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NEWS+VIEWS | MINING | AGRIBUSINESS | INFRASTRUCTURE
THE STATE OF AUSTRALIAN MINING IN 2021 While 2020 was a challenging year for our economy, the year ahead offers the mining industry an opportunity to lay firm foundations for the future.
p.07 did iron ore prevent a recession in australia? P.12 australian strawberry industry in a jam P.17 entreprenEurial women on the rise P.21 protecting wildlife in the pilbara p.28 the startup solving our plastic problem
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AUSBIZ NEWS
New life for old pods A new micro-recycling technique could turn your old coffee pods into high-quality aluminium, offering a green alternative to manufacturing businesses. The UNSW Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) Centre has invented a technique that could start a new ‘green aluminium’ manufacturing revolution. It allows manufacturers to recover aluminium from complex, multilayered packaging (such as disposable coffee pods) and turn it into a high-quality aluminium. There’s even potential for these materials to be repurposed as a source of high-energy hydrocarbon products. The new technique is based on the microrecycling science pioneered by the SMaRT Centre under the leadership of its Director, Professor Veena Sahajwalla, and builds on its waste materials innovations including Green Steel and Microfactorie® technologies. “Recycling using new technologies can be a foundation for the manufacturing of high-quality materials from our waste resources, as we seek to develop greater sovereign capability along with economic prosperity,” says Prof. Sahajwalla.
Image: Zentvelds
BEANS FROM BYRON The Northern Rivers region is highly sought after among holiday makers, but coffee pioneers flock here for an entirely different reason. The hills behind Byron Bay have the perfect subtropical microclimate to grow excellent coffee. One of the growers leading the charge in Australia’s homegrown coffee movement is farmer and roaster, Rebecca Zentveld. Her Byron-based property is one of the only producers of high-quality Australian coffee. With support from AgriFutures Australia’s Emerging Industries initiative, Zentveld is encouraging more Australians to get involved. The existing community of Australian coffee growers are a supportive bunch, according to Zentveld. “We trade ideas on sustainability, cover crops, pruning and the like, as well research opportunities arising for the good of the industry.” AgriFutures Australia has identified the Australian coffee industry as having strong growth potential through its Emerging Industries program. There are currently three coffee growing projects receiving support. Their aim is to identify the key ways that cultivators can improve productivity, assess quality parameters to define the value of Australian-origin coffee as a global-niche product and create a plan for a compelling industry-wide environmental sustainability system. MAR/APR 2021
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POSITION PARTNERS
Simple, user friendly machine guidance
iDig is a simple 2D excavator system supplied and supported by Position Partners. iDig gives the operator a live position of the bucket to guide them to grade quickly and accurately. It works with all makes, models and sizes of machine from little one tonne diggers up to mine excavators. Wayne Nicholson, owner and operator of Combined Excavations, explains they have the iDig system fitted to their two 1.5 tonne and 13-tonne excavators. “We utilise the 2D system to save us time on the ground as well as labour costs,” Mr Nicholson said. iDig helps operators get to grade in a range of applications, including slopes and levels, whilst providing real-time information on the position of the cutting edge. It removes the need to perform manual
checking and measuring tasks multiple times per hour, by giving the operator the information at his fingertips.
2D and 3D machine systems explained
2D and 3D Excavator systems traditionally use a suite of sensors, cables and sometimes valves and in the case of 3D systems, GPS Antenna, Rovers and/or Base Stations to track the movements, position and location of the excavator. iDig falls under the 2D Guidance category. This means that it will show the operator, on screen, where the bucket edge is in relation to a set benchmark. iDig does not control or lock out hydraulic movement of the excavator and the operator still needs to skillfully and safely operate the machine.
Lacking GPS, a 2D System does not automatically know its local position or orientation - this is up to the operator to set and check. 2D Systems differ from 3D systems in one other important aspect: cost. Due to not having expensive GPS and survey gear as part of the overall kit, 2D systems are significantly cheaper than their 3D counterparts. “There’s no second guessing with iDig,” Mr Nicholson added. “Once you know your datum heights and you put them into the system, you can start seeing where to dig. Then you can switch to single-grade or dual-grade depending on what you’re working on. I’d never go back to digging without it.” Find out more at positionpartners.com.au MAR/APR 2021
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MINING
Image: Fortescue Metals
IRON LAND How heavy lifting by iron ore, the red dust from the Pilbara, helped Australia dodge the brunt of the coronavirus recession. Words: Ian Lloyd Neubauer
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MINING
First, it was barley. Then came beef. Wine, timber and lobster followed. Soon it seemed no export-dependent industry was safe from new Chinese import bans and tariffs – all which were introduced in apparent retaliation to Australia's demand for an independent enquiry into the source and early spread of COVID-19. As China buys approximately one third of everything we export, the potential negative compounded impact for the Australian economy – already reeling from its first recession in 30 years – was dire. As politicians bickered, an Australian analyst in Singapore
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published what would soon become a widely read blog explaining how none of these tariffs mattered in the grand scheme of things. “The appetite of China’s consumers for Aussie tenderloin and Merlot is insignificant in terms of overall trade. Iron ore, coal and LNG are what really matter,” Gavin Thompson, an energy analyst for Wood Mackenzie, wrote in June 2020. “Despite the increasing war of words, Australia’s energy and natural resources exporters are in overdrive. As China recovers from the pandemic, demand for Australian iron ore imports are up 8 per cent year-todate respectively versus 2019.”
Thompson explained that while China could theoretically place tariffs on Australian iron ore – which accounts for nearly half of Australia's $150 billion in annual exports – it would derail China's coronavirus stimulus packages because nearly two-thirds of iron ore China used to make steel came from Australia at the time.
THE BRAZILIAN CONNECTION China is desperate to reduce its dependence on Australian iron ore and buy more of it from other source countries such as Brazil, which
MINING
accounted for more than a fifth of China's imports of iron ore in 2019. But continuing fallout from the two recent major mining disasters in Brazil, coupled with logistical problems caused by its resolute failure to contain the pandemic, saw the country's iron ore exports fall 5.5 per cent last year, on top of a 19 per cent drop in 2019. Consequently, says Geoff Raby, a former Australian ambassador to China and author of China’s Grand Strategy and Australia’s Future in the New Global Order, China is more dependent on Australian iron ore than ever before. “We are now supplying 70 to 80 per cent of China's iron ore, and underlying demand remains strong,” he says. “China's economy is expected to grow 8 per cent this year, and a lot of that growth will be in less-developed parts of China where steel use is more intensive.” This spike in demand from China and corresponding fall in supply from Brazil saw iron ore's global price leapfrog to $221 per tonne in January – nearly twice as much as it was trading for 12 months earlier. The record-busting price bolstered tax receipts in Australia
by $6 billion by the end of last year. It also increased our trade surplus by 44 per cent and helped the country avoid the brunt of the COVID-19 recession. Consumer confidence is at a 10-year high, the property market is surging, while unemployment is trending down. Westpac, which last year predicted GDP would increase by 2.8 per cent this year, has now revised its outlook to 4 per cent as a result. “The confidence profile is quite different,” Bill Evans, Westpac's chief economist, told the Australian Financial Review. “In the 1990s it took three years for confidence to recover, while after the global financial crisis (of 2008-2009) it took more than a year. This time we've seen it in less than eight months.” “I wouldn't say iron ore saved the economy,” Raby says. “Government stimulus plans are what probably did it. But iron ore royalties and taxes have made a big difference.”
GO WEST Apart from the taxman, mining companies are obviously the biggest beneficiary of the iron ore boom.
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Images: Fortescue Metals
MINING
Rio Tinto, Australia's biggest producer of iron ore, has upped its output targets of the mineral to close to its 2015 peak. BHP, the number two producer, has reported its most productive six months since the company was founded in 1885. Meanwhile, Fortescue Metals, a pure-play iron ore miner in the number three position, says net profit was up 49 per cent last year. Many job seekers are also set to cash in. Some 65,000 Australians already hold on-site mining jobs. A further 500 new positions are up for grabs at Fortescue Metals' new Eliwana iron ore project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, which commenced operations in December 2020. Two-thousand tradespeople were hired to build the mine, as well as a 143-kilometre railway linking it to the port facilities on the coast. Fortescue has already invested $1.83 billion in construction contracts to Australian businesses, including $150 million to businesses that are Aboriginal owned. Neville Norman, an associate professor of economics at the University of Melbourne, says there will be more jobs to come as new
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infrastructure is constructed to support the boom. “When the iron ore price jumped last year, they started using up the capacity left over from the last mining boom 15 years ago,” he says. “There will now be a need to rejuvenate that capacity, which means more jobs for people working in construction. “But the job seekers who will benefit directly from the mines,” he says, “are young school leavers and university graduates who are geographically mobile. And while it will predominantly be a West Australian thing, the industry will offer a variety of knowledge-based jobs that will be available to any Australian with a computer and Wi-Fi connection.” How long the boom will last remains unknown. When Brazil gets its act together, Chinese demand for Australian iron ore will inevitably return to pre-pandemic levels or lower. But for now it's a benediction, the very definition of a win-win scenario that can also help Australia make nice with Beijing again.
THIS PAGE: FORTESCUE RAILWAY IN WA OPPOSITE: SHIPLOADER AT HERB ELLIOT PORT AND AN AUTONOMOUS DRILL AT CHRISTMAS CREEK, WA
FAST FACTS • Australia has the world's largest estimated reserves of iron ore at 52 billion tonnes – 30 per cent of the world's estimated 170 billion tonnes. • In addition to geological deposits, a large amount of iron ore was brought to Australia by meteorite fragments that entered the atmosphere and did not burn upon entry.
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AGRICULTURE
STRAWBERRY INDUSTRY IN A JAM Words: Libby-Jane Charleston
AGRICULTURE
"Of all the challenges faced by Australia's strawberry industry, the labour shortage is proving the most fatal."
For most of us, the sweet and succulent strawberry is a treat too great to resist. It’d be difficult to find many Australians who don’t love strawberries. And, beyond the delicious taste, these sumptuous red berries carry multiple health benefits. Just half a punnet (125g) contains more than 100 per cent of the recommended dietary intake of vitamin C for a day, and a solid 2.5g of dietary fibre. But what most of us might not realise as we savour every mouthful, is that the industry has been forced to withstand several challenges during the pandemic. Though it’s not all doom and gloom – there is plenty of positive news on the strawberry farming front too. There have been the usual ups and downs relating to weather which growers have come to expect, but the biggest challenge recently has been related to labour. Strawberry production in Australia is currently coming out of the southern states, predominantly Victoria and Tasmania, with a little help from South Australia, the southern region of WA and the Granite Belt in Queensland. From all reports, production has been going well. Strawberry growers are accustomed to dealing with changes in the weather, but the labour shortages occurring across the industry will play a huge role in dictating the volumes of fruit available to consumers for the foreseeable future.
CHALLENGING TIMES FOR GROWERS Strawberry production is one of the most labour intensive of all horticultural crops and, for many years, it has been heavily reliant on backpackers and working holiday visa holders. According to Rachel Mackenzie, executive director of Berries Australia, the ongoing pandemic-induced labour shortage is the most crucial challenge of all. “With the vast majority of these people having now returned to their home countries, and no definitive date set for international travel to return, the industry simply does not have enough labour to harvest the volumes of fruit that we have come to expect,” Mackenzie says. “Growers are having to plan cutbacks on the number of plants going in the ground based on the limited amount of labour currently available. A number of growers have taken up the Seasonal Workers Program and Pacific Labour Scheme, which are great initiatives and are providing a strong workforce from the affiliated countries. However, due to some of the complexities associated with these programs, not all growers
have access to this labour source.” Initiatives to encourage unemployed Australians to consider fruit picking as an alternative income stream have also resulted in limited uptake. But Berries Australia will continue to work with State and Federal Government, as well as other industry bodies, to search for a solution.
STRAWBERRY EXPORTS The majority of strawberry export in Australia comes out of WA, however an increase in export opportunities and international market access is a priority for the industry. Between 2017-2018, strawberry production was valued at $303 million, with exports valued at $29.7 million, indicated in a study released by Planet Health Australia. According to Mackenzie, due to the cost of production in Australia and challenges associated with effective management of a soft fruit through the international supply chain, it has always been difficult for Australian strawberry producers to compete with other strawberry producing countries for supply to various markets. “However, advances in supply chain efficiencies and production methods MAR/APR 2021
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AGRICULTURE
mean that we are able to explore options for export more extensively, and that research is currently underway,” Mackenzie says.
HISTORY OF THE STRAWBERRY The sumptuous strawberry is one of more than 20 species of flowering plants belonging to rose family (rosaceae) and their edible fruit. The ‘garden strawberry’ is the hybrid species of the genus Fragaria, collectively known as strawberries. Loved for its unique aroma, bright red colour, juicy texture and sweetness, the garden strawberry was first bred in the Brittany region in northern France back in the 1750s. It came about as a cross of Fragaria virginiana from eastern North America and Fragaria chiloensis, which was brought from Chile in 1714. According to Berries Australia, cultivars of Fragaria × ananassa have been replaced, in commercial production, by the woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca), which was the first strawberry species cultivated in the early 17th century.
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STRAWBERRIES IN AUSTRALIA Strawberry production began in the 1950s in Victoria’s Yarra Valley, as migrant families settled on the outskirts of Melbourne in areas with rich, fertile soils. These days Victoria is home to around 100 strawberry farms, from Portland in the south west to Wodonga in the north east, while 75 per cent of the farms are still located within the Yarra Valley. During the 1950’s strawberries were only distributed through the Melbourne market, until the first consignment of strawberries was introduced to the Sydney market in the 1960’s. These days strawberries are distributed to markets throughout Australia’s eastern seaboard and exported throughout Asia.
BIDGEE STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM In Wagga Wagga, NSW, Bidgee Strawberries and cream (BSC) is a great example of agri-tourism. BSC grows delicious berries using hydroponic systems, minimising chemical use and
optimising water and nutrients in the most efficient way possible. For a small fee, visitors can pick their own chemical-free strawberries as well as indulge in homemade strawberry ice-cream or sorbet. Visitors can also learn about hydroponic farming and integrated pest management techniques, as well as learn when and how to pick strawberries. BSC owners Michael and Kylie Cashen say the pandemic has been challenging in some ways, but they feel lucky they haven’t had to deal with any major restrictions. “The biggest challenge was initially understanding the challenge. We needed to see what activities were permitted and how we could protect our staff and customers from any potential risk. We also had to meet increased demand and broader visitation – outdoor activities are viewed as a safe place,” Michael says. “Other challenges included maintaining processes and protocols for safe visitation and sourcing backpackers to harvest the fruit. But we’ve been in the envious position of not having any significant restrictions
AGRICULTURE
"The Australian Strawberry Breeding Program is working on the development of varieties to suit all the growing regions of Australia."
on our operations throughout the pandemic, apart from initially closing our covered seating area, which has now been reopened.” “Another challenge was having a wet start to the season. This meant much of our fruit was pushed into our range of jams and ice cream products which are, luckily, very popular. Just prior to Christmas, we received approval for the construction of the new cafe, roadside stall and processing facility, which will begin construction in the coming months.”
Image: Libby-Jane Charleston
THE STRAWBERRY BREEDING PROGRAM The good news for the strawberry industry is that the Australian Strawberry Breeding Program, based in Queensland, is working on the development of varieties of strawberries to suit all the growing regions of Australia. According to Mackenzie, the program has had extensive success in Queensland (sub-tropical production region), particularly with a variety known as Red Rhapsody. “The Red Rhapsody now accounts for the majority of strawberries available in store during the winter production season,” Mackenzie says. “The program is also developing and trialling a number of varieties for the temperate growing regions (southern states) and for export markets. It is also responsible for the white strawberry that has been promoted recently, together with a number of other potential niche market options. So, overall, there are positive times ahead,” Mackenzie says. MAR/APR 2021
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BUSINESS
ENTREPRENEURIAL WOMEN IN AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS words: Libby-Jane Charleston
Despite major advances worldwide, women entrepreneurs still face challenges when it comes to seeing their business dreams become a reality.
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BUSINESS
There’s never been a better time than 2021 to shine the light on women entrepreneurs. The pandemic has hit women entrepreneurs particularly hard; a study by the Female Founders Alliance found that before the pandemic, 87 per cent of respondents were “highly likely to start a company.” However, just six months later, 51 per cent admitted they had “delayed or scrapped their plans”. While there have been major advances worldwide, women entrepreneurs still face challenges when it comes to funding, venture capital and seeing their business dreams become a reality. The United Nations declared seven years ago that November 19 would become “International Women in Entrepreneurship Day” in a bid to highlight the obstacles women face in climbing the entrepreneurial ladder.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN
"Though women are still underrepresented in the start-up sector, there are great businesses being built by women – and that's what we'd like to celebrate."
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Entrepreneurship Day is important because it’s a chance to stop, observe and celebrate the achievements of women across multiple industries, including technology, business, sport, fashion and beauty. Fisherburners CEO Nicole O’Brien says she is proud of the work the start-up community does to empower women entrepreneurs. “We’re especially proud of our Fempowered accelerator program; for female founders to help launch and grow their business. We have found that bringing a community of female peers together in a supported learning environment, where they can connect with each other and share knowledge, builds the confidence and skills needed to create a new business,” O'Brien says. “But, when it comes to women entrepreneurship, we still have a long way to go. Sadly, women are still significantly underrepresented in the start-up sector. But there are great businesses being built by women – and that’s what we’d like to celebrate.” Susan Graham, CEO of Dendra Systems, says celebrating the success of every entrepreneur builds strength in the community. “Being able to specifically showcase different groups within entrepreneurship means we are able to celebrate diversity, as well as celebrate what makes us all the same: we are all entrepreneurs!” Graham says.
BUSINESS
“It’s important for women entrepreneurs to surround themselves with great advisors who will challenge you to make you better at what you do, and who have your back for when you need that extra energy.” Annie Slattery, CEO of ConX, says women should always believe in themselves. “If you are passionate about starting a business, go for it! Resilience and patience are critical. I’ve been building ConX for more than five years, and on one hand feel I’ve come so far, but on the other it’s just getting started,” Slattery says. “Surrounding yourself with like-minded women is critical to keeping focused as you ride the start-up roller coaster. Being part of a community like Fishburners provides access to female entrepreneurs with a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to building businesses, growing families and overcoming hurdles that might otherwise knock you over.” Charlotte Connell, CEO of the Sustainability Collective, believes women should remind themselves that it’s through adversity that we innovate. “2020 has presented some interesting challenges and, as I see it, entrepreneurship is all about coming up with unique ways to solve problems, and there’s a lot of problems that need solving right now,” Connell says. “These are exciting times for startups; the world needs disruption, and start-ups will be playing a huge role in reshaping what our future looks like.”
THIS PAGE: SUSAN GRAHAM, ANNIE SLATTERY, CHARLOTTE CONNEL OPPOSITE: FISHBURNERS CEO NICOLE O'BRIEN
WOMEN ENTREPRENEUR TOP TIPS SUSAN GRAHAM, CEO DENDRA SYSTEMS
You’ve chosen the right path, so back yourself to go fast and go far. You get to choose who you take on your journey with you, so enjoy!
ANNIE SLATTERY, CEO CONX
ConX operates in the male-dominated construction industry, and whilst the culture of the industry embodies masculinity, I’ve learned to be comfortable in my abilities as a founder and leader, so the issue of gender never gets in the way of building our business. Having confidence and believing in yourself is critical to succeeding in business, and in life. If you don’t believe in yourself, it’s really hard to convince others to.
CHARLOTTE CONNELL, CEO SUSTAINABILITY COLLECTIVE
Successful businesses are not created in vacuums, so seek feedback and advice from a variety of people who will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. Hopefully, I can offer help with startups wanting to create positive impacts for people and the planet, and create a community where we can collaborate, connect, and empower each other to drive progress in this space.
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INVESTING IN
BOARDING
AT BGS
Brisbane Grammar School boarding accommodation is currently undergoing a $5 million redevelopment. In May last year, the School opened Griffith House – a dedicated house for 18 Middle School boarders in Years 5 to 8. Griffith House is a significant development that represents Brisbane Grammar School’s commitment to providing a contemporary boarding program. Quality accommodation complements the School’s Academic, Wellbeing and Cocurricular programs. Boys have a private room that exists within a dorm, giving them both privacy and connectedness. The house is equipped with brand new bathrooms and showers. The common room facilities, with lounge and kitchenette, let the boys share a sense of community.
Advanced plans are underway to renovate the senior boarding house to provide accommodation for 81 boys in Years 9 to 12. Harlin House renovations will start in 2021, providing a modern individual room for each boy, and new spaces for study and social activities. Boys from Years 5 to 12 make up the BGS Boarding family, with a Director of Boarding, Head of Residence, Houseparent, nursing staff and House Tutors assisting the boys to adapt and feel at home. Students have access to academic support during the week and engage in social, cultural and sporting activities after school and on weekends. A House Family system gives boarders the chance to make friends across year levels and develop a sense of belonging.
Learn more about BGS Boarding at brisbanegrammar.com.
Brisbane Grammar School Gregory Terrace Brisbane QLD 4000 Telephone +61 7 3834 5200 Email enrolments@brisbanegrammar.com CRICOS Provider Number 00489C
COMMUNITY
THE PLAN TO PROTECT WILDLIFE IN THE PILBARA
The Pilbara Wildlife Carers Association (PWCA) has published an open letter to Australia’s mining CEOs calling for funding to build a vital wildlife hospital to care for sick, injured and orphaned animals in one of the country’s most mineral-rich, and therefore lucrative stretches of land. Words: Bethany Plint
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COMMUNITY
Pet owners in the Pilbara region face a tough decision every time one of their fury friends falls ill. Currently, more than 40 per cent of people living in the Pilbara take their domestic pets all the way to Perth for treatment – a 20-hour drive at best. The region would benefit greatly from a better and broader range of domestic pet services. The not-for-profit wildlife hospital that the PWCA is proposing would be able to provide the veterinary support – for wildlife and household pets alike – that the Pilbara so desperately needs.
The PWCA takes in between 1200 to 1500 threatened or endangered native animals each year. These include everything from endangered northern quolls and grey falcons, of which there are less than 1,000 remaining in the wild, to bats, birds of prey, reptiles, snakes, sea turtles, emus and everything in between. Without the PWCA, none of these animals would stand a chance as, sadly, commercial veterinary clinics do not have the resources to provide wildlife treatment in the Pilbara.
A LAND OF PLENTY
PLEA FOR THE PILBARA
Covering an area of more than 500,000 square kilometres, the Pilbara region in Australia’s north west is a global biodiversity hotspot. It is also home to 34 per cent of the state’s endangered and threatened species. Unfortunately, human activities such as farming, mining and residential expansion are leading to the destruction of natural habitats and displacing local wildlife. Currently the region relies on the dedicated volunteers of the PWCA – a not-for-profit that provides vital emergency veterinary services by responding to calls regarding sick, injured and orphaned wildlife. Their team of Registered Rehabilitators travel across the entire expanse of the Pilbara to care for these animals. It’s an essential service – one that urban and metro-dwelling animal lovers take for granted. Unfortunately, the PWCA receives no funding from the government and operates entirely on the generosity of its sponsors through charitable donations from industry bodies and members of the public who truly value the region’s wildlife. After struggling through the last few years, they’re taking matters into their own hands.
For a region that generates more than $70 billion annually, you might think building an essential service such as this would be a no-brainer. The PWCA certainly thinks so. The not-for-profit has published an open letter to Australia’s mining CEOs in a bid to attract donations. Rose Best, Chairperson for the PWCA, signs the letter off with this moving statement: “You have what it takes to make a significant and lasting difference to the future of Australia’s wildlife. You have what it takes to fund the hospital that will help protect and preserve the land that is feeding your wealth.” Best also notes the positive impact the hospital will have beyond the animals and the natural environment: “Here is a social enterprise that provides a long-term, sustainable solution while benefiting the entire region with improved veterinary services,” she says. “It will support wildlife education, indigenous-led ranger programs and veterinary training for the people of the Pilbara, as well as provide jobs for vets and vet nurses.” The project’s costings were released alongside a detailed business case. Compared to the $70 billion revenue the region rakes in every year, a few million seems like a drop in the ocean. And with the Pilbara Development Commission’s commitment to match funding dollarfor-dollar, it will only take a handful of compassionate decision makers to save the wildlife of the Pilbara from a future without care. To find out more about the Pilbara Wildlife Carers Association or to donate, visit pwca.org.au
A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE SOLUTION The PWCA is campaigning to build a notfor-profit wildlife hospital in the heart of the Pilbara. Their aim is to provide services for both domestic pets and local wildlife. The hospital will act as a self-sustainable social enterprise, reinvesting its profits to fund the PWCA’s core mission of protecting endangered wildlife in one of the country’s most mineral-rich, and thus valuable, stretches of land.
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: THE PILBARA FROM ABOVE, RELEASING A REHABILITATED PATIENT, BLACK-FACED WOODSWALLOW, FLOCK OF BUDGERIGARS, CARING FOR AN INJURED TURTLE AND A RESCUED ROO.
Images: Pilbara Bird Tours, Tracey Heimberger and PWCA.
COMMUNITY
“What we fail to realise is that every time a species is lost, we ourselves are one step closer to extinction." – Rose Best, Chairperson of the PWCA
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INDUSTRY
TACKLING THE CHALLENGES OF 2021 AND BEYOND While 2020 was a challenging year for the Australian and global economy, 2021 is looking brighter – and it offers the mining industry the opportunity to lay firm foundations for tomorrow. Words: Darren Baguley
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INDUSTRY
LEFT: MINING WORKER STANDS ON A DRILLING PLATFORM IN THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT RIGHT: OPEN CUT GOLD MINE IN COBAR, NSW
There’s an ancient Chinese curse: ‘May you live in interesting times’. By any stretch of the imagination, 2020 was an interesting 12 months. Initially, the Australian Mining sector contracted as the COVID-19 pandemic drove down demand for commodities. According to IBISWorld, “Revenue fell by an estimated 14.1 per cent in 2019/20, as a result of significant contractions in the prices of coal and natural gas. However, the sector has benefited significantly from strong iron ore prices, which have boosted the performance of major firms. In addition, rising economic uncertainty and unprecedented money creation by central banks have driven up gold prices to record levels.” As non-hospitality, entertainment and the arts sectors adjusted to a new normal in the latter half of 2020, the mining sector rebounded quickly; it had been less disrupted relative to other segments of the Australian economy due to the remote location of many mine sites and a strong focus on occupational safety. In 2021, IBISWorld expects the impact of COVID-19 on the mining industry to primarily be limited to significant changes in commodity prices, however the effects of these changes will be uneven. For example, declining oil and gas prices have reduced operating costs, buffering companies affected by reduced commodity prices and further increasing profits for companies not affected by reduced prices.
Christine Stewart, CEO of Austmine – an Industry association for the Australian Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) sector – is also optimistic about the mining industry in 2021. “As the COVID situation becomes less uncertain and markets become more stable, miners are looking at projects again, at expansion, and overall people are pretty optimistic. “We’re seeing activity all over the country in all sorts of commodities, such as iron ore but also gold. There’s a lot of gold activity – both exploration and new developments; in Victoria’s Golden Triangle, Central West New South Wales, Western Australia and in the Copper Triangle of South Australia there’s both copper and gold activity.” The increase in gold activity is no doubt being driven, at least in part, by the implications of a report from MinEx Consulting managing director and wellrespected mineral economist Richard Schodde, titled ‘Long-term forecast of Australia’s mineral production and revenue. The outlook for gold: 2017-2057’. Sponsored by government, academic and industry groups, the report looks at the long-term prospects for the gold sector. The study predicts 2021 will mark ‘peak gold’ followed by a decline in gold production. “Australian gold production in 1998 was 10.2 million ounces and dipped to 6.9Moz in 2008. Gold production will peak at 11.3Moz in 2021, before declining steadily. By 2057, Australian gold production
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INDUSTRY DUMP TRUCKS TRANSPORTING GOODS FROM A MINE IN CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
DID YOU KNOW? In FY 2020, Australia’s mining industry contributed 10.4 per cent or $202 billion to Australia’s GDP, according to the ABS.
is forecast to be just 4.7Moz – 4.1Moz of which will have to come from deposits not even discovered yet.” Apart from iron ore and gold, Stewart identified critical minerals as being a major growth area for the mining sector in 2021. “There’s a lot of work being done in critical minerals; the government has set up the Critical Minerals Facilitation Office and there’s more work being done across the country looking at securing critical minerals for the future, and various companies are looking at the possibility of setting up processing plants here.” According to Geosciences Australia, “Critical minerals are metals and nonmetals that are considered vital for the economic well-being of the world’s major and emerging economies, yet whose supply may be at risk due to geological scarcity, geopolitical issues, trade policy or other factors. Among these important minerals are metals and semi-metals used in the manufacture of mobile phones, flat screen monitors, wind turbines, electric cars, solar panels, and other high-tech applications. “These include rare-earth elements (REE), gallium (Ga), indium (In), tungsten (W), andplatinum-group elements (PGE) including platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd), cobalt (Co), niobium (Nb), magnesium (Mg),
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molybdenum (Mo), antimony (Sb), lithium (Li), vanadium (V), nickel (Ni), tantalum (Ta), tellurium (Te), chromium (Cr) and manganese (Mn).” One of the authors of Deloitte Insight’s Tracking the Trends 2021, Ian Sanders, says “2021’s going to be a great year for the mining sector. In 2020, which was a challenging year with the pandemic, companies in the mining sector made appropriate, decisive decisions to ensure that their operations were going to remain open and still meet production targets,” says Sanders. “When you look at that, some of the merger and acquisition activity, the buoyant commodity market in terms of continued demand, particularly out of China, 2021 should be looking good.” Sanders adds, “Of course, everything is premised on commodity prices and there not being a big COVID relapse within the Australian environment. But even if there is a small blip, I am sure the sector will continue to deal with that and deal with it well, so I think we’re in a good position.” The report has identified 10 trends that will shape the mining industry over 2021. Mining companies will need to build resilience amid volatility by focusing on their overall commodity mix. There will also be significant merger and acquisition activity as
mining companies look to diversify. “There are some smaller or mid-tier companies in Australia who may be likely targets, but some great Australian companies will be targeting the same globally, so there will be a good balance,” says Sanders. Creating agile supply chains, moving down the path towards integrated operations, advancing the future of work and the perennial for mining companies, working towards zero harm will all be priorities for mining companies in 2021. Nevertheless, Sanders contends the biggest trends are around the need to rebuild trust across all stakeholders: shareholders, employees, suppliers, customers and communities. Clustered around this overarching trend are related trends: getting serious about decarbonising the industry, improving corporate governance and meeting the growing demand for green and critical minerals. Tracking the Trends 2021 cites a recent report by the World Economic Forum. “Mining companies have acknowledged, for the second year running, that their single biggest risk is the trust deficit with local communities. A large part of the challenge is that the industry is frequently judged by its lowest common denominator. There is no denying the impact of recent tragic, high-profile disasters in different parts of the world. Rather than being perceived as company-specific events, these missteps can taint the entire sector. Because the mining industry is often judged as a collective, overcoming the trust deficit could be a collective responsibility.” Stewart notes that over the past year miners were focused on business continuity and how to run a mine site when it is difficult to get personnel on site, however, she agrees that the big issue for the next few years will be decarbonisation. “The big issue that’s looming, of course, is footprint reduction, carbon reduction; how we make things more efficient on the mine site and use less resources, whether that’s energy or water , to reduce the impact on the environment and the surrounding area. That particular issue was put on the backburner last year, but because of what’s happening globally, the sector needs to make sure that mining is leading the way in the climate change area.”
ENVIRONMENT
WIN THE WAR ON WASTE AT YOUR PLACE Words: Bethany Plint
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ENVIRONMENT
Consider yourself a bit of a greeny? Australians on the whole think they’re doing a pretty good job when it comes to reducing waste. We fill up our recycling bins with empties, we might even visit a greengrocer for our fresh produce, and we all adapted pretty well when the supermarket giants stopped handing out plastic bags. But you might be shocked to know that only 12 per cent of Australia’s plastic is actually recycled. According to the most recent report from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, we’re still consuming more than 3.5 million tonnes of plastic each year. The reduce, reuse, recycle slogan was drilled into us in primary school – but we seem to have forgotten the first two and skipped straight to the third. Many consumers live by the mentality that purchasing products made from recyclable material is a box ticked and a weight lifted off their conscience. But reducing our reliance on single-use anything, biodegradable or not, and reusing what we already have is far better than buying a new product and tossing it in the recycling bin every time. Recycling should be a last resort. One Australian start-up has homed in on the second part of the slogan: reuse. Zero Co is tackling the single-use plastic problem by delivering your everyday personal care and household products in a model that doesn’t just prevent new plastic from being created but turns the waste we already have into sustainable packaging to be used over and over again. Founder and CEO Mike Smith says the idea evolved during a two-year trip with his wife in 2017. “We wanted to get as far away from civilisation as possible and into the deepest parts of the wilderness we could get,” says Smith. “We were blown away by the amount of plastic we saw, even in some of the most remote parts of the planet. When I saw the scale of the plastic problem, I started thinking really deeply about how we could solve it.” In March 2019, Smith returned to Australia
and began putting the idea together at the kitchen table of his in-law’s farm in Wagga Wagga, NSW. A natural entrepreneur having launched two businesses previously, Smith set out to address the problem at both ends. “The two primary goals were to turn off the tap at the top of the plastic supply chain – to stop creating new plastic. And then deal with the plastic that has found its way into our natural environment.” Smith admits that there’s nothing inherently sexy about laundry liquid, but he was determined to shake up the industry through a mission-driven strategy rather than a product-focused one, like all the other brands on the market. “What we’re really trying to do here is create a people-powered movement to solve this problem, so we’re trying to bring as many people on the journey with us,” shares Smith with excitement.
HOW IT WORKS Consumers who join the Zero Co movement not only receive high-quality, great smelling hygiene and cleaning products straight to their door, they’re actually funding largescale ocean clean-ups all around the country. The Zero Co model is cyclical in nature. In practice, your starter kit arrives with everything you need to deck out your cleaning cupboard, as well as a postage-paid return envelope (you’ll need this later). You’ll receive a collection of bottles made from the very plastic waste that the Zero Co team is pulling from the ocean. You’ll find a pouch for each bottle – also made from recycled materials – filled with lab-tested, sweetsmelling, cruelty-free household products. Once you squeeze out the good stuff, you simply post the empty pouches back in the envelope provided, to be cleaned and reused again and again. The machine that cleans the pouches is one aspect of the business Smith is particularly excited about. It will be a first of its kind – one that he says will require a lot of testing but will ultimately be a gamechanger. “We should be able to clean one million pouches using less water than one household uses in a single year,” Smith claims. MAR/APR 2021
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ENVIRONMENT THIS PAGE: KAYAKING IN SYDNEY HARBOUR WITH MALCOM TURNBULL AND VISITING PARLIAMENT HOUSE WITH 3,109 SUP BOTTLES IN TOW OPPOSIT: ZERO CO BOTTLES AND POUCHES, ALL MADE FROM RECYCLED MATERIALS
THE PRODUCT RANGE Working with a team of industrial chemists, Smith set the bar incredibly high to produce a selection of products that were just as effective as the big brands but without the nasty ingredients such as petrochemicals and palm oil. After months of reformulating and testing, Zero Co launched with 10 products, though Smith has hinted at plans to expand the range early this year. The products range from hand and body wash to laundry liquid and stain remover, dishwashing tablets and multi-purpose cleaner to air fresheners and toilet cleaner. If you’re wondering how they stack up against the big brands, independent testing performed by D-Labs has shown that Zero Co products work just as well (if not better) than the stuff in the supermarkets. The “zero waste” movement has seen global brands such as Lush, Ethique and Koh adapt to a more sustainable business model by creating products that create little to no waste. Shampoo bars, toothpaste tabs and deodorant rubs are among the examples being adopted,
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albeit with hesitation from consumers. The problem is, all of these alternatives require consumers to change the way they use a product. Asking consumers to chew up a tablet rather than squeeze out a bit of toothpaste like they’ve done everyday for their entire lives is going to take a bit of getting used to. Zero Co stands alone in offering a product that doesn’t require people to dramatically change their ways, while maintaining a zero waste approach. Today, more than 18,000 Australians are currently using Zero Co products in their homes and offices. The team has expanded from one to nine in just 18 months. Long-term manufacturing and distribution deals have been signed, and huge challenges have been set. Aussie consumers are getting behind the movement, looking after themselves and their homes with Zero Co, but the journey to get here was anything but squeaky clean.
IN THE BEGINNING After facing a slew of no’s from potential investors, Smith bankrolled the project
with his own life savings. In July 2019, Kate Stapleton was brought on to develop a marketing strategy, and a plan was hatched to launch a crowdfunding campaign to bolster the project. Zero Co soon became the most funded Australian Kickstarter project of the year, amassing more than $742,000 in pre-orders from almost 7,000 Australians. Riding the wave of their crowdfunding success, the team conducted their first ocean clean-up in Indonesia, pulling 6,000 kilograms of waste from the Java Sea. Sharing the journey with their growing community of followers, support continued to snowball. That was until March 2020 rolled around.
THE COVID CURVEBALL Along with countless other businesses around the world, Zero Co’s lofty plans came to a screeching halt as COVID-19 sent the world into a spin. Issues with manufacturers, engineering setbacks and failed test results proved almost insurmountable challenges for the Zero Co team. However, August brought a welcome delivery of winning bottles and pouches, and with it a collective sense of “we got this!”
ENVIRONMENT
Images: Zero Co
"What we’re trying to do is create a peoplepowered movement to solve this problem."
“It felt like every day there was a potentially project-ending dilemma. Our timelines blew out overnight because of COVID,” Smith says shaking his head, still surprised that they made it through. Though the pre-orders from the Kickstarter campaign were promised for July 2020, it wasn’t until October that boxes of Zero Co began arriving on doorsteps. Smith says transparency was essential for maintaining their customers’ trust. “We were putting out regular project updates to our community. Everyone was supportive of the mission and understanding of the challenges we were facing.” With a $2.5 million boost from private investors, the reality of running a gamechanging, industry-disrupting company finally set in. Smith's team expanded, and they began scaling the business to meet the growing demand. The focus for 2021 is twofold: continue attracting new, environmentally conscious customers while maintaining the existing ones without letting them slip back into old habits. Smith says the latter is the biggest challenge they’re hoping to
tackle in the first half of the year. The team is currently working on a personalised subscription model where customers will receive reminders based on their individual consumption patterns. “For a subscription model to be effective, it needs to be customised,” says Smith. “The plan is to begin with an ondemand service to give people a chance to trial all of the products. Meanwhile, we’re capturing that data as re-orders come in, which will help us understand how much product people are using at what times.”
THE GREAT AUSSIE PLASTIC PURGE Mike says that getting people excited about solving the single-use plastic problem is key to driving awareness and, ultimately, sales. In November last year the company launched The Great Aussie Plastic Purge, which saw Smith drive from Cairns to Canberra educating Aussies about our plastic problem. He carried with him no less than 3,109 single-use plastic bottles – the average number of SUP products Australians buy and throw away in a lifetime.
He managed to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef while towing his fishing net full of trash. He went for a surf on the Gold Coast with his trash in tow. When he made it to Sydney, Smith and his trash net joined Malcom Turnbull for a kayak around Sydney Harbour, and when he finally made it to Canberra, he dragged his plastic behind him as he paddled along Lake Burley Griffin with Shadow Assistant Minister for the Environment Josh Wilson. Along the way, Smith met hundreds of people who were not only keen to buy a box of Zero Co products but who wanted to collaborate in order to spread the message. “We met one guy on the road trip who we’re going to join for a scuba dive to clean up the bottom of Sydney Harbour. We’re even planning to go right up to Cape York to collaborate with another friend we met along the way to do a clean-up at the very tip of Australia.” In 2021, Smith's Big Hairy Audacious Goal is to pull 20,000 kilograms of plastic out of Australia’s oceans. And with increasing support from plastic-purging Aussies, that will be just the beginning. MAR/APR 2021
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Northern Peninsula Area
WITH RESPECT AND PRIDE WE STRIVE TO BUILD A FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN BASED ON UNITY, EQUITABLE EDUCATION ANDCHILDREN CULTURE. WITH RESPECT AND PRIDE WESELF–GOVERNANCE, STRIVE TO BUILD A FUTURE FOR OUR BASED ON UNITY, EQUITABLE SELF–GOVERNANCE, EDUCATION AND Cape York is at the very northern tip of Australia. It’s a narrow peninsula only 80 milesCULTURE. south of Papua Coral Sea to Australia. the east, the of only Carpentaria the west CapeNew YorkGuinea, is at thewith verythe northern tip of It’s Arafura a narrowSea/Gulf peninsula 80 milesto south of and the Torres Strait Islands to the north. Papua New Guinea, with the Coral Sea to the east, the Arafura Sea/Gulf of Carpentaria to the west and the Torres Strait Islands to the north. The Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) is a land of two seasons: the wet season, December to April, the dry season, May November. is made up of five Indigenous communities; The and Northern Peninsula Areato (NPA) is a landNPA of two seasons: the wet season, December to April, Injinoo, Umagico, NewNPA Mapoon, Seisia and the dry season, May to November. is made up ofand fiveBamaga. Indigenous communities; Injinoo, Umagico, New Mapoon, Seisia and Bamaga. Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NPARC)
Northern Regional (NPARC) NPARC is the governing local councilPeninsula involved inArea developing theCouncil local economy through everyday municipal services, operating local enterprises and administering social, community, cultural and recreational activities. NPARC is the governing local council involved in developing the local economy through everyday municipal services, local and administering social, community, cultural recreational activities. Visitoperating the NPA, by air,enterprises sea or by road. Explore the adventurous, challenging andand historical Telegraph Track or drive Scenic Peninsula Development Road all by 4WD only. Telegraph Visit the NPA, by air, sea orby bythe road. Explore the adventurous, challenging and historical Track or drive bynature the Scenic Peninsula Development Road all by 4WD only.equal to the best in This sacred area is full of wonderful at every turn, scenic views, waterfalls, and sunsets the and make your to the very tipat ofevery the Australian continent, a must doand when you visit thistoremote area. Thisworld sacred area is full of way wonderful nature turn, scenic views, waterfalls, sunsets equal the best in the world and yourperformances, way to the very tip of the Australian continent, a must when you visit this remote area. Enjoy themake cultural indigenous arts and crafts, fishing tours,do boat trips, scenic helicopter flights from Punsand Bay, croc spotting, other tours, seasonal tours. Enjoy the cultural performances, indigenous arts and crafts,orfishing boat trips, scenic helicopter flights from options Punsandrange Bay, croc or other seasonal tours. Accommodation fromspotting, motel units and self-contained cabins, to lodgerange rooms, ecomotel tents units and camping. Accommodation options from and self-contained cabins, rooms, tentsCome and camping. Embark upon adventure to in lodge the Cape Yorkeco region. and experience the unexpected. Embark upon adventure in the Cape York region. Come and experience the unexpected.
For all the latest information about the NPA visit the Council website – www.nparc.qld.gov.au For all the latest information about the NPA visit the Council website – www.nparc.qld.gov.au