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Monday September 2, 2013 169th Edition

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Shift Miner Magazine

CONTENTS NEWS

Small town goes from bustle to bust

6 Rentals flood Mackay

and Gladstone, but Rocky sits pretty

7 9

Lifeline for steel project? 457 visas slow as mining cools

14 A dummies guide

to safety

15 How do you cope

with redundancy?

Regulars

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COVER STORY

Glencore shuts Collinsville as politicians stay silent

INDUSTRIAL relations has barely rated a mention this federal election campaign, even as Glencore shut the gate on the Collinsville mine over the weekend, spelling the end to 400 union jobs. Coal has been mined at Collinsville for more than 100 years, but now the future of a town built on mining looks terrifying for locals. Donna Bulloch runs a mining support group in Collinsville and said the town had been ripped apart by

Glencore’s decision to shut the mine. Ms Bulloch said of the 400 former Thiess contractors running the mine, 190 live in Collinsville and at least 100 of those own their own homes. “You see a removalist truck every few days, and those who aren’t leaving town have their husbands living away, working at other mines,” she told Shift Miner. “All of a sudden we are thrown into uncertainty and people don’t know what to do. Do you sit around and wait to see what Glencore does next? “Do you pack your house up and go and and pay double rent because no-one will buy our homes here? “If the dads stay home from work and the wives look for jobs that’s no good either because no-one in town can afford to put on any staff.” What makes the Collinsville shutdown different from other mine closures and lay-offs across the Bowen Basin is that this one is marred by an ugly industrial relations stand-off between Glencore and the mining union, the CFMEU.

When Glencore first announced it would run the Collinsville mine itself after its long-standing contract with Thiess expired, it was agreed workers would simply transition from one employer to another. But then Glencore wanted a new workplace agreement for workers something the union maintains was not permitted under the Fair Work Act. “They wanted a greenfields agreement, but this was simply a transition of business so the current agreement still stands,” CFMEU district vice president Steve Pierce told Shift Miner. In a game of industrial relations hardball, Glencore then said it would shut the mine down and look at rehiring down the track. In a statement released to Shift Miner, Glencore said the mine had been losing money for 18 months and needed to be redesigned so larger equipment can be used at the site. It said productivity had not kept up with increased costs, such as labour and materials, and more flexible working agreements were necessary into the future. Glencore said it wanted to continue to employ locally from towns like Collinsville, Bowen Scottsville and Glenden and its workforce would earn in the bracket of $130,000 a year. However, no locals or previous employees - some of whom have worked at the pit for 17 years - are guaranteed a job or even an interview in the rehiring process. The current workforce is almost 100 per cent unionised, and locals fear they will be replaced by non-union workers from out of town.

“There have been rumours the whole time that Glencore would do this - shut down the mine,” said Ms Bulloch. “We were hoping they’d have a heart and keep these guys on. But they haven’t. “People are scared and angry and uncertain. This town was built by miners for mining families. To think Glencore can come in and rip that apart.” What is quite startling, in the middle of a federal election campaign, is how little media coverage the event has received. There have been no politicians - conservative or Labor speaking on the issue in recent days. “I have no idea why this is not gaining attention from the media and political candidates - I gave up trying to understand politics years ago,” said Ms Bulloch. The union wants the state government to intervene. “The best option would be if the state government grew some balls and held Glencore accountable for their actions,” said the CFMEU’s Steve Pierce. When contacted by Shift Miner, the federal LNP candidate for Capricornia Michelle Landry said she’d visited Collinsville last month. “This will have a huge impact on the community up there and if I’m elected I would definitely talk to mine management about it,” she said. ALP candidate Peter Freeleagus is yet to respond to Shift Miner’s calls. Comment or SMS 0409 471 014

War wages during the bust COAL companies and the unions were at loggerheads during the boom, but full-scale war has broken out now the bust has set in. Companies are desperately looking to get their bottom lines back in order, but unions are determined workers’ wages and conditions will not be lost. No compromise could be reached in the case of Glencore at the Collinsville mine, so the company has simply closed the gates and will rehire later down the track. But the battleground isn’t just wages and conditions. It is also who will work in the mines. During the boom, the demand for workers saw coal companies desperately seeking new blood in regions like Cairns and the south-east corner. Over the past 18 months there was an explosion in fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workers and mining camps sprung up across the Bowen Basin to accommodate them. The acute skills crisis in the region saw

2nd September 2013

mining giant BMA set up its two new mines, Daunia and Caval Ridge, with 100 per cent FIFO workforces. But then the downturn struck with such severity that many out-of-work locals now want the opportunity to work at those mines. BMA is sticking to its guns, and says the infrastructure has been designed to run its new mines as FIFO operations, with huge mining camps built and commitments made to regions such as Cairns. But the CFMEU has launched a dramatic counter-attack - using highly visible billboards around Central Queensland - to say locals should be able to apply for these new jobs too. Certainly the ideological battle in the Coalfields is raging, and it is anyone’s guess what the new order will look like when coal prices pick up and the region settles into the next phase of coal mining in 2014 and beyond.

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From bustle to bust Capella businessman Johno Hallam.

LAST year, the small Bowen Basin town of Capella epitomised the resources boom - a sleepy rural community with a main street hosting an iconic innercity Brisbane pub brand. Now, it is the face of the bust. Local business John Hallam or Johno to the locals - has been here for almost 30 years and thought he had seen it all. “It virtually happened on Friday, April 9. The reason I can give a date is because it seemed as though the sun set that evening and it didn’t come up the

next day,” he told Shift Miner. “It was bang! Like a shot gun went off.” The 500 people who had been driving or flying in to Capella each week didn’t turn up. The construction had finished on a nearby mine and it was over. “We went from a bustling, bundling town to - woah, who shut the gate?” Johno’s service station, which he has run since 1975, had been so busy he was getting fuel brought in every day. Now he is down to one refill a week. When Shift Miner was in Capella in March last year, it was a jarring sight to see a brand new motel that would not look out of place in a swanky Sydney suburb. In the evening, the town was inundated with men in high vis gear, the local pub was full to bursting and staff were flown in to keep up with the demand. But now, the pub is empty and the motel has closed its doors. The brand new Dooleys Pub, built last year, now has 80 vacant rooms and a dribble of patrons.

Johno’s Bottlebrush Motel has downsized from nine staff to four and he is lucky to get four people a night in his 20 rooms. Next door, the Coach Inn has perhaps half a dozen people in its 70 rooms and its pub has shut down. “Locals’ heads are spinning. If you wanted a job before, you just had to snap your finger and you got one. Now, there are people everywhere looking for work and there is a lot of despair.” Once there was such a demand for housing that local families were priced out of the market as homes hit the million dollar mark and were rented for at least $600 a week. Now nobody wants them. “Houses are empty everywhere ,” Johno said. “You can’t get 200300 bucks a week. “You wouldn’t believe it but I had a fella come in this weekend and he told me he had a $2.5 million investment, five mortgages and no tenants. It’s sad.” The booms and busts have been to Capella before. Johno

“

Mobile indigenous health clinic launched

remembers the cycles of the 70s and the 90s but they didn’t impact on the community as much - in fact they were great for the communities he said. Not this time. The introduction of fly-in, fly-out, drive-in, driveout workforce changed that. “This has been an incredible accommodation boom with all these motels built - and now we have no one to go in them.” Small towns, unable to buffer against the changes, are hurting. “I don’t know what the future is. People are leaving the district because there are no jobs. I don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel just yet.” But Johno is not one to be pessimistic. Although times are tough, his business is still going and he puts this down to being passionate about the community he lives in. And he does see a glimmer of hope. “I entertain myself by thinking that things will turn around in the next six to eight months. But I think it will be pretty grim Christmas, so don’t expect any big presents.”

INDIGENOUS communities west to Emerald and south to Roma and Miles will now have access to health services with the launch of a mobile rural health clinic. QGC, in partnership with the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council, has provided $475,000 to fit out a caravan and fund the first two years of clinical services by doctors, nurses and indigenous health workers. Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council represents 26 community-controlled health services across the state. The health clinic will be staffed by one of these services: Central Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Community Controlled Health Organisation, the peak body for indigenous health in Central Queensland and Wide Bay. Selywn Button, chief executive of the council, said he looked forward to seeing people benefit from the service. “A solid partnership has now been established which will ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across central Queensland, North Burnett and surrounding areas are able to access vital good-quality, comprehensive primary health care services.”

As a small rural school in the Bowen Basin region we aim to provide our students with the same educational opportunities as students from larger schools. Working with The MAC is helping us to achieve better learning outcomes.

”

Shane Wilkie - Principal Coppabella State School

As a leading provider of workforce accommodation, The MAC is committed to working in partnership with every school across our host communities to enhance learning opportunities Australia-wide.

Local Jobs. Local Business. Local Partnerships.

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2nd September 2013

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Rentals flood Gladstone and Mackay, but Rocky sitting pretty

THERE are 600 vacant properties for rent in Gladstone and 700 in Mackay as the accommodation squeeze that once constricted the region springs wide apart. The rental vacancy rate in Gladstone now sits at a startling 8 per cent, given eight months ago it was less than 1 per cent. Rents have also come back substantially during that time. “Certainly we are seeing some normality return to the market

2nd September 2013

with prices,” said LJ Hooker principal Mark Spearing. “Houses that were renting before Christmas for $750 a week are now $600.” Mr Spearing said the explosion of vacant rental properties had been caused by several factors. “There is an oversupply of new homes that have been finished and have hit the market, and at the same time there has been an increase in the number of workers

accommodated in villages,” he said. Mr Spearing said the haste with which the new LNG industry had been set up in the port city was the key driver of the real estate madness experienced in Gladstone over the past 12 months. “There was a complete lack of social policy when it came to housing. Sure, they complied with the EIS but in reality that was a tick on the sheet. No serious measures were taken,” he said. “Investors will generally be okay; it’s the long-time Gladstone residents we should spare a thought for, the mums and dads out there who have been living with constantly changing house valuations playing havoc with their retirement plans.” Further north in Mackay, the downturn in the coal industry has seen rental properties flooding the market. “Eighteen months ago our vacancy rate was sitting at 0.7 per cent, one of the lowest in the

state, and now we’re at 6.6 per cent,” Elders Mackay principal Sally Richards told Shift Miner. “Mackay was seen as such a good place to invest a few years ago so they built all these new homes. They are now being released, and there are still more coming on board and as I drive around looking at more new homes I think do we really need them?” Ms Richards said she was hoping confidence would return to the market after the federal election. “We are moving properties... but sales aren’t what they were last year and prices have come back to what they were a couple of years ago. People can see it’s a good time to buy while the market is flat.” In Rockhampton, a steady flow of first home buyers is what’s keeping the real estate market alive. While median prices are down slightly, volume of sales has increased dramatically - but all at

the bottom end of the market. “The only interest in the market right now is first home buyers and investment properties in the lower end,” said long-time real estate agent Noel Livingston. “We are not seeing the same movement of people transferring around for work and people don’t have the confidence to upgrade their home at the moment in the current jobs market.” Rockhampton’s vacancy rate is sitting on 3 per cent, which shows how the town is shielded from the booms and busts of mining and industry. However, the western suburb of Gracemere has been hit hard as it was used as a base workers commuting to Gladstone or the mines. “When I last looked there were 250 vacant properties there which is a reflection of the slowdown in mining. Also, now rents have scaled back in Gladstone people have the option to live where they work.”

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Lifeline for steel project?

INVESTOR interest in Boulder Steel could save its $4 billion Central Queensland steel project from going on the scrap heap. Last month, Said Jahani and Trevor Pogroske of Grant Thornton Australia were appointed voluntary administrators of Boulder Steel Ltd and Gladstone Steel Plant Project Ltd after a major backer pulled out. “It’s promising,” Said Jahani told Shift Miner. “Where we are up to with recapitalisation is that we’ve had a fair bit of interest, which is pleasing. We have pushed [the potential investors] hard to get surety to the creditors.” Mr Jahani said at a meeting on Monday, creditors agreed to give

potential investors more time to do due diligence and push out proposals to backers. Boulder Steel has about 20 trade creditors with a combined value of $272,178, and it owes $444,000 in outstanding employee entitlements, according to the creditor report. “The timing we’re working on is another 45 business days, which is a couple of months, but I intend to do something within the next month.” Mr Jahani was cautiously optimistic about the future of the $4 billion project, which could see 2000 people employed during the 30-month construction and once built 1800 permanent positions. “I’ve learnt in this game not to count my chickens before they’ve hatched, but I am enthused by the level of interest we’ve received. “It’s hard to for investors to get their head around this project because it’s just an idea that has been advanced to a particular point. “We now have to get people to then put in money to take it from an idea to reality.” Four years ago, the Queensland Coordinator General declared the steel project a significant project, and the federal government had

also provided environmental approval for the plant site. In January this year, the project had submitted its Environmental Impact Statement, which received 21 submissions in response. Boulder Steel is preparing to respond formally to these and will need to prepare a supplementary EIS. According to the creditors report, the Boulder project team have progressed discussions regarding infrastructure, raw material sourcing and off-take arrangements. The report has given a detailed account of Boulder Steel’s history and the administrators conclude that the company failed because it had a diminishing cash position, there was pressure from trade creditors and the company was unable to gain additional funding from either a new investor or through shares. However, the administrators have also pointed the finger at the company itself, stating that a lack of due diligence being undertaken by the board prior to investments in projects and a lack of strong corporate governance principles were a contributor.

More coal struck near Moranbah PERTH-based Liberty Resources says it has struck coal close to the surface in a previously unexplored area near Moranbah. In a statement to the stock exchange, Liberty confirmed it had found coal seams varying from five to 10 metres in thickness at a depth of around 40 metres. However, apart from confirming it had found coal, the announcement provides little detail about the quality or quantity of the coal. Rules regarding the reporting of exploration results mean the company will have to spend a great deal more time and money doing further drilling to prove the extend of the deposit. Commenting on the results to date, Liberty Resource’s managing director Andrew Haythorpe said he was encouraged. “The initial observations from the field are very encouraging, vitreous black coal, at shallow depths has been observed,” he said.

“This discovery is already being assessed for its economic potential to support a shallow open cut coal mine, only two weeks after the drill rig was mobilised and six weeks after the permit was granted. “Whilst share market conditions remain depressed, the company is now experiencing the best conditions for low cost and rapid technical support and project advancement in eight years. “Rigs, assay laboratories and technical personnel are all readily available.” Liberty said it hadn’t decided where to spend its remaining drilling effort. One option is to drill over a wide area so it can get a rough picture of the total deposit size. The other option is to focus drilling over a small area to get a more certain picture of the known deposit. While Liberty says it will explore the possibility of developing the deposit into a marketable coal asset, the company’s long term-plan remains to produce low-cost energy and fertiliser from coal.

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Key Galilee industrial land under the hammer

The sleepy town of Barcaldine could get a new lease on life.

AN industrial bank of land at Barcaldine goes under the hammer next month, as developers scramble to secure their piece of the Galilee Basin pie. “Barcaldine has an industrial bank of land going to auction on September 13, which would suit a trucking company or a road house,” Barcaldine Regional Council mayor Rob Chandler told Shift Miner. “We’re looking for some of those satellite industries to set up here as well as Jericho and Alpha.” The auction follows the recent approval of Waratah Coal’s massive project by Queensland’s Coordinator General - meaning the mine is one federal government tick away from the green light. Cr Chandler said he had watched the plight of other regional Queensland councils dealing with mining booms, and he was determined to be prepared. The council is buying up as much land as possible and the phone has been running hot with queries from businesses interested in setting up mining camps and airports. “These are the ones trying to get through

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2nd September 2013

front door, so they have to go through development application and sort out problems with sewerage and water,” Cr Chandler said. The council owns 30 blocks of land and 12 house blocks in Alpha, and has bought what was previously QR-owned land north of Jericho. “We are trying to shore up as much land as we can and hopefully have that land shored up before mines start,” he said. The council has also planned ahead for any possible staff shortages when it has to compete with the mines. “We’ve got rapid skilling training based in Longreach,” he said. RESQ is the coming together of the Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD) and Employment Services Queensland and offers training opportunities from grader operators through to human resources. “It’s to help replace council workers that we will lose to the mines.” While the council welcomes the mining, not everyone has been happy with the state government granting approval to Waratah.

AgForce wants politicians and mining companies to visit the region and said the rail lines and the impact they would have on flood plains were of major concern. The industry group said negotiations with mining companies were mixed, with some people having major difficulties. There were also concerns about government controls over environmental issues. “I think most landholders have been consulted fairly well with companies with regards to mine and railway lines and most agreements are in place,” Cr Chandler said. “There is still the Bimblebox Nature Reserve and this is a is very contentious issue. “As far as council is concerned, we have to be fairly arms length and leave it to state and federal government to ensure environmental controls are in place. “Most of western Queensland is in grips of drought and we rely on agriculture. In my personal opinion, we need mining, and council supports it. “Without it, will always be what we’ve always been - sheep and cattle and always at mercy of the weather.”

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Is the Galilee the 457 visas slow new gas hub? as mining cools

AS the Surat Basin rockets ahead with coal seam gas pipe-laying and production, explorers are busy in the north looking for more gas opportunities. Community leaders, rural landholders, local councils and mining stakeholders are in Emerald today for the first Gasfields Community Leaders meeting in the region. Gasfields Commission chairman John Cotter said the northern region was a different kettle of fish to the activities further south. “The gas industry in the Surat Basin has been going a lot longer and is now in full swing, with major infrastructure well on the way to being completed,” he told Shift Miner. “There is some of that going on in the Bowen Basin but is a very small way, and there is significant exploration in the Galilee Basin, more in the Bowen Basin and also extending to the North West Minerals Province and the Cooper.” He said water was the hot topic for the region. “The critical thing in the Galilee is for people to be confident around the Great Artesian Basin water issues. Water is important anywhere but in this area they have depended on it since settlement. “What we need is open and transparent

information on aquifers, the depths they’re exploring so people can have confidence.” While the gas industry might be in its infancy, the region is no stranger to other mining activities and Mr Cotter said that should be helpful. “I don’t know if it makes it any easier but it certainly makes landholders more aware of the types of issues and how to go about getting information.” Mr Cotter recently met with the Queensland Resources Council over concerns about how coal companies were doing business with landholders. “We’ve had significant discussions with the QRC and they are in the process of looking at adopting a model for their members when it comes to land access and negotiations with landholders so that there is consistency. “If we [the Gasfields Commission] can set the bar for industry in general then it will end up better across the board.” Last week the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) announced Queensland farmers had signed more than 4000 land access agreements with gas companies. While APPEA said the figure proved the gas industry was working side-by-side with agriculture, Agforce grains president Wayne Newton disagreed. “The question is, are the majority of people who’ve signed off all happy?” he asked. But Mr Cotter said happiness didn’t enter into the equation. “I don’t think happy is the word to use in this instance,” he said. “You have to come to a business arrangement. It’s about agriculture and gas co-existing and whether they cooperate and get on in an equitable way - that’s the critical point. “Some landholders will never be happy but it’s more about whether the the two are able to be productive and have a fruitful and successful business relationship.”

IN a mining boom, 457 visas are a must for employers to fill key roles, but in a bust they are a big cost that often culminates in paying for a plane ride home. Visa specialist Chris Carman, from Carman & Associates, told Shift Miner while there was visa movement in the mining sector, there were not a lot of new applications. “It’s not new applications coming through; it’s more transfers in the system, meaning a temporary resident is going from one job to another,” he said. “It’s certainly not full-on like it was 18 months ago.” Mr Carman said some employers had experienced the cost burden associated with 457 visa holders. “I think some organisations have been burnt by the program because when you have to significantly downsize, you still have the obligation to pay for a flight

home if there are no jobs available.” Visa holders are able to look for other work, but if they can’t find another employer or another type of visa they will have to go home. “After an employer is notified, they have a period of 30 days to pay for a oneway economy airfare ticket home for the worker and their family. “That can be a big cost issue for business.” Despite the cost, Mr Carman said the 457 visa system will continue to be vital for Australia. “It doesn’t matter if you spent all the money in the world on training up Aussies, there is global mobility of labour across borders so there is always going to be a reliance on visas to fill the gaps. “That shouldn’t mask the training and development of young Australians, but to demonise visa holders is ridiculous.”

2nd September 2013

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No more closures, but outlook still grim NO more mining services businesses have closed their doors in Mackay recently, but the outlook is still grim. “I think it’s just more of the same - a holding pattern,” said Group Engineering managing director Allan Ruming. “It’s being driven by a number of things. The dollar has not continued its downward trend, coal prices don’t seem to have bottomed out, and we have two idiots standing there fighting each other in something called

2nd September 2013

the federal election.” Mr Ruming said even a change in government would do little to change the outlook in the short term. “The election is September, it takes a month to changeover so that’s the middle of October, then it’s Christmas so there’ll be no substantial changes to legislation or anything before next year. “That means this holding pattern is likely to continue for at least six months.” Mr Ruming said the only optimistic sign was 37 coal ships waiting to be loaded off the Mackay coast this week. The ships signify a dramatic step up in production at Bowen Basin coal mines as companies increase tonnages to combat a drop in price. However, the flow-on effect for mining services businesses

is yet to be felt. “The theory is increased production increases the amount of wear and tear, but it’s not corresponding in a big increase in maintenance spending yet,” Mr Ruming told Shift Miner. “A lot of mine sites are not doing the big shut-downs and that sort of thing. But having said that, there was a lot of waste and inefficiency during the boom so possibly this is a reasonable example of where the new paradigm is. “But I suspect there is a fair amount of expenditure to come [in maintenance]. Forget about construction and new projects; there’ll be a big increase in maintenance costs and companies looking to improve efficiencies.” Mr Ruming’s own company has dramatically scaled back

since the bust from a staff of 35 to just four. “We’re holding. We’ve gone from a massive freefall with no project work whatsoever with the small crew we have now very busy. But it’s a question of whether it’s enough to pay the overheads and the bills. “For now, we are surviving in a position to move forward if things pick up.” Mr Ruming said while he hadn’t heard of other local businesses shutting their doors over the past few months, the outlook for many was still dubious. “Anecdotally I am hearing from accountants and the like that there are still companies who are very, very close to the wire. “A big part of what we are seeing now is the norm and I don’t think people have got their heads around that yet.”

News CSG projects about to hit stage two COAL seam gas companies are gearing up for the next major round of announcements for the operations and maintenance phase of their projects in the Surat Basin. QGC has been the first of the big three gas companies to announce who’ll run and maintain its assets in the region. Transfields Services has a five-year $200 million contract to look after its processing plants, compression stations, 2000 gas wells and connecting infrastructure. Veolia Water has a 20-year $800 million contract to operate and maintain QGC’s three water treatment plants in the Surat Basin. Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise’s Reagan Parle said there could be many business opportunities for local companies as subcontractor work gets divvied up. “They will be looking for capable subcontractors for trade services, shut down assistance, parts replacement, electrical motor replacement, ongoing repair maintenance and small extensions to the facilities,” he told Shift Miner. Mr Parle said while the large contractors were specialists in their technical roles and asset management there were many other jobs that would be farmed out. Land easement and access management have already been flagged as possibilities for local business. “That means the conditions of the roads, weeds, pest management, regrowth and on site security,” he said. Mr Parle said it was the next six months should see major contractors clarify exactly what areas are up for grabs in terms of subcontractor opportunities. Santos and Origin are yet to announce who’ll be looking after their facilities during the operations and maintenance

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Houses to let in Mining tourism the next big thing Central Highlands Authors Professor John Rolfe and Dr Susan Kinnear

THIS time last year, towns in the Central Highlands were still feeling the accommodation squeeze. Two large housing developments were opened in Blackwater to help ease the pressure, and the council built 12 units in Emerald. But now, brand new houses lie empty in both towns. “We have 370 rental properties available in the region,” Central Highlands Regional Council Mayor Peter Maguire told Shift Miner. A drop in house values and rents has not seen a flurry of new people move to the region, Cr Maguire said. In Blackwater, a three-bedroom home, newly painted and in good condition is

advertised for $320 a week - a fraction of what it was last year. Some homes are as low as $220 a week, some are brand-new homes, and others are offering up to two month’s free rent as enticement. It’s a far cry from the $1000 a week rents of 2012. Although the region has taken a hit with mining redundancies and closures, Cr Maguire maintains some optimism about the future. “It will come back, but it’s a matter of when.” There are several mines pushing towards development and locals have their eyes on Bandanna Energy’s Springsure Creek.

THE next big thing in Queensland tourism could be mining if industry and government strike the right balance. That’s the gist of a new draft report prepared for the Queensland government, which is trying to revitalise and tourism industry and put new products into the mix. “It would be a benefit to the mining industry, which tends to suffer from perception problems and bad press,” report author Professor John Rolfe told Shift Miner. CQUniversity researchers Professor John Rolfe and Dr Susan Kinnear reviewed local and overseas examples of miningthemed tourism ventures and interviewed stakeholders from both sectors. While their draft report falls short of suggesting a mining theme park on the Gold Coast, it did find inspiration overseas in Canada’s Oil Sands Discovery Centre - built by the state government and industry -

which attracts up to 40,000 visitors a year. “Our suggestion is to consider a mining experience centre in one of the main centres on one of the main coastal road, where people stop overnight and look for something to do. A good example would be Mackay.” Professor Rolfe said such a centre would be able to highlight the importance of the mining sector and how it impacts on day-to-day life. Something that is often misunderstood by the general public. Dr Kinnear said resource sector profits are stalling so any future mining tourism venture would have to be driven by a strong business case. “In a tough market the resource sector needs to concentrate on initiatives with multiple benefits,” she said. “They already sponsor a range of events which attract tourists, as this can also assist with attraction and retention of their own workforce. “Part of the business case might be the extent to which a mining-related tourism venture serves to showcase the industry in a positive light. “It would also be helpful to pursue tourism initiatives through local government, as the resource sector are already strongly engaged with councils.” The report is now with the state government and goes into its melting pot of ideas on how to grow and diversify Queensland’s tourism industry.

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2nd September 2013

Shift Miner Magazine

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Review of cropping laws to reduce knots? THE Queensland Resources Council has welcomed the state government’s review into strategic cropping laws and the statutory regional planning process, which has so far tied both miners and landowners into knots. QRC’s chief executive Michael Roche told Shift Miner that the organisation had identified a number of ways in which the laws could be streamlined. “The QRC’s position has always been that while industry is happy to recognise the need to manage Queensland’s best soils, the previous state government’s Strategic Cropping Land Act took that a simple idea and turned it into a complex system of mapping,

zones and criteria,” Mr Roche said. The real challenge is how designated cropping land will relate to the new statutory regional plans, he said. “Regional plans will develop a new system of priority agricultural areas, that will protect land use. The two systems will need to dovetail because otherwise there is a risk of an absolute maze of regulation, which will tangle farmers and resource companies up in knots.” Mr Roche said the QRC was working with its members to devise a simple system which recognised and protected Queensland’s best agricultural country, but wasn’t cost prohibitive. “QRC members are keen for the new system to recognise the many ways in which resource operations can boost agricultural productivity through investments in regional infrastructure,” he said. But AgFore grains president Wayne Newton said he had concerns about the review and what it meant for prime agricultural land.

“Politicians talk about protecting important farming land but we have difficulty in finding really good protection,” he told Shift Miner. Meanwhile, while strategic cropping land legislation is under review and the government is carrying out a Statutory Regional Planning process. Submissions close on September 9, 2013. A spokesperson from the Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM) told Shift Miner the government recognises that landowners have a range of views and is striving to find a balance that meets the needs of all Queenslanders. “Conflicting land uses, such as between the agricultural sector and mining, gas and petroleum sectors are presently being addressed through a new generation of statutory regional plans.” Further information about Queensland’s Strategic Cropping Land framework is available at www. nrm.qld.gov.au/land/planning/ strategic-cropping/index.html

Indigenous businesses get tailored training The coal seam gas industry has seen the rise of Indigenousowned and run businesses, such as the Mandandanji groups’ Muddy Waters Washdown Facility in the Surat Basin.

THE burgeoning resources industry has seen the rapid rise of Indigenous businesses, and now eight of these from Dalby to Townsville have received tailored training towards winning work in the coal seam gas industry supply chain. The training was delivered as a workshop at Arrow’s Brisbane headquarters in August. Whanu Binal is Arrow’s program for encouraging Indigenous participation in Arrow’s business or in the major projects sector. “Our aim is to get each business to the point that it can compete for a wider range of work – maybe in CSG, maybe in the support network or maybe on major projects within their own communities,” Arrow’s community relations manager Glenda Viner said. “Whanu Binal has been assisting these

2nd September 2013

eight businesses to build capacity for several months and the workshop is the next step in that process.” The workshop covered pre-qualification and tendering, and provided learning and networking opportunities with Arrow and key members of the Whanu Binal networks. The eight businesses are from Gladstone (three), Dalby, Townsville, Miles, Chinchilla and Roma. Each has been matched with a strongly established business for three months of businesses mentoring. All mentor companies are either Aboriginal-owned or have strong Indigenous participation and supplier development programs. The training will deliver information sessions, workshops on developing business capability, health, safety and environment capability support; and ongoing support to tap into government and non-government development programs, become pre-qualified for work, and tendering for contracts. The first cycle of Whanu Binal is being delivered to Traditional Owners from the Port Curtis Coral Coast and Western Downs Indigenous groups – the two largest groups in Arrow’s footprint. In 2014, Whanu Binal will be expanded to other Traditional Owners and Indigenous people.

News Central Highlands farmer takes on BMA

A CENTRAL Highlands farmer has taken his case to the Planning and Environment Court after mining giant BMA changed the classification of part of his land to non-strategic cropping land. Paul Murphy’s property, which borders BMA’s underground Crinum mine outside Emerald, produces organic crops. Mr Murphy told local media that although there is a mining claim on part of his property, the situation came as a shock. “What’s happened is I’ve been notified that part of my land has been labelled non-strategic cropping land, which has been approved by the department,” he said. “They never spoke to me. I had no idea anything was happening. “They have a mining claim but it’s my land - I own it, I farm it. It belongs to me.” Mr Murphy claims BMA’s actions have devalued his property. When contacted by Shift Miner, a BMA spokesperson said the miner was unable to comment as the case was before court. There was a similar response

from the Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM). A spokesperson said under the Strategic Cropping Land framework, the SCL trigger map identifies the location of potential SCL in Queensland. However, it is onground assessment that determines whether SCL exists at a site level. “Where a landowner or a resource company holding tenure over land wishes to confirm whether land is in fact SCL, or not, they can undertake an on-ground assessment and submit a validation application to the Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM),” he told Shift Miner. The applicant is required to specifically notify the landowner and place a notice in the local newspaper and anyone may make a submission to DNRM on the application. “Once DNRM makes a decision as to whether the land is SCL or not, the landholder will receive notice of the decision and has the legal right to appeal the decision in the Planning and Environment Court within 28 days.”

Shift Miner’s Most Eligible

Bachelor & Bachelorette

Meet our first round of Bachelorettes. Next edition, we’ll bring you some Bachelors - so fellas get your entries in now.

Jody Davies, 33

Rachel de Vries, 27 Spotless, Moranbah

Spotless, German Creek

When I’m not at work you’ll find me: Enjoying bevos with mates having a great time!

When I’m not at work you’ll find me: At the gym or the nugget.

When I’m not working you’ll find me: Walking on the beach with my dog, Loki.

BMA Daunia mine, Moranbah

The best advice I’ve ever been given is: It’s 5 o’clock somewhere. My perfect date would be: Someone sparing no expense on me and good fun. My life is best described in the song: Free Falling. My worst habit is: Talk waaaayyy too much on the two way, when a simple yes no answer is all that is needed I always have a story. Also distracted quite easily! My signature dish is: Is one I don’t cook, I do a wicked 2 minute noodle dish at work though.

The best advice I’ve ever been given is: Don’t judge a person until you walk in their shoes. My perfect date would be: Not a first date but takeaway in bed watching tv or a movie (picnic in bed!). My worst habit is: Biting my nails and swearing My friends say I am: Loud & crazy. My signature dish is: Lasagne.

Sandy Whitty, 33

The best advice I’ve ever been given is: To be excellent to each other. My best attribute is: I have been told on numerous occasions that I have a really nice bum, so I guess I’ll have to say my best attribute would be my bum! If I could invite 3 people to dinner they would be: Naked because it would be funny. My worst habit is: My LOUD sneeze. I sneeze so the next country can hear me. I can’t help it I just do it lol. My signature dish is: I wouldn’t limit myself to being good at cooking only the one dish, but if I had to choose I would say lasagna. Yum.

Shift Miner Magazine

www.shiftminer.com

Inside a miner’s mind

Safety dumbed down By Charlie Cameron*

“Governments don’t want a population capable of critical thinking. They want obedient workers, people just smart enough to run the machines and just

2nd September 2013

dumb enough to passively accept their situation.” - George Carlin In the mines, workers are bombarded with safety slogans, safety protocols and

standard operating procedures (SOPs). And for good reason – there are many potential dangers. If you mess up, you might seriously injure yourself or someone else. So being safe is deadly important. Now, on that note, I want you to imagine a scenario so we can grasp the concept I’m going to write about. Imagine a soldier wearing a bulletproof vest and another soldier without a vest: who is more likely to recklessly charge into a gunfight? This scenario raises a tricky question: do safety cushions make us feel invincible? Maybe they do, and maybe when people think they have a safety cushion, they push the limits more often and take bigger risks. This topic can open a hefty debate when we consider the point it makes in the context of mining. I’m wondering if the excessive rules and regulations are beginning to take away the necessity of critical thinking from the individual on mine sites. In psychology, there is a fundamental concept regarding skills and the brain itself: “use it or lose it”. Basically, if you don’t exercise your “brain-muscle” it gets weaker, and unpractised skills go rusty. So if you don’t need to think for yourself on a daily basis and make important decisions, one day you might forget how to do this all together. I’ve worked at various mine sites for the past five years and the emphasis on following very specific rules and regulations has grown considerably. I remember when wheel-chocks became mandatory across all BMA sites. Nowadays I see light-vehicles all parked

up and wheel-chocked, on flat bitumensealed ground, handbrake applied, first gear engaged (like you were taught at the Defensive Driving Course where you learned how to drive like Ken Block, sliding between witches hats). Everyone now puts chocks under the LV wheels, following the rules. Is it necessary to chock LVs in the carpark? Has anyone EVER seen a car roll away on the flat ground at a servo, for instance, or in a parking lot at a shopping centre? Cars simply don’t violate the laws of physics. Wheel chocks are useful, sure, such as when you’re parked on a slope. The important thing to note here is context. Safety measures are essential in certain circumstances, but in others, they can be irrelevant. Mine workers are not allowed to make this distinction, it seems. We aren’t allowed to think for ourselves. It’s as though we can’t be trusted, and so blanket-regulations are brought in: “chock wheels at all times”, as opposed to “chock wheels when on a slope or where deemed necessary”. Can mine workers not be trusted to make safe decisions? Do we need to be told what to do, and do we have to obey even when the protocol is irrelevant or worthless? I’ve seen an operator wheel-chock a dump truck while it was safely parked in a V-drain. “You have to chock it,” he explained to me as I looked at him, puzzled. There’s something fundamentally wrong when a person blindly follows an order, like a good bullet-proof-vestedsoldier charging into a gunfight, without first understanding the logical reasons behind the action. Wheel chocks are for slopes; you don’t need them for a dump truck parked in a V-drain – it’s just simple physics and common sense! This blind-obedience mentality, this mode of thinking, is something we should be worried about and begin to address on mine sites. Blind obedience can potentially turn a person’s mind to mush. Next time you have to do something at work that makes no sense, make sure you still think for yourself and are aware of the odd things we must do. Finally, keep exercising that “brainmuscle” to prevent it from turning to mush. Charlie Cameron* (not his real name) has a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology, completed in 2005. He has been working as an operator throughout the Bowen Basin for both small and large contractors since 2008 on various mine sites.

Shift Miner Magazine

Jobs Ladder

www.shiftminer.com

How do you cope with redundancy? By Naomi Armitage

WHAT are the typical emotions a person will feel after learning their position has been made redundant? Redundancy is one of the most stressful events that can be experienced in life and the impact has been likened to other losses such as death, divorce, moving house or illness. The impact of redundancy can be varied and depend upon factors such as age, length of service, employment prospects, financial situation, dependents, personality and individual coping skills. The first reaction tends to be one of shock, disbelief, or numbness but this might only last for a short while before a surge of other emotions – such as anger, envy, self-blame, rejection and resentment – take over. It is easy to slip into negative thought patterns and feelings of worthlessness and worry over finding another job. The most important thing to keep in mind is not to take it personally; the job is redundant, not the person, and there is no reason to feel embarrassed or ashamed. The person should focus on moving forward rather than looking back.

How long will these emotions last? How long it takes to go through these emotions depends on the individual and their specific circumstances. Most people will move through these feelings without any particular issues but some people may struggle with feelings of rejection, self-worth, and confidence and this may, in turn, lead to depression. Secondary

stressors of redundancy also play a role in the process and how long the emotions will last. Some secondary stressors include financial insecurity, fears of the future, and strain on relationships. The need to move house and/or towns is a stressor that is more likely to be experienced in the resource and mining sector as many people move to a location for their job and live in company housing.

What can people do about it? It is important that people maintain as much of their normal routine as possible and not withdraw from partners, family and other relationships as this can feed into negative thoughts and emotions such as self-blame and feelings of personal failure. It is natural to feel upset but reminding themselves that they are not the only one to go through a redundancy and talking to people about their feelings can be very helpful. If a person finds that they are withdrawing or increasing their use of alcohol or other substances, they should seek professional support. Regardless of how hard the impact hits a person, they will get over it. It’s a matter of being patient and allowing time to ‘work through the loss’. Some people even find that redundancy provides them with opportunities to choose a different career path or life direction. In any case, the person should try to be constructive in their approach: register with job agencies, make a list of your strengths, and update their resume. By focusing on

the future and the opportunities that are available, an individual is much more likely to find employment quickly and move towards a more settled life again.

Is there a “normal” processing method for people? Redundancy is an unfortunate fact of life especially during economic downturn but there are a few things to keep in mind. While redundancy is difficult for the employee it can also be difficult for employers who need to make the decision and go through the process of putting it into action. For the employee, it is important that they know why they are being made redundant and to ask questions so they understand what is happening and where they stand. How soon will the redundancy take effect? What are they entitled to? Where can you go for assistance? Losing a job is not dissimilar from any other sudden loss occurring in our lives, and may trigger a grief response. While there are common responses to grief it is important to remember that not everyone processes grief the same way. Some people may process their grief by going through stages that include: shock and denial; fear and panic; anger; bargaining; depression and finally acceptance. Such a difficult process usually has a positive side where the individual eventually reaches a point where they want to put it behind them and get on with their life. Try to think ahead and start searching for a new job immediately. A person can start going to interviews before

they even cease work. Think positively about finding a new job. Something suitable will come along. In the meantime, reassess finances and make allowances for late payments. Consider getting financial advice if there are concerns about getting into debt.

How will the family be affected by a job loss? Redundancy does not just impact individuals, it affects families. The impact on a couple’s relationship can be immense, as it tends to expose weaknesses that may already be present in the relationship. The situation can also mean a shift in the dynamics of the relationship, for example, if the partner becomes the primary wage earner for the family. Family routines may also change as one person is home more, as expectations of each other and ideas about what should be happening vary between family members. For some families it might mean moving houses, towns, and schools with the consequence of interrupting friendships, jobs, sporting activities and lifestyle. As a consequence, it can be very easy for tensions to mount and individuals to become more irritable.

How can families cope together? Accepting that the family might need to make some adjustments, but knowing that it does not need to be all doom and gloom, is a good first step in coping. Family members need to talk to each other about how they feel. Seeing a counsellor can also

be helpful in gaining a clearer understanding of the situation instead of feeling overwhelmed. But redundancy can also be an opportunity for families to re-evaluate their values and needs in life or to spend more time together. People need to take time to look after themselves, to allow time for things they enjoy, and to keep contact with friends. Do not let financial pressure get in the way of regular family outings and activities. Brainstorm to find free or budget activities to bring you together.

For younger workers, is there more pressure? How might they be feeling the impact differently to other workers? A number of varying factors come into play when considering different age groups. Younger people may fare less well, or better than older people, depending on their own particular circumstances. For example, if a person is single they may have a greater capacity for relocation and lower levels of commitment and responsibility. On the other hand, older workers may be financially more established and have more skills. Naomi Armitage is the director of Gryphon Psychology, a specialist provider of Employee Assistance Programs and other psychology and training services to the mining and resources sector. It also provides related programs tailored to industry needs and safety requirements, including critical incident response, fitness for work training and case management. www.gryphonpsychology.com

Tune into the Michael J. Breakfast show from 7:35 am every Monday for 4RO's CQ Mining Update, with special guest Angus from Shift Miner.

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Shift Miner Magazine

Around Town

www.shiftminer.com

AIMEX 2013 The largest mining event in the Asia-Pacific region was held at the Sydney showgrounds in August. There were more than 650 exhibitors and thousands of visitors over the three-day expo.

(L-R) Anthony, Chris and Cody from BOC Ltd

(L-R) Graham Robson, Zak Brakey and Jesse Medwin from HAULMAX

Greg Single from SKYLOTEC Australia

(L-R) Michael Stephenson, Eddie McLaren and alex Griffith from The Rigging Shop (L-R) Lorraine Ong, David Mitchell, Nicole Usher, Nicolas Croner, Sean McWilliams, Darren McDonnell and Nhon Nyugen from The Workwear Group

(L-R) Michael Dwyer, David Fawcett andr Anthony Ginn from Dupont Australia

Naomi Bull from HUSKI

(L-R) Sean Lee, Alan Latta and Nathan Brady from PSG

Ralph Paananen from Ugly fish Eye Wear

Simon Donovan and Sun Sams from Hertz Australia

Abhay Prakash from Mine Bug Australia

Darren Boughton from Powerlite

Alex and Dianne Panov from Delta Water Solutions

Holding a social event you want photographed?  Call the Shift Miner office on 4921 4333 to let us know.  You can also give our office a bell if you’d like a copy of any of the photos in this edition.

2nd September 2013

Shift Miner Magazine

Around Town

www.shiftminer.com

SNAPPED!

Lovely local and out-of-town ladies and gents enjoyed a warm winterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day and lunch at the Middlemount Golf Club and Shopping Centre recently.

(L-R) Bev Quinn and Leanne Creedon

(L-R) Nicky and Max Way with Kylie Garde

(L-R) Baby Scarlett, Mum Amy and Summer Young

(L-R) Holly Johnson and Blaine Horan

(L-R) Glenis and Brian Russell with Katherine Rose and Danna Philips

(L-R) Shona Johnson and Janelle Tsagatoo

(L-R) Anne Anderson, Jan Parkinson, Marion Danastas, Tabitha Camilleri, Anne Heke and Helen Thorne from Middlemount Crafters

Buy this and many other images at

www.shiftminer.com Shift Miner magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; bringing the mining community closer together 2nd September 2013

Shift Miner Magazine

Off Shift

www.shiftminer.com

Stuff

FROm THE EDITOR Get out of the office to the Editor WAR has erupted between the union and big mines and there is not a peep from our politicians. The fact that a company can have the power to potentially destroy a community is alarming and I wonder whether these people would make the same decisions if they were forced to confront - personally - the consequences it has on families. This is a case of powerbrokers - both mining companies and politicians - sitting pretty in their offices in the big city and being completely disassociated from the people who are affected by their decisions. I know Queensland is a big state, but decision-makers need to get out of the office, out of the cities and actually experience the everyday lives of everyday people. Making decisions that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t relate to real life is a problem that cuts through all levels of government and business. A classic example is the road works carried out in my community by the Rockhampton Regional Council. This may be trivial compared with the future Collinsville is facing, but it just compounds my point. Over the past week, the council has spent a significant amount of money on fixing

up a stretch of road. All week the trucks have been zooming to and from gravel pits, smoothing, shaping and watering what is now the best stretch of road in the district. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a shame that the road is used only to move stock out of paddocks - by two people. Meanwhile, on two stretches of road that cater for the majority of the rural community in this area, we had one dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth of grading and rolling - and no gravel to speak of. I can guarantee that the decision to do the road works was based on someone sitting in an office and looking at a map. If our business leaders and politicians actually engaged with the people whose lives are in their hands, I know their decisions would be very different. At the very least, their approach to decisions would be different. No matter whether you are a union supporter or not, Glencoreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to close the mine and not even guarantee an interview to its previous employees is heartless. This is not about numbers. It is about people. Inga Stunzner Comment or SMS 0409 471 014

Our front page story about the massive boys toys sell-off under way in CQ at the moment had people talking:

SHIFT MIN ER The Queenslan

d mining and

Locally Owned

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just the toys for sale. People are pretty worried itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be their homes next. SD, Mackay Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good time to wanna boat - plenty to pick from, and most sellers can be talked well down on the asking price. SD, Yeppoon A Rockhampton councillorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s idea to use the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s airport as a hub for mining freight has one reader scratching their head: Rocky airport as a base for mining cargo? Really? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s under water half the bloody year. What use would it be?! TG, Rocky Our Off Shift article on crazy Japanese inventions had some fan mail:

unityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best

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The intimacy pillow - I think I need me one of those for the long nights away from homeâ&#x20AC;Ś lol! SD, Emerald Might use the electro smile to keep positive at work at the moment hahaha. SB, Moura Frank the Tank is getting a lot of fan mail too, especially in the wake of his new radio show: Just heard Frank hosting his own radio show. This is the best thing to happen to me. Ever. DS, Mackay I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think Frank would be able to top the written word, but then I heard the spoken word. Priceless. WS, Rockhampton Edâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note: You can download Frank the Tankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s streaking good radio from our website www.shiftminer.com and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s free for subscribers via the Shift Miner app - available at the itunes store.

Photos to THE EDITOR SNAPPED! After 11 years in Blackwater, the Delaforce family has moved to Maroochydore. They were farewelled by their friends - the Lancaster, Webley, Anderson, Window and Broderick families.

Text in your best snap to 0409 471 014

CARTON OF BEER FOR YOUR EYES! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s back by popular demand.

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2nd September 2013

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Frank the Tank’s

Dear Frank,

My husband is obsessed with rugby. I wouldn’t mind if he was in his 20s. But he’s in his 40s. Why can’t he accept that two knee reconstructions at his age would virtually cripple him? How can I get him to stop playing? Ingrid, Toowoomba It can be extremely difficult for a lot of men to give up playing rugby. I’m sure it won’t surprise you that I was considered quite the footy star in my youth. Unfortunately, coaches of other teams got wise to my forged birth certificate and I was forced out of my local under-14 competition.

I felt hard done by and retired out of disgust. What has happened to this country when a grown man can’t disguise himself as an overdeveloped 14-year-old in order to win a junior rugby premiership? I’m not bitter though, and I did manage to seduce a lot of the ‘Mrs Robinson’ mums from the opposition teams. Your concern for your husband is quite valid in my opinion; a double knee reconstruction is extremely painful. Every couple of months I participate in an all-nude Twister party. Because the mat is frequently covered in various lubricants and scented oils, it’s extremely hard on the knees, and a few years back I required a double recon. It wasn’t the pain of the operation that really got to me. It was being told by a doctor that my nude Twister days were over. I’ve taken up strip Scrabble to try and fill the void, but it’s just not the same. If you really want your husband to quit

Fair Dinkum!

“Streakin” good love advice

playing rugby I might be able to help you, though you’ll have to be willing to make some sacrifices of your own. As a general rule men will always choose sex over sport. I gave up a chance to play in a charity golf day with Tiger Woods over in the States to meet some women at a local pub. Despite missing the golf event, I still got a very satisfying hole in one. If you’re willing to increase your bedroom activities, it’s highly likely you’ll be able to wrestle your husband away from the hypnotic hold of rugby. To spice things up further you might also like to suggest a bit of rugby role play. You could dress up in a jersey and have your husband crouch, touch and hold... then engage. Hopefully things don’t go horribly wrong for you. If your husband has suffered a lot of concussions from rugby he might have a flashback mid-roleplay. I would like to formally absolve myself

SENSIBLE SUSAN Ingrid, It sounds like your husband is a die-hard rugby player so perhaps the key to getting him to retire is easing him into it. If you urge him to give up rugby cold turkey, I don’t think you’re going to have much success, unfortunately. Perhaps you could encourage him to get into the coaching side of things so he can remain involved in rugby without permanently crippling himself?

Susan

comedy. They’ve created a computer that tells sexist jokes. The system was programmed to follow a successful component of comedy, following up a statement with a surprising comment. One of the computer generated gems was, “I like my women like I like my gas...natural.” Perhaps computers aren’t ready to replace comedians just yet.

IN CANADA

IN THE ACT - A Canberra

The 1993 film Alive retold the story of a rugby team who survived a plane crash by eating their dead mates. A group of friends lost in Siberia had to make the same decision.

IN RUSSIA

IN THE UK - Researchers at the

by a group of his friends. The group set off on a fishing trip to Siberia when they became lost in the

Frank

freezing forest for over two weeks. Two men are accused of killing the woman’s husband, dismembering his body and carrying it around for a fortnight, feeding off his flesh. A post mortem report has apparently confirmed the man’s death was a result of blunt force trauma, not hypothermia or exhaustion as the accused men claim. - For some people, getting divorced just stinks...especially if your ex-husband has ready access to manure. Police caught Montreal man Rene Daniel outside his ex-wife’s home with manure piled up on her doorstep and in her hot tub. After being sprung Mr Daniel made the unusual choice to lead the police on an unbelievably low-speed chase, attempting to make a quick getaway on his tractor. He was forcibly stopped and removed from the tractor a short time later.

- An autopsy has confirmed a wife’s suspicions about her husband’s untimely demise - he was eaten

of all liability if your husband hallucinates you streaking towards the tryline and spear tackles you into the bedroom floor.

University of Edinburgh have made a significant contribution to the field of

man has gone to new lengths to obtain sexual gratification...either that or he was horrendously bored by the federal election. The man presented at a Canberra emergency room with a 10 centimetre fork lodged in his penis. He apparently inserted the fork into the end of his penis to obtain sexual gratification. A 2010 urological study on inserting objects into one’s penis concluded: “Urological consequences of this type of behavior can be significant and the implications for patients can be serious including death from sepsis.” A cautionary tale not to be fork-gotten.

2nd September 2013

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MOVIE Review BY JUSTIN CARLOS

Road trip comedy cliche still a winning formula

3 7

9 2

6 8 5

PUZZLES 8 7 2 7

1 4

3 9

MEDIUM

7 9 8

10 11

The genre’s latest offering, We’re the Millers, has already eclipsed this average, faring well in theatres across the world. The film follows the basic structure of the genre. Small-time drug dealer David Clark (Jason Sudeikis) has his stash and a whole

Not only have the aforementioned movies provided cinema goers with a mountain of quotes and scenes to re-enact, they’ve also proved fruitful at the box office. Since 1978 road trip films with a wide box office release have grossed over $44 million on average.

THE road trip comedy is nothing new, but it’s a fairly tried and tested formula for entertainment. Films like Planes, Trains and Automobiles, National Lampoon’s: Vacation, The Blues Brothers, and Road Trip are prime examples.

21 22

# 54

Across 1. Victim of war 5. Blissful 9. Classification 10. Bravery badges 12. Most solitary 13. Slice (meat) 14. Norway’s capital 16. Love affair 19. Fruit tree grove 21. Sudden silence 24. Nursery rhyme, ... Blind Mice 25. Vanish 27. Complied, ... by the rules 28. Can-do (attitude) 29. Give (to charity) 30. Vision

heap of cash stolen from him. His boss (an even bigger drug dealer) forces him to fly to Mexico and smuggle back a lot of marijuana. Concerned about how he’s going to smuggle drugs across an international border, David decides he’ll attract no attention from authorities if he’s driving an RV accompanied by a fake family. He enlists a stripper (Jennifer Aniston) and a nerd from his building to pose as his wife and son, and a teenage runaway from the neighbourhood to be his pretend daughter. No prizes for guessing the group encounters a few obstacles attempting to deliver the drugs, including crazed gunmen, corrupt cops, spider bites and an annoyingly friendly god-fearing couple. We’re the Millers is certainly not going to win any awards; it’s as formulaic as they come as far as the plot is concerned. Fortunately, the conventional plot is laced with hilarious dialogue and sight gags - a staple of all good road trip movies. If you’re in the mood for a lighthearted comedy with some irreverent humour then you’ll definitely get a kick out of We’re the Millers. The film does contain some fairly ‘awkward’ comedy, similar to that of movies like Meet the Parents. If you find humour like this irritating you may want to give this one a miss.

Down 1. Witch’s laugh 2. Locating 3. Protector, guardian ... 4. Naval missile 6. Conquers 7. Sweet-scented 8. Heard, ... to 11. Night sky object 15. Bank transactions record 17. Tourist’s greeting note 18. Venomous-tailed creature # 53 20. Mums & ... 21. Extinct Irish Elk skeletons can be seen at Dublin’s Natural ... Museum 22. Stitching 23. Immediately vital 26. Couples

LAST EDITION’S SOLUTIONS C A R A V A N E O I E R E OR D E R E S E V A S T RO L O L S U K I S S O T N F OR E V E R F A I I E D I T S C N N I H C L I MB S E N L S A GG E D

2 7 8 9 3 5 1 4 6

3 9 1 4 2 6 7 8 5

5 6 4 8 1 7 2 3 9

6 5 2 1 4 9 8 7 3

S S

T G Y R E

B A L F L I G A X T O OR

S O E L E B D E M I GR E E P RO T

8 1 9 5 7 3 4 6 2

4 3 7 2 6 8 9 5 1

9 4 6 3 8 2 5 1 7

S T E H OR A E R A S T R EM N E M R A T N A T E I E S T

7 8 5 6 9 1 3 2 4

S P L A S H E S B E A S T S

1 2 3 7 5 4 6 9 8

SHIFT MINER Handy Crossword 137ME - (15A grid) Handy Crossword 074s. pdf

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2nd September 2013

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Bait Shop Banter

There are lots of small flattys to be found around Keppel Bay.

Yeppoon: If you can bait a hook

then you should be able to catch a fish around the Capricorn Coast at the moment with conditions proving magnificent for anglers. Tony from the Secret Spot Bait and Tackle says the fishing in close has been fantastic. “You can really get fish everywhere. Coorooman is fishing well for grunter and blue salmon, the Fitzroy is producing heaps of barra and threadfin, and there’s quite a few doggies and spotties in close around the bay.”

While there are plenty of fish on the bite, some species have gone quiet. “The flathead have slowed right down, possibly due to the weather, and there’s not many whiting around at the moment. Blokes heading right out wide - 80 to 100 k - chasing reef fish are also coming back disappointed,” said Tony. The warmer weather is keeping the crabs interested as well, so it’s well worth running the pots.

Mackay:

The rivers and estuaries are also producing fish, though they’re by no means jumping into the boat. “There’s still some nice grunter, salmon and flathead around, but there’s not as many as we have seen in recent weeks. We’ve been hearing reports that there’s a few fish starting to show up in the shallows at Awoonga Dam too,” said Craig. Reasonably good catches of Spanish mackerel are still being reported offshore when the

Everybody’s speaking Spanish in Mackay at the moment - it’s all about the mackerel. Rob from Tackle World Mackay reckons they’re being caught with a slightly different approach this year. “The Spanish have been caught inshore and offshore and are definitely the target species for most fishermen. Trolling or floating bait out is usually the most successful method, but this year a lot of people are catching them on knife-jig lures.” The islands around Mackay are also fishing well for red reef fish. “There’s been good catches of coral trout starting to come through and a few good red emperor. The water clarity’s been really good as well, so a lot of people have had success spearfishing,” said Rob. The onshore fishing has been fairly quiet, however there’s been good catches of flathead in the rivers on soft plastics.

If you have a good photo or fishing yarn send it through to our resident bait chucker-

angus.peacocke@shiftminer.com

Gladstone:

The fishing in Gladstone has been steady without being brilliant. Craig from Pat’s Tackle World in Gladstone reckons it’s still well worth wetting a line. “The fishing’s been pretty steady; there’s been some nice reds caught out wide. A couple of blokes bagged out on trout and emperor on the reef, but that’s not typical at the moment.”

your weather forecast T

MACKAY Gladstone

Mon 2

WEEK 1 MOST places in the Coalfields recorded no rainfall for August. Given the number of frosts from Surat/Miles/Rolleston/ Clermont, much of the pasture land has dried due to severe frosts in the south. The string of high crossing from west to east has caused these conditions. Now a meridional high sits in the Tasman Sea causing early fogs in the east. As the high moves east, very warm temperatures 33C maximums for most of the Coalfields starts the week. This puts the “Fire Danger Ratings” into

2nd September 2013

the higher top 3 categories. Anywhere west of Jericho, the maximums should reach 35C Sun/Mon. With the humidity less then 20% in the afternoon, this could be rather dangerous for fires. There is the risk of a one-off highbased thundery shower with lightning that could set off the dry scrubland around the Blackdown Tablelands or the Drummand/Canarvon Ranges. Then a relieving easterly breeze arrives mid-week to suppress the first heat of spring. Maximums should be around the mid-twenties.

With Mike Griffin

Tue 3

Wed 4

Thu 5

Fri 6 Sat 7 Sun 8

Time

0120 0726 1319 1937

1.01 3.27 0.93 3.90

0152 0800 1354 2010

0.86 3.40 0.79 4.00

0224 0831 1429 2041

0.72 3.52 0.68 4.05

0255 0902 1504 2114

0.61 3.62 0.60 4.07

0328 0934 1539 2146

0.53 3.70 0.58 4.02

0400 1007 1616 2218

0.50 3.75 0.63 3.92

0432 1043 1653 2253

0.55 3.76 0.75 3.75

0314 0907 1509 2119

1.02 4.47 0.90 5.34

0345 0936 1542 2149

0.89 4.60 0.78 5.42

0414 1004 1613 2218

0.79 4.73 0.70 5.46

0443 1035 1647 2248

0.70 4.86 0.67 5.45

0513 1106 1720 2320

0.63 4.95 0.71 5.36

0543 1139 1755 2352

0.63 4.99 0.83 5.17

0614 1214 1831

0.71 4.95 1.05

Mon 9

Tue 10

Wed 11

Thu 12

Fri 13 Sat 14 Sun 15

Time

0506 1122 1733 2332

0.66 3.70 0.94 3.52

0541 1206 1820

0.83 3.61 1.16

0018 0621 1302 1923

3.27 1.02 3.49 1.37

0120 0723 1415 2051

3.03 1.20 3.43 1.44

0244 0851 1544 2223

2.91 1.27 3.50 1.29

0418 1018 1706 2339

2.99 1.16 3.72 1.00

0539 1136 1812

3.24 0.95 3.98

0026 0646 1252 1911

4.89 0.86 4.84 1.32

0104 0723 1339 2002

4.55 1.07 4.69 1.61

0155 0813 1443 2117

4.17 1.31 4.54 1.83

0312 0929 1611 2257

3.87 1.50 4.54 1.79

0454 1105 1743

3.83 1.45 4.79

0029 0624 1229 1858

1.44 4.11 1.17 5.20

0139 0733 1339 1958

0.99 4.52 0.81 5.57

Boaties! The SE trades return! Mon-Thr: SE 15-20 with gusts to 28 knots at times. A squally shower or two mainly about the Whitsundays. Fri: SE/ESE 15-20 north and 13-18 south of Heron. Sat: ESE 18-13 north and 16-12 south of Shoalwater Bay. Sun: ESE 15-10 tending ENE 7-11 south of Yeppoon. WEEK 2 The SOI has dropped to zero, further indicating the chance of rainfall is getting very low for early spring. Warmer northerlies start the week with maximums rising into the mid-thirties by late week.

There is a hint of a late high-based thundery shower Thr/Fri, and then what could be one of the last bursts of cold air from the south west; during the weekend. Marine Lovers! Spring NNE sea breezes! Mon: Early mist/fog south. ESE/ENE 15-11 north of Shoalwater and ESE 8-10 tending E/NE avo south. Tue: ENE/NE 5-10 & NNE 10-15 inshore avo. Wed: N/NE 10-15 increasing NNE 14-19 inshore avo. Thr: NNW/NNE 10-15 gusting 20 knots inshore avo. Fri/Sat: A trough inland could produce a storm for the coast.

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Kids say the darndest things THEY also draw the darndest things apparently. Fresh off the world wide web and presented for your amusement are five of our favourite disturbing drawings by children.

I, for one, place the blame for this on David Attenborough’s The Life of Mammals. It’s mammalian erotica masquerading as education in my view!

The instructions said, “Unscramble the words to make a sentence”. Technically the task has been successfully completed... it’s just unfortunate the sentence is extremely disturbing.

It seems this child has mastered the art crushing a person’s self confidence at a very young age. Nothing puts a downer on the holidays like, “Merry Christmas, you fat slob!”

Not even the crypt can contain this kid. He might have trouble explaining to his parents that his early career choice is zombie.

When your primary school-aged child holds a pictorial intervention it might be time to cut back on the vino.

Even more crazy Japanese inventions! The multi-purpose eating glove clearly equips the wearer with the ability to handle any culinary curveballs that may be thrown. The cigarette lighter on the middle finger allows food to be reheated or cooked further, and the two screwdrivers allow wobbly table legs to be fixed in a jiffy.

IN the last edition we looked at five of the craziest inventions to come out of Japan. At the behest of our readership we’ve compiled five more crazy Japanese inventions...lucky for us there’s no shortage of weird products hitting the shelves in the land of the rising sun.

3. Sex Chewing Gum Regular chewing gum might give you fresh breath and help reduce the build-up of plaque... but will it increase your sexual performance? Chew this gum after every meal to increase your virility...and consult your doctor if your ‘virility’ lasts for more than four hours.

1. Gents’ knee rest Does your aim at the toilet and/or urinal border on the embarrassing? At last, a handy remedial device that serves to correct the aim of errant marksmen by substantially increasing the size of the target. The benefit of the gents’ knee rest is compounded if you happen to be religious. You can say a little prayer every time you kneel to take a number one.

2. Lipstick stencil If colouring inside the lines at school was never your thing then you probably have a hard time applying your lipstick. Make unsightly make-up mishaps a thing of the past with this handy stencil, guaranteed* to confine lipstick application to the intended area. The lipstick stencil can also be used as a Halloween costume...if you fancy dressing up as Hannibal Lecter. *not a guarantee.

5. Alarm clock of death

4. Multi-purpose eating glove Did you ever wonder how Freddy Krueger ate his dinner?

If you keep hitting the snooze button and oversleeping for work, maybe this invention is for you. As long as you don’t mind impaling your hand on a pad of razor sharp nails that is. Going to bed slightly earlier is probably a more pragmatic solution to solving your issues with sleeping in, not only will you feel refreshed but your hand will remain functional and free from major disfigurement. 2nd September 2013

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Clive Palmer ‘twerking’ for younger voters

Clive and Karl twerk.

THE federal election entered frightening new territory last week when Clive Palmer made what can only be described as a disastrous attempt to capture the younger vote by ‘twerking’ for shock-jock Kyle Sandilands. In an appearance on the Kyle and Jackie-O show Mr Palmer, candidate for the Queensland seat of Fairfax, admitted his goto move is usually the Watusi, but agreed to try twerking at the suggestion of Sandilands. The result was troubling to say the very least. Wikipedia offers the following definition of the bizarre new dance craze: “Twerking is a dance move that involves a person shaking their upper hips and lower hips in an up and down bouncing motion, causing them to shake, wobble and jiggle.”

Now picture Clive Palmer acting out that description. Following the radio interview Mr Palmer tweeted, “If @KRuddMP and @ TonyAbbottMHR won’t debate me, let’s have a twerk off - they’re used to twisting and turning.” Let’s pray it doesn’t come to that, if for no other reason than a twerk off between Rudd, Abbott and Palmer would likely send the internet into meltdown. The dance craze has been popular for some time but made international headlines after Miley Cyrus’ performance at the recent Video Music Awards in the US. Cyrus provocatively bent over in front of singer Robin Thicke while twerking and sticking out her tongue.

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modern minimalist Balinese inspired resort apartments and split level Jacuzzi penthouses all with extraordinary ocean views, at Waterfront Whitsunday Retreat sets new standards of luxury adult only boutique accommodation in the Whitsundays, guests can expect a high level of privacy coupled with exceptional unobtrusive personalised service, at Whitsunday Vista Resort located just moments from the vibrant Port of Airlie offers exceptional value ocean vista spa suites and apartments. www.athotelgroup.com

Airlie Beach Whitsundays QLD Australia t 07 4948 4300 e stay@athotelgroup.com w athotelgroup.com

2nd September 2013

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Sport

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42km race a challenge for mining’s Tuff Mudda’s

Hearts of gold but expecting legs of jelly: Nigel Neame, Luke Rosengren and Darcy DuMont preparing for their 42 kilometre endurance race

THREE miners from Oaky Creek mine are training more than seven hours a week in preparation for a gruelling 42 kilometre race - and they are doing it to raise $16,000 for charity. Nigel Neame - a surveyor, Luke Rosengren - a mine planning engineer, and Darcy DuMont - a surveyor, will compete in the Spartan Ultra Beast race in Sydney in November. The Ultra Beast is a 42 kilometre ultra endurance obstacle race, involving running, jumping, crawling and climbing over a selection of custom built obstacles. None of the miners have raced over this distance before, but Luke Rosengren is hoping their active mining lifestyle and their rigorous training regime will get them over the line. “None of us really wanted to do a typical marathon; we just wanted to do something a bit different,” Luke said. “To be honest I don’t know whether having the obstacles every kilometre makes it harder or easier, because in some ways they do break the whole race up a bit, although over this distance I

think we will have to be careful about cramps and things.” “Finding the time to train has been a challenge. The other guys are residential and I am on a five-on two-off roster, which does make it difficult.” “The biggest problem was getting a personal trainer to train us in town at a time when we could all be there.” “This much training after a 12-hour work day does make some days long.” The miners recently raised $4000 for charity when they competed in a similar 18 kilometre event, which was part of the “Tuff Mudda” series of races. This time around they have set their sights higher with their team “Hunting For Hummingbirds” aiming to raise four times as much for Hummingbird House. Hummingbird House is a charity organisation that wants to build Queensland’s only 24/7 respite and hospice facility for children with lifelimiting illness. Anyone wanting to contribute to the charity can support the miners by going to https://give.everydayhero.com/au/ hunting-for-hummingbirds.

Clermont sticks with winning formula for rugby final The Clermont Bush Pigs won’t be making big changes to their game plan and personnel this weekend when they host the grand final of the Central Highland Rugby Competition. At the time of printing, it was unclear whether they will be playing Capella or Emerald with results not yet available from their game in Emerald two days ago. Either way, the Clermont side will be red hot favourites as defending premiers and after consistently dominating the 2013 season. A large part of this success comes down to the fact that the team draws its

players from a broad base of industries, which means it has weathered the mining downturn better than most. On top of that, the club has enjoyed good player retention from season to season, which has provided stability. However the history of bush footy is littered with stories of premierships lost by red hot favourites, so coach Anthony “Hoss” Lee says he is not taking anything for granted. “We will go into the grand final with the same personnel and the same game plan we have had all year,” he said. “I think the big thing for us is that we

don’t look for any one person to perform and win us games, we look for everyone to step up.” “Having said that, leadership from our captain Gill Nicholson and vice-captain Blake Edwards will be important.” “We are also expecting we will get strong support from our home crowd.” Speaking before the elimination final on the weekend, Mr Lee said he didn’t have a preference for who they would meet in the final. “Both Emerald and Capella have their strengths and weaknesses,” he said. As to the success already achieved in

2013, Mr Lee says a strong functional committee and a large group of committed young men has been the key. Not that they will need it. The Clermont team will also have the extra incentive of knowing that this season is their 30th anniversary, and no doubt there will be plenty of support on the sidelines. Clermont made their way directly into the grand final after beating Emerald 31 to 25 in the major semi-final two weeks ago. Capella beat Moranbah by three points the same weekend in the minor semi final to give themselves the chance to beat Emerald on the weekend.

Celebrating Clermont’s gold and coal history

Proud to be a part of the central Queensland Community and committed to the future.

Clermont Mine was proud to sponsor the 12th annual Clermont Gold and Coal Festival for the fifth time this year. The festival celebrated Clermont’s rich gold and coal history with food and market stalls, live entertainment, bush poets breakfast, gold detecting competition and more. Pictured: Clermont Gold Detectors owner Andrew White, event organiser and Rio Tinto employee Danny McKay and Rio Tinto’s Travis Bates.

riotintocoalaustralia.com.au

2nd September 2013

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Commercial property in DIY Dads do it online lock step with mining

While commercial property stumbles in the industrial towns of Mackay and Gladstone, Rockhampton is still seeing some activity.

THE commercial property market in Central Queensland is following a very similar path to major commodities gas and coal, according to valuers Herron Todd White (HTW). But the devil is in the detail of HTW’s latest monthly report - with the commercial real estate market in Mackay, Gladstone, and Rockhampton all reacting differently to the mining cycle. In Mackay, HTW says rental yield and occupancy in commercial properties have fallen. “Commercial rent levels in the Mackay CBD have recently begun to ease, as a consequence of increased vacancy levels and a contracting coal industry,” HTW said. “We expect the market for retail properties will remain relatively flat throughout the second half of 2013, as the financial and commercial property markets continue to reflect the broader economic uncertainty. “The slowdown in the coal sector may further influence the property market moving forward, as well as impacting on future discretionary spending in the region.” Further south in Rockhampton, HTW says smaller owner operators, and large scale investors, are driving some activity in the commercial and industrial market. “The markets currently appear to be dominated by owner-occupiers looking to take advantage of relatively low interest rates to get out of leased premises and into

2nd September 2013

one of their own,” HTW said. “Interest rates and flexibility in selfmanaged superannuation funds seem to be the major catalysts for these buyers. “Agents are reporting stronger interest for investment properties in the higher price brackets up to $5 million. In this market buyers are sensitive to the position and strength of the tenants.” In Gladstone, where the construction workforce of the LNG boom has reached its peak of around 9000, HTW says neither the residential or commercial markets are experiencing a similar boom. “The Gladstone retail real estate market is intrinsically linked to the ongoing growth within the major liquid natural gas (LNG) projects being undertaken in the region,” HTW said. “There is a general weakening in demand for residential accommodation as the LNG plant construction commences its peak construction period. “There has been little activity in the local retail market in the Gladstone CBD over the past few years. Rents have remained fairly stable and there have been very limited transactions.” HTW said current market conditions were considered firm for good quality retail accommodation, but there would be potential price vulnerability over the next 12 months linked to the peak workforce numbers in the LNG projects being reached.

THE great Aussie tradition of the DIY dad is a thing of the past, according to a recent Telstra survey. Metrosexuality, high-density living and unprecedented wealth has left dads scratching their heads at the prospect of DIY jobs, with around six in 10 turning to Google and Youtube for help around the house. The survey of over 1600 men found that 76 per cent of Aussie dads aged between 25 and 36 are using Youtube for advice on how to make, build or fix things, compared with only 58 per cent of 45-54 year olds. Social commentator Mark McCrindle suggests that the ‘Google generation’ have simply failed to inherit the DIY skills of their fathers and grandfathers. “These were once traditional skills that dads just knew, whether it be repairing a punctured bicycle tyre, fixing a leaky tap or building a cubby house,” he said. “The shift from the Baby Boomer dads to the Generation Y sons didn’t get those skills passed on partly because they were busier and partly because they were growing up in

times of unprecedented wealth and therefore calling in the handyman to do the job instead of doing it themselves.” Although these ‘traditional skills’ are not being passed down generationally, Bunnings chief executive Peter Davis argues that technological advancements like ‘how to’ videos on Youtube mean that people are more educated than ever when it comes to DIY projects. While this may be the case for those who recognise the internet as the font of all knowledge, accident data from the New South Wales Ambulance Service suggests that uninformed DIY dads are learning lessons the hard way. Spectacularly defying common sense, some of the injuries suffered by DIY dads may leave you scratching your head in disbelief. One unfortunate weekend warrior was drilling holes in a sheet of aluminium, which was resting on his lap. He drilled through too far and into his testicles. Another man cut the tips off his fingers on both hands attempting to lift his lawn mower up and use it as a hedge trimmer. What is perhaps more disturbing is that the NSW Ambulance Service received a call from a neighbouring man who had suffered the same injury 40 minutes later. Apparently he had driven past and witnessed his neighbour’s attempt at hedge trimming and thought, “What an innovation!”