SHIFT MINER Monday 12th March 132 Edition 2012
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M A G A Z I N E
Towns battle growing pains “WE are a community not a camp.� This sign, which greets you as drive north through Blackwater, sits opposite a construction site on the highway. Here, mining camps dominate the landscape, and they vary from dodgy dongas to flash single-room apartments. The Shift Miner Magazine team took a road trip through the Bowen Basin last week to see firsthand the problems facing towns hosting Queensland’s mining boom. A second-generation miner who lives in Blackwater with his young family, tells us how the rise of fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workers is leaving its mark on the residents who choose to live in these small, far flung towns. “Before FIFO, people got paid the good money because they had to live in these remote towns,� he explains. “We built up the community. But now with FIFO these guys get paid the same amount of money, and there is no investment back in our communities. “We need money to come back here to make our towns attractive to live in.� Those thoughts are echoed over the coming days by residents in all the towns we stop in - Blackwater, Emerald, Capella, Dysart, Tieri, Middlemount, Moranbah and Nebo. These mining towns used to be vibrant and engaged communities, but now they are struggling.
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4 CONTENTS NEWS 4 FIFO enquiry “insightful”
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8 Road trip to remember
12 Election in focus
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M A G A Z I N E
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News
132nd EDITION. 2012
The great coal rush of 2012 THE Bowen Basin coalfields are experiencing a scramble for resources not seen since the Victorian gold rush in 1851. The latest figures put out by the state mines department (DEEDI) show there are four new coal mines under construction in the region: BMA’s Caval Ridge and Daunia open cut mines, Ensham’s underground mine, and Vale/Aquila’s Eagle Downs underground mine. There are a further eight coal mine expansions under construction. Meanwhile 36 new mines and a further 13 expansions are being considered.
Professor John Rolfe.
“The level of investment is staggering and something not seen since the Victorian gold rush,” said CQUniversity resource economic John Rolfe. “At the national level the figures are incredible. “Normally the amount of capital investment in new mines and expansion projects runs at about 12 to 14 per cent of the national economy. “This year it is more than 50 per cent. “That means there is now more investment in mining than in the rest of the economy put together, and it is increasing.” Professor Rolfe said the boom had been running since 2004, but had now reached fever pitch after the slight slow down in 2008-2009. He also noted that there were differences between the companies doing the development. “In the newer provinces (Surat and Galilee), because private companies have to put in the infrastructure like rail, it means only the big players can compete,” said Professor Rolfe. “What is notable in the Bowen Basin is that because of the existing infrastructure available, it is possible for the little projects to get up as well as the big ones. “There is more diversity, which is great for the region because the smaller mines tend to have a
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much higher local employment rate and a higher proportion of expenditure in the region.” Over the past 12 months, the social impact of the mining boom has been acutely felt in hot spots like Moranbah where rents are skyrocketing and non-mining related local business is struggling to survive. While that pressure will not ease in 2012, Professor Rolfe said the state government was getting better at managing the unprecedented growth. “The trouble for Moranbah is it is too late because the projects have already been approved,” he said. “But if you look at Gladstone, when key projects were approved by the Coordinator General, he handed down very stringent conditions for developers to deal with the social impacts of their projects.” “As a result, there are more attempts to coordinate the response to labour forces and housing pressure.”
Staffing is an issue in Central Queensland resource towns.
In fact, the three major gas proponents along with the Gladstone Ports Corporation have now kicked in $150 million to social infrastructure and housing in the wider Gladstone region. “The evidence suggests that by being proactive and putting conditions on these enormous developments the impact on communities can be reduced.” Meanwhile, the benefits of the boom continue to drive the national and local economies - and there is no slowdown in sight. “There is certainly no indication investment will dry up any time soon,” said Professor Rolfe.
“The evidence suggests that by being proactive and putting conditions on these enormous developments the impact on communities can be reduced.”
FIFO’s QLD hearings insightful DESPITE copping flack for not being in the regions long enough the Queensland hearings of the federal enquiry into FIFO/DIDO have been useful, says Chairman Tony Windsor. Moranbah, Mackay and Brisbane have just hosted public sessions of the national enquiry that concludes in June. The face-to-face meetings were to gather more information than that presented in the more than 100 written submissions provided to the Regional Australia Committee. It also gave the opportunity for senators on the committee to ask questions. But Isaac Regional mayor Cedric Marshall was one disappointed with the short time MP Tony Windsor and the committee spent in the region, especially Moranbah. “They don’t need to be fly-in one day and fly-out the next, otherwise we may as well have it down in Brisbane, Sydney or Canberra, wherever they come from,” he said. “They could spend a week here just driving around, just seeing the issues. A fly-in, fly-out inquiry is not what we want.” Mr Windsor believes the meetings were worthwhile though. “This has been an insightful trip. It has been invaluable to the inquiry for the committee to see first-hand the impact that FIFO/DIDO has on regional Queensland communities,” he said this week. “We have been able to hear from communities affected by the use of FIFO/DIDO workforce practices and now the committee
will have the opportunity hear the other side to the story - hear from those who are working in or involved in the resource sector.” The last Queensland hearing was staged in Brisbane with the Local Government Association of Queensland rejecting the approval granted by the state government for BMA Cavel Ridge Mine’s change from a 70 per cent FIFO/DIDO workforce, 30 per cent residential workforce, to a 100 per cent FIFO/DIDO workforce. It describes this change as going directly against the advice and decisions of the local council. In its submission, Vale warned that the policies which call for mandatory percentages of local residents to be employed has the potential to prevent valuable resource projects from occurring. Moranbah is seen as the town most affected by FIFO/DIDO. By the end of this year it is expected to have more FIFO workers staying in dongas than full time ratepayers. Isaac Regional Council figures show 19,800 non-residential workers now live in local accommodation villages or on mining sites and that will grow to about 28,224 at some time this year. The council has 23,000 permanent residents living within its boundaries. The final report from the hearings will comment on the extent and projected growth of FIFO/DIDO work practices and well as the provision of services, infrastructure and housing availability for FIFO/DIDO employees.
News
132nd EDITION. 2012
Research cash to probe blast fumes POLLUTION produced by mine blast fumes is to be investigated through a $360,000 industry research grant. Queensland’s Safety in Mines Testing and Research Station (Simtars) will do the study that has been funded by the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP). New shot-firing rules were drawn up in Queensland last year, after workers were exposed to fumes at several coal mines. Queensland Commissioner for Mine Safety and Health, Stewart Bell, said the research would mean a better understanding of blast fumes and reduce any potential risks to workers. “All explosions generate noxious gases and it is accepted worldwide that post-blast fume events will never be fully eliminated from the mining industry,” Mr Bell said.
“All mine blasting operations in Queensland are closely monitored by trained observers who record the colour of the fume clouds, their direction and distance travelled on the mine site. “However, there is little information available about the levels of pollutants within the fume clouds. Only one previous study in the world, conducted in the Hunter Valley in 2006 has attempted to measure them directly in the air above the blast site.” Six industry seminars in key mining centres have also been staged across the state to educate workers about new blasting rules and how to manage post-blasting fume events. The 18-month research project starts later this month and will measure fume clouds directly in the air above 30 blasts and target situations that are most likely to cause high fumes.
The yellow/orange/red colour in fume clouds is caused by the gas nitrogen dioxide. While this gas will be the main focus of the research nitric oxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide gases will also be measured at ground level. A spectrometer will be used to measure different wavelengths of ultraviolet light from the sky as a fume cloud crosses its path, and use that data to calculate the amount of nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide present. The size of each fume cloud will be measured by photography and the temperature measured using an infrared camera. Instruments will also be located on the ground further downwind of the blast to measure other pollutants. The Simtars study aims to provide high quality measurements of pollution levels in the fume clouds and how these vary with the colour and size of the clouds. It will also measure the temperature of the fume clouds to better understand how they mix with ambient air in the atmosphere. For each colour cloud at specified size ranges, the corresponding range of nitrogen dioxide will be calculated. Once the research is completed, Simtars will provide a detailed report to ACARP and present the results and recommendations to industry seminars in central and southern Queensland.
FAST NEWS Another coal port near Gladstone? A Brisbane-based company is looking to buy land at Yarwun, near Gladstone, to build another coal export terminal. Tenement to Terminal (3TL) wants to purchase 130 hectares of land, and a bid to start exporting from the site by 2017. The company is partowned by mining minnow MetroCoal. Wellknown industry identity Everald Compton is chairing the terminal proposal, and says $2 million of engineering and planning work has already been done. He said the project was on target for a 2017 opening. -----------------------------------------------
Families help others through study A STUDY into the impact of fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) and drive-in, drive-out (DIDO) on families with teenagers has signed up its first Queensland families. Western Australian researcher Jacinth Watson is gauging how teenagers cope with the FIFO/DIDO lifestyle as part of her thesis through Edith Cowan University. Ms Watson said in the past week she had received enquiries from several Queensland families keen to be involved in the study. Families still interested can contact Jacinth Watson via email at jacinth.watson@ecu.edu.au. -----------------------------------------------
More houses for Moranbah UP to 2000 new house blocks will be made available over the next 10 years in Moranbah. Isaac Regional Council passed a resolution to develop the housing lots at its meeting last Tuesday to ease housing pressures in the town. The development will potentially increase Moranbah’s full-time residential population from 8500 to almost 15,000. The subdivisions are part of the Belyando Estate which is the last large parcel of land available in Moranbah for residential development. The land was purchased in 2008 and has the potential to provide between 1500 and 2000 house blocks. -----------------------------------------------
Gladstone examines development The Gladstone Region Economic Development Conference is to be staged from March 29 to 30. GAPDL Chief Executive Glenn Churchill says there is a great range of speakers lined up and tickets are now available. The two-day event is expected to sell out quickly with the attraction of great speakers, a harbour cruise, networking events and many announcements and projects being unveiled. Tickets are $465 + GST for GAPDL members and $655 + GST for non-members. More information is available from 07 49724000 or gapdl@gapdl.com.au
Page 5 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012
News
132nd EDITION. 2012
Greenpeace - not grassroots groups - the enemy: QRC QUEENSLAND’S coal industry has already been sabotaged by an anti-coal campaign designed to disrupt and delay key projects, according to industry leaders. It has been revealed that anti-coal campaigners, led by Greenpeace, are seeking international funding to stop new coal projects with litigation and by manipulating community groups. The full funding proposal can be read here: https://www.qrc.org.au/_dbase_upl/stopping%20the%20australian%20coal%20 export%20boom.pdf The Queensland Resources Council’s chief executive Michael Roche was scathing in his assessment of the plans. “These groups are our ideological opponents, they are not interested in talking through the issues, their goal is to do their best to stop the sector in its tracks,” he said. He said there was already clear evidence of the campaign being put into practice in Queensland - and pointed to the Friends of the Earth court action against Xstrata’s
Wandoan coal project in the Surat Basin. “There are examples of large mining projects tied up in the courts, and that is straight out the Green play book. “Look what they are saying around ports and the Great Barrier Reef. “We all want the reef to be protected, it is an absolute international treasure, but Greenpeace are certainly using emotiveness around the subject to try and target legitimate port expansion projects and that comes straight out of this manual.” Mr Roche said the anti-coal campaigners were fundamentally different to grassroots community and environmental groups. “These are a very different breed to genuine community groups with real concerns about their environment and local community in regards to specific projects. “Of course the industry must continue to engage with those groups, and genuinely consult with them about developments that have a real impact on their lives.”
Greenpeace has taken on the coal industry before such as through protests at Hay Point. The organisation is seeking funds to oppose new coal developments.
UNESCO visit best for coast THE visit to Gladstone by UNESCO officials to assess the impact of industry on the world heritage listed Great Barrier Reef is positive for the country, says a local environmental advocate. Ian Herbert, a member of the Capricorn Conservation Council, said there was an expectation the visit would lead to positive outcomes. “We are definitely hoping a lot is achieved through the visit,” he said. “One outcome could be the strategic assessment of the whole Queensland coast aimed at coal and other heavy industry.” He said industry needed to be contained to existing locations and ports. Two UNESCO inspectors were in Gladstone last week to meet with industry, conservation groups and community representatives. They also toured Gladstone Harbour before visiting other locations on the reef late in the week. The visit was prompted by UNESCO expressing “extreme concern” over the Queensland and federal governments’ approval of liquefied natural gas development at Curtis Island. UNESCO is the organisation that listed the reef on the World Heritage register. The organisation will release a report on its findings, in particular, into the concerns in Gladstone over fish deaths and water quality. It is well documented that sections of the
Gladstone community, including fishermen, put the blame squarely on industry. A class action has been lodged on behalf of anglers by Shine Lawyers. The delegation’s report will be presented to the World Heritage Committee which will then determine if the site is in danger. Premier Anna Bligh says she is confident the delegation would express confidence in the state’s environmental standards. “I think we’ve got a very good track record of getting it right,” she told media. “If they’ve got insights that we can learn from then of course we want to hear about that. “(But) what I think they will find is a very impressive set of government regulations that protects this reef at a level beyond anything that you would see in just about any other part of the world.” Prior to the visit the state and federal governments and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority signed an agreement to study how to aimed at protecting the unique environmental values of the World Heritage Area and the reef. Readers have the chance to comment on the terms of reference for the study which are available to view at: Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management www.derm.qld.gov.au Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority www.gbrmpa.gov.au
“We are definitely hoping a lot is achieved through the visit.” “These are a very different breed to genuine community groups with real concerns about their environment and local community in regards to specific projects.”
Page 6 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012
Activists charged over protest PAINTING graffiti on a coal carrier is a sure way to gain attention and that’s just what three Greenpeace protesters did last week in Gladstone. All three have been charged by police with wilful damage and possessing graffiti instruments after painting reef in danger in large white letters. They had gone to the side of the ship in inflatable boats and filmed the act which was shown across mainstream media on Wednesday night. The protest co-incided with the visit to the city by UNESCO officials assessing the state of the Great Barrier Reef. The charged trio were among eight who took part in the dawn raid. The two-person UNESCO team is in Australia for 10 days to see first hand reported threats to the Great Barrier Reef
World Heritage area, including the expansion of ports including Gladstone. Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner Julien Vincent was on one of two inflatable boats used to targeted the coal carrier early on Wednesday. He said UNESCO officials must understand the depth of community concern about the future of the reef, particularly from the gas and coal boom which was driving massive port expansions along the coast. “We need a constant reminder that the reef is in so much danger from the massive, out-of-control coal boom,” he said. Fanny Douvere from UNESCO’s World Heritage Marine Program on Tuesday said the Great Barrier Reef was at a crossroads. She declined to make any other comment. Details of when the charged will appear in court have not been released.
News
132nd EDITION. 2012
Rio globetrotter takes top award A Brisbane woman whose global role takes her from Mozambique to Namibia, the USA and back again has won this year’s Queensland Resources Council Resources Award for Women. Fiona Nicholls, Vice President – External Relations for Rio Tinto Energy is the only female member of Rio Tinto Coal Australia’s executive committee. She is also one of three women on Rio Tinto’s global Energy product group executive committee and has recently been appointed as a board member to The Brisbane Institute. Fiona, who began her career in the resources sector in 1987 with Santos as an environmental officer, was appointed General Manager Environment with the Rio Tinto Group in 1997. In 1999 she was posted to London to take up the position of General Manger Social and Environmental Reporting. She returned to Melbourne as General Manager Sustainable Development for Rio Tinto’s energy product group in 2002 and in 2006 was appointed General Manager External Rela-
tions for Rio Tinto Coal Australia. Fiona was appointed to her current global role in 2010. “Mining is an exciting industry and I enjoy the opportunity to lead, challenge and drive my team to think outside the box and continue developing and implementing meaningful programs that strengthen our social licence to operate,” Fiona said. “Diversity in the workforce is something that is necessary in order to enable an environment committed to improving the way we work and adapting to new issues and ideas. “Rio Tinto has more than 2400 employees in our Brisbane offices, and 17 percent of these are female. “This is a big improvement on past years, but we recognise that there’s still more work to do.” Carolyn Hillard, Manager Engineering Technical, Sedgman was runner up to Fiona with Carolyn Collins, General Manager Environment and Water, Arrow Energy and Bryony Andrew, Development Manager - Mount Isa Copper Operations, Xstrata Copper each highly commended. QRC Chief Executive Michael Roche said the awards, along with the annual International Women’s Day breakfast
Overall winner Fiona Nicholls and Rio Tinto Energy CEO Doug Ritchie.
had become pillars of QRC’s Women in Resources Action Plan, aimed at improving the attraction and retention of women in the resource sector. “Over the next decade, under a full growth scenario, we will need an additional 40,000 skilled people to service 66 new resource sector projects representing capital expenditure of 142-billion-dollars,” Mr Roche said. “It’s vital that we encourage women, who are still significantly under-represented in our ranks, to enter and, importantly,
remain in our sector.” The 20010-11 survey of QRC member companies shows women represent 11 percent of employees in “non-traditional” roles, such as engineering, trades operators and senior management, compared with 6 percent in 2006. The awards and breakfast, run in partnership with voluntary networking group Women in Mining and Resources Queensland, attracted a crowd of more than 600 at Brisbane’s Sofitel Hotel.
Page 7 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012
Road trip
Challenges aplenty for Show me the money: businesses suffer despite boom Two speed economy shops are closing as the mining boom ramps up.
Peter Maguire.
JACARANDA Court in Dysart is dead. This shopping arcade, tucked between an apartment block and the ubiquitous Bowen Basin building site, is completely empty and almost every shop - including the butcher and doctor’s surgery - is closed.
“The owner didn’t renew our lease because he is knocking all this down to build accommodation,” the woman at the DVD shop tells Shift Miner Magazine. “This is the only place still open - but it will be gone at the end of the month and there is nowhere else to go.” This is the Isaac Regional Mayor Cedric Marshall’s hometown and he has seen a lot of changes since he moved here in 1974. “We don’t have a butcher any more,” he says. “When his lease ran out he couldn’t get another place.” The mining boom has done nothing for local business, according to Capella businessman John Hallam. “What distresses me is that what is happening in Capella is now happening to Springsure and a bit in Alpha.” “We had a couple of little shops here, and they have gone. I find it very worrying that businesses are closing and people have nowhere to go. “The grocery store closes on the weekend because it can’t afford to stay open. It’s now easier for people to drive to Emerald.” But even Emerald is suffering. As we arrive on our road trip to look for lunch, everything has shut early because it is so quiet. Despite it being early afternoon, there are few places to eat because everyone has closed their kitchens early.There aren’t that many patrons.
Businesses are having a hard time trying to attract and retain people because of the rising rents and few can compete with the mining salaries, says Central Highland Mayor Peter Maguire. “Woolworths and Big W are struggling to get enough workers to come here. So if big companies like that are having trouble getting people, small businesses certainly aren’t going to survive,” he says. “I can see more and more of them downsizing or closing up and they will probably go and work for a coal mine as well.” In Moranbah’s town centre, there are at least seven businesses closed or for sale: Boalywood Shoes, Kardoe in the Square, Dress Boutique, and Central Highlands Embroidery Workwear and Safety. What was once a kebab shop is completely empty. Other businesses seem to be limping along - there are signs hanging for reduced work hours. The Fruit and Veg bar has a note on the glass doors stating it is closed at this time because there is only one person to run it. The number one problem facing the region and impacting on local business is the lack of accommodation. “The lack of affordable housing for families and key staff is the straw that has broken the camel’s back,” says Lyn Busk, from the Moranbah Traders Association.
Businesses are not closing because they are not profitable. Many long-term employees from the surrounding BMA mines are on the cusp of retiring and are deciding to retire earlier so they can take advantage of the high housing prices. “The wife or partner is most likely a key employee and volunteer within the community, and their decision to move as is their prerogative - takes at least two of our most precious, and experienced resources from within the ever decreasing pool of workers we currently have,” Ms Busk says. Many businesses are already offering above-award wages, housing and flexible hours to try and attract and retain staff, she says. Potential employees are calling the shots - they either don’t have to work, are not willing to do some jobs, not willing to work outside school hours or wanting to work the same shifts as their partner, she adds. “Some long-term businesses are not able to sell due to either high cost of premises, rent, or lease not suiting the potential buyer.” But out of the ashes has risen a new type of business. On the side of the main road in Dysart, near a mining camp eyesore, is a van selling fresh fish and beef. A local from a nearby town has filled the butcher’s shoes, and now takes a van and services the towns in this region. Text us your thoughts on 0428 154 653
Capella businessman survives through vision IT is a jarring sight. One moment, there is nothing but the Gregory Highway in front of you and beautiful farming land to the side. Next is a tiny strip with a shop, a pub and a petrol station - all of which you could miss if you happened to close your eyes for five seconds. Once you stop - slap bang in the middle of this commercial strip is a brand new motel that would not look out of place in a swank Sydney suburb. This is Capella, a small Bowen Basin town that epitomises the resources boom - a sleepy rural community colliding with frenzied mining activity. At the entrance to the town is a huge area under construction - a multi-million dollar investment of the family behind the Dooleys pub. Who would have thought that the iconic inner-city Brisbane pub brand would make an appearance in the middle of Capella? Local businessman John Hallam has seen it all: mining in its infancy, the global financial crisis, the boom.
Originally from Springsure, John made Capella his home more than 30 years ago when the mines started, and began an earth moving business. Over the following years, he set up a petrol station, a motel, an auto-electric business and now a cafe. “When BHP owned and operated the mines, people worked normal hours and we had a vibrant community.We had a footy team,” he says. “When the drought hit and the GFC, that really made people pull their belts in. Mining stopped, everything stopped. Not even grazing people stepped into town. It was very scary. But that is business - it goes up and it goes down.” Now Capella is going through another phase. “Billions of dollars is going out of this region, but nothing is coming back in,” he says. There is a lack of affordable accommodation, with rents and house values sky rocketing. Rents can be up to $600 a week and one home reportedly sold for close to a million. It’s not so attractive for families anymore. Shift mining does nothing for Capella, John
Page 8 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012
says. The vibrancy has dimmed. Businesses are struggling and many have gone bust. In 1977, the town had a general store, doctor, TAB, pub, cafe, post office, five petrol stations and several stores selling groceries. Today, the only advance is a pharmacy but gone are the four grocery stores and petrol stations, the general store and the doctor. “If you want to survive you need to diversify. I have four businesses and the newsagent has about the same. Is that what you call progress and a mining boom?” John’s thriving auto-electric business ran into difficulties two years ago when his autoelectrician left due to ill-health. Despite offering a good employment package with above industry wages and free accommodation, he could not compete with the mines. “That is the problem in this whole region. People come and work until they get their HV licence, and then go and work in the mines. We can’t compete with $50 an hour.” With no auto shop, John could have called it a day. But in February this year, his new
Johno’s Cafe: John Hallam’s vision to diversify has kept his business alive.
business venture launched. The auto shop has been transformed into a coffee house, where patrons can find a quiet corner to relax. John remains a grease-and-oil man at heart; despite moving into hospitality, he continues to walk around his hotel and cafe in his work boots and light blue work shirt. “I’m one of the lucky ones who had the vision to diversify a long time ago and had several irons in one fire and to invest in commodities people need,” he says. “But I find it very worrying that businesses and people have nowhere to go. We are slowly going backwards.”
Road trip
Bowen Basin FROM PAGE 1
With Bowen Basin communities sagging under the rapid rate of resource development Shift Miner Magazine journalist Inga Stunzner pulled on the workboots and grabbed the car keys for a three day road trip. The stories she uncovered show inspiring people trying to make the most of tough conditions in their community.
Towns battle growing pains
The sign says it all.
There appears to be two very different worlds co-existing but not interacting - locals and non-resident workers. During our overnight visit to Capella we saw how the streets of this tiny township were virtually empty, when suddenly a bus appears and deposits a team of men in high vis gear on the side of the road. Moments later, after the men, tired and dirty from work walk into their accommodation, the street returns to quiet. When we meet the Central Highlands mayor in Emerald, the usually gregarious Peter Maguire appears exhausted and resigned.
Yes, this is an issue, he sighs. “Fly-in, fly-out or drive-in, drive-out is not an ideal situation, but camps are a fact of life,” he tells us. “We would certainly rather people living in the communities, but I guess it’s a lifestyle choice. “Not everyone wants to live in Emerald or Blackwater; they want to work here but they want to raise their families somewhere else.” Not to mention the skills shortage, which is forcing mining companies to look beyond local labour to fill jobs. “The resources sector will tell you they are having trouble attracting and retaining people so they have to go out of the region.” Finding a bed is a virtual nightmare. Mining camps are full to the brim, motels booked out and caravan parks closed. “We have people camping all over the place,” said Cr Maguire.
“It’s not legal but there is nowhere else to go. Most of them are here doing work other than in the mines – driving buses, working at the local retail shops. They can’t afford to pay the rents.” The council is forming a housing company, but it doesn’t have the capital or resources to build anything and there is little available land. Most is tied up in state government reserves or native title. But the issues go beyond housing. Health services cannot keep up with demand, schools can’t compete with bigger centres and childcare spots are as rare as hen’s teeth. But is there hope on the horizon? As the state election dominates headlines, both major political parties last week announced they would use mining royalties to top up services in the region. Premier Anna Bligh says Labor has a $300 million kitty over three years, and the LNP
has promised $170 million over four years, moving to $100 million annually after that. But neither side has released exact details on what will be funded - or where. Next door to the Central Highlands, in the Issac region, the mayor Cedric Marshall says over a rushed coffee they could easily chew through $100 million a year on their own to brings roads and essential services up to scratch. “This is mining heartland,” he said. “The state government gets money from this area, but we aren’t seeing it returned.” “These proposals need to be carried out in partnership with local government to organise where the funds are spent. We don’t want decisions to be made out of Brisbane.” For more details on what both sides of politics are promising the region, turn to our election special on page 12. Text us your thoughts on 0428 154 653
Severe staff shortage at Isaac council THE Isaac Regional Council is 71 employees short and it is going backwards, according to the region’s mayor Cedric Marshall. “The majority of the vacancies are for outside workers; we can’t get road workers, we can’t get the towns mowed. We are going backwards,” he said The situation is complicated by a lack of accommodation and office space, so even if
the council could find the numbers there is nowhere to put workers. “If we get the partners of miners, then it solves the housing shortage, but we then don’t have the office space,” Cr Marshall said. The council has been looking outside the square to overcome the problem, and even bought a childcare centre as a means of retaining employees.
Cedric Marshall
Page 9 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012
SHIFT
MINER ladder
GET WHERE YOU WANT TO BE
Hail Creek unveils new apprenticeship programme Five new apprentices have started careers at Hail Creek Mine after the operation launched a new apprenticeship programme in partnership with local training and apprentices employer MRAEL. Rio Tinto’s Hail Creek mine currently provides funding support to enable four businesses within the local region to offer apprenticeships. However, for the first time, the operation
has teamed up with MRAEL to provide its own programme, which this year consists of four diesel fitting apprenticeships and one electrical apprenticeship. The programme includes a boot camp-style training programme over eight weeks, which the apprentices are currently undertaking, and includes theory and ticketed qualifications to have mine-ready apprentices.
MRAEL apprentice specialist Suzanne Pambid said over the four-year course the apprentices will be exposed to all areas of the mine as well as exposure to external companies, such as suppliers, to develop skills they can’t get on site. Electrical apprentice and local resident Chloe Dutschke-Nobes said she has strong career ambitions and has also applied to study at university this year while completing her trade. “At school I really enjoyed electrical systems subjects so it wasn’t a difficult decision for me to apply for this apprenticeship,” Chloe said. “I’ve also applied to CQUniversity so I can complete an Associate Degree of Engineering while I complete my trade, which will take about two years part-time.” Diesel fitter apprentice and local resident Brenton Goode said his father was a positive influence in his decision to enter the mining industry through a trade career. “My dad was a truck driver at a mine so
mining has always been a part of my life,” Brenton said. “I’ve been on some of the big trucks and draglines before but I am looking forward to learning how they actually operate, which I believe is going to create many opportunities throughout my working career.” Hail Creek Mine general manager operations Rowan Munro said he was pleased to offer the apprenticeship programme for the first time. “This is the first time we have offered an apprenticeship programme of our own, and we look forward to these apprentices joining our 800-strong workforce,” he said this week. “In the past, we provided funding to enable other businesses in the region to offer apprenticeships instead to increase their number of skilled workers. “It is a great initiative and we look forward to continuing to offer annual apprenticeships from now on to help build the skills capacity of our operation as well as continuing to support the wider community.”
“This is the first time we have offered an apprenticeship programme of our own, and we look forward to these apprentices joining our 800-strong workforce.”
The five successful new apprentices that have started at Hail Creek Mine this year. (Back row, left to right) Brenton Goode, Hail Creek Mine maintenance superintendent Darrel Joyce, Jolene Battersby, James Olive, (front row) Jeremy Tetley-Bishop and Chloe Dutschke-Nobes.
Page 10 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012
SHIFT Creative genius in the house? MINER ladder
GET WHERE YOU WANT TO BE
NOMINATIONS are now open to recognise the best out-of-the-box thinking in Queensland’s mining and quarrying industries. The Queensland Mining Industry Health and Safety Conference will be held in August in Townsville and, as always, will include the prestigious Innovation Awards. Last year’s top honours went to the MMG Century mine team and their creation the Strongback Power Lift. The device removed the need for a tradesman to carry out dangerous work under a bulldozer to pull off or re-fit belly guards. Instead, the Strongback Power Lift moved along a track to fetch and carry the 200 kilogram guards via a remote control. Entries are now open for this year’s competition, and submissions will be whittled down to 10 finalists who will all present at the conference before the final judging. Submissions will be marked on: the problem or initiative; the solution; its benefits/effects; its innovation/originality and whether its application can be transferred across the industry.
BMC
Guidelines can be downloaded from the conference website: www.qldminingsafety. org.au and entries close Friday June 15.
Century mine’s Rod Dugmore accepts the award at the 2011 safety conference. Nominations are now open for 2012.
The future is BMC. The future is yours. BMC’s strong focus on our people means we value the contribution of every individual in our team. We offer a dynamic culture, new equipment and modern camp facilities, family-friendly rosters and outstanding training and development. Situated near Moranbah (close to the Whitsunday Coast), Poitrel Mine is an open cut coal operation embarking on an exciting growth phase. We are currently offering the following opportunities: BMC
BMC
BMC
Mining Operators
Diesel Fitters
Auto Electricians
Ref No. 741392
Ref No. 741393
Undertake maintenance to optimise availability & capability of heavy mobile equipment. Mechanical trade qualifications mandatory, mining experience desirable.
Provide technical support to maintenance of plant & equipment. Relevant trade qualification mandatory, mining experience desirable.
Ref No. 741396 Effectively operate site equipment such as: trucks, dozers, excavators, graders & loaders. Heavy equipment operation in mining desirable. BMC
BMC
Servicepeople
Tyre Fitters
Ref No.741394
Ref No. 741395
Optimise capability of mobile & field equipment to enhance planned maintenance and reduce downtime. General mobile & field servicing experience in civil or mining desirable.
Perform repairs & servicing on mobile & field equipment tyres in a timely & efficient manner. General mobile & field servicing experience in civil or mining desirable.
To apply please visit: http://jobs.bhpbilliton.com and enter job reference number as quoted above or call 1800 700 509
Page 11 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012
Y O U R V OT E
WINNING CQ HEARTS Royalties pledged - but where and who? AS the state election campaign heats up, both sides of politics have committed “royalties for the regions” funding pledges - but the details of both plans are sketchy. While Queensland’s unprecedented mining boom is employing thousands and underpinning the state’s economy, the social costs for towns hosting the boom is high. A severe housing shortage, and out-of-control rental prices is crippling Moranbah - where many local businesses have been forced to shut up shop. As yet, neither the Premier Anna Bligh nor the LNP Leader Campbell Newman has travelled through any Bowen Basin towns during the election campaign. But last week, both revealed their plans for the region - using mining royalties to fund the commitments. Mr Newman was the first cab off the rank, using his campaign launch to reveals his plans to invest $170 million into resource communities over the next four years, growing to an annual ongoing $100 million a year fund. The Resource Community Building Fund will be used to deliver infrastructure like supplementary health and education services, community centres and sporting facilities. The LNP will also inject $285 million over four years into improving roads in resource regions. Fighting off the copycat tag, a day later Anna Bligh announced a $300 million “Royalties for our Re-
gions” scheme in Mackay. The money would be provided over four years and builds on a $100 million funding chest committed to mining towns several years ago by the Labor government. However, the exact details of the new programs have not been made public, leaving big questions for people in the region as to where the money would be spent - and on what. “It is positive, but the figures they are equating with at the moment are funds we [Isaac region] need immediately to make up for the lack of funding we have had over the last decade,” said Isaac mayor Cedric Marshall. The Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche - who has actively campaigned for money for mining towns alongside local councils - said it was crucial the new funds were targeted. “We want to hear, firstly, that this is additional money and secondly, that it will be channeled into communities that most in need,” he said. “Our focus is very much on the communities that are hosting resource operations, and then among those communities are those that are particularly suffering growing pains. “We want to see the money injected there because, selfishly from our perspective, we want people to go and live and work there.”
Labor
LNP
Mining towns
Royalties for our Regions • $300m over three years. • Councils bid for funding. • All regions outside Brisbane and south-east corner eligible. • Funding for non-core infrastructure.
Resource Community Building Fund • $170m over first four years, then $100m annually. • Funding infrastructure including supplementary health & education services, community centres and sporting facilities. $285m for roads in mining regions.
Education (through mining royalties)
Mines to Minds • $2.5b education trust that would see 50 per cent of LNG royalties spent on education and training. • Includes $4000 education/training scholarships for year 12 graduates from 2015.
Coal seam gas
Regulation on the CSG industry introduced by the Bligh government: • New land access laws that ensure the rights of landowners in their dealings with resource companies. • Template contracts that set out guidelines for compensation for landowners. • Banning the deliberate use of BTEX chemicals in the fraccing process. • Making it compulsory for CSG companies to give ten days written notice before they carry out activities like fraccing. • Creating a CSG-LNG Enforcement Unit.
Set up a Gasfields Land and Water Commission to manage the coexistence of rural landholders, regional coomunities and CSG industry. New mandatory requirement that compensation agreements be made public. Establish a Gasfields Community Leaders’ Council (local govt, industry and community leaders) to ensure government spending matches community needs and priorities.
Mining & development moratorium
Strategic cropping laws introduced • To stop mining and development on best cropping land. Green Corridor • Consider banning CSG and mining within nature reserves to create a 2200km green corridor in se Qld.
Fast-track land use plans in the Scenic Rim region to rule out CSG and mining in areas deemed inappropriate.
Training and skills
Skills Queensland set up December 2010 as overarching body
$86m for 10,000 additional apprentices over six years to meet the skills shortage. Set up a Skills and Training Taskforce to reform and revamp the system.
Carbon & mining tax
In support
Opposed
Meet the candidates: what would “We must remember there are two types of mining families. I think mining families need a real choice about whether they want to be resident families or FIFO families. I don’t believe they are always being given that choice. For mining families living in Bowen Basin communities, the biggest need is to address housing, both for families and for workers in the retail, government and other service industries. Without these workers towns just can’t function. Health, education and policing are also key areas, as are roads into these townships, which have far too high an accident rate. The LNP’s Royalties for the Regions and Roads to Resources policies provide the funding and the strategies to tackle these problems head on. For FIFO families, I would like to see the medical needs of camp residents better addressed and I think we need to be assured that accommodations are appropriate in type and cost.”
“I am proud of my record, fighting for better outcomes for Mackay and delivering on the important issues for our community. I have a strong vision for Mackay’s future and will continue to deliver the infrastructure, education and community services needed for this growing region. Investment in local infrastructure and services continues to be a top priority for Labor in Mackay. I have fought for our community, which is why in this year’s budget $650 million was allocated to the Mackay region. In this region we’re spending over 25% more per person on infrastructure this year, compared to the SEQ. My record shows I have delivered for Mackay and I will continue to do so.
Vaughan Johnson, LNP Member for Gregory
Tim Mulherin, ALP Member for Mackay
Page 12 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012
“My priority is to make sure the safety legislation is strong and broad enough to give confidence that every miner is able to go home to their families at the end of a roster or shift. Money is no substitute for potential injury or worse. In my times as a diesel fitter in the mines I also came to understand the need for security of employment for miners. The ability to be able to plan with certainty to buy a house or other major item is sometimes made more difficult by the range of employment or contract conditions offered.” Bruce Young, LNP candidate for Keppel
It is very clear that the explosion of the mining industry has an adverse impact on families and communities surrounding the mines. If elected, I will put pressure on the mining companies to behave in a socially responsible way. These companies are exploiting the resources that belong to all Australians, and while they make huge profits, they give back very little in return. I will lobby the companies for the provision of decent affordable housing, and support for the industries and small businesses that are suffering because of employee wages difference. I will use my influence to ensure that manufactured products used in the mines are locally sourced. I will push for the mining companies to provide apprenticeships for their employees. Currently, skilled workers are drained from other industries, attracted by the inflated wages paid by the mining companies. Christine Carlisle, Greens candidate for Mirani
Y O U R V OT E
& MINES
The state election fast approaches, but what does it mean for mining families in CQ? Shift Miner Magazine’s Editor-At-Large Alex Graham takes a look at what is on offer from both sides of politics.
Are mining seats too safe to count? OF the 10 electorates that criss-cross central Queensland’s key mining and industrial centres - and their feeder satellite communities - only three are marginal. The rest lie firmly in the hands of experienced politicians from both sides, by the sort of margin that must make south-east Queensland political aspirants giddy with envy. The western mining electorates of Callide and Gregory are safely in the LNP camp - with Jeff Seeney and Vaughan Johnson needing swings of 19.4 and 14.3 per cent respectively to knock them off their perch. The seat of Dalrymple, which includes the town of Moranbah, is held by LNP defector and now Katter’s Australian Party faithful Shane Knuth by a margin of 14.4 per cent. On the other side of politics, the seats of Mackay and Rockhampton - where the vast bulk of mining and industry workers live when they’re not at work - are safe Labor seats. Current Bligh government minister Tim Mulherin has a stranglehold on Mackay
(16.7 per cent) and while long-time minister Robert Schwarten is retiring from the seat of Rockhampton, he leaves a virtual guarantee for newcomer Bill Byrne to win, with a swing of 17.3 per cent required for it to change hands. Meanwhile, Gladstone is held by the longserving Independent MP Liz Cunningham, who should retain the seat comfortably. The real contest will be in Mirani, which is held by the LNP’s Ted Malone by such a slim margin that only a 0.6 per cent swing is needed for change. He is running against the well-known former Labor MP Jim Pearce who has thrown his hat back in the ring, and has spent the past 12 months campaigning with the unions about a range of issues facing mining towns. The seats of Burdekin and Whitsunday will also be key seats to watch. With only three marginal seats in the entire wider CQ region, it begs the ques-
tion - do either side of politics really need to take any notice of mining issues when it comes to campaign pork barrelling and policy announcements? Or are they as politically irrelevant as they are distant from George St, Brisbane? Griffith University political expert Paul Williams thinks so. “This region is not hugely significant to either side,” Dr Williams told Shift Miner Magazine. “Put it this way, those people living in mining towns who are on modest wages like local teachers and local business owners, they shouldn’t hold their breath for either side to make big promises. “While Campbell Newman is talking about the cost of living in very general terms, he is just tinkering around the edges. “Neither side has released anything comprehensive, both have been scant on policy details.” However, CQUniversity’s resource economist John Rolfe said the recent announce-
CQ SEATS - MARGINAL Mirani LNP 0.6% Burdekin LNP 3.1% Whitsunday Labor 3.2% CQ SEATS - SAFE Gladstone Independent 6.1% Keppel Labor 7.6% CQ SEATS - VERY SAFE Gregory LNP 14.3% Dalrymple Australian Party 14.4% Mackay Labor 16.7% Rockhampton Labor 17.3% Callide LNP 19.4%
ments from both sides about pouring royalties into the region is an encouraging start. But he has warned the details are still largely unknown. “The danger with politicians is they give with one hand and take away with the other,” he said. “What has not been made clear is if this funding is on top of other programs or not. “In other words, if it’s a total net addition or something that sounds good but in the end won’t change overall spending.”
you do for mining families in your electorate? “The LNP Royalties for the Regions program means communities hosting major resource projects (eg Abbot Point) will receive direct, long-term royalty benefits – a guarantee of better planning and targeted investment in community infrastructure; in roads and in flood mitigation projects. With an initial investment of $170 million over four years, the Resource Community Building Fund will build to inject $100 million a year in the direct delivery of improved social infrastructure such as supplementary health and education facilities, community centres and sports facilities. Mining families are an important part of the Burdekin Electorate!”
“My plan as a senior member of a strong, united Campbell Newman-led LNP government is about providing improved training and job opportunities, and a better deal on infrastructure and services for resources industry workers, their families and local communities. The LNP has a strong, clear plan for the mining and resources sector. Our Resources and Energy Strategy commits us to providing certainty for the industry in return for the world’s best social and environmental outcomes. Mining families, and our communities will benefit from better infrastructure through our Royalties for Regions initiatives for investment in roads, social infrastructure and food security.”
“MACKAY families desperately needed a fresh start in 2012 – a new local Member to listen and represent them in parliament. Mackay had suffered badly under Labor, we’ve been grossly neglected. The LNP has real policies for planning, infrastructure, reducing costs to families, building roads and helping new mums with babies to ensure the best start in life. I will fight to ensure families can settle in the region with affordable housing prices. I will fight to get Mackay’s fair share of funding and services which has been ripped away from the area while Labor has taken Mackay for granted.”
All families in the Keppel electorate need and deserve safe roads, first-class health and educational facilities and infrastructure. Labor’s Strengthening Regional Communities’ Policy will provide $300 million over four years to meet these needs. A re-elected State Labor Government also plans to build the best-educated, most highly-skilled workforce in the World. Already, Queensland has the highest skills’ level for 2024yo Australians. Through From Mines to Minds, a multi-billion dollar Queensland Education Trust will be established using 50% of the State’s royalties from the LNG Industry. Every student who graduates from high school in 2015 and onwards will receive a $4,000 scholarship for further study or training.
Rosemary Menkens, LNP Member for Burdekin
Ted Malone, LNP Member for Mirani
John Kerslake, LNP candidate for Mackay
Paul Hoolihan, ALP Member for Keppel
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.
Michael Bailey
Greg Cary
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Page 13 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012
around town 132nd EDITION. 2012
Hi-ho, Silver!
Forget about FIFO. It was a case of HIHO (horse-in, horse-out) at the Bluff races last week. A good time was had by all. And we also have some wonderful photos from the Bluff multicultural rugby event last month.
Johnboy, Bob and Smithy
Wayne and Karen Conaglen
Jamie Hawkey, Hayden Latchford and Josh Ingram
Melody Busiko, Claire Swaffield, Daniell Vipen and Ashley Low
Teisha Ingram and Breeana Weight
Olivia Hamilton and Tayla Martin
Stacey Mackie and Luke Litz
Corey Hoolihan and Wren Donohue
Maddison Hatton and Maddison Brown
Haylee Dwyer and Nicky Dalton
Kristy McLaughlin, Dee Power & Nicole Murray
Marion McNeil and Annette Hodgens
Heidi Goodwin, Dee Power & Joy Fernie
Wayne and Jean Murray
Darryl Chong, Paula Gibson
Haylee Davis and Tegan Cochrane
Kerry Anderson and Marion Watson
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.
Page 14 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012
around town 132nd EDITION. 2012
Sun shines on Moranbah childcare
Simply Sunshine Childcare Centre organised a Mock Casino night and raised $1270 for the centre. Simply Sunshine wishes to thank major sponsors: Hutchinson Builders, Moranbah Mini Earthmovers, Anglo American - Moranbah North, Dyno Nobel, The Workers Club, Resource, Spartan, Isaac Regional Council, Modular Mining, Scope Mining, CFMEU Peak Downs Lodge, PI Technical, Mastermyne, The Cochrane Family, Sacchi and Morris Catering.
Toni Haim and Makayla Rowland
Racheal Whitson, Samantha Favnes, Demi and David Treloar
Jack Meers and Taylor Zillmann
Elizabeth McLeod and Melissa Patterson
Belinda Moloney and Denise Bleakley
Trysett and Ross Cochrane
Pat Condon and Gary Robertson
Lauren McCulloch, Kerryn Nicholas and Cathy Mackie Dianne and Bert Heitbaum
Vanessa and Glenn Cafferky
Renee Daley and Michelle Relton
Karlie Cummins, Josie Barron, Anne Eaton and Leslie Connolly
Shay Nicholls and Nicki Corkill
Bryan and Heidi Fagan and Michelle Smith
Steve and Kerensa Burke
Donna Ormiston, Miranda Dempsey and Julie Taylor
BUY THIS AND MANY OTHER IMAGES AT
www.shiftminer.com Shift Miner magazine – bringing the mining community closer together Page 15 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012
stuff to the editor
“Bogged on the job” Sent in anonymously
132nd EDITION. 2012
Stuff to the Editor Well, isn’t it funny how contractors in the mining industries “talk the talk” on safety yet when on the job that all goes out the window? I have been in the mining game for over eight years and always worked for contractors as a multi-skilled operator. In the last year or so, large numbers of green operators are being employed as the industry ramps up its production. This is a good thing to let more workers into the industry as we earn good money and people can set themselves up financially. The problem I see every day is that these poor people who have no idea of mining rules and regulations - and the dangers - are being taught to do what they are told by supervisors who don’t care about them and safety just about targets and bonuses. These greenies think that the supervisors are telling them the right way to do things, and are breaking safe practises. When experienced operators explain why they cannot do these things the supervisors mock and discredit us so the inexperienced operators won’t listen to us and we lose credibility with the trainees. When we approach the supervisors, they tell us to shut your mouth and mind your own business. We take it further to prevent the accident, or God forbid, a death of a work mate. But then we are punished like children and demoted to operating dump trucks until we reform to what they want. They cover up injuries so they don’t have a LTI (lost time injury). I have seen people with bad backs dragged into work looking like they are in so much pain. Yet the fear of losing their job keeps them quiet. The fear and intimidation method is ramped in the contractor scene. Duty of Care. WHAT DUTY OF CARE? When you raise the issues of safety you are branded a trouble maker. Then they move
you on and then black band you from other sites to teach you a lesson. I don’t care about being sacked but I do worry about losing a work mate just so the super can get his bonus. Contractors have their own safety men but the problem is they only care for the company, so no-one cares for the crews. This is a major problem. Contractors have their own trainers who do a less than acceptable job of training these poor greenies. They pass them out to drive on their own in as little as 11 hours training. This is a danger all of on its own. Crew trainers are pressured to pass them out and sign them off competent whether they are or not. So what are we to do? We have nowhere to go. Mine OHS officers try but the contractors make out we are trouble makers so they cover up the paper trail as the mining companies have no idea what is going on. It is very bad and deliberately not reported in any form. Mine inspectors try to help but the contractors don’t keep hazard reports. The supervisors throw away the hazard reports they don’t want to address - and there are no duplicates. I try to teach all new operators to keep a diary but most think it is a waste of time and don’t understand that one day soon they will have an accident and the company will blame them even though the supervisor told them to do it. I have been lucky I was taught the old school way and I fully understand my safety as a whole, not just the bits some one wants me to know. I have a conscience but does anyone else? I could not live with myself if I was one of the quiet ones who won’t speak up. If I can save one person from getting hurt them It has been all worth it job or no job. [Name withheld]
Got something to share? Send us your text messages or phone photos to 0428 154 653 Or email to greg.sweetnam@shiftminer.com
Redmond’s Rants The Grim Reaper When the Grim Reaper finally comes I will say, before you take me first sit and have a drink We will have a little drink and things will be alright Or maybe we will get rollin’ drunk And into the gutter we will fight. You missed me all them other times
SEEN SOMETHING WE HAVEN’T? Prizes for the best mining photos. Take it on your phone or camera and send it in
Text to 0428 154 653 alex.graham@shiftminer.com
FROM THE EDITOR THE resources industry in Queensland is evolving and expanding so rapidly it’s hard to keep up. So it’s no surprise then that this week Professor John Rolfe of CQUniversity has described the current rate of expansion and development as akin to that of the gold rushes that made vast amounts of wealth for this country. Like the first rush the second wave of investment, growth and activity brings opportunity and challenge. No where is this more evident and critical than in the towns and camps where workers and their families live alongside those working in businesses that service the mining industry. The greatest issue for companies, government and individuals is to ensure that the rush doesn’t leave people behind. Skyrocketing rents and lack of accommodation are tough enough to deal with but many Central Queensland centres also have a shortage of doctors, police, nurs-
es, barmen and butchers. The problem is complex. Recently the Shift Miner team pulled on the workboots and drove a lot of kilometres to visit several communities and speak with many locals over a coffee or cold drink and found there are leaders with the drive to overcome the social problems brought by the rush. The communities, lead by local government, can find simple solutions to improving their existence but they need help and support. More has to be done by industry and government to assist communities with a co-ordinated, long-term plan to ensure everyone benefits. The gold rushes made people wealthy. They also broke people. It’s everyone’s problem and if more isn’t done quickly to address the pressures faced by Central Queensland the legacy of this rush will be the families, businesses and communities that were swept away.
Greg Sweetnam
The musings of a CQ miner... You missed me at Longreach by only one inch. You missed me when I flipped that broken truck.
in CAPITALS upon top of your list. I will go to shake his hand
How about a final song to help me on my way?
Then kick him in the nuts
Who is Redmond?
For in your Grimness you misjudged Lady Luck
Call him a son of a bitch
And while I’ve got you here answer please to me,
I cannot forever avoid his glare,
Redmond was born in a cross-fire hurricane and now resides in Queensland. Former Golden Glove champ turned champion shearer, his shearing career was cut short when he entered the adult film industry and made 3467 films in three months. He now enjoys semi-retirement and lives happily on his 100,000 acre property with his seven wives. He has received the annual Golden Pen award from the Writer’s Guild four years in a row in the Truth Telling category...
For the friends of mine you chose too soon. While I can name a dozen you clearly missed, names that I would have drafted
Page 16 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012
And kick up a fuss.
So unto him I request For a green apple off my mother’s tree, Before I’m chosen to take my final rest.
FAIR DINKUM 132nd EDITION. 2012
Fair Dinkum! ON THE WEB - A recent investigation revealed that internet giant Facebook has been ‘spying’ on smart phone users. Facebook admitted to accessing the personal messages of smart phone users who had downloaded the Facebook app in order to obtain data for the possibility of launching its own messaging service. The investigation also revealed that some apps are apparently able to intercept phone calls, while others, such as YouTube, are able to remotely access the user’s camera at any time. A recent poll indicated that 70 per cent of smart phone users don’t read the terms and conditions before purchasing an app. IN THE US - A Pennsylvania school has banned students from wearing the iconic Aussie ugg boot to class. The students were apparently using Australia’s favourite footwear as a means of sneaking mobile phones and other contraband into the classroom. The school says that the ugg may be worn, but that students must change into other footwear before going to class. This decision has parents up in arms, with one mother claiming that she can’t afford to keep buying her daughter, “A whole heap of shoes to change into every day.” IN BRITAIN - A TV gardener has shared his secret for stopping flowers from wilting - dosing them up with Viagra. It was an Australian study that first revealed Viagra had the potential to double the life of cut flowers. The sex drug contains Nitric Oxide,
e h t k n a Fr Tank’s
“Streakin” good love advice
It could not be confirmed whether opposition leader Tony Abbott would choose Viagra over aspirin to perk up his plants.
which relaxes blood vessels and increases blood flow to the penis. Nitric Oxide also enables plants to ‘turn on’ their immune system. The British TV gardener advised that if Viagra is too hard to come by, soluble aspirin will also have a similar effect on flowers. IN GERMANY - A retired chemist recently took a 64-year-old tub of lard to a health authority who deemed it fit for human consumption. The man received the lard as part of a post World War II aid program, along with some noodles and milk, but didn’t simply want to throw the lard away, having never opened it. Despite the fact the lard was lacking in odour, of gritty consistency, and difficult to dissolve, it was deemed very much fit for human consumption by current standards
“Some apps are apparently able to intercept phone calls, while others, such as YouTube, are able to remotely access the user’s camera at any time.”
Quality doesn’t have to mean slow Mining, Earth moving, Hydraulics and Agriculture
Transport
General manufacturing and Fabrication
Motor sport, boating and leisure
M: 0448 243 343 E: darylweng@gmail.com
Well, Pete, you’ve made a step in the right direction by asking for my advice. What a lot of men don’t know is that you don’t have to be good looking to get the girl; it’s all about working with what you have. For example, you’re five foot two and weigh 60 kilos - you’re perfectly placed to lie to women about being a Melbourne Cup-winning jockey. That’s sure to make any lady swoon, and what’s more it furnishes you with a virtually endless list of horse-related sex puns. Women are also inexplicably attracted to men with stories about overcoming hardship to become grounded well-adjusted adults. Next time you’re out at the pub, choose the right moment to announce to a group of women that your diminutive stature is the result of your mother injecting heroin directly into her womb for a more dangerous high.
Sensible Susan
Specialising in the timely delivery of on-spec components for your business.
www.dweonline.net
Dear Frank, I’m five foot two and weigh about 60 kilos. That means most women look down on me - literally and figuratively speaking. There must be other skills I can develop to make up for what I lack physically? I figure you are the man to ask, given your vast array of life experiences, and your ability to always get the girl. Pete, Rockhampton
dwe Daryl Watson Engineering
Pete, It sounds to me as though you’re a little too self-conscious.
They’ll be so moved by your struggle as a heroin-addicted child that you’ll pretty much have your pick of the bunch. If storytelling isn’t your thing, you can always try the knight-in-shining-armour angle. Pay one of your mates fifty bucks to come along to the pub with you for the purpose of hassling your prospective woman. Once the woman is thoroughly sick of your friend’s slimy advances, you step in and pretend to knock him out. She’ll be so caught up in this fairytale moment that you’ll have no trouble whisking her off to the backseat of your car. If you fancy yourself a businessman, you could try getting into the highly competitive field of drug dealing. Over time you’ll build an amazingly dependent client base who’ll do anything to support their habit. However, I feel I should probably waRn you, drug dealing is a dangerous business, and at five foot two and 60 kilograms, prison is probably not the place for you. If you’re not interested in any of the things I’ve suggested, here there is one more thing you could try. I heard about a fantastic medical clinic in Russia that performs operations to make people taller; I think it’s some sort of knee lengthening. If you’re that worried about your height you could always try that, however, you might be better off staying five foot two and having something else lengthened. Frank
Not every woman out there wants a six foot four bodybuilder; everyone is different. My advice to you is to try and work on your self-confidence. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and meet new women. Most ladies are looking for qualities beyond the physical in a man (i.e. personality), so try to keep that in mind, and above all, be confident! Susan
If you have a question for Frank and Susan Email Us at: franksusan.shiftminer@gmail.com
Page 17 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012
CHEV PACK FOR SALE CAR,TRUCK & TRAILER Only 1984 Chevrolet Monte Carlo factory S/S drag car LQ $XVWUDOLD VHOO VHSDUDWH $35,000.00 *0& &KHY 6HOO VHSDUDWH 2005 18 foot full tilt beaver tail tandem trailer– FREE with package sale Package Price $65,000.00 Phone 07 5424 6694 CLASSIC FOR SALE Chev 1955 factory right hand drive two door wagon V8 three speed manual with overdrive,All new upholstery New whitewall tyres,All new glass and chrome,New fuel tank,New cd player and speakers, $49,500 Phone 07 5523 0330 or 0409 209 246 BOAT FOR SALE Australian Lightweight Sharpie No. 727 Kevlar Hull, sails and spars in good to excellent condition, comes with registered trailer and beach trolley Beautiful to sail $3,900 Phone: 0428 154 653 PLOUGH FOR SALE Grizzly S24 plough very good condition new bearings discs about 1/2 worn located near rocky. $17000 plus gst ono. Phone 0429 948 198
MOTORBIKE FOR SALE HARLEY DAVIDSON 100th Anniversary XL 1200s Sportster Sports. Always garaged and covered. Windscreen, saddle bags, cruise control. Plus many extras. All original parts keep. RELUCTANT SALE. 14500 km\’s. Lady owner $13500 ono Phone Sue 0427570619 CLASSIC FOR SALE 1970 ht Holden ute immaculate original condition F\OLQGHU VSHHG PDQXDO ¿UVW WR VHH ZLOO buy $26,950. Phone : 0422 377 385
CAR FOR SALE 2002 Ford F250 XLT King Cab 4 X 4, 7.3ltr turbo diesel/gas. Vic. rego March 2012. $8525$ VOLGH RQ FDPSHU fridge, 4 burn gas cook, HWS. Double bed, ext shower, water, deep cycle batteries, 800W inverter, loads storage. STACER boat 3.9m 25HP motor, $80,000 Phone: 0417 587 425
Nissan Atlas Crane Truck
$TXDULXV IW
988 model, 79,000 k 4495 GVM, Tadano 2T crane P XQGHU KRRN
07 4941 7147 or Phone: 0427 824 880
Phone 0447 031 588 LAND FOR SALE Land for sale, Hervey Bay. Turtle Cove Estate. (OHYDWHG KDOI DFUH ÀDW EORFN ZLWK GHJUHH views of Fraser Island. Cannot be built out. Underground power, phone and water at front RI EORFN PLQV WR $LUSRUW PLQ ERDWUDPS DQG barge to Fraser. About 10min to Town. ono. $262,000 ono Phone: 0411 098 241
Page 18 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012
6HPL UHWLUHG TXDOLÂżHG WUDGHVPDQ \HDUV
Passionate about cars and attention to details Kit Cars. Classic Cars and racers
&DOO QR VPV
BOAT FOR SALE *HQXLQH KUV Only used in FRESH water. Mercruiser Black Scorpion 330hp Engine with MPI. Meticulously serviced and cared for. Craftsman made excellence for the serious skier/ boarder. Phone: 0418 794 525. JET SKI FOR SALE 08/09 Honda F15GPX Turbo 3 Seater 1500cc Turbo 3 Red Genuine Honda Lifejackets 85hrs $15,500 ono Phone: 0447 606 727 JEWELS FOR SALE
Collectors Item
Phone: 49 854462
much more. Immac cond.
or
Gladstone. $155,000 ono.
LAND FOR SALE
Phone: 0437 657 433 COMBINE FOR SALE
HOUSE FOR SALE
Rural land 15 min cbd
24 run Horward bagshaw
a/c modern home on
combine 12 new 12 old hoses ram rebuilt good condition.spare boots.
mob 0400 320 970 Fully furnished fully 7.5 acres 500 metres from Midge Point beach, 2 bedrooms 2 HQ VXLWHV ODUJH RIÂżFH or 3rd bedroom large carport 3bay shed fully
sell seperatly POA
$3000 plus gst.
equipped workshop
Phone: 0447 031 588
Phone 0429 948 198
Phone 0428 476 001
HOUSE FOR SALE SUNSHINE COAST SACRIFICE Buy before 30/4/2012 Get $10000 govt bldg boost Brand New impressive Level, 4bed 2 bath, DLUG, Fenced, Side access Room Shed/Van Nth EntertWalk shops/school Fantastic Buy Offers NEAR $400,000 Ph. 0409 055 062
HOUSE FOR SALE House on 40 acres near Agnes water QLD. Unique pavillion style home, 4 bedrooms 2 bathrooms with 9x12 shed/ carport. Partially cleared and fenced, waterhole and a small dam. Large deck and breathtaking views. 15 km from surf beach and town of 1770. $510,000 Phone: 0400 797 075
HOUSE FOR SALE Agnes Water, 4
QHJRWLDEOH IRU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ
zodiac, RFD, 5 berths, 300 lt freezer, air con &
$13,500
NEED HELP WITH YOUR CAR PROJECT?
bow & stern thrusters,
needed to drive
$520,000 the pair will
and 25 minutes to 7x7 mine.
Flybridge cruiser, chart plotter, radar, auto pilot,
shower, toilet, 250 lt fridge,
and house sites
solar, good water, millable timber.1 hour to bundaberg
BOAT FOR SALE
RWC, Only car licence
lots good grazing land
1200 acre property with modern 3 bedroom home,
CAR FOR SALE '2'*( 5$0 SLT Lonestar Edition Heavy Duty 5.9L Cummins Turbo Diesel Allison auto trans. Wood grain inserts 5th wheel hitch, tow bar 4 door dual cab Dula Wheels 104000klms $89 000 obo Phone: 0432 429 264
CAR FOR SALE 4X4 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LTZ Z71 Crew Cab 3LFNXS / 'XUDPD[ Diesel Engine, Allison Transmission 75,354klm, leather LQWHULRU ÀDZOHVV RQH owner vehicle loaded with options. $89,700egc. bdunne151@gmail. com CRANE TRUCK FOR SALE
proserpine 2x200 acre
ACREAGE FOR SALE
GEARBAGS FOR SALE AUSTRALIA’S TOUGHEST Ideal for Shift Workers Superior quality canvas gearbag. Duraproof canvas, internal zip up pockets, reinforced seams, heavy duty carry handles & zip, 7mm s/s G ULQJV ZDWHUSURRI DQG 89 resistant. $209 plus P&H www.bilja.com.au Phone: 0407 027 565
acres, 3 Bed, 2 Bath. 3Metre verandah’s, Carport, 4 Day Shed, Fenced yard, Dam. 7.5 k to town and beach $485,000 Phone: 0409 254 525 ROADHOUSE FOR SALE Condamine Roadhouse. Western Downs Coal seam gas hub Local & tourist & mining trade Freehold roadhouse w 3 bd house. ,GHDO IDPLO\ WRZQ school ,sports facilities, ¿VKLQJ VNLLQJ FDPSLQJ lagoon nearby.all offers considered $895K negoitable Phone 07 4627 7106
HOUSE FOR SALE Eungella, 90 mins from Mackay. (FR DUFKLWHFW GHVLJQHG award winning 3 bdrm home on 5 acres, 2 yrs old, 4 bay shed, stunning views. Adjoining optional 174 acres of improved pasture also for sale. $749,000. Phone: 0420 104 278
HOUSE AND LAND FOR SALE 6HOO DFUHV 3URVWRQ DUHD TXLHW FRXQWU\ JHW away suit cattle, horse, poultry, ex contract piggery. 3Brm partly renovated home. Photos & details our website: http://countrymilefarm.webs.com/ Phone: 0741689226
.pdf 2010
OFF SHIFT 132nd EDITION. 2012
1
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5
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by Bernard S. Jansen
ACROSS
8
1. Chewing
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5. Hurls out
11 12
5 minute fiction
9. Identification symbols 13
10. Spread of eight notes 12. Huge election win
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13. Stoop
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14. Sharp twinge
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17 19
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16. Dabbles
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19. Cowboy movie
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24. Florida city 25. Exaggerate
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27. Baghdad natives 28. Sea floor (5,3) 29. Lubricant 30. Scaled
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1. To wit 2. Revealing
8 6 2 4 7 4 5 7 1 8 3 4 7 5 4 1 3 5 7 4 6 MEDIUM
3. Pork cuts 4. Scolding repeatedly 6. Fold (of truck & trailer) 7. Fearfully 8. Having no pips 11. Amount owed 15. Public facilities 17. Doing breast-stroke 18. Increase rapidly 20. Naked 21. Betrothed men 22. Blow-up mattress (3,3) 23. Hoed 26. Ease off
# 20
LAST EDITION’S SOLUTIONS GR A B B I NG U N I O T H I NN E S T T M G T E N AMOUR E R L I A B E L S G R P L A C A RD A N I A WAGON ME N R W S I C E C A P Q N N V GR E T E L C
E D I T
R E X S T R A D H I T U E
D R A T B C E U E A L R A ND
G# A 19 RD N I AGE S R P B I D E E N R S T S T E T A A A L L S L T S I E R E A I D L Y
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4 6 2 1 7 5 9 8 3
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Rent control
I’m going to have to move house,” said Tim, as he and Al sat down. They had both just cracked open their tinnies. A gentle afternoon breeze had picked up, making Tim’s patio area the place to relax. “Why?” said Al. “You get evicted?” “Rent rise,” said Tim. He took a long drink of beer. “Fifty-dollar-a-week rent rise.” Al whistled. “That’s steep.” “Too right. I’ve always paid more than what’s fair for this place, and the landlord keeps gouging it for everything he can.” Al shook his head. “Keep tellin’ ya,” he said. “Rent money’s dead money. You need to buy.” Tim shook his head now, and sat up straight in his chair. “I don’t want to.” Al shrugged. “I shouldn’t have to.” Al shrugged again. “We came here to do a couple of years in the mines, save some cash, and get out. I don’t want to make that kind of financial commitment; I shouldn’t have to. Rent should be a realistic option.” Al said, “Should be, but it’s not, is it?” “No it’s not. There should be a law against it.” “A law?” said Al, “Against high rent?” “Yeah.” “How high?” “Whatta ya mean?” “How would you set the rent with a law,” said Al, “If you had your way? How do you set the maximum rent?” “I don’t know,” said Tim, “I’m sure there’s a way. They must do it other places.” “I’m sure they do. But I own a house,
and shouldn’t I have the right to set the rent when the lease is up?” “But only if it’s reasonable. Not like my landlord did. But he’s losing his tenant.” “He’ll have someone else in here the day after you leave; you know that. And probably paying more rent then what you’re not willing to pay now.” “That doesn’t make it right! I don’t mind freedom, and supply and demand, and capitalism, but this is profiteering!” Al smiled as he finished his beer. He put the empty on the ground and got up to go to the bar fridge. “What’s the difference between capitalism and profiteering?” “It’s a fine line.” “It is. You want a beer?” “Is the pope catholic?” Al laughed. “Don’t change the subject.” He took two beers back to his seat, and passed one to Tim. “Ta.” Tim sighed. “I don’t feel like moving again, I really don’t.” “Is it worth fifty bucks a week?” “Too right it is. It’s a matter of principle. I just don’t know if I can find a place for the price I want.” “Supply and demand,” said Al. “Supply and demand.” “You’ve got a rental property in town don’t you Al?” “Sure do.” “Don’t happen to be looking to change tenants soon, are you?” “I am actually,” said Al. “I just put the rent up fifty bucks a week, even though it’s below what I could get, and the tenants’ve given notice to leave.” “Idiots,” said Tim. He cracked open his beer, and it made a hiss. “Can I have it?”
Bernard S. Jansen is 33, married has three young boys. He lives in Emerald, works as an engineer at a local coal mine and is active in his local church. Read more of Bernard’s writing online at surgebin.blogspot.com or email him at bernard.jansen@gmail.com GOT AN IDEA FOR A STORY? Let Bernard know - email him at bernard.jansen@gmail.com or hop on his blog surgebin.blogspot.com
Page 19 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012
OFF SHIFT 132nd EDITION. 2012
Bait shop Banter YEPPOON THE weather has kept holding people ashore over the past week and it looks as though it will be blowing in again this coming week. So heading up the creeks for a few barra is probably your best bet, according to Adrian from the Secret Spot. But if you do get off shore, there are fish to be found. “There are Queensland mud crabs coming out of Corio and Coorooman and a few blokes have brought in some big ‘uns that are a couple of kilos each.” At Farnborough and Kinka beaches there is plenty of whiting. “Coorooman Creek has a new pontoon and people have been going there and catching blue salmon, flathead and bream. “If anyone is fishing there, though, the pontoon is there to assist with the boat ramp so I’m not sure if you’re allowed there.
If you do go, be courteous to the traffic,” Adrian advises. Finlays Reef, which is not too far out, has been a good spot with a few grunter and the odd black jew. “There have been a few good catches at 40 Acre Paddock. And Hannah’s Rock is another good spot.”
If you want to be inspired to get out on the water and experience fishing at its best, put the dates in your diary. You can pick up copies of the Bass to Barra Trail Publication, the Gladstone Region Fishing Guide, and find out more about Queensland’s premier fishing eventthe Boyne Tannum Hook-up.
Gladstone
Mackay
If you love wetting a line or catching a massive muddie, and you want to hear grand tales of the one that didn’t get away, then head to the Queensland Tinnie, Tackle and 4WD Show in Brisbane later this month. Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Ltd (GAPDL) is the Gladstone Region and Banana Shire’s greatest fishing experiences, marine explorers, publications and destinations are being showcased at the Queensland Tinnie, Tackle and 4WD Show in Brisbane from 23-25 March.
We are back into the small tides, which is better for fishing, says Bruce from Nashy’s Compleat Angler. “In the creeks you will be targetting grunter, flathead, bream, whiting, cod, barra and trevally. They are pretty much you can expect to catch,” he says. If the weather is suitable for getting off shore, you are looking at red fish: nannagai, trout and lipper. “It’s a bit early for mackerel, but there is a hint of Spanish mackerel about, but you’ll
Tide Times
March
MACKAY Gladstone
Time Ht
Time Ht
If you have a good photo or fishing yarn send it through to our resident bait chucker-
angus.peacocke@shiftminer.com
With Mike Griffin
Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht
0553 0.89 0027 4.03 0128 3.81 0247 3.66 0418 3.68 0538 3.84 0014 1.26 1154 3.76 0647 1.20 0758 1.45 0928 1.53 1056 1.39 1205 1.15 0636 4.02 1759 0.89 1248 3.43 1356 3.15 1523 3.03 1656 3.14 1808 3.39 1255 0.94
1845 1.19 1951 1.45 2124 1.56 2258 1.47
1901 3.63
0113 5.51 0206 5.24 0315 4.97 0445 4.88 0619 5.06 0106 1.46 0208 1.15 0738 1.22 0837 1.62 0959 1.89 1143 1.83 1308 1.48 0730 5.37 0822 5.60 1330 4.85 1430 4.35 1554 4.01 1737 4.01 1904 4.34 1408 1.10 1454 0.85 1946 1.05 2041 1.43 2202 1.72 2341 1.72
2003 4.72 2049 5.00
Mon 19 Tue 20 Wed 21 Thu 22 Fri 23 Sat 24 Sun 25 MACKAY Gladstone
Share your tale about the one that didn’t get away.
Your weather forecast
Mon 12 Tue 13 Wed 14 Thu 15 Fri 16 Sat 17 Sun 18 Time Ht Time Ht
have to wait a couple of months.” There are quite a few crabs skipping around so it’s worth putting the pots in, and the creeks north of Mackay seem to be doing well. “We are all looking forward for some good weather for Easter so we can all get out there and have some fun,” says Bruce.
Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht 0106 1.05 0149 0.92 0224 0.84 0258 0.82 0328 0.84 0357 0.91 0425 1.01 0723 4.12 0801 4.15 0834 4.12 0904 4.05 0933 3.94 1001 3.80 1027 3.62 1337 0.80 1414 0.72 1446 0.70 1516 0.71 1543 0.76 1606 0.85 1628 0.98 1943 3.81 2019 3.92 2051 4.00 2122 4.05 2151 4.05 2220 4.02 2249 3.93 0258 0.95 0338 0.88 0413 0.89 0445 0.94 0515 1.03 0542 1.18 0609 1.38 0903 5.69 0939 5.66 1011 5.57 1041 5.43 1108 5.24 1134 4.99 1158 4.70 1533 0.75 1607 0.74 1637 0.77 1703 0.82 1727 0.90 1750 1.03 1811 1.23 2128 5.16 2201 5.26 2232 5.32 2301 5.35 2329 5.33 2356 5.24
Page 20 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012
Severe Storm Hits Middlemount/ Bee Ck/Collinsville Week 1 - The early autumn saw storms late on the 6th Mar light up the Coalfield skies. A semi zigzag line of storms started near Taroom and Duringa then moved north. Isolated severe storms (flash flooding gusts over 90kph) hit Middlemount/Upper Bee Ck. Then Collinsville on Thurs. Some falls (mm) of note: Middlemount 94, Upper Bee Ck. 86, Kulumur Range 56, Collinsville 55, Moranbah 45, Craigmore 40, Taroom 25, Bogantungan 22, Roundstone Ck. 21. Temperatures maxed at 36C just before the storms in the northern Coalfields. Then a cooler drier breeze with afternoon humidity around 35% bracket; gave some relief to the previous high humidity. A low which caused extreme rainfall (300-400mm) at Teddington Weir and flooding from Tiaro/Gympie moved north and sits off the Central Coast. This is helping develop good rain for the coast north of Bowen. If the high pushes out the East Coast Low (ECL) off NSW, which caused flooding and a tornado in Sydney, towards
NZ. Then cooler conditions should start the week. A coastal shower may reach the eastern Coalfields. Then the cloud in the north could move south causing more humid and unstable afternoon thundery conditions; later in the week. Boaties! The fresh SE winds with squally showers could push seas up to around 2-3 metres before easing midweek. Watch the north for something developing off-Bowen. The south may be a safe haven. Week 2 - The SOI after falling to +0.7 has now risen to +4 inside a week. This may indicate the Monsoon Trough (MT) is not over yet. If the MT heads south warmer humid conditions could herald afternoon storms later in the week. Watch closely as the creeks and rivers may flow again. Some models are indicating a strong chance of a deep low developing in the MT off the WA coast. This could affect further development in the east. Marine people! If a moist NE’ly steps up then the sea could produce a good swell; and coastal showers. Watch for late evening storms Thr/Fri near the coast north of Stanage Bay.
What’s happening in sport in your town? All the tried and noted riders from mine sites near and far As many as 400 motocross riders are expected to descend on Blackwater this weekend in the first round of the CQ championships. It’s the first time Blackwater has hosted round one of the series, and organisers say the course is in near-perfect condition for racing. The Blackwater event will be an important litmus test for riders of all ages hoping to make a mark on this year motocross series. Organiser and vice president of the Blackwater Junior Motorcycle Club Shane Morgan said people are coming from just about every corner of the state. “We have riders coming from all over the Bowen Basin and from places like Charters Towers, and the Sunshine Coast,” he said. “Registrations are still open, but we are expecting between 300 and 400 riders.” ‘There will be junior riders between the ages of five and 16, as well as the seniors and veterans.” “So it should be an exciting weekend of thrills and spills.” “We had a hit out in the Central Highlands Inter Club meet a fortnight ago and the track was in the best shape we have ever seen it.” “Some of the feedback from riders was that it was the best track they had ever seen.” Off the track the massive event is expected to pump lots of money into the Blackwater community with more than 1000 people possible, when supporters and families are taken into account. “There are full camping facilities, the admission is $10, and there is a bar and BBQ operating over the weekend,” Shane added. “There are some great spots to watch the action, including XXXX Hill and the Family Hill nearby in the shade.” Each competitor will have the opportunity to race at least four times over the weekend for between 10 and 15 minutes, depending on their class, and the number events they nominate for. Registrations are still open. For details contact Lynn Thompson 0467 557 010.
Mr Hooper has had extensive involvement in rugby having played in the highly esteemed NPC competition in New Zealand as well as stints in European rugby competitions. More recently he was the development officer based in Rockhampton. “The whole idea for Xstrata in funding this position is to gear rugby union to sustainability,” he said. “All the hard work by people before me means we are at the moment looking at 500 juniors.” “Which means we are getting close to a position where we can get the sport to be sustainable with out the big cash injection.” “That will be my primary role, although I will now have responsibility for QR employees in other regions as well.” Meanwhile away from the juniors, Mr Hooper has been busy finalising the details of the Central Highlands Rugby Competition, as well as coaching the senior Central Highlands representative side. The Central Highlands team is captained by
If your local club has any news or photos it wants added to this page, you can submit your articles to angus.peacocke@shiftminer.com
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Sport
Club
TRAINING START
CONTACT
Soccer
Emerald Eagles
started
0429 503 479
Rugby
Blackwater Basilisks
started
0422 941 497
Rugby
Dawson Valley Drovers
started
0427 777 781
League
Dysart Bulls
started
0438 004 926
League
Emerald Cowboys
started
49874610
League
Emerald Tigers
started
0448 154 231
Rugby
Gladstone Rugby Club
started
0418 788 551
League
Tieri Pirates
started
0438 484 875
Want your club details here? Call Shift Miner 07 4921 4333 Clermont player Blake Edwards and had their first game on the weekend against Bundaberg. Results were not available at the time of printing.
The first game for the club competition is on the 14 April with all five teams who played last year likely to field a side again.
All the motocross at Blackwater this weekend for the first round of the CQ championships
New development officer makes Tieri home The new development officer for Queensland Rugby in Tieri says his goal is to make the sport sustainable. New Zealand-born Dan Hooper has moved into the house and role-based at Tieri after the popular Joel Johnstone relocated to Townsville recently.
Apply now for funding from the Hail Creek Mine Community Development Fund Hail Creek Mine has invested nearly $1M in the communities of Nebo, Mackay, Mirani, and Sarina through our Community Development Fund since its inception in 2006. Through the fund, we proudly partner local groups and projects that deliver sustainability to these communities in skills, education, and training; employment; economic development; health and wellbeing; art and culture; and the environment. We are now accepting applications for the first round of funding in 2012. Applications close Thursday 8 March 2012.
Rio Tinto Coal Australia is proud to be part of the central Queensland community and committed to the future. To apply for funding for your local project or organisation please contact Hail Creek Mine’s business services advisor Marie Cameron on (07) 4951 6437 or marie.cameron@riotinto.com.
www.riotintocoalaustralia.com.au
OFF SHIFT 132nd EDITION. 2012
CLASSIC REVIEW
OFFSHIFT SPECIALS
BY JUSTIN CARLOS
Life is like a box of chocolates Sometimes you can measure how great a movie is in the simplest terms, for example, the extent and ease with which it has permeated popular culture. If you don’t understand what I mean by that, go outside and yell “Run, Forrest, Run�, and see how many people know what you’re talking about. Forrest Gump was released over a decade ago, but still remains a favourite among fans and critics alike. The film tells the life story of Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks), a mentally challenged man from Alabama who - through a mixture of luck, fate and love for his childhood sweetheart - makes for one remarkable lifetime. Forrest meets presidents, influences Elvis and John Lennon, fights in the Vietnam War, and becomes a multimillionaire, amongst other amazing accomplishments. It’s hard to place Forrest Gump into any definitive genre, as it manages to encapsulate almost every genre in movie history (with the exception of horror and science fiction). There are the overarching elements of
melodrama, historical fiction, war epic (if only briefly) and romantic comedy, making Forrest Gump a fairly eclectic piece of cinema history. The success of the film lies largely with the amazing performance of Tom Hanks, and the direction of Robert Zemeckis. Hanks deservedly won the Best Actor Oscar for his role as the lovable, exceptional - albeit slow - Forrest Gump. Robert Zemeckis (well known for the Back to the Future trilogy) is stellar as director, blending actual historical footage with special effects for an added element of authenticity. Perhaps the greatest testament of Forrest Gump as a film is the fact that it beat The Shawshank Redemption, which is widely considered the greatest movie of all time, for the Best Picture Oscar at the 1994 Academy Awards. If you’ve never seen Forrest Gump you’re committing cinema sacrilege, not to mention depriving yourself of the truckload of pop culture references the film gave birth to, so get your hands on a copy and remember, life is like a box of chocolates...
MONTVILLE
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Accommodation starts from $189 per night (min3nights)
Come and enjoy a private, romantic getaway in one of our tree houses and cabins in either of our two beautiful locations. 7E CAN ACCOMMODATE JUST THE TWO OF YOU OR THE WHOLE FAMILY -AX
&ROM PER COUPLE FOR TWO NIGHTS MIDWEEK ITlS THE BEST VALUE ON THE RANGE SAVE As a bonus, book the above special and you will receive s ! BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE AND CHOCOLATES ON ARRIVAL s )N ROOM BACON AND EGGS HAMPER BREAKFAST which you can prepare at your leisure s ! VOUCHER TO -ONTVILLE PIZZA RESTAURANT TOWARDS LUNCH DINNER OR A TAKE AWAY 4HAT MEANS YOU WILL RECEIVE A PACKAGE WORTH FOR JUST "OOK A THIRD NIGHT WITH "REAKFAST AND SAVE EVEN MORE $!4%3 4HIS SPECIAL IS AVAILABLE FROM NOW UNTIL THE TH $ECEMBER AND FROM THE TH *ANUARY UNTIL TH -ARCH
&2%%#!,, %MAIL INFO TREETOPSMONTVILLE COM AU 7EB WWW TREETOPSMONTVILLE COM AU ')&4 6/5#(%23 !,3/ !6!),!",%
3ALE CONDITIONS 0HOTOS ON THIS PAGE ARE GENERIC AND MAY NOT APPLY TO YOUR PARTICULAR TREEHOUSE OR CABIN 3PECIAL PRICES ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC HOLIDAYS OR LONG WEEKENDS 4HIS OFFER IS NOT AVAILABLE IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY OTHER SPECIAL OFFER /NCE BOOKED THE OFFER IS ONLY TRANSFERRABLE TO ANOTHER DATE AT THE DISCRETION OF MANAGEMENT
Numbers You Can Count On* *When audited by the CAB
M A G A Z I N E
www.shiftminer.com Proudly Audited by
For more information visit www.auditbureau.org.au
Page 22 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012
Your Health 132nd EDITION. 2012
Your Health
EXPERT ADVICE For those too busy or embarrassed to ask the important questions about their health In this day and age we are constantly bombarded with information on nutrition and what we should and shouldn’t be eating. Unfortunately, many foods that are sold to us through clever advertising as “nutritious” and “healthy” are in reality loaded with unhealthy fats/high salt, are highly processed, or full of preservatives – not exactly great for your body or longterm health! So what does quality nutrition look like? As a rule of thumb if you can buy it in its most natural form, i.e. fresh from the farm to the supermarket or fruit and vege market/local butcher, you’re on the right track to eating quality nutrition. If it’s been ground up and coated in breadcrumbs, drowned in heavy sauces and syrups, coated in sugar, deep fried/ pre-packages/cooked or frozen for your convenience and labelled low-fat ... well, I think you get the picture. If you’ve been a slave to this kind of food in the past, making small changes daily or weekly can really help you off the path to ill-health and on the road to nutritional wellness and looking and feeling great!
Eating foods that deliver quality vitamins, minerals, proteins and carbohydrates should be a conscious choice you make at EVERY meal for you and your family. A nutritious diet should consist of mainly vegetables, fruits, nuts, dried peas, bean and lentils as well as wholegrain breads and cereals. Add a daily serve of protein – fish, chicken, eggs, lean meat, lentils or tofu – plus three serving of dairy (milk, cheese and yoghurt). On a plate, aim to fill at least half of it with raw/steamed or stir-fry veges, one quarter with a protein such as grilled fish and one quarter with a carbohydrate such as brown rice. Small changes you can make this week could include grilling your chicken instead of frying it, making homemade wedges instead of buying hot chips, or taking a small container of seeds and nuts to snack on at work instead of buying from the snack machine. At dinnertime add extra salad or stirfry veges to your main meals – it will make your meals go further and deliver a nutritional punch! Until next time. Stay healthy, stay informed.
If you’ve been a slave to this kind of food in the past, making small changes daily or weekly can really help you off the path to ill-health and on the road to nutritional wellness and looking and feeling great! Tammy Farrell is a registered nurse, nutritionist and author of ‘The Real Man’s Toolbox – A DIY Health Manual for Men’. Tammy grew up in the Hunter Valley with two brothers in the local coal mines. In 2007, she started to give health talks in the Hunter, and that’s when she began compiling the book, helping hundreds of men answer questions about their bodies.
New Rice Pudding Serves 10 Rice pudding is an old fashioned favourite. Dress it up and make it modern again with adding some strawberries and coconut to the mix. It is creamy and tasty and can be quickly prepared for a sweet dessert.
INGREDIENTS: 1 litre milk 80g arborio rice 80g desicated coconut 80g caster sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla essence 1 1/2 teaspoons mixed spice 85ml cream Strawberries Cinamon Portwine 2 tsps sugar
METHOD: Bring the milk to the boil in a large saucepan, add the coconut, vanilla and mixed spice. Add the rice and stir occasionally
over medium heat for 30 minutes or until it is cooked through and the milk becomes creamy. Add the sugar and cook a further 5 minutes, then stir the cream through. Take off the heat and let cool for 20 minutes stirring occasionally. Divide into parfait glasses and top with a teaspoon of strawberries and sprinkle with cinamon. Strawberries Chop the strawberries in half and combine with sugar and a splash of port wine to cover the strawberries. Put in the fridge and soak through. When ready to serve the pudding spoon over the strawberries mixture. Tip: For a twist you could try adding passionfruit
Zest Eatery Open 4.00pm to 8.00pm daily 1300 622 222 themac.com.au CALLIOPE | COPPABELLA | DYSART | MIDDLEMOUNT | MORANBAH | NEBO
Page 23 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012
MONEY MATTERS 132nd EDITION. 2012
By Greg Sweetnam
Remote life more expensive at the till CITY life has long been considered more expensive than an existence in the bush. But rural, regional and remote communities have always paid a premium for some of life’s necessities, like food basics and fuel. It’s part of the trade off for being able to have a little extra land and live somewhere a little quieter than Queen Street. As the gap in central Queensland communities appears to widen between those working in the resource sector and those who don’t, complaints about prices has jumped. With that in mind, the intrepid team from Shift Miner Magazine set out for a first hand look at what you pay for some of life’s basics. It was an unscientific, and sometimes ad hoc, look at how shops and servos extract a few bucks more from your pocket. It was surprising and enlightening (and not just because I ate so many chocolate bars in three days that I had withdrawal symptoms on the fourth as I wondered why my favourite jeans had shrunk). The exercise on paper was simple - visit service stations to see what they charged for a simple range of goods: 2 litres of
milk; bread; 600ml bottle of Coke; a chocolate bar; meat pie; litre of unleaded petrol and diesel. In practise, it was a little more difficult with not all service stations stocking the same items; some owned by the corporates so prices were so uniform there was no difference between towns that were hundreds of kilometres apart. Nowhere topped the $4.50 flat white coffee and $4.50 cup of yoghurt at Rockhampton Airport or the $7 ham and cheese croissant at a Mackay cafe. The dearest milk price was $5.99 for two litres at the Middlemount Roadhouse where one litre was $3.50. The going rate for a Mrs Mac’s meat pie of any variety, hot or cold, was $4.50 across most of the region but topped out at $4.99 at Middlemount. This compares favourably to the $6.50 a meat pie costs from a bakery in Brisbane’s trendy riverside suburb of Bulimba. It was so expensive I wasn’t sure whether to eat it or keep it as a Christmas present for someone. Still, it tasted bloody good and it should for that money. For those of you nowhere near inner
Brisbane, we can recommend the Mrs Mac’s curry pie from your local Bowen Basin servo. Chocolate and Coke is such a high volume combo in the hotter months that almost every service station visited had deals. One Mars Bar was $3.85, but I got a second one for just 15 cents more. At Woolworths Caltex at Allenstown in Rockhampton the chocolate-and-Coke deal was $5 and two litres of milk just $2.50. Bread was cheap too at $3.69, while bread and milk together was $6. Coke on its own was $4.99 for 600ml at Middlemount and $4.20 at Tieri Caltex. Bread was $4 for a standard loaf and the meat pie was down to $4.20. In most centres $4 got you a 600ml Coke and a regular sized chocolate bar of your choosing. This was a great deal that thwarted the price comparisons for individual items. Still, undaunted we collected prices and calories along the way.
Blackwater Shell had $4.80 pies and $4.65 Cokes. The chocolate bar deal was two for $4. Bread was two for $6 and two litres of milk $4.20. Fuel often proves the most emotive of costs in the bush. You can’t do much without a car in a country town. The statewide average is 151.9cpl, according to RACQ figures. But this price can vary depending on where the day of the week and cheap fuel is still available to those who have options. At Allenstown, Rockhampton, fuel was 147.7 unleaded last week and 152.9 for diesel. At Capella unleaded was 161.5 the day we visited. Other prices from RACQ show unleaded fuel at Moranbah to be 150.2; 140.2 in Mackay; 146.9 in Emerald and about 144.5 in Gladstone. And why pay more for fuel and food in the regions? The villain seems to be simply freight, high rents and overheads that make the businesses charge more to survive.
Unleaded Bulimba - Brisbane Gladstone Emerald Moranbah
Unleaded
Capella Mackay Allenstown - Rockhampton 125
130
135
140
Unleaded
145
150
155
160
165
Meat Pie
Allenstown - Rockhampton
147.7
Bulimba
6.5
Mackay
140.2
Middlemount
4.99
Capella
161.5
Tieri
4.2
Moranbah
150.2
Blackwater
4.8
Emerald
146.9
Gladstone
144.5
Bulimba - Brisbane
146.8 Meat Pie
Blackwater
Tieri Meat Pie
Middlemount
Bulimba 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Freight, high overheads and rising rents are pushing up prices in regional servos. But some items, like a plain meat pie, are still cheaper than in larger centres.
Page 24 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012
MONEY MATTERS 132nd EDITION. 2012
Mortgages, mining and tyranny of distance and with issues like confirming identities, they can use JPs or notaries who are close to them,� she says. “It really shouldn’t be a longer lead time, and it certainly should not be more difficult.�
Bjelke Petersen Dam
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ting on the back of a ute, in order to get their finance approved. “Rosalind really fitted in with our routine, however, crazy it was,� says Mr Simmonds. “She’d come over to our house on a Sunday or in the evening. Her service was always first class.� A former Sydney solicitor, Ms Lemmey has driven bank documents to Brisbane from the Sunshine Coast herself to ensure Moffatdale they have made it there on time. This hapState School pened after an express mail bag took five days to arrive from a mining site. Telephone calls to the mine sites were often interesting too, she said, with people 9075m2 yelling orders in the background and lots 1 of machinery noise. “People working in Vineyards remote locations may be thinking it’s too hard to do the whole loan process, but it’s not,� she said. “There are ways and means of making it happen.� Ms Lemmey believes the timeline for organising a loan in a remote location should be no different to organising one in the city. “We can coordinate everything to be ready for them when they’re back in town AH MB
D ROA
If mine workers do decide to purchase a property, it often involves taking time off from their scheduled rosters and that could impact on their employment and finances. “Buying a property is probably one of the most stressful things you can choose to do when you’re working in the mines, and most of that is due to not being able to get in contact with people regularly,� he says. Shot firer Peter Davis is in a similar position. With a home base in Gympie but working either 220km away in the Surat Basin or further afield in central Queensland’s Bowen Basin, he found it difficult to investigate the various loans on offer from the banks. “Working in the mines does make it a lot more difficult because you can’t just nip into town for an hour,� says Mr Davis, who has worked seven days on and seven days off for the past six years. “And when you’re home, you’ve got other things to do. You also like to relax and spend some time with your family.� Both men turned to Aussie Maroochydore mortgage broker Rosalind Lemmey for help - she would meet them at odd hours and even in odd places, such as sit-
A BAR
Working 500km from the nearest post office or 200km away from reliable telecommunications can pose a significant barrier when you’re trying to organise a home loan. David Simmonds has been working in civil construction for over a decade and currently works for BHP Billiton in Port Hedland in Western Australia. He works three weeks on and then travels 5,500km home for a week with his wife at their recently purchased property in Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Living in a 1,200 person camp and working as a supervisor, Mr Simmonds says mine employees often compare their personal situations and that most found the mortgage process daunting and confusing. Often, they decide it is too difficult logistically to purchase a property. “It’s just so hard to sort out the paperwork from here when you’re trying to get finance for a home,� he says. “I was working two hours away from decent telecommunications, so trying to communicate with people and get things happening was so frustrating.�
2
Architect House Plans Available
3
W ERVIE WAT Architect House Plans Available
4
6300m2 4520m2 4000m2
5
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SOLD 7
6
8
2 2 4000m2 4000m2 4035m 5475m
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Peter Davis, who lives in Gympie and works in the Surat Basin, says it is hard to find the time to go through the home loans process if you work for the mines.
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Moffatdale State School Waterview Development Moffatdale
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Architect House Plans Available
2
Architect House Plans Available
3
D ROA
4
6300m 4520m 4000m 2
2
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4000m
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7
6
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Dusty Hill Winery + Prendergasts Tavern
Kingaroy
Immediate Development Dispersal - First Lot Auctioned UNRESERVED “Waterview Development� Moffatdale via Goomeri t Y 7BDBOU -JGFTUZMF #MPDLT t "MM CMPDLT XJUI LFSC DIBOOFM QPXFS t #MPDLT BEKBDFOU #KFMLF 1FUFSTFO %BN (IDEAL WATER SKI & FISHING LOCATION) t /FBSCZ WJOFZBSET PMJWF HSPWFT TIPSU EJTUBODF UP DFMMBS EPPST UBWFSO
20% DOWN, SETTLE IN 6 MONTHS PRIOR OFFERS STRONGLY CONSIDERED
Auction 'SJEBZ UI .BSDI BN Venue -FWFM &BHMF 4U #SJTCBOF BN Lex Heinemann 0417 191 491 Allan Wain Kingaroy Real Estate 0428 718 914 raywhiterural.com
BMRBRI 0803
Au
Rural
Goomeri
Page 25 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012
MONEY MATTERS 132nd EDITION. 2012
MONEY TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS
Super saving: get sorted Q: My superannuation’s been losing money lately and I’m not happy. Is switching to a self-managed super fund a good idea? A: Without more detail it’s hard to say, but it may be simpler and cheaper to move risk profile or asset classes to prevent further negative super returns. Not all asset classes are losing money, and most funds have many defensive investment options. Running a self-managed super fund brings costs and responsibilities, and you usually need over $250,000 in super
to justify starting one. Also, be careful not to lose valuable insurance benefits by rolling over benefits from your existing scheme. There are other options available to allow you to gain control over your super apart from a self-managed super fund – we suggest you speak to your adviser or super fund provider. Q: I’ve accumulated a lot of superannuation accounts and insurances over the years in various jobs. How can I sort this out?
Page 26 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012
A: Under-insurance is more widespread a problem than over-insurance, but it’s certainly possible to accumulate too much cover if you’ve got multiple super accounts. Get a financial planner to assess your insurance needs and advise which policies to stop and which ones to keep. You might save money in premiums! It’s easy to get help - gather the information you have on each fund and give it to a financial planner to consolidate them. It might cost you a few dollars, but if you don’t do this it could cost you a lot more! Q: I have two properties that I’ve almost paid off, and I’m thinking about buying a third. However I am nearing retirement age – is it too late to start another investment? A: If you have strong equity in your existing property portfolio, banks won’t hesitate to lend you money, whatever your age. But would this be advisable considering your potential retirement?
Remember, like any growth asset investment properties are for the long term. If you are borrowing to buy this property, you may not have enough of the loan repaid (and into positive cash-flow) before you finish work. Investment diversification is always smart - and this doesn’t have to mean a house. Speak to a financial planner about other investment opportunities which may be more suitable for you, considering your circumstances. Martin Hawkins is a director of FMD Financial (QLD) and is an Authorised Representative of Paragem Pty Ltd AFSL No. 297276. The contents of this article are intended as general advice only. No specific person’s circumstances, financial situation or objectives have been taken into consideration. You should not act on the information provided without seeking personal advice from an appropriately qualified financial planner.
Under-insurance is more widespread a problem than over-insurance, but it’s certainly possible to accumulate too much cover if you’ve got multiple super accounts.
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Page 27 - Shift Miner Magazine, 12th March 2012
ATTENTION: ARE YOU PAYING TOO MUCH TAX?
WONDERING WHEN YOU WILL GET OUT OF DEBT?
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