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Monday October 14, 2013 172nd Edition
M A G A Z I N E
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Shift Miner Magazine
CONTENTS
page 15
NEWS
10
5 5
Goodbye wide loads?
6 7
Bust looks more like boom
8
Big bucks and luxury digs not a priority
Projects end and animals dumped Cost pressure increases automation
11 Job not secure? Pre-pay debt
23
14
Numbers You 22 25 Numbers Numbers Can CountYou On** You Can CountCan OnCount
*When audited by the CAB Numbers You
On*
Can Count On
* by the CAB *When audited by the *When CAB audited *When audited by the CAB
M A G A Z I N E
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12 Miles accommodation gets council approval
23 World’s weirdest collections
Regulars
8 Stuff to the Editor 1 19 Frank the Tank 20 Miner’s Trader 22 Weather & Tides 25 Sport
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Tweaked back could end your mining career
THE legal fraternity is warning that possible changes to workers compensation in Queensland would force miners out of the industry and make driving to work more risky. According to partner at Taylor’s Solicitors in Mackay John Taylor, Queensland’s Attorney-General looks likely to make significant changes to the compensation legislation. Mr Taylor said he understood the first change would mean a miner commuting
to and from work would no longer be protected. Currently a worker is entitled to claim for cover when commuting - as well as when they are at work. “We haven’t seen the legislation, but we understand there are no exceptions and it will be particularly significant in rural areas where you have drive in and drive out employment.” The second change is access to common law claims for injuries sustained at work. Currently, when an employee is injured
at work, a doctor will assess the injury on a percentage basis. If there is any percentage impairment, the employee is entitled to claim for workers’ compensation, although he or she will still have to prove there was negligence by the employer. “As we understand it, the AttorneyGeneral is looking to introduce a 5 per cent threshold, which means if your injury impairment is less than this, you can not claim for compensation.” According to Workcover figures, imposing a 5 per cent threshold would result in the total number of claims falling by half. While 5 per cent might not seem like much, Mr Taylor said it is a huge issue if you’re working in the mining or construction sector. “With this level of injury, people can get around. They can drive cars, but they can’t work in the mining sector, and they will be precluded from bringing a common law claim for lost income in the future. “If you are applying for a job in mining, you are obliged to declare any injuries and they will not touch you if you have had an injury in the past. It is just too risky. “If you work in an office like I do, you are probably going to be alright, but there is a significant number of people who are assessed with injuries of less than 5 per cent that don’t have qualifications for other types of work.” From an employer’s point of view, there
might be a feeling that it is high time these changes were implemented. Large payouts to miners with what appear to be very modest injuries of dubious origins have at times raised eyebrows among other miners and the broader community. But Mr Taylor says the perception is not the reality. “No it’s a furphy,” he said. “At the moment there are fraudulent claims, but there are very few. I have only seen one in 30 years of practice. It’s only a very small number of people.” “When the LNP came in, they set up a parliamentary committee to review the laws, and it comprised six LNP people and one Labor and one Independent.” “They took submissions, looked at the issue and reported five months ago and basically said, ‘Look the workers’ compo system is in the black, claims are down in dollar terms, and we have the second lowest premiums in Australia’.” “But there are certain business lobby groups in Queensland that have been lobbying government to bring in the changes, and a lot of it is based on false information. “The strange thing is why they want to do it when it is working so well.”
How will these changes affect you? Comment or SMS 0409 471 014
Government to stamp out union’s right of entry
THE state government wants to change laws that mean union officials cannot immediately enter construction sites if they suspect safety breaches. Instead, they would need to provide at least 24 hours’ written notice before they could enter a workplace. The proposed changes don’t extend to operational mine and quarry sites, but would include the construction sites of new mines, expansions or related infrastructure like ports. Queensland’s Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said the amendments to the Work
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Health and Safety Act 2011 would stop unions bringing construction sites to a halt while ensuring legitimate safety issues are appropriately addressed by the regulator. “For too long, we have seen construction unions using safety as an industrial weapon in this state,” Mr Bleijie said. “Quite frankly, their abuses of the current right of entry provisions are designed to bully contractors until they get their way.” Mr Bleijie said sites are being hijacked and workers held to ransom. “Earlier this year, a major contractor lost 42 days of work due to illegal strike activity in the first year of their enterprise agreement. This practice will end. “These amendments will ensure the safety regulator is the first port of call for any safety concerns.” Mr Bleijie said recent figures showed Queensland’s non-fatal injury and disease claim rate for the construction industry had decreased by 24 per cent, more than the Australian average decrease of 15 per cent. Not everyone is impressed with the change. “Is the change going to address the fact
that 17 Queenslanders died between July and December 2012 because of events that took occurred in the workplace?” one person wrote in an online forum. “Personally I see lives lost as more alarming than time lost. The comments by the Attorney-General sends the message to industry that the government sees productivity to be prioritised over safety as an underfunded department will not be in a position to promptly address raised safety concerns.” Meanwhile, the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) assistant secretary Michael Borowick said the proposed amendments would put all workers at risk, not just on construction sites but across many workplaces. “Forcing unions to give notice before entering worksites will give employers time to cover up dangerous practices, therefore putting lives at risk,” he said. Mr Borowick said the ACTU did not believe there had been proper consideration of the impact of these changes on the workplace. “Government has provided no
evidence that current laws are a problem, in fact only evidence given by government is that non-fatal injuries and disease claim rate for construction sites in Queensland are improving and at a faster rate than the rest of the country.” Mr Borowick said that further to the dangers involved in a weakening of right of entry laws created to protect workers, he was concerned with Queensland’s decision to reject the national standards for health and safety. “Queensland is basically going it alone. They are moving away from national standards that aim to make Australia one of the safest countries in the world and are instead doing it their way and doing it the wrong way.”
Do you think unions have been using safety as an industrial weapon? Or do you think any changes to the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 will put lives at risk? SMS us your thoughts. Comment or SMS 0409 471 014
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Goodbye long wide loads?
CENTRAL Queensland’s highways could be largely free of wide loads if a new bolt-together dump truck tray becomes the norm on Bowen Basin mine sites. The trays were developed and trialled in Chile and are now available in Queensland - and
according to the Mackay-based distributor there has already been huge interest from major mining companies. “We think this is a gamechanger,” Reymat Australasia’s managing director Darryl Crowder told Shift Miner.
“All the different mining houses seem very interested and there have been lots of requests for tenders. We have built our first tray for a 793 and we hope to have our first order finalised by the end of the week.” Until now, all dump truck trays
have had to be transported to and from site on the back of trucks with a special wide-load escort. But this innovation means the tray is delivered on site in three shipping containers where it is bolted together in three days. “The real step change is it requires no wide load transportation but also it significantly reduces ongoing maintenance costs,” said Mr Crowder. “Instead of a tray being out of action for two weeks while it is taken away off site for maintenance, we can now just unbolt one component and replace it in a couple of hours. “We can then work on that component off site without the whole tray being out of action. This makes them significantly cheaper from a maintenance point of view and there is significant cost savings in terms of assets because you don’t have to have spare trays lying around.” But it’s not just cost savings. If the new trays became standard on Central Queensland mine sites it would mean a massive
reduction in wide loads on the region’s roads. “Currently those big trays are more than 50 per cent of the wide load traffic in the region,” said Road Action Accident Group’s Graeme Ransley. “This is a really interesting innovation story and I see it as a light at the end of the tunnel.” “Part of the problem we’re having on Central Queensland roads at the moment is that truck bodies have been getting bigger and bigger, some even have wings on them spanning 10.5 metres, which is absolutely enormous.” Mr Ransley said minimising wide loads had obvious road safety benefits, but it would also reduce lost productivity time for other road users. “There are 7000 vehicles a day using the Peak Downs Highway and if they all lose an hour a day trapped behind a wide load that is a massive productivity issue. If we can minimise the risk and the productivity cost then I think it’s a win win.”
Projects finish and animals dumped AN increasing number of dogs and cats are being dumped on Gladstone streets, coinciding with a number of major projects finishing. Gladstone Friends of RSPCA president Judy Whicker said the number of dogs being collected on the streets is significantly up over the past couple of months. “It has been especially bad the last couple of weeks with work winding up here,” she told Shift Miner. “I was talking to someone the other week who had to take a dog to the pound. Two blokes living next door had finished their contract, packed up and just left their dog behind.” On the RSPCA’s Adopt-a-Pet website, the majority of dogs are big breeds. Roxy, a two-year-old bull mastiff cross, is typical of the 36 dogs up for adoption. “We are finding a lot of people are getting pigging dogs. They’re the sort of dog popular amongst a lot of males, and then the owners don’t get them fixed. “When they have pups, they have big litters of up to 10 puppies and they can’t get rid of them.”
Last month, a man dumped a litter of bull arab puppies on the side of the road near Mt Larcom and has since been charged. He will be tried under tougher penalties due to recent amendments made by the state government to the Animal Care and Protection Act. Consequences for negligence and carelessness on behalf of pet owners has increased from maximum penalty of $110,000 fine or two years imprisonment to a $220,000 fine or three years imprisonment. Ms Whicker said it was about educating people. “What we keep trying to impress on people is that you need to get them desexed unless you are a registered breeder. That would solve 90 per cent of our problems.” Bigger dogs are also harder to rehome. Gladstone Friends of the RSPCA currently uses foster carers to look after cats and dogs until homes can be found and are awaiting the opening of a $1 million pound. The pound and adoption centre should be opened in four months. 14th October 2013
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Bust more like boom MINING companies remain committed to more than 96 coal development projects across Queensland according to a survey carried out by the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM). The staggering list of planned developments include 69 new projects in Central Queensland comprising a suite of greenfield projects as well as major extensions to current mines. According to the department, there are currently more than 35,000 full-time jobs in mining, with thousands more likely to be generated in the next five years. The figures were released during a presentation by DNRM geologist Celeste Cronin-Stacey at a packed meeting of the Bowen Basin Mining Club in Emerald recently. “Project information is gained directly from each company to ensure the data is as accurate and as up to date as possible,” she told the crowd. “Each of the companies involved were called directly to comprise this list. This list is the best educated prediction we can make dependent on the information available.” While the department was quick to point out start dates were vulnerable to changing market conditions, the list nonetheless underscores a feeling that the mediumterm outlook for Queensland coal remains
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extremely good. So far this year, BMA’s Daunia mine has been completed at a cost of $1.6 billion, and six brownfield (extensions to current mines) projects have begun worth nearly $4 billion. The extensions are occurring at the Broadmeadow, Millenium, Lake Vermont, Kestrel, Yarrabee and Rolleston mines. According to the department there are still three more new mine developments to kick off this year, worth around $180 million and likely to generate around 300 jobs. The $150 million Goonyella expansion will also start before Christmas.
The outlook: • In 2014, the department says further greenfield projects will commence worth $5 billion, generating more than 1500 jobs, and another four brownfield projects will start worth nearly $1.3 billion. • In 2015, a further 11 greenfield projects are expected to begin, creating 3495 full time jobs and worth around $8.5 billion. Two brownfield expansions are scheduled to start worth more than $300 million. • In 2016 and 2017, seven more greenfield projects worth more than $5 billion are scheduled to start creating more than 2000 jobs. Five brownfield projects will also start.
No town meeting for Glencore
GLENCORE has knocked back a meeting with Collinsville residents who want the company and union officials to publicly explain the impasse that has shut down the local mine. Glencore shut the gates at the Collinsville mine one month ago, and with it 400 jobs were lost including 160 locals. The company decided take over the running of the mine itself when its contract with Thiess ended in August. While the company originally agreed to take on all the Thiess workers, it then fell out with the union because they wanted the same employment agreement for workers but Glencore wanted a new one drawn up or individual contracts. Glencore says it will reopen the mine at some point in the future, but no
former workers are guaranteed a job or an interview. Now company executive have refused to meet residents at a town meeting. “Most locals are just really disappointed,” said Collinsville resident and President of Mining Communities United Donna Bulloch. “We don’t know why they won’t come. They are blaming the unions for not being able to come to an agreement but when we’ve asked them to explain to us what’s in the old agreement that didn’t work they refuse.” Ms Bulloch said the local coffee shop has already shut down, and the entire town is under pressure. “We’re just going to have to hang on by the skin of our teeth and ride it out, what else can we do?” she said. “We don’t understand why they won’t preference locals for jobs when they do reopen, why should they have to reapply for their jobs? They are there, skilled and ready to go, they didn’t do anything to lose their jobs, why can’t they just switch shirts?” Ms Bulloch said locals are not directing their anger at the union, and that many conditions would be lost under the new agreement that Glencore wants signed, including substantial rental subsidies.
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Cost pressure increases automation enquiry
SHOVELS are the new frontier for automation in Queensland with trials of the new technology currently underway at the Anglo American-owned Lake Lindsay mine. The trial, involving the industry-run research centre CRCMining, has so far proven the ‘swing, dump and return’ process can be effectively done at the push of a button, allowing the operator to focus on digging. Running parallel to this has been the integration of safety technology that prevents the digger colliding with other nearby machines. In a worst-case scenario, the automated technology will actually steer the shovel away from danger and will slow the swing if it is on a collision course. As a final line of defence, it will even override the operator’s commands in order to avoid a collision. The move to diggers seems like a predictable next step, with automated dump
trucks already a proven technology in both Western Australian and Queensland. However, CRCMining’s automation program leader Professor Ross McAree says the implementation of robotics on site will likely be a gradual process. “The shovel load automation program is a step towards the automation of mining shovels at Lake Lindsay mine,” he said. “It’s about trying to enhance the safety of operations and there is going to be a roll-out of functions, but I want to stress that this is a research project, not a commercial project. “We are hoping to be finished by July next year, but there is a lot of work to go through to ensure the system delivers without compromising any other elements of work safety.” Aside from the safety implications, the automation of the digging process could have enormous productivity benefits as well. In one scenario, an automated shovel could
be automatically tracked by a crusher conveyor, allowing an almost continuous digging process without the delays, human error and irregularity
of the current dump truck loading system. Production rates of more than 10,000 tonnes per hour - or a bucket load moved every 30 seconds - are being talked about under an automated system. “Nothing is so simple of course,” Professor McAree points out. “One of the challenges you bring into a system like this is that it becomes very serial, and if one part in the system breaks down, the whole process breaks down. “Reliability rates and maintenance start to become very important, and costly. “I don’t think there will be big savings on capital costs, but what you will be able to achieve is bigger throughput from the same cost base.” So should every digger operator be worried about their job? Probably not, although Professor McAree says in the not-too-distant future employees and businesses will need to adapt. “Given the current outlook, interest in automation concepts has increased and more people are trying to acquire knowledge to build a business case,” he said. “Is there a great technology out there ready to run - autonomous trucks come close to it - but there is no silver bullet. “I dont think overall head counts will change very much but roles will. There is going to be more sophisticated machinery with more people required to operate and maintain it.”
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Mothballed mine resurrected IN a bold plan, Linc Energy has bought Blair Athol coal mine from Rio Tinto for $2 and will not only re-open it but predicts to return a profit within three months of operation. At least one business analyst has told the media the energy company would be lucky to scrape a profit, but Linc Energy’s coal president Michael Mapp has dismissed this. “There will obviously be a lot of opinions from a lot of people, but currently our business plan has it generating a profit and we have been working for 12 months on this with a budget and due diligence,” he told Shift Miner. Under its subsidiary New Emerald Coal, the mine is expected to be operational within six months and to pump out three million tonnes of thermal coal a year. Mr Mapp said the acquisition was part of the company’s strategy to diversify out of oil and gas into coal and build up its coal assets. “Blair Athol mine offers a unique opportunity to New Emerald by establishing a new asset with minimal efforts and costs to restart the mine,” he said. Mr Mapp said that along with the Theresa Coal Project in the Bowen Basin, Linc Energy had other assets in the Clermont area and a number of exploration projects underway. Under the purchase agreement, New Emerald will have access to train-loading facilities, workforce accommodation and port and rail capacity to Abbot Point. “We’ve got other assets in the area and
we also have a lot of other coal exploration in that area,” Mr Mapp told Shift Miner. On its own, the mine is expected to have a life of 10 years but with the development of Linc’s existing coal tenements in the Clermont area, the mine life could be extended to 30 years. Mr Mapp said they would target a different coal seam to what was mined previously - with the same equipment and would use a high-wall method. The mine would also have a different operational system to Rio Tinto’s and one cost structure, which is where there would be cost savings. Locals have welcomed the move, saying it is just what the town has needed, and Linc Energy has said there are 265 job vacancies to fill, with recruitment to start within weeks. Mr Mapp said the company’s intention is to employ locally. “We will go out and engage with the community and invite people and we’ll talk about how we operate New Emerald and the Blair Athol mine. “If it’s do-able, we will employ locally and we are not aiming for a fly-in, fly-out workforce for that operation.” As a part of the purchase, there is a compensation agreement between New Emerald and Rio Tinto with the latter offsetting the cost of rehabilitation when the mine site is eventually closed down.
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Big bucks and luxury digs not a priority
HIGH salaries and ‘resort feel’ accommodation are not what’s needed to retain good workers in remote locations, according to new research. In fact, what workers actually want is a quiet room with good internet and phone access. “Contrary to popular assumptions that employees enjoy the ‘resort feel’ of some modern FIFO accommodation, our findings suggest that FIFO workers are more interested in quiet, comfortable rooms,” said lead author Mary Anne Barclay from the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM). The six-month study released by the University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) explored factors influencing the retention and wellbeing of FIFO workers in the resources sector. It found that people wanted facilities that provided respite from the stress of
12-hour shifts, multi-day rosters and being far from home. “They prefer good phone and internet connections to swimming pools or highend dining and recreation facilities,” Ms Barclay said. “The ability to connect with family and friends is important for the psychological health of FIFO workers – a sense of belonging reduces stress and loneliness, and reassures the workers that they play an important role in the lives of the people closest to them.” Ms Barclay, who led the research with the Minerals Industry Safety and Health Centre’s (MISHC) Associate Professor Philipp Kirsch, interviewed almost 300 predominantly well-educated, midcareer professionals in technical and managerial roles. “This study is unique for this industry in that 70 per cent of respondents held a university degree and 40 per cent were female,” Associate Professor Kirsch said. “While confirming many of the findings from previous research, our study provides unique insights into the challenges that managerial workers face in the FIFO work experience.” The researchers found there were opportunities to improve FIFO workers’ job satisfaction and well-being through improved psychosocial support. The study was supported by funding from SPOTLESS Integrated Services.
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Battle continues over Galilee mining
Landowners from Jericho and Alpha have been concerned about water issues.
TWO Central Queensland grazing families are the forgotten faces of a Land Court battle with GVK Hancock over mining in the Galilee Basin. The court case has been running for more than two weeks, and environmental and anti-mining groups who are also involved have raised the ire of industry groups and the state government. Queensland Resource Council chief executive Michael Roche has accused the groups of deliberately trying to shut down Queensland’s coal industry.
“We think this is an abuse of a process, and none of these people are actual landholders,” he said. But also wrapped up in the case are graziers Janeice and Paul Anderson and Bruce and Annette Currie from Alpha and Jericho. The families are not seeking to stop mining, but to ensure they have comprehensive make-good arrangements regarding water supplies drawn up with the company. The court is looking at drafted deals, which - if signed, would guide how compensation is offered to landholders should
their properties be affected once the Alpha mine is developed. According to court documents, the Andersons and Curries have objected to submissions made by GVK Hancock staff, which they felt implied they were unreasonable during negotiations of these currently secret agreements. The court has allowed Mr Currie to discuss the process of hammering out a proposed deal in an effort to defend himself and his wife from GVK Hancock’s implications that they were unreasonable. The Andersons went to the local media recently and said the were afraid underground water supplies for their property would be sucked dry by the mine. Their 24,281 hectare property Eureka sits between Kevin’s Corner, China First, South Galilee and the Alpha Coal project and they will need an agreement with each mine. The Andersons told the media they are not opposed to mining, they just want to be protected should the mines use all the water. “What we want with the
make-good agreement is for them to commit to monitoring our bores and replacing the water that is lost,” Mrs Anderson said. “If the situation arises that all our bores are drained and our business is made unviable we want them to purchase the property from us and cover the cost of relocation.” The Anderson’s said GVK Hancock’s Alpha coal project told them they were not likely to be affected but if they were, they were not willing to give a makegood agreement to cover them. After five months of negotiations costing $85,000 in hydrologist and legal fees, GVK Hancock didn’t deliver a makegood arrangement and left them with the bill. The company then offered an 11th-hour settlement on the first day of the court case, but the Andersons refused. Shift Miner contacted GVK Hancock to discuss the Anderson’s and Currie’s concerns, but the company was tight-lipped. “Hancock Coal has already reached agreement with several
landholders in the local area regarding ‘make good’ of potential groundwater impacts,” a company spokesperson said. “Hancock Coal has also reached compensation agreements with all landowners within the proposed mining lease area in respect of the proposed mining lease grant. “We recognise and respect the Land Court process and are confident that we can demonstrate to the Court that it should recommend to the Ministers that the mining lease and environmental authority be granted for our Alpha Coal Mine,” the spokesperson said. “Hancock Coal Pty Ltd is committed to maintaining productive and ongoing relationships with all landholders in and around the proposed Alpha Coal mine area. “As this matter is before the Court, Hancock Coal is not able to comment further on the matter.” The court case is expected to continue for another week, and a judgement is not expected to be handed down before the end of the year, or early next year.
Rio tries to sell Clermont mine but bids fall short RIO TINTO’s Clermont mine is still for sale, after three bids fell short of the miner’s expectations and talks over the deal stalled. India’s Adani Enterprises, which is spearheading a major thermal coal project in the Galilee Basin, reportedly offered less than $850 million for Rio’s 50 per cent stake in the mine. According to the Wall Street Journal, Dutch trading house Trafigura Beheer and Australian miner New Hope also failed in
separate bids for the mine. Clermont is one of Rio Tinto’s newest and largest coal operations, and was officially opened in 2010. In April, the company hired Deutsche Bank to sell the mine, which is expected produce up to 165 million tonnes of thermal coal over its 16-year lifetime. Rio Tinto’s partners in Clermont include Japan’s Mitsubishi Development, J-Power Australia and J.C.D. Australia. Rio Tinto is slashing costs and
spending in order to cut debt that swelled to almost US$19 billion last year. However, coal assets are proving hard to sell in the current climate. Peabody Energy is still trying to find a buyer for its Wilkie Creek mine in the Surat Basin, which has been on the market for more than 18 months. In July, BHP decided against trying to sell off its struggling Gregory Crinum coal mine in the Bowen Basin.
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Rocky ready for next boom
The massive Antonov flew into Rockhampton’s airport, proving the city’s capability of being a freight hub for the mining industry.
FREIGHT is the future for Rockhampton, and the city wants mining to know it’s airport can handle the big stuff. Rockhampton is using the downturn to sell its services, and last week the airport welcomed its first Antonov freight plane for the year as proof it is one of regional Queensland’s most
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versatile airports. In fact, Rockhampton is one of only three airports in the state that has the ability to land the largest freight aircraft in the world. “There is a belief that at the moment only Townsville or Brisbane can take this kind of freight,” Rockhampton councillor and chair of the council’s
Resource Industry Committee Neil Fisher told Shift Miner. Cr Fisher wants that misconception righted and is spruiking long and loudly about the city’s runway capacity. “The message we are hoping to get across is that you don’t have to fly to Brisbane and then have that extra 600-1000km trip
to get to your operation.” “It means that if mining companies want to fly in pumps or other equipment, they can.” Cr Fisher said a downturn was the right time to promote services and capacity for the next upswing. “With my own business we’ve been through the booms and through the busts, but best piece of advice I was given was that when you’re in the bust cycle you get prepared for the boom. “This has been the approach of Rockhampton Regional Council. When things turn we want to be there to help and assist new mining ventures.” Cr Fisher said the region had missed many opportunities over the past 40 years and he was determined not to miss this one. While the Mackay airport might have been the hub for mining in the past, Cr Fisher predicts that will change as new mine developments come on line to the west of Rockhampton. “I think the change is that coal mining is slowly moving south and in very near future and most employment will be due west of
Rocky, so there will be changes in dynamics, and expansion and we are positioning ourselves to have an airport with the capacity for fly-in, fly-out.” The airport has the third longest runway in the state and is able to cater for cargo without interrupting passenger services. “Not that long ago we had a US Globe Master and a Galaxy cargo aeroplane on the Rocky tarmac, and we had five large freight aircraft without interruption to any other flight services.” Meanwhile the Gracemere Industrial Area - just 10km from Rockhampton - will soon see the turning of the sod for the Melbourne-based Gibb Group’s development. The Gibb Group is developing an industrial hub on a 25 hectare site. Cr Fisher said Rockhampton cold really flourish over the next few years if it plays its cards right. “I see things looking really positive coming up and probably better prospects than we had during the last major turn in 2005/6. It’s looking better and there are so many new players.”
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Job not secure? Then pre-pay your debt
FOR many people working casually or contracting in mining the situation is the same: high income, but reasonably low job security. How you manage your money while earning that high income could dramatically affect your
financial situation in the future. Partner and director of Kennas Chartered Accountants Jeff Carlos says a pragmatic, proactive approach to debt reduction is highly advisable for high-income earners with limited job security.
“Unless your job is secure, it’s not a good idea to borrow a lot of money. You really want to take the opportunity to pay your debt down.” “Your number one priority should be reducing toxic consumer debts like credit cards, and paying
off any personal loans.” “If you can’t afford to pay the whole thing find out whether you can pre-pay your debt. For example, if you’re leasing a car you could pre-pay 12 months in advance, then keep making the usual monthly repayments. That way if you run into financial trouble down the track your loan is pre-paid for a year.” Mr Carlos said there are also a number of strategies mortgage holders can undertake in an effort to maximise financial security. “If you’ve got a housing loan with a redraw facility you can feel confident paying your mortgage down as much as possible. If your circumstances change in the future you can always redraw on the loan if you need to.” Opening an offset account is also an excellent way to reduce the interest payments on your home loan. “Basically an offset account works parallel to your mortgage. If you’ve got $100,000 in an offset account and owe $100,000 on your mortgage, then depending on your individual loan agreement, your interest payments should be
zero.” said Mr Carlos. If you don’t have a home loan and your debt is minimal you may want to consider some lowrisk investment opportunities. “Term deposits are an excellent way to put your money to work for you in the short term, but it’s important not to be attracted by locking the money up for longer terms. If you’re working casually or on contract consider short-term deposits of three to six months,” said Mr Carlos. If you’ve invested in other areas like shares or property, Mr Carlos again highlights the benefits of pre-paying. “Pre-paying interest on shares or rental properties will not only reduce your future debt, it brings the tax benefits of those payments forward into the current financial year. For high-income earners like miners these benefits can really add up at tax time.” Before you begin planning to reduce your debt it’s highly advisable you speak with an accountant or financial planner to ensure a strategy that best suits your financial needs.
Bechtel employs 10,000 and still seeking
Bechtel was named Employer of the Year at the Queensland Training Awards in Brisbane and Kevin Berg (right) received the award.
LAST year, construction giant Bechtel predicted its workforce on Curtis Island off Gladstone would peak at 8,800 - but it has ballooned to 10,000 and more workers are still needed. “We expect to hold about this number through to about mid 2014, but we will be continually recruiting through that time to
All six tank roofs are now in place across the projects so work will continue on the inside in preparation for first delivery of LNG.
meet the specific skillsets required as the projects move through the various construction phases,” Bechtel Gladstone general manager Kevin Berg told Shift Miner. “As contracts are completed, we do attempt to re-employ where possible if the skillsets are suited to ongoing work across the projects.”
The company is charged with building three LNG plants on the island, and the project has now moved from the civil phase into the structural and mechanical phase of the project. “We have been advertising nationally for a range of roles such as special class welders, instrumental, pipefitters, riggers
and electricians,” Mr Berg said. “It is a continual process of bringing in new phases of work as we phase out work that is completed.” With all six tank roofs now in place across the projects, the work continues on the inside of the tanks to prepare them to receive the first delivery of LNG.
Record temperatures in September has put heat stress front and centre for the workforce. “The temperatures we experience in Gladstone can be extreme and our processes are well understood by our teams across our worksites on Curtis Island and the mainland,” Mr Berg said. “With summer just around the corner, our projects have been reinforcing the importance of recognising and understanding the signs of heat stress and the preventative measures to minimise exposure to heat stress and dehydration.” Meanwhile, Bechtel was named Employer of the Year at the Queensland Training Awards in Brisbane for its commitment to and delivery of training excellence on the Curtis Island LNG Projects. “This award recognises not only our training teams but the men and women on our projects who are taking on the challenge of learning new skills. I applaud them for embracing those opportunities,” Mr Berg said. 14th October 2013
11
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Kites fly high over Tieri Girls Night Out in the Mount
BODY:THIS year the Tieri State School (TSS) will celebrate its 30th birthday with the launch of the Festival of Wind and Light. The TSS Parents & Citizens Committee will host the festival to showcase more than 200 student’s handmade kites soaring through the air. Not to be outdone by the kites, there’ll be a Chinese dragon, food, bar and entertainment from Sophie Phillis of the hit TV show, The Voice. P & C President Jacqui Hensel said the
Festival of Wind and Light, being held on Saturday October 26 from 12-noon till 7pm was an event for all age groups and people from across CQ to enjoy. “Tieri State School’s 30th birthday is a special event and we didn’t want to let the milestone go unnoticed. “We decided on the Festival of Wind and Light because it will appeal to all ages and would involve the whole community,” Ms Hensel said. Other features from the Glencore Xstrata Oaky Creek sponsored festival include a demonstration from the Queensland Kite Flyers, student performances and work displays, cultural, craft and market stalls, jumping castle, lantern making and a photo booth. “We wanted to make sure all the children could take part and so every students will receive, making and decorating a kite,” Ms Hensel said. To cap off the day the event will close with a lighting of the special Lantern Tree. The Festival of Wind and Light is the major fundraiser for the TSS P & C in 2013 and all the money raised will go back into resources for the students. If you would like to hold a market stall, sponsor or donate to this unique event for Tieri and CQ contact Jacqui Hensel on 0409 586 088.
WORTHY CAUSE: Business owner Kate Clive is behind the Girls Night Out in the Mount to raise money for women’s cancers.
THERE’S a girls’ night out planned for Middlemount and it’s going to be BIG! The first ever Girls Night Out in the Mount is only two weeks away and the buzz is building for Friday, October 25 at the Middlemount Hotel from 6pm. The night out is the perfect time to paint the town pink in support of those who have lost their battle with cancer and those who are still fighting. Kate Clive of Total Af’Hair is behind the good excuse for a great night out while simultaneously raising money for women’s cancers.
“I’ve been wanting to do something like this for quite a few years. My Grandma passed from breast cancer and these cancers affects so many people,” she said. “It all kicked off when I was chatting with a friend Carolyn Gentle about what I wanted to do, I wasn’t sure whether to do something small or go for broke, she said go for broke and so we did!” From Kate Clives’s casual conversation with Carolyn, a bigger group of ladies came on board to make the event happen including Alex Chapman, Trudi Hansell, Marni Duffy and Janelle Titmarsh. “We’ve aimed high. We hope to raise $10,000 through raffles and auctions we’ll hold on the night and there are some fantastic prizes,” said fellow organiser Carolyn Gentle. “The night is just the perfect opportunity to talk to women about these health issues in a fun and relaxed environment,” Ms Gentle said. Tickets are $35 and are available at Total Af’Hair and Korrins Health and Beauty. For those who can’t make it to the Girls Night there will also be a Charity Police Golf Day on Saturday 26 October Golf club (registration at the Police Station or Golf Club) and a Charity Fun Run on Sunday 3 November. Contact Kate Clive on 0408 871 007 for any additional information on any of the events mentioned.
Miles accommodation gets council approval A NEW 1200-bed accommodation village will be built at Miles in the Surat Basin after the Western Downs Regional Council gave its approval to developer Landtrak. Council approved the application to construct a 1256-bed facility on the condition that Landtrak find its own source of water, rather than relying on Miles’ already stretched town supplies. To build 1200-odd beds is only stage one of the project, and while Landtrak is yet to get approvals past this point, the company would like to expand the number to 3000 beds down the line. Western Downs mayor Ray Brown
says there has been enormous growth in demand for non-resident workforce accommodation across the region. “We have already given approval for the development of 5000 more beds for Miles in the past year, so that is enormous growth,” he told Shift Miner. “We have at least nine other camps accommodating more than 10,000 people right now across the Western Downs. “The difference with this approval is that it does not rely on water from the town. Landtrak will have to source its own water needs.” Further north in Gladstone, workforce
numbers have now peaked at Curtis Island where the gas conversion facilities are being built. However, there remains a huge amount of work to be down in the Surat gasfields themselves. Literally thousands of gas wells need to be sunk and compressors built, which will provide a large ongoing local workforce in the region. So will Miles become the next dormitory town like the Bowen Basin’s Dysart or Capella? Not according to Cr Brown. He says while council wants to see money from the CSG projects invested locally, he is aware there is a limit to the
amount of temporary accommodation that a small town can sustain. “I have probably got different figures to what the state and federal government have on the demand for beds in our region,” he said. “But we are aware that we don’t build Taj Mahals. We have to be relatively conservative but take the opportunities that are presented for our towns. “I remember years ago they said Moranbah would never make 1000 people and now look at it. We want to support this development in our towns, but we don’t want our ratepayers to have to bare all the costs of this infrastructure in the future.”
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Party the night away with VIP Entry and a $60 Bar Tab per person x 3 nights at Players, the Gold Coast’s hottest adult venue. Each member of your group receives a 5 min Lap dance at Players Seven night stay in a luxury 300 m2 Surfers Paradise Q1 Sub- Penthouse, close to all the nightlife, restaurants and the world famous beach at Surfers Paradise. *Prices are quoted based on a minimum of 6 people. Packages are subject to availability and prices quoted are subject to change and may not be available over peak periods and during special events. Considerable discounts may be available when securing books for larger groups. If you have any questions or would like to custom design a package then call us on 1800 051 345.
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Dragline walks 80km to Caval Ridge Mine Dragline fast facts • This dragline weighs 3,400 tonnes and has a 99-metre long boom. It travels (facing backwards) at a pace of 120 metres per hour. It takes two days to complete the road crossing. • The dragline has the following motors:
» Hoist Motors: 4 x
1300hp DC Motors
BMA employees who were part of the dragline walk team are (left to right) Field Supervisor - Emmanuel Maw, Area Manager - Lauren Barnaby, and Area Manager - Steve Fitzgerald
and the Oakey Creek Rail corridor. It also crossed several high voltage feeder lines and numerous power lines. “Moving equipment of such size and weight over a highway has required detailed planning and a team of over 50 BMA technical professionals and contractors’ on site,” BMA head of production in mining, Brandon Craig, said. BMA worked with regional councils, and other service providers including the Department of Transport and Main Roads, Telstra, Emergency Services, and
Drag Motors: 4 x 1045hp DC Motors
»
Swing Motors: 4 x 800hp DC Motors
»
Propel Motors: 2 x 800hp DC Motors
• With a 50m3 bucket, the dragline can each move approximately 40,000 cubic metres of dirt (98,000 tonnes) per day – that’s like digging out 16 Olympic-sized swimming pools every day. • Dragline 35 is 29 years old. It came into operation in 1984 at Capcoal’s German Creek Mine, and was purchased by BMA and walked to Norwich Park to begin operations in 1989.
BMA’s Dragline 35 completed its long journey from Norwich Park Mine to Caval Ridge Mine over the weekend.
‘Dragline 35’ has finished its long, slow journey from Norwich Park Mine to Caval Ridge Mine after crossing the Peak Downs Highway last weekend. The dragline was moved over 80km and is one of four that have been migrating from Norwich Park to Saraji, Peak Downs and Caval Ridge mines since mid-2012. During its journey, the 3,400-tonne dragline crossed several road, rail and electricity corridors, including Golden Mile Road, Vermont Rail line, Lake Vermont Road, Peak Downs Mine Access Road
»
landowners during the two-day walking event, Mr Craig said. The Caval Ridge Mine project has been under construction since early 2012 and is currently more than 70 per cent complete. The project includes a new greenfield coal mine and a Coal Handling and Preparation Plant (CHPP), and is expected to produce up to 5.5 million tonnes per annum of quality coking coal. Caval Ridge Mine will also use a truckand-shovel fleet, with a workforce of around 500 employees.
• The power of the dragline motors is roughly equivalent to the combined power of 100 family cars. • Age of the oldest BMA dragline is 43 years old • A dragline walks at 120 metres per hour. At this rate it would take about 70 days to walk from Mackay to Moranbah – if the dragline walked 24 hours per day.
Springsure mine one step closer WITHIN the space of 24 hours, Bandanna Energy has moved forward in both locking in a supply agreement and gaining another approval for its Springsure Creek coal project. After multiple trips to Korea to woo power corporations to buy its Springsure Creek coal, the company last week signed a nonbinding agreement with Korea’s Midland Power Company. The next day, the Queensland government announced the environmental impact statement (EIS) for the project has been allowed to proceed. That decision means
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14th October 2013
Bandanna’s response to submissions made in relation to the EIS was adequate and that all appropriate amendments have been made. The Department now has 30 business days to prepare its EIS assessment report. Many eyes are on the Springsure project, which will be the first site in Australia to operate as an underground mine with cropping on top. Rockhampton councillor Neil Fisher told Shift Miner he was watching this with interest, and Bandanna Energy was one of several mining companies looking outside the box and wanting to
coexist with agriculture. “Being able to do grazing or cropping while mining underground is exciting, and Bandanna are not the only ones [looking at it],” he said. “I did some preliminary work with some of the Galilee people and they were going over the land, and using a GPS to lock out land right from the start that appeared sensitive. “Then we have Linc Energy, which has made bluegrass preservation one of its high achievements,” Cr Fisher said. Bandanna Energy’s managing director Michael Gray has actually
pushed for higher standards to better maintain productivity of prime agricultural lands. Mr Gray told Shift Miner recently the company was having good discussions with farmers to understand the mechanics of farming and to know the areas of concern, and it had set up an independent agricultural research committee. “One of the real opportunities is to make sure there is a real flow of information, so we can really understand and scope the project and understand its impact. “It’s not rocket science - it’s about making sure we have an open dialogue and that we’re
transparent in our answers.” There are five properties in the lease area of the mine; one has been purchased and the company is in discussions with the others about acquisition or compensation. Meanwhile, Mr Gray said Bandanna Energy continued to be in discussions with other companies from Japan, Korea and China, where demand for thermal coal for power generation was predicted to more than double in the next decade. “We’re confident of our longterm outlook and the lack of quality projects in the future puts us in a good position.”
Shift Miner’s Most Eligible
Bachelor & Bachelorette Here’s round three of our Bachelors and Bachelorettes. It’s not too late to enter, see details below.
This edition, we received an entry to the competition from 31-year-old Eamonn Smith. We send all our entrants 12 questions and they choose which six they want to answer. But Eamonn went for broke and answered them all - so we thought we’d publish them in their entirety!
If I could invite three people to dinner they would be (and why):
George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Russell Brand because I’d ask how to chat up the ladies, make them laugh and get them into bed!!
My friends say I am:
A gentle giant. Kind, caring and considerate.
My signature dish is: I rarely cook - but in my opinion, a double quarter pounder is Maccas signature dish!!
If I didn’t work in mining or industry I would be a: Beauty Therapist - I’ve always believed a man should always look his best and be well presented.
If I could have any animal as a pet I would choose (and why): A Swan - because once they find the right partner they stay with each other for life.
What are two topics that should be off limits on a first date: Off limit topics should
be hairstyles (as I’m bald!!!) and comparing me with your ex!
So far in the competition Eamonn is competing against:
Eamonn Smith, 31
BMD Caval Ridge project, Moranbah
When I’m not at work you’ll find me: At the Nugget or washing away my daily sins in the Moranbah swimming pool.
Shane Martyn, 27
Dan Beshman, 24
Brad Hornby, 23
Always treat a woman with respect and when you find a good one, never ever let her go.
When I’m not at work you’ll find me:
When I’m not at work you’ll find me:
Camping and searching for good 4WD tracks
When I’m not at work you’ll find me at?
My perfect date would be:
The best advice I’ve ever been given is:
In Roma. I used to live there and seem to be always going back.
The best advice I’ve ever been given is:
Having a private, candle-lit dinner on the beach with the girl of my dreams. Followed by a stroll down the beach in our bare feet with the waves tickling our toes.
My life is best described in the song: Travis - Why Does It Always Rain On Me.
My worst habit is:
Always putting myself down and thinking i will never find a girl.
My best attribute is:
My smile. The ladies always comment on it and say I make them feel all warm.
Moranbah airport
Spotless, Wooleebee Creek
Reputation is everything
The best advice I’ve ever been given is:
My perfect date would be:
My perfect date would be:
A relaxed, spontaneous day trip
My best attribute is: When you make me smile
My friends say I am a: Gentleman, caring and cheeky!
Don’t swear in front of your mother Rugby, red wine and romance
My signature dish is: Spaghetti bolognese If I didn’t work in mining or industry I would be a: Park ranger - I love working with animals
If I could have any animal as a pet I would choose (and why): French poodle - one of my mates has one and the girls love it
Poly butt welder, Roma
At the beach surfing or at Billy’s beach house
My best attribute is? My smile
My perfect date would be?
Bottle of wine and a blanket over looking the Caboolture lakes My life is best described in the song? One Direction - You don’t know you’re beautiful
My worst habit is?
Addicted to 4 and 20 pies and coke.
If you could chose any animal as a pet? A lamb - chicks love them. And they have nice wool. Or a schitzu dog as my family
breeds them in New Zealand.
Listen to Frank the Tank interview our contestants - go online to www.shiftminer.com or download the Shift Miner iphone app
30th September 2013
15
Shift Miner Magazine
Around Town
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TRAPPED AT DINGO!
It’s not what you think. It’s actually the annual Dingo Race Day and World Dingo Trap Throwing Competition. A great time was had by young and old.
(L-R) Race Club Life Members Stuart Hoare, Phil Dowe and Dingo Pony Club members working in the canteen Barrie Bauman
Vicki and Mick Batten
Matthew Kent and Rachel Dance
Chloe and Blake Batten
Shane and Cherie Batten
(L-R) Paula Iddon and Ainsley and Tyson Richter
(L-R) Scot and Natalie Potts (L-R) Conor, Ashley, Briann, Ella and Kaden Quinn and Justine Fletcher
(L-R) Kalsey, Taylor, Jodie, Blake and Hayden
(L-R) Nugget Turbal with Scott and Mitchell Power
(L-R) Sharelle and Amber Keller and JesKaitlyn Rogers and Jade Keller sica Carter
(L-R) Leon, Tori, Shaya and Bobbie
(L-R) George, Cathy and Ashlyn Hoare
(L-R) Robyn, Ollie and Halle McLaughlin
(L-R) Scot and Natalie Potts and Justine Fletcher
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.
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14th October 2013
Shift Miner Magazine
Around Town
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NETWORKING IN EMERALD The Bowen Basin Mining Club recently held a packed lunchtime networking event.
(L-R) Jenny Ellerton and Skye Stegemann - TWW; Sam Madden Skyreach
Michael Jones and Darryl McClure - Central Highlands Auto
(L-R) Justin Scutt, Kyle Murphy and Alex Marsh - Enwise
(L-R) Tony Bright - Chandler Macleod; Howard Kuipers and Shane Warner - Flexihire
Richard Kirk - Rio Tinto; Danny Birkett - AECOM
(L-R) Andrew Dare - CAT; Emily Jackman - Kenter Logistics; James Wyland - CAT
(L-R) Craig Hill and Shelly Sidell - Cater Care; Jason Manttan - Arrow
(L-R) Scott Witchard - Onesteel; Robyn Austin (L-R) Graeme Hill - Aggreko, Robert & Stuart Bonnett - IPA McRuvie - Arrow, Gus Stedman - Aggreko
Katrina Gasnier and Geoff Mackenzie Linc Energy
(L-R) Malcolm Burgess - CMF Forklift; Colette Anderson, Damien Smith - Coal Engineering
(L-R) Bryce Hawkins - Arc Modular; Jan Kubat - Water Centre; Paul Czislowski and Andrew (L-R) Mark Bogle - Hose Pro; Dan Usher, Bryce - Landtrak Paul Wortley - Evergreen Farms
(L-R) Alana and Monty Fitzgerald Coalfields Maintenance Services, Jeff Botting - SKM
Buy this and many other images at
www.shiftminer.com Shift Miner magazine – bringing the mining community closer together 14th October 2013
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FROm THE EDITOR
Where’s the consultation? The gas and mining industry in Queensland is built on workers who drive huge distances to get to work. The current trend of companies - and indeed workers themselves - suggest the number of FIFO and DIDO workers is not going to get smaller, only bigger. It’s pause for thought then for the thousands of commuters in Queensland’s mining industry that you might soon no longer be covered for compensation if you have an accident on the way to work. The state government is currently considering making changes to the workers’ compensation scheme, despite the recommendation of a parliamentary committee to preserve the status quo. According to the committee, which was made up of mainly LNP members, the scheme adds only five cents to the average premium. It also found that the scheme had the second lowest premiums in the state and that claims had decreased by dollar value. There is no doubt these changes would have a huge impact on the resource industry. It would probably make you think twice before jumping in your car to work. John Battams from the Queensland Council of Unions summed it up really well on the ABC’s The World Today program recently: “We have far more workers travelling long distances in Queensland than any other part of Australia. We’re a very decentralised state, for example. We have huge numbers of workers, for example, travelling to the mine and gas fields daily. There are lots of accidents, the roads are not good. We are a bit different to other states where in most of those places the majority of people don’t travel those distances.” Despite the committee findings, business lobby groups including the
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland are pushing for the changes and it appears the government is listening. Queensland’s legal fraternity is nervous the changes are likely to happen. Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie is also considering a move to impose a threshold where workers will not get compensation if their injury causes less than a 5 per cent impairment. The fact that the mining and resource industry is physically demanding and employees need to be 100 per cent fit will mean the end of a career for many. While Mr Bleijie won’t make a final decision on the workers’ compensation scheme until next month, he has already announced proposed changes in the construction industry. Last week, he said the government was planning to change current legislation to prevent unions from entering construction sites when there is a perceived safety issue without 24 hours written notice. He said for too long unions had taken advantage of this to bully contractors. While there are no doubt cases where this has been abused, there again appears to be a lack of in-depth consultation. When these rights are eroded, what is going to be left to protect workers who want to report a safety breach but are too scared of losing their job to speak up? The cure could be worse than the disease. Maybe there need to be changes to the workers’ compensation scheme, but if that is the case it should be based on widespread consultation and on evidence - not the whim of government.
Stuff
SHIFT MIN ER The Queens
land mining
Locally Owned
There couldn’t be a better example of everyday waste than workers constantly changing gloves and glasses. What a pointless thing to do. TS, Emerald You think the PPE waste is bad. The amount of stuff that was stolen during the boom was mind boggling - people just walking out the door with their hands full of stuff. DA, Mackay
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iner.com
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Monday Septe
mber 30, 2013
171st Edition
M A G A Z I N E
COMING NEAR YOUTO A MINE
Our recent Miner’s Mind column on wastage on site and BMA’s new rule of only one pair of gloves and safety glasses per day per person is still a talking point among readers:
What a waste. The weird thing is it takes a bust for people to realise their behaviour in a boom is completely irrational.
munity’s bes
Drug bust
to the Editor
I do agree the operators may not need more than one pair of gloves a week. But what about diesel fitters etc - the people who are exposed to oil, grease and heavy dirt? We have been told to use gloves for more than one day. I wonder if it is going to be a health problem for the ones who work with real dirt.
& Operated
and gas com
»
Full report page 4
PERSONAL INJ EXPERTS URY
All accid and personal ents injury claim
s: • Motor Vehicle • Public LiabilityAccidents • Workers Injury Claims Claims • • Total and Mining Acciden Permanent t Claims Disabilit • Boating and Holiday Acciden y Insurance Claims t Claims Darren Sekac Whitsunday is available for consulta and Proserp ine offices on tions at the appointment only. Thursday, by Darren Sekac *
*Personal Injuries Law Accredited Specialist
Call
(MAckAy)
www.m4944 2000 acamiet.com.a u
MACKA Y
Last edition’s editorial on drug use in the workplace made mention of one CQ site where the entire staff was made aware of a drug test about to be carried out, but workers were still caught out. But one reader says Shift Miner didn’t know the full story: Regards to that story, I don’t know where she got the information from - more than likely a manager - but I think she has been misinformed. Editor’s note: Sadly, I have to disagree that I was misinformed. At Shift Miner, we make sure we get our facts right before making publishing. While I appreciate that this situation is an anomaly, it is a concern that a very small minority of the workforce is not taking safety seriously.
Photos to THE EDITOR
Inga Stunzner Comment or SMS 0409 471 014
APLNG project at Curtis Island, Gladstone. Sent in by Nathan.
Text in your best snap to 0409 471 014
CARTON OF BEER FOR YOUR EYES! It’s back by popular demand.
You SMS us a photo to 0428 154 653 of something you’ve seen on site. A bogged digger, the boss’s chocked motorbike - whatever tickles your fancy. Tell us in the text message what we’re looking at. Every three months we’ll decide on a winner and post you out a carton of beer! So SMS your pics to 0428 154 653
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14th October 2013
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Frank the Tank’s Dear Frank,
My boyfriend still lives at home with his parents. Whenever I stay over, it’s really awkward. What do I do? Lily, Gladstone I know exactly what you mean, Lily. There’s nothing more upsetting than waking up after a night of degrading, borderline illegal sex and then having to talk to someone’s parents. I swear it seems to happen to me after pretty much every Grade 12 formal in town. The questions are always the same too, “Who are you? Why is my daughter limping? Does that tattoo on your chest say, ‘Pope of Sex’?” Now, you could have an uncomfortable conversation with your boyfriend about when he’s going to move out of his parents’ house, or you could handle the situation the Frank the Tank way. For the reasons I’ve just mentioned (and others I won’t disclose) I always carry
around a rag soaked in chloroform. That way if I end up going home with a girl who lives with her parents I can excuse myself in the middle of the night, creep into her parents’ bedroom and let them inhale my sweet, chemical-laced rag. It should ensure they’re unconscious for around 16 hours so there can be no awkward encounters in the morning. Just make sure you’re careful with the chloroform. One day I was about to sneeze and instinctively reached into my pocket to look for something to stifle it. I unwittingly sneezed into my chloroform rag and blacked out shortly after. I woke up 16 hours later on the bank of a river, naked from the waist down and wearing Kiss make-up. To this day I have literally no idea what happened. If for some reason you’re uncomfortable drugging your boyfriend’s parents you could always have yourself banned from their house. Once his parents say they don’t want you in their home anymore, your
Fair Dinkum!
“Streakin” good love advice
boyfriend will be forced to stay at your place. Problem solved. So how do you go about getting banned? There are plenty of little things you can do, like using the toilet and not flushing it, loudly using the C-word at the dinner table, constantly remarking that the house smells of urine, and frequently spilling things on the carpet. The problem with ‘little things’ is they take time. If you want to get yourself banned in an instant there’s really only one thing you need to do. Attempt to seduce your boyfriend’s father in front of his mother. She’ll become so angry she’ll instantly throw you out and tell you to never come back. There is, however, a remote chance that she’ll be in favour of the seduction, in which case the level of awkwardness will increase remarkably when your boyfriend’s parents keep trying to lure you into having a threesome with them.
IN CANADA
IN THE UKRAINE
- One couple’s inability to control their sexual urges has ended in tragedy. While walking home from a party
the two were overcome by passion and decided to have sex on a railway track. Tragically their pre-dawn love making was interrupted by a speeding train, which
Lily, I can understand why you might be feeling a little awkward. The most immediate and simple solution to your problem would be to try and convince your boyfriend to stay over at your place. I’ve also included a few more potential ‘long-term’ solutions to your problem. Perhaps you could casually ask your boyfriend when he’s planning on moving out? It might be that he’s saving up a deposit for a house or something along those lines, so he might have a time frame in mind for how long he wants to stay at home. If that’s not the case, and depending on how serious you want the relationship to be, you could always see if he’s interested in moving in with you.
Susan
Frank severed a man’s legs below the knee and instantly killed his girlfriend. Police are refusing to release the names of the couple, stating that they have opened a criminal probe over the safety violation.
Citizens of Scott Township, Pennsylvania, are less than impressed with this architectural addition. It has aroused the ire of many residents who have dubbed this Penis Road.
SENSIBLE SUSAN
- A dentist who bought a tooth belonging to John Lennon at an auction is hoping to use it to clone the iconic singer. The dentist made international headlines when he bought the rotten tooth for a cool $30,000. He hopes that Lennon’s DNA will be able to fully sequenced from the tooth, and that eventually he may be able to be cloned. A website has been set up so fans can track the progress of the cloning. A song has also been written in honour of the tooth.
IN THE US
- Citizens of Scott Township, Pennsylvania, are less than impressed with new architectural additions to the city. A series of bollards have been erected to stop vehicles from driving onto structures.
There’s just one problem...residents say the bollards look like giant concrete penises. Local resident Pat Martin said, “People are laughing at it, they’re calling it penis road.” One township commissioner admitted to not having looked at the bollards before they were ordered, and admitted she would have preferred something “more antique”. Whether the resemblance is uncanny or the people of Scott Township have their mind in the gutter, these bollards have certainly aroused some controversy.
IN ENGLAND
- An offended wine connoisseur called 999 (Britain’s Triple 0) because there were pieces of cork floating in his vino. The man refused to leave the pub in northern Manchester until he received a full refund. When staff refused he called police to resolve the matter. Presumably having far more important things to do than settle disputes over small pieces of cork in wine, the police declined to attend and gave the would-be wine connoisseur a warning for inappropriate use of an emergency line.
14th October 2013
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MOVIE Review by Justin Carlos
Dude, where’s my plot? It may be a movie without a plot, but your kids will get a laugh.
Grown Ups 2 is the latest in a long line of Happy Madison productions. Happy Madison is basically Adam Sandler’s production company, and they’re responsible for movies like Happy Gilmore, Big Daddy, You Don’t Mess with the Zohan…come to think of it, pretty
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Chris Rock and David Spade) getting ready to have a summer party. Bizarrely there’s no real linear plot to the film; it’s basically just a series of comic sketches punctuated by the occasional fart joke. There is a tenuous point of conflict in the film where the middle-aged stars have
much everything that Adam Sandler has ever starred in. Grown Ups 2 may have made cinema history - it’s perhaps the first $80 million movie without a plot. The film centres on a group of best friends (played by Sandler, Kevin James,
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a disagreement with some college students and wind up getting into an all-in brawl, but again it really just feels like one long Saturday Night Live sketch. If the film has one thing in spades, it’s cameos. There’s appearances by Shaquille O’Neal, Steve Buscemi, Taylor Lautner (of Twilight fame), Salma Hayek, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and SNL alums Jon Lovitz and Tim Meadows. The more Grown Ups 2 progresses the more it seems as though the film was just an excellent excuse for Sandler and co to hang out and get paid in the process. Despite the clunky, almost non-existent plot, the chemistry between the cast is undeniable, probably largely due to the fact they’re all good friends off screen. This gives rise to the occasionally funny one liner or sight gag. Grown Ups 2 is also decidedly PG so it’s suitable for kids aged around nine and up, so it might be a good one to see if you’re interested in seeing a school holiday movie but can’t stomach another animated feature. If you’re looking for a film with a riveting plot then you should definitely steer clear of this one. Conversely, if you’re looking for a few dumb laughs and a story that requires you to expend absolutely no brain power, Grown Ups 2 is worth a look.
Down 1. Scours 2. Fundraising lottery 3. Slight tint 4. Food decoration 6. Surgical procedure 7. Located 8. Hogwash 11. Washtub 15. Say “sorry” 17. Shoe repairers # 55 18. Retaliating for 20. Cult 21. Greedy 22. Ethnic bigot 23. Lower dignity of 26. Corrupt offer SHIFT MINER
LAST EDITION’S SOLUTIONS D R AW I A R N MA GN E A U P SWE E T K S L A A M T D R A S T E R I QU I E T U G U A V O I D T L E E L D E S
NG S A R T I C C N E E N E D E G R D E P
D I R E C T I O I C CON O O P E R I S Y R C S MO V E D N T D E T E
7 3 9 2 6 1 2 5 5 8 4 7 2 5 1 4 3 7 6 8 4 9 8 3 Handy Crossword 143ME - (15A 1 grid) 6 3 9 Handy Crossword 077s. pdf © Lovatts Crosswords - 24/11/2009 9 2- Artist 7 -MB 6 8 4 5 1
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WINO
MORE- mining news MORE- industrial news MORE- investment news Shift Miner Wednesday’s Industry neWs onlIne (WIno) by Shift Miner Handy Cross blank grid.pdf ©Lovatts PublicationsPremium 5/03/09 Queensland business and industrial news www.shiftminer.com/news
artist – mb neWs you Won’t Get anyWhere else
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WEDNESDAY’S INDUSTRIAL NEWS ONLINE
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Bait Shop Banter
Craig Griffiths took home the gold, netting 38 barra throughout the tournament, including one 1.19 metre monster.
GLADSTONE
- Some ordinary weather prevented anglers from getting offshore over the long weekend, but fortunately the estuaries around the Harbour City are fishing extremely well. Dylan from Pat’s Tackle World in Gladstone says there’s a variety of species on the bite at the moment. “We’ve been hearing about great numbers of barra and mangrove jack, as well as good cod and grunter.” Most estuaries are fishing fairly consistently, but there’s definitely been a few hot spots. “Good places to hit would be the top end of the narrows, as well as the upper reaches of South Trees and Tooloola Bends. The upper regions of the Boyne River are also holding great numbers of barra,” said Dylan. The warmer weather has also livened up the crabs, with most creeks and estuaries producing good numbers of full crabs.
MACKAY - The
Craig Griffiths caught this monster 1.19 metre during the Rocky Barra Bounty.
YEPPOON
- Most of the action around Yeppoon has been onshore thanks to some indifferent weather. Adrian from the Secret Spot Bait and Tackle in Yeppoon says the Causeway has been fishing
particularly well lately. “There’s been some monster bream up to eight kilos caught on light gear in the Causeway. It’s been really good.” “Flat and Perforated Islands have been fishing well for
Spanish mackerel. They’re only around 10 or 12 kilos but they’re good eating fish,” said Adrian. The Rocky Barra Bounty was also held recently with the Fitzroy producing plenty of big fish.
fishing around Mackay has been tremendous thanks to some recent hot weather. Aaron from Tackle World Mackay says there’s plenty happening on and offshore. “The barra have been moving around because of the bigger tides. There’s a lot of bait in the creeks at the moment so they’re really on the bite. People are catching them off the boat ramps.” If you fancy taking the boat out there’s plenty of fish being caught offshore. “There’s a lot of Spanish mackerel and coral trout still getting around, flat and round top islands just outside the marina are fishing well, and if you’re heading out wide Prudhoe Island has been kind to spear fishermen,” said Aaron. The crabs haven’t quite come to life in Mackay yet, but in addition to the barra the creeks and estuaries are still producing good king salmon and fingermark bream.
your weather forecast T
MACKAY
Gladstone
MACKAY
Gladstone
Mon 14
More heat and storms on the way WEEK 1 - The first line of storms for the season brought some relief on 3 October. Some reports of 1.5-1.8cm hail in Rockhampton. Rainfalls (mm) of note: Glendale 60, Frenchville 40, Miriam Vale 36, Mt. Spencer 31, South Yaamba 28, Rockhampton 26, Blue Mountain 26, Funnel Ck 20, Mackay AP 19, Marlborough 16, Finch Hatten 16, West Wolfgang 14. Then temperatures soared into the 37-38 degree mark from Surat/Emerald/Moranbah/Collinsville last Monday/Tuesday. Afternoon humidity was the driest since 2009. Springsure recorded 2%
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14th October 2013
humidity and Longreach a super-dry zero. This made bushfire dangers rise into the “EXTREME” category. Bushfire north of Bogantungan from Zamia National Park north to the Zig Zag Range, caused smoke that covered the northern Coalfields. There were reports of fires at Middlemount and west of Dysart. After a brief respite temperatures rise into the mid- thirties to start the week. A trough in the eastern Coalfields could trigger isolated high based thundery showers starting in the south Monday moving north Tuesday/Wednesday as a cooler easterly arrives mid-week. An isolated storm could trigger a good fall. Isolated showers could linger in the north until Thursday/Friday. “Dry–lightning” could be a problem.
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If you have a good photo or fishing yarn send it through to our resident bait chucker-
angus.peacocke@shiftminer.com
With Mike Griffin
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Boaties! Strong afternoon sea breezes continue!! Mon: NW 10-15 with NNE 15-20 afternoon breeze inshore. Late S/SE 20 knots change. Late thundery possible with gusts to 30 knots. Tue: SE 15-20 with a squally shower contracting north. Wed: SE/E 20-15 with a brief shower in the north. Thr: ESE 10-15 with a brief shower north of Yeppoon. Fri: ESE/ENE 10-15 tending NE avo south. Sat: SE 10-15 south and 15-18 and a brief shower in the north. Sun: SE/E 15-10 tending NE in south. WEEK 2 - The SOI has jumped to +6.2 in the past few weeks, indicating a “promise’ of some more storms. This could occur, heralded by maximums in the high thirties in the west, early in the week. The instability could cause a severe
storm cell (falls over 30 mm, tornadic gusts over 80kph and hail). Again this looks more likely in the east around Capricornia and Wide Bay. It could touch the Central Highlands. Then some cooler relief Thursday/Friday. Marine Lovers! This unusual seasonal change has changed the normal synoptic wind flow. If a trough from the south west develop. Mon: SE/E/ ENE 10-12 winds swing NNE 15-20 very quickly in the south. Tue: Hot N/NNE 15-20 gusting 30 knots with a late storm in the south. Wed: Hot N/NNW 15-20 with a possible late severe storm (hail?? gusts over 40 knots) mainly south of Shoalwater. Thr: Cooler S/SW 20-15 tending SE later. Fri: An easing trend into the weekend.
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World’s Weirdest Collections SOME people collect coins or stamps, others, if they’re lucky enough, collect more expensive things like classic cars or vintage wine. Then there are people who collect things that are just plain weird. Here are some of the strangest collections we found online.
World’s largest collection of belly button lint Perth librarian Graham Barker has been collecting his belly button lint for the last 26 years. For some reason, Graham is fascinated by naval lint, dedicating 10 seconds every day to collecting and storing it. After being recognised by Guinness as having the world’s largest belly button lint collection Graham’s 26 years worth of lint was purchased by a museum for an undisclosed amount.
240 ‘love dolls’ With the help of his wife Lizzie, Bob Gibbons has amassed an impressive collection of love dolls. What are love dolls you ask? Well, they’re silicone dolls that can cost upwards of $10,000 that are usually purchased for sexual purposes. Whilst he admits to finding the dolls attractive, Bob says he has never used one of his ‘girls’ for that purpose. He prefers dressing them up and taking them on shopping trips.
World’s largest hot Sauce collection
Latex mermaid tails
Arizona chef Vic Clinco likes it hot. He’s the proud owner of the world’s largest hot sauce collection. His 6000 bottle collection features sauces from all over the world and includes a bottle of ‘Blair’s 16 million reserve’, the hottest sauce on the planet. Mr Clinco said the most expensive bottle in the collection is a one-of-a-kind creation worth about $900.
Florida man Eric Ducharme eats, sleeps and breathes mermaids. He also likes to dress up in a latex mermaid tail and swim around like a merman whenever he can. Not only does Mr Ducharme own countless ‘mermaid’ tails, he owns his own business called ‘mertailor’, which manufactures and sells artificial mermaid tails.
The museum of mammal penises Icelandic man Sigurdur Hjartarson opened a museum to display his unusual collection - 143 penises from 41 different mammals. If you’re interested in contributing to the museum of mammal penises Mr Hjartarson is seeking the donation of a human penis to complete his collection.
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14th October 2013
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Cyclists versus motorists
CYCLING is an incredibly popular the moment. God knows why. Maybe it’s got something to do with the incredible number of super-hero movies
Hollywood is churning out? People don the lycra and jump on their road bikes and feel like regular caped crusaders. While skin-tight outfits that very
clearly allow passers-by to see the outline of my genitals isn’t my cup of tea, cycling is certainly an excellent way to keep fit, and it seems to be fairly addictive. It’s also one of the most fiercely divisive issues in our fair country. Cyclists are frequently complaining about copping verbal abuse from motorists, cars driving too close to them, and the general hate campaign geared towards them by other road users. Motorists are constantly complaining that cyclists flout the road rules, don’t stick to bike lanes, and dislike their overwhelmingly pretentious attitude - i.e. “I’m healthier than you, I’m obeying the road rules, bikes save money and the planet.” I once read something online that said, “When I’m driving I hate pedestrians. When I’m a pedestrian I hate motorists. No matter what mode of transportation I choose I always hate cyclists.” I think that just about sums up my feelings on the matter. My apologies to any cyclists out there, but I’ve tried to remain neutral on the issue. I just can’t help be filled with blinding range whenever I’m forced to do 20 kilometres in a 60 zone because a group of cyclists decided to ride four abreast. Sure, you’re technically allowed to
ride on the road. You’re also technically allowed to wear a mankini to the beach but it doesn’t mean you should. It’s also particularly infuriating that cyclists are intent on using the outermost portion of the bike lane, just to ensure maximum disruption to motorists. Having said that, I certainly don’t abuse cyclists, and I never drive in a way that would put them in danger. A spill onto the bitumen for a cyclist could cause a serious injury, and no-one likes to see people get hurt (if you do like to see people get hurt consult your psychiatrist, you may be a serial killer). I could say, “Can’t we all just get along and share the roads?” but that’s not realistic. By all means motorists should take care watch out for cyclists, but if you want to go out biking like you’re in the Tour de France, ignoring the road rules and riding out of the bike lane, then you’re going to have to expect some motorists to be annoyed.
What’s your opinion? Tell us what you think about the cyclists vs motorists issue on the Shift Miner Facebook page. Comment or SMS 0409 471 014
SHIFT MINER’S PICK Events that caught our eye
Blackall Races Saturday 19 October 2013 Region: Queensland - Blackal lBlackall Races are coming up again at the Blackall Racecourse with first race kicking off at 1.30pm. Get ready to dress to impress for a day at the track and have a few wins on the horses. Grab your friends for this action packed day. You will be sure to have a good time.
Dirty Dick’s Theatre Restaurant Sunday 20 October 2013
Region: Queensland - MoranbahA fully themed night of Old English fun and entertainment with Australia’s best known theatre restaurant! Be entertained by a host of historical - or should that be hysterical characters. Three-course meal and entertainment included in the ticket price. PH: 07 4941 6060 to book.
Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic Friday 25 October 2013 to Sunday 27 October 2013
Link for More Details: www.lakemoondarrafishingclassic.com.au Region: Queensland - Mt Isa The richest freshwater fishing event in Queensland is back with three days of non-stop action! Hosted at picturesque Lake Moondarra, Mount Isa the 2013 Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic promises a weekend packed with fun and excitement for all ages. Activities commence October 24 with the inaugural special guest slide show, followed by action at the Lake from noon Friday October 25; fishing from 6.00 p.m. Action wraps up Sunday October 27 with the awards presentation, complete with entertainment. Packed into three days will also be special guests, a record prize pool, including a whopping AUD50,000 up for grabs for the angler who snags the infamous Tagged Barra, 30 prize categories and a host of entertainment including a Fireworks Spectacular, Dragon Boat Regatta, beach volleyball, yabby races, casting competitions, live bands, kids activities, and more!
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Shift Miner Magazine
Sport
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A spectacular weekend of fishing THREE hundred and sixty anglers descended on the McKenzie River at Blackwater recently for the 2013 Saratoga Spectacular. The Spectacular is an annual competition that helps the McKenzie River Fish Stocking Association (MRFSA) raise money to restock the weir.
Secretary of the MRFSA Jason Hill said this year’s competition was a fantastic day for all involved. “We had about 68 fish weighed in this year, which is really good. The biggest Saratoga in the senior comp was 71.8 centimetres, and this year the juniors
actually showed up the older fisherman with the junior winner hauling in a 73.8 centimetre Saratoga.” Mr Hill said the Saratoga Spectacular will be held again on the first weekend of October in 2014 and encouraged locals keen on fishing to get involved in the MRFSA.
“We’re always looking for new members to help us out, we’re going to be doing a lot more tagging and releasing next year so we really encourage people to get involved.” For more information on the MRFSA visit www.mrfsa.org.au.
Bailey Madsen won the biggest catfish section
Cailtlyn McKeough
Alisha Evans
Measuring the fish
Brad and Gus Roberts
Cameron and Layton Purcell
Brian and Lyn Loader
The boat was won by Terry Arnold, pictured here with his family.
Cricket Season kicks off in the Central Highlands The 2013/14 Central Highlands Cricket Association competition kicked off over the weekend and it’s shaping up to be another bumper season. Results coordinator and director of fixtures Martin Langan said that all the teams from last year’s competition are lining up again to contest the premiership. “It’s a six-team comp again so we’ve got Emerald Brothers, Emerald Magpies, Blackwater, Rolleston, Springsure and the defending premiers the Clermont Bulls.” Mr Langan said the defending premiers are definitely the team to beat.
“Everyone will be looking to knock off the Bulls, and I think people should keep an eye on the Emerald Magpies. They’ve bolstered their playing ranks and will be a major threat this year.” He also said that Brad Jenkinson from Emerald Brothers and Rhys Williams of the Clermont Bulls are his early predictions for players to watch. “Brad is a former Central Highlands Cricket Association player of the year and a talented all-rounder.” “Rhys is a former Queensland Country Representative and was man of the match
in last year’s final. They’ll both be looking to make a major impact on the comp.” Despite the overwhelming popularity of 20/20 cricket internationally and in larger cities, the Central Highlands comp will once again consist of 40 over a side matches. “I think 40 overs is a really good length for our comp. We’ve got a lot of guys that are driving up to three hours to play, so that’s a long way to go for 20 overs where you may not even get a bat or a bowl,” said Mr Langan. He also said that while there’s a strong
focus on fun and inclusiveness in cricket in the Central Highlands, there’s definitely no shortage of talent. “We’ve got guys who’ve played a lot of decent cricket, so every team has a handful of handy cricketers. Our rep team actually beat rocky last year, so on our day we’re more than competitive.” Clubs in the Central Highlands are always looking for new players, so if you’re keen to don the whites this season get in and register with your local club. Visit www.qldcricket.com.au for details on how to register.
Giving a helping hand to the Nebo State Emergency Service
Proud to be a part of Proud to beQueensland a part of the central the central Queensland Community and Community and committed to the future. committed to the future.
The Nebo State Emergency Service received an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) as part of the Nebo Community Benefits Scheme, a partnership between Hail Creek Mine and Isaac Regional Council.
Pictured: (L-R) Local controller Isaac region Alex McPhee, group leader Moranbah Gerad Corkhill and Hail Creek Mine’s Helen Singer training with the new equipment.
The decade long partnership has also allowed the community to purchase operation shelters, a Stab Fast stabilisation unit and vehicle-cutting equipment to be better equipped in dealing with road incidents on the Peak Downs Highway. riotintocoalaustralia.com.au
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Shift Miner Magazine
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Money Matters
$200,000 tip a massive let down
IT’S common knowledge that bartenders and waitstaff in the United States make their living in tips, so you can imagine the excitement of one US bartender when she received a tip for $200,000. The woman posted a picture of the receipt on social media site, Reddit, saying, “Today the absolute weirdest thing happened to me.” She claimed two women visited the bar at which she worked, one appeared to be treating the other to lunch and kept
remarking things like, “Don’t tell my sister how I tip.” When the $111 bill arrived the woman, who had been hinting her tip would be generous, opted to give a $200,000 gratuity (she also miscalculated the cost of the meal and the tip). Unfortunately what seemed like excessive generosity was actually just a scam to duck out on the bill. After the waitress’ manager became suspicious, he contacted the credit card company and discovered that banks don’t pay out on excessive tips. Other users on Reddit who worked in the hospitality industry also reported encountering the same scam. One user commented: “I used to be a bartender, and every once in a while that would happen. The person just has to put something ‘impossible’ on the bill, and Visa will not process it. “Since the amount and the tip are handwritten, it means you had to enter it into the till with the tip amount AFTER the sisters had left. Visa would outright reject it then as almost no one has that much credit. Even if Visa accepted it, the customer would just call later and claim she had been scammed.”
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heights