19
Export terminal surges ahead Mining companies have pledged support for the next phase of development as this key coal infrastructure starts to take shape. 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. The 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 first 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. The four coal producers were Aquila Coal – for its Washpool project, Cockatoo Coal – for the Collingwood project, Stanmore Coal - for The 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 financing 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 first 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
Wandoan lease decision near Xstrata Coal expects to clear the final 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 financial close. “The mine development is continuing with detailed design to ensure it is aligned with the rail and port developments to trigger construction when their financing arrangements are complete,” he said The Surat Basin project is in the feasibility stage and still subject to final 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.” The 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. The 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. The 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. The 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.
An aerial view highlights progress on the Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal (WICET) project at Gladstone.
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.
MetroCoal covers its bases Securing 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 officer Theo 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 significant - 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.” The 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. “They 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 significant project. Meanwhile work is well advanced on the first stage of WICET. MetroCoal is concentrating its development efforts on its Bundi and Columboola projects around Wandoan and Miles. Mr Psaros said the company was on the verge of a significant ramp-up in the Surat Basin, where it has been exploring since 2008 “The 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 five years, and those mines likely to have a 20-year life, Mr Psaros said MetroCoal believed it would play a significant 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 specific 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. The 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 office in Wandoan and is looking to establish one in Miles with joint venture partner SinoCoal.
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INDUSTRY UPDATE GAS
July 2012 |
Totally tubular
“QGC is delivering significant benefits 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. The 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 A 12m length of pipe is lowered into a trench near Miles.
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. The 42-inch (about 1m) diameter steel pipeline, which will be buried for more than 540km, will take gas from fields 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. The pipeline is being engineered and constructed by a joint venture of McConnell Dowell and Consolidated Contracting Company Australia.
Pipe jobs flow Brisbane-based Murphy Pipe and Civil Constructions has won a contract to install gas and water gathering pipelines throughout QGC’s gas fields in the Surat Basin. The initial phase of the contract is worth about $250 million. The 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 fields 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
fittings to support water gathering in QGC’s gas fields 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. The figures 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 Queenslandowned and operated businesses.
Pacific LNG contracts. These 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. The gas gathering system and water treatment facilities are part of Australia Pacific LNG’s multi-billion dollar coal seam gas (CSG) to liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project.
Commissioners named The 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. They include landholder and former Taroom Mayor Don Stiller, cotton
The Mining Advocate
farmer Ian Hayllor, Western Downs Regional Mayor Ray Brown, Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association chief operating officer Rick Wilkinson, soil scientist Professor Steven Raine, and Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise chief executive officer 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 benefits from the massive LNG project were already starting to flow, 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 benefit from the massive injection into our economy,” Mr Henderson said. “The first 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.
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INDUSTRY UPDATE HARD ROCK
The Mining Advocate | July 2012
Breaking ground
of only $320 million, Mr Cowden said.
Path cleared for growth The 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. The project would extend the life of bauxite mining near Weipa for another 40 years.
21
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 clarified, he said. The 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, North West Qld Specialists 100km north-east of Mount Isa, for Crane Hire $25 million. Boomlifts and Scissor Lifts
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Little Eva heats up Altona Mining has announced positive results from its definitive 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 openpit mining of Little Eva and three smaller deposits. “The 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. The project could be delivered for a total capital cost
Brisbane B risbane
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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. The 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.
Glladstone Gladstone G
Initial ground works have begun at the Rocklands project in north-west Queensland.
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. The 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. The project is expected to employ about 160 people in full production and up to 350 personnel during construction of the processing facility.
The resource is estimated at 26.1 million tonnes, containing 146,000 tonnes of copper and 74,000oz of gold.
Kagara asset review
Mineral sands outbound
Kagara’s administrators have appointed Investec Bank to conduct a strategic review of the group’s assets. The administrators, from Taylor Woodings, were appointed in late April. The move followed Kagara’s suspension of mining operations at Baal Gammon in the Mount Garnet region of North Queensland due to tightening cash flow and its decision earlier this year to mothball its Thalanga 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
Moranbah M oranbah
Mackay M ackay
the appointment of administrators, with a total of 216 staff members made redundant and a workforce of 95 retained.
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. This includes the first 6823 tonnes shipped in May, earning more than $9 million, and two more shipments are scheduled for July and September this year. “This is an outstanding achievement, particularly given that the original plant was destroyed by fire mid last year and had to be rebuilt prior to commissioning the mining and processing operations,” Matilda chairman Mal Randall said.
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BETWEEN SHIFTS
July 2012 |
Mackay Area Industry Network (MAIN) breakfast
The Mining Advocate
PHOTOS: Damien Carty
Ocean International Hotel, Mackay
Les Rodgers (DBCT) with Charlie Brownlow, Kevin ForbesSmith and Terry Holt (all from Group Engineering).
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).
Gary Dobbie (RPS) and Andrew Mecoles (DBCT) with Nicole Armitage (CQ Health Assess).
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).
Hastings Deering Social Club Charity Ball
PHOTOS: Donna Maree Robinson
Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre
Rachael Hayles, Kasey Maunder, Luke Maunder, Aleshia McEvoy, Allan Satchell and Philip McEvoy (Synergy Industries).
Danny and Lara McCarthy, Lylea McMahon, Andrew Thomas, Taire Olsen, Steve Duncan, Chris and Renae Bourke, Greg and Katrina Horan (Thiess Australian Mining).
Gordon Fysh, Elle Young, Trent and Angie Boylan, Jodie Moffett, James Burns, Lauren May and Ashley Bettini (Hastings Deering).
Rod and Julie Sercome (Mackay Sand and Gravel) with Bev Ferris, Scott Harding, Daniel and Leanne Thompson (all from EMECO).
Whilst some pay the ultimate sacrifice, others return requiring assistance RSL (Queensland Branch) supports over 45,000 current and ex-service personnel. Your support of the RSL will help provide vital services to these men and women. Your direct donation, bequest or sponsorship will make a real difference and enable the RSL to continue with this vital support and assistance. Make a donation at www.rslqld.org or call (07) 3634 9444
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BETWEEN SHIFTS
The Mining Advocate | July 2012
23
Cannington Women in Mining Awards BHP Billiton Cannington village
Magali Raguenes and Ravanee Pillay (BHP Billiton) with Sheree Sordelli (ESS).
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).
Aleasha Collins and Rhonda Greensill (BHP Billiton).
Kristina Pye (TP Human Capital) with Emma Riles and Tania Brierley (BHP Billiton).
Jessica Robinson, Simone Sheehy and Hunyati Groom (all from BHP Billiton).
Inspiring Women in Industry Conference 2012
PHOTOS: Craig Chapman
Gladstone Entertainment Centre
Colleen Clark-Coolee (Betapoly Betacrete), Sian Thomas (QGC) and Bronwyn Campbell (Broad Spectrum Australia).
Kaitlyn Yates, Karen Bellert and Tracey Smith (from Energy Skills Queensland).
Clint Spencer and Victoria Rowe (from GHD) with Anja Steinberg (QAL) and Quinn McDonald (GHD).
Lois Auld (Bullivants) and Lance McKay (Tox Free).
Barb and Graham Benson (Gladstone Engineering Alliance).
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BETWEEN SHIFTS
July 2012 |
The Mining Advocate
NQ Mining, Processing and Energy Conference networking dinner
PHOTOS: Kate Glover
Rydges Southbank Convention Centre, Townsville
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).
Xstrata Mount Isa Mining Expo
PHOTOS: Roslyn Budd
Buchanan Park Events Complex, Mount Isa
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).
Linc Energy Jet Dash stakeholder event
Caitlynd Gardner, Samuel Skinner and Laura Munday (all school-based trainees from Spinifex Senior School).
PHOTOS: David Sproule
Chinchilla Cultural Centre
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Stephen Ainsworth, Ray Brown (Western Downs Regional Council) and Fred Ainsworth.
Joan and Geoffrey Arnell with Craig Ricato (from Linc Energy).
Jon Mathews (Linc Energy) with wife Kay and Sue Kruitbosch with husband Hank (Linc Energy Chinchilla).
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Bowen Basin Mining Club - Moranbah visit Moranbah Community Centre
Anne Baker (Isaac Regional Council), Steve Mardon (Anglo American), Peter Van Iersel (Enterprise Connect) and Jodie Currie (Bowen Basin Mining Club).
Leon Walz (Atlas Steels), Peter Hay (Australian Industrial Rental), Rae Lobodin (Generate PR) and Andy Hodgson (SGS).
Cameron Clelland (Abigroup), Brendan Bishop (First Enterprises) and Jonathan Carter (Abigroup).
Brett Whitewood and Ryan Calkin (Hastings Deering) with Mike Ritchie (BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance) and Luan Saiti (Viking Mining Services).
Rodrigo Lefranc (Duratray International) with Frank Wickert (Flanders of Australia).
Darryl Johnston (AECOM) with Justin Burnside and Simon Cohn (both from MEC Mining).
Mount Isa Mining Expo networking function Lake Moondarra, Mount Isa
Mike Thinee (Skytrans), Andrew Dineen (Parker Travel) and Chris Palmer (Skytrans).
Stacey Herring, Albert Bourne and Andy Grigg (all from PUMP).
Brett Peterson (Mount Isa Mining Supplies), Ryan MacKenzie (Isadraulics) and Travis Crowther (BOSS Shop).
Dale Krol, Matt Gilligan and Mark Hodges (all from Ashdown Ingram).
Jennifer Finlay and Brett David (Ausfuel Gull).
Chris Thinee (Jays Real Estate) and Ross Thinee (Desert Knowledge).
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BUILDING NW QUEENSLAND
The Mining Advocate | July 2012
27
Jobs role proves Carly’s calling Managing misconceptions about mining work is among the challenges for this recruitment specialist, writes Jan Green. Carly Herreygers, Mount Isa’s AWX branch manager, is in her element providing short and long-term staffing 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. “Through our work-ready
program we help jobseekers get a start in mining. The program has a 98 per cent retention rate, which is almost unheard of in the industry,” she said. On the flip side, she identified managing misconceptions about the mining industry as one of her biggest challenges. “The media makes it sound like anyone can walk into a fly in-fly 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 effort and get the experience first.”
AWX branch manager Carly Herreygers.
Ms Herreygers, who was born in Beaudesert in south-east Queensland, started her career as a property manager at Coldwell
Photo: Roslyn Budd
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 flexible and safe and it also helps that the directors back me 100 per cent.”
Zoe helps steer mining city on positive course Zoe 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 five, overseeing events, business development and arranging networking opportunities for members. She also prepares submissions and reports on issues affecting 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. “The chamber has a proud history of serving the northwest 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 firm – in Mount Isa. “Through 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 affordable,” she said.
Mount Isa Chamber of Commerce general manager Zoe Dark. Photo: Roslyn Budd
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LIVING REMOTELY
July 2012 |
The Mining Advocate
Camp satisfaction on the line 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. The first, a base system, includes free-to-air television, basic Foxtel channels and scheduled movies provided via kiosks.
The 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. The top level consists of freeto-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.
Oh, wooden it be lovely . . . 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 offices and to house and feed the timber cutter crews. The contrast to today’s quickly erected, easily transported, temporary mining camp accommodation and offices could not be greater.
Field engineer Grahame Vinson checks an internet connection cable and advanced telephone system.
Internet opportunity for regional customers 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. “The ISS can result in significantly 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. “Through 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. “The 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
MINING FAMILIES
The Mining Advocate | July 2012
29
Hold back on that urge to splurge Having clear financial goals helps families to make the most of a high-wage environment and skirt the pitfalls, an adviser explains. Many resource industry workers are, for the first 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 fly in-fly out (FIFO) lifestyle or a job change can happen suddenly or unexpectedly and for those who are overcommitted financially 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. Then, when the shift is over, they feel justified in spending a lot of money on big boys toys and living it up. Their 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 financial goals.
“For example, taking on a mining job for five 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 sacrifice,” she said. Ms Willcocks stressed that while long term goals were of paramount importance, shortterm rewards also had a place, “but don’t be impulsive, and factor the rewards into a budget.” Big-spending ways can bite hard.
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Keep your money and your dignity in family law disputes 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 offend some personal values. This 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. The emotional intimacy that develops in a relationship can continue after separation, but in a negative, sometimes toxic form. When carried over into family
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-ofcourt settlement. My client’s relationship with “person x” did not make one iota of difference 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. The 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 financial cost when approached clinically. You only add to that angst and cost, without any corresponding benefit, by trying to find 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 Thomson 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 firm’s Cairns office.
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30 Building Mining Communities
July 2012 |
The Mining Advocate
SUPPORTED BY BHP BILLITON CANNINGTON
Miners hit the greens for charity challenge
Tim McDougall with year 10 students Evandri Van Zyl and Mitchell Vickers.
Kestrel boss in school stint 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. “The students and teachers appreciated the opportunity to network with Tim and learn firsthand 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. “The 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.
Emerald sports complex revamped 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. The redeveloped Rundle Park and upgraded Emerald Aquatic Centre will be known as the Opal St Sporting Precinct. “This precinct as a whole
will offer the residents and mining families of the Central Highlands in the heart of the Bowen Basin a high-quality, modern multipurpose sports facility that reflects 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. “The local community can also utilise the two fantastic green recreational areas at both Morton and Rundle Parks. “The relocation of the floodprone netball courts from Morton Park was seriously needed, as was the expansion and restoration of the existing tennis courts at Rundle Park. ”
Support for Mackay district volunteers Mackay Regional Council has reached out to local community and not-for-profit 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 fifth year the conference had been run, with the aim of
providing information and training to a range of notfor-profit 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. “This 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.
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. The 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 affected by fly in-fly out work schedules,” he said. The golf challenge will provide $18,000 annually for the three-year scholarship, with a further $11,000 per year coming from James Cook University. “The balance of funds raised during the golfing challenge will then be distributed amongst various local charities,” Mr McLeod said. For further details visit www.mininggolfchallenge.com.au
Workforce contributes to community garden 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. The 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 coffee money, which was matched by Rio Tinto.
Origin aids Toowoomba agricultural students A partnership between Toowoomba State High School and Origin, the upstream operator of the Australia Pacific LNG project, aims to foster a new crop of young agriculturalists. Up to 500 students each year studying agricultural science, Certificate II agriculture and rural operations through the school’s Wilsonton Agricultural Centre will gain practical experience via regular field trips to Australia Pacific LNG’s Spring Gully development north-east of Roma. The centrepiece of the partnership will be Australia Pacific 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. The school has created its own pongamia research program with a view to producing biofuel to power its facilities.
Proudly supporting mining communities Cannington
Building Mining Communities 31
The Mining Advocate | July 2012
SUPPORTED BY BHP BILLITON CANNINGTON
Quilt exhibitions will benefit their local patch
Members of the all-indigenous Jump Rope for Heart demonstration team - Lurleen Blackman, Amos Whaleboat, Zion Blackman and Jake Brown.
Jump-start for campaign A partnership between BHP Billiton and Australia’s Heart Foundation is helping engage indigenous youth in physical activity and heart health awareness. The Jump Rope for Heart program will this year include Australia’s first 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 officer Cameron Prout said the Shalom students would play a very important part in this year’s Jump Rope for Heart. “The 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. “This 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 confidence, strength, coordination, fitness, 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 benefit 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.”
Xstrata NQ partnerships celebrated 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. The 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 significant 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. This 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 officially open the Cloncurry Community Precinct later this year,” he said.
Talented quilters from across Queensland exceeded expectations in producing Infinite Horizons – a travelling exhibition of 63 red and white quilts. The 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 wildfire. 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 Infinite Horizons exhibition would go to aged care in the towns in which the quilts were displayed. A raffle 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.
Carol Campbell and Cannington head of projects Darryl Steane check out some of the quilting creations.
Companies chip in for Cloncurry’s new wheels 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 terrific”. “The 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.”
Proudly supporting mining communities Cannington
32
HEAVY MACHINERY REVIEW
July 2012 |
The Mining Advocate
Trimmer Coaltram on show Diversified 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 first 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
been used with great success in the Australian underground coal mining sector for the past three
heavily influenced 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 Beresfield, NSW, the Coaltram range has
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incredible success of the 10-tonne and 13-tonne versions,” he said. “The new model was
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years, according to Mr Anderson. Coaltram vehicles are used for loading,
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 fleet sales manager Joanne Fox. These ranged from the everreliable 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 fleet sales managers, a comprehensive fleet plan and pricing model were able to cater for any type or size of fleet from corporate, mining, leasing companies and rental use through to not-for-profit 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. “They 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 offering to our vehicle range.”
The 2012 Navara ST-X 550 dual-cab four-wheel-drive is among the Nissan vehicles suited to mining industry needs.
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The Mining Advocate | July 2012
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New Cat rolls out The Cat 777G highway truck, the latest release in the Caterpillar 777 range, offers a 7 per cent increase in torque power and new transmission controls to produce quicker haul cycles. This increased power and production is balanced with fuel-saving strategies including configurable 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 efficient 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 profits from next generation electronic clutch pressure control, and APECS further provides outstanding shift quality for a smooth ride.” The manufacturer has worked towards making the 777G much quieter while producing fewer emissions. The company said it had started introducing the US EPA Tier 4 Final engine on the newest truck two years in advance of the effective date of the regulation. This 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 efficiency. 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” configured Cat C32 engine. The 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.
Short-tailed trailblazer Komatsu Australia’s PW98MR-8 is described as the first in a new class of short-tail compact wheel excavators. National sales manager - utility, Carl Grundy, said the company’s new 10 tonneclass wheeled excavator offered features that no other manufacturers were offering. The 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 five different working modes to minimise fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. “Key features of our new excavator concept include outstanding versatility and unmatched mobility in confined working spaces,” Mr Grundy said. “The 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
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Ivanhoe Australia feature
July 2012 |
The Mining Advocate
Ivanhoe
Revamped processing unit delivers Concentrate 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-effectively - processing 80,000 tonnes of quality ore a month. The 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. The company has since developed the Kulthor underground resource as well
Australia’s Osborne operation in north-west Queensland.
as restarting the Osborne underground mine. The 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 first sill drives being mined,” Mr Valk said. “Production from Starra is scheduled for January 2013.”
Kulthor airways ready
The recently installed Howden fan.
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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EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND RESCUE
The Mining Advocate | July 2012
Kestrel flying high Kestrel is going into July’s EK Healy Cup challenge with a confident approach after topping its rivals in the 2012 Queensland Mines Rescue Service (QMRS) Memorial Cup competition. “You have to be confident; 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. “The team is relatively inexperienced, with three of the members only finishing 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. “The 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. The 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 first aid. The top four go through to compete in the EK Healy Cup on July 27 at the Aquila colliery, where they will fight 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. “They carried out four surface exercises as well,” Mr Smith said. “One was a theory component and we challenged them on their first-aid skills on the surface across three exercises.” The winning team included Kestrel mine and Kestrel extension project employees.
On the line 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.
Teams to honour Box Flat victims 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. “There were nine mines rescue members down the hole at the time the pit exploded,” he said. “We will recognise those members this year at
Aquila mine rescue team members retrieve a “victim” during one of the
35
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. The Grasstree mine team won the EK Healy Cup last year, while Oaky No. 1 rescue personnel are reigning Australian champions.
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TRAINING
The Mining Advocate | July 2012
Bid to cut staff churn The 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 offer. 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 oneday 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 officer 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 fit, 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.” The one-day course covers such aspects of mine life as expectations and reality, working life and daily routine, family, relationships, lifestyle and managing financial temptation. The 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 five years – but we need to ensure we’re finding the people best suited for those jobs,” Mr Hunter said. “This obviously requires skilling and training, but first 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. The successful undergraduates will each receive a $1000 bursary to help them settle into their first year of university study. They 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. “The 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 confirmed once she attended networking events and spoke to industry professionals about their jobs.
Education, Training and Employment Minister JohnPaul Langbroek with program participants Sarah Coughlan and Joshua Morotti.
Skills fund spin-off from 457 visa deals Kinetic Group has established an industry training fund financed by companies employing overseas workers on 457 visas. The 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 officer 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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MATERIALS HANDLING
July 2012 |
The Mining Advocate
Aurecon steers port evolution After winning kudos for its role in the creation and expansion of the Abbot Point coal export hub, this firm 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. The 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. The 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 offshore 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. This was despite the fast-track delivery required by North Queensland Bulk Ports
The Abbot Point Coal Terminal outside Bowen in North Queensland.
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
Scanners ensure coal cleared Gladstone 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 benefits, 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 final pair of unloading pits at the RG Tanna Coal Terminal dump station 3, he said. This allowed sufficient time to stop the train and dislodge any coal that had been caught up before wagons left the pit area. “The 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 “hangups” had been dislodged before the train left, Mr Jobling said.
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 firm MacDonald Wagner and Priddle - which became Connell Wagner and later Aurecon – was responsible for the design of all offshore facilities for the original terminal. This included the 2.8km jetty which links the onshore facilities with the offshore berth, a wharf, 4600tph travelling gantry luffing shiploader and offshore materials handling. That 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. The 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 multicargo 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.
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SHUTDOWNS
The Mining Advocate | July 2012
39
Grub Boxes curb set-up work To overcome problems resulting from the influx 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. “This makes amenity set-up a timeconsuming 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, flush 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. These can be operational within 10 minutes of site delivery,” he said. The Relocatables Australia range includes workshops and wastewater treatment plants, which also play an important role on shutdown sites. Mr Burton said the selfcontained field workshops came in a number of sizes up to 15m wide and 10m high. They typically took only two to three days to be assembled with minimal site preparation required, he said. “They feature eco-friendly water-efficient systems and bio-remediation plants to treat the wastewater and can be configured with offices, crib rooms, ablutions, workshops, storage areas and self-bunded lube storage,” Mr Burton said. “They are designed and
Relocatables Australia field workshops take only two or three days to assemble, with minimal site preparation required.
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.”
Liner handlers not just run-of-the-mill units Cairns-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. The 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. The machines offer simplicity of design for ease of
A liner handler about to be lifted to a SAG mill grinding floor.
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maintenance and repair in remote locations, optional moveable seating positions, and standardised hydraulic hose fittings 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-specific 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. The machine, which measures 15.8m long at full extension and retracts to 9.6m, was able to fit into a shipping container for transport purposes.
SHUT DOWNS?
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REGIONAL ENGINEERING TEAMS
July 2012 |
The Mining Advocate
Thinking beyond the blueprint Kevin Chambers
Delivering projects outside the major cities can require a different way of looking at the job, according to this regional manager. Mentoring young engineers to think laterally and consider their long-term career opportunities is proving rewarding for Romabased engineer Kevin Chambers. The 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 benefit from working in an area such as Roma, nor have they had the time or opportunity to interact with other engineers -
many from different 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 different 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 ‘fit the purpose’ and deliver value for money,” he said. “For those who prefer projects which fit in with specifications straight out of a book, there are plenty of opportunities in the city.
(left) provides engineering advice to project supervisor John Roessler on a project near Roma.
“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.
Push to train more engineers In a bid to attract more students into engineering, the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) has added a degree in mechanical engineering. The university has also entered into an arrangement with a number of regional schools to teach two first-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 first 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.
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