SM149_SHIFT MINER MAGAZINE by Shift Miner

SHIFT MINER The Queensland mining community’s best source of local news

Monday 5th November 149th Edition 2012

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GAS CASH FLOWS Deals shake off gloom

TWO gas deals in past days have shaken the gloom from the Queensland resources sector. With ongoing speculation surrounding coal jobs and projects in recent weeks, the huge contracts shows there is still plenty to be positive about. The sale of a $1.9 billion quarter stake between partners in the Queensland Curtis LNG project and a $100 million pipeline contract means more jobs on the horizon. BG Group, owners of QGC, stunned the market with news it will sell the $1.9 billion stake in the QCLNG project to China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) as well as additional gas from the facility once exports begin. Under this deal, and with a previous supply agreement signed two years ago, BG Group will be the largest provider of liquid natural gas to China. It will supply CNOOC with 5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG for 20 years beginning in 2015 sourced from the Group’s global LNG portfolio. This is combined with the 3.6 mtpa LNG sale agreement signed with CNOOC in 2010, making BG Group’s total committed LNG sales to China 8.6 mtpa. BG Group chief executive Sir Frank Chapman said the company was excited about the transaction. continued page 6

CHAPTER AND VERSE

News Alpha on track: GVK » page 4 News Gas to replace diesel? » page 5 News Warning on runaways » page 8 News Apprenticeships in crisis » page 13

News Greens vow to keep gates locked » page 16

Moranbah celebrates books » More pictures page 17

PERSONAL INJURY EXPERTS All accidents and personal injury claims: • Motor Vehicle Accidents • Workers Injury Claims • Public Liability Claims • Mining Accident Claims • Total and Permanent Disability Insurance Claims • Boating and Holiday Accident Claims Darren Sekac is available for consultations at the Whitsunday and Proserpine offices on Thursday, by appointment only.

Darren Sekac*

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Sport Kick it with the legends » page 21 Money Matters Mackay rents ease » page 24

5 CONTENTS NEWS 4 GVK says Alpha on track

7 Kestrel grab rescue grand slam

7 8

5 New fuel sources ahead

12 Industry not crying wolf 16

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Page 3 - Shift Miner Magazine, 5th November 2012

News

149th EDITION. 2012

GVK hits back at Alpha delay reports GVK-Hancock has downplayed reports that it is delaying its Alpha Coal project by a year as it tries to line up $10 billion in funding. In a statement to Shift Miner, GVK says it is ramping up its concurrent activities in order to meet the market demands for its coal in the latter half of 2016. “In addition to the several hundred million dollars recently committed (in addition to the $1.26 billion acquisition costs) the GVK board has recently approved well in excess of $100 million dollars, further supporting the development of its world class mega project,” it says This comes after the conglomerate’s vice chairman, Sanjay Reddy, told Reuters last week of the delay because the initial target had been too ambitious in view of the com-

plexity of the project, the first of its kind in Australia’s coal industry. He says that discussions with financiers will start taking serious shape once construction contracts are in place. Last week, GVK signed a contract worth $2 billion with South Korea’s Samsung C&T and Australia’s Smithbridge Group for a 60 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) port terminal in Abbot Point. It hopes to conclude most construction pacts by February. Barcaldine Regional Council’s major Rob Chandler told Shift Miner he had met with company representatives recently and was informed of the delay. “I am confident the project will still go ahead. It still needs the government to sign the mining lease so they can go

“I am confident the project will still go ahead. It still needs the government to sign the mining lease so they can go ahead.”

ahead,” Mayor Chandler says. Work has not stopped, he says, and the company’s second project, Kevin’s Corner, was still going ahead with its environmental impact statement. “They are ticking all the boxes and mining development is still going ahead,” he says. “I think the community at Alpha and Jericho really don’t want confusion to reign. There’s been a lot of work done getting to this part - community consultation, land-

holders have been displaced, I guess you’d call it. I would say they have a lot of contracts in place with graziers.” In the meantime, the council has an application before the Royalties for Regions under its roads package for $10 million to upgrade Alpha’s airport. This is to match GVK-Hancock’s $10 million and would be a critical piece of infrastructure for fly-in fly-out workers and for the region.

More comment sought

FEEDBACK is being sought on the environmental investigations into Hancock Coal’s $4.2billion Kevin’s Corner project. Interested parties have four weeks to comment on supplementary information to the environmental impact statement (EIS) to be released by Coordinator-General Barry Broe on this week. Queensland Coordinator-General Barry Broe says the supplementary information addresses issues raised in the 22 submissions received during the public consultation on the EIS.

“Some of the key issues raised in the submissions included the impact of subsidence from underground mining, impacts to flora and fauna, and cumulative impacts to groundwater and surface water,” Mr Broe says. To view the supplementary information on the environmental impact statement and information on how to comment, visit www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/ kevinscorner. Submissions close on December 3.

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Page 4 - Shift Miner Magazine, 5th November 2012

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149th EDITION. 2012

Gas-driven mining part of harsh new world

ENERGY giant Shell has been in discussions with Central Queensland mining companies about the feasibility of replacing diesel with gas on mine sites. Diesel is currently around a third of operating costs at most mines and that is before the $0.62 a litre carbon tax is added. Shell Australia’s Craig James says that is forcing a rethink of how mining is powered. “We are the only OECD country that is not self-sufficient for its liquid energy supplies, yet we are a massive exporter of energy sources like gas and coal,” he says. “I think they [discussions] have gone to quite senior levels, and we are working very closely with our large energy customers. “We also have alliances with Caterpillar and GM so there is quite a lot happening in

this space, although it is in the very early stages of its life in terms of commercialisation.” Mr James says the European mining sector is already trialling LNG to power locomotives and earth moving equipment. The model being considered in Central Queensland would involve processing the existing coal bed methane on site and then using it to drive mobile equipment. In principle this could already be a cost competitive alternative. However, there is a range of other practical problems that require further examination, not least of which is the size of the fuel tank required to run a haul truck on gas all day. Mr James made the comments in Emerald recently where he discussed the outlook for the mining industry in a world where conventional

sources of energy are getting harder to find. He says despite some of the pessimism surrounding the industry at the moment the overall long term demand for Australia’s key mining commodities is likely to be large. “The consensus among the international scientific community is that the population will reach around nine billion people by 2050,” he says. “To put that growth in some sort of context, that means effectively an entire new city the size of Brisbane will be built every week for the next 40 years. “We all know that in serious mining companies, the-sky-is-falling-in types of discussions are being had at the moment. “But at the end of the day when you cast your mind out, these [current economic conditions] are just small deviations on what is a non debatable trend [of increasing demand].” He says there are three harsh truths about energy in the future. The first harsh truth is that as countries like India and China modernise, their energy demand will increase at an increasing rate and this will cause a step change upwards in demand. The second harsh truth is that easy access to conventional oil and gas is behind us and we are increasingly looking for non-conventional, deeper or remote locations to source energy. And the third harsh truth is that the pressure in terms of the environment is increasing. The result of these “facts” is that a lot of non-conventional energy sources will come to the fore in the future.

Dudgeon expansion needs multiple workers’ quarters NORTH Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP) is looking at sites in Hay Point, Mackay and Sarina to house the massive workforce it needs for the expansion of the Hay Point Coal Terminal. NQBP is anticipating a final construction workforce of nearly 3000 people to build the new Dudgeon Point coal terminals over the next decade. When the expansions are finished they will increase coal exports from Hay Point by 180 million tonnes a year. NQBP has released its draft final 10-year plan for Hay Point, which replaces the pre-

liminary report released in September. In the new draft plan it says it expects the workforce to peak in 12 to 24 months. “Stage 1 requires the greatest number of construction workers, which is expected to peak at approximately 2700 in mid 2015, assuming construction starts in mid 2014,” NQBP says. “Higher workforce numbers are required for stage 1 than later stages due to the considerable amount of civil earthworks, rail development, and project infrastructure to do.” Among the other changes in the draft 10 year plan is a decision to leave the public

boat ramp in its current position after concerns were raised by the Hay Point community reference group. Of particular concern was the fact that the proposed new boat ramp location would not be accessible at dead low tide and would mean a loss of beach in front of the hotel. Other areas of concern among the local community are the location of rail lines and the planned stockyard for the new development. However, these will be addressed in the final 10 year master plan to be released in six months.

FAST NEWS Rio delivers RIO Tinto’s financial performance in the third quarter shows there is more to life than coal. The mining giant’s chief executive, Tom Albanese, revealed that copper, bauxite, alumina and titanium dioxide production were all higher than in the same quarter last year. Thermal coal production increased 21 per cent compared with the third quarter of 2011. Hard coking coal production was 13 per cent below the third quarter of 2011, due to the impact of dragline mechanical issues at Hail Creek and a major plant shutdown at Kestrel as part of the mine extension project. ..............................................................................

Major projects talkfest

THE annual Major Projects Conference is to be staged in Brisbane on November 22. Updates on infrastructure in the Galilee and Bowen basins, Queensland’s gas future and the nuts and bolts of fly-in, fly-out will be provided. Tickets are $595 per person and registration and further details are available online at www.mpc.qld.gov.au. ..............................................................................

G&S sold for cool $100m

BUYING G&S Engineering has been described as a “significant step” by the new owner’s managing director. Confirming the $100million purchase, Calibre Global managing director Rod Baxter says the acquisition was part of the company’s strategy to further grow in its bid to be a global leader in engineering services. G&S Engineering started in Mackay 17 years ago. Last financial year the company’s revenue was a reported $279million. The company has six offices in two states and about 1000 staff. ..............................................................................

ANZ predicts hard days

THE ANZ Bank has forecast that two thirds of the 950 development projects planned across Australia. A recently released research paper says a changed economic climate will mean only the best mining projects will go ahead on time. Capital expenditure between 2013-20 is predicted by the bank to fall from $759 billion to $450 billion, while the required construction and operational labour along the supply chain would drop from 310,000 roles to 160,000.

Page 5 - Shift Miner Magazine, 5th November 2012

149th EDITION. 2012

Competition for tenders to be tested by new state rules THE first round of tenders for land available for petroleum and gas exploration under Queensland’s new competitive cash bidding process has opened. The revamped process, announced at the recent APPEA conference in Brisbane, aims at ensuring more money is raised through the tenders for resources. “The new competitive process to secure exploration rights will ensure the most appropriate explorers with a commitment to

resource development secures access to available land,” says Mines Minister Andrew Cripps. The first two areas up for tender under the revised scheme are in the Surat Basin and are considered by the government to be some of the highest quality gas reserves in Queensland. Area 1 is about 75 km2 in size and located 8 kilometres west of Miles on the Warrego Highway. Area 2 is also about 75 km2 and situated about 8 kilometres south east of Condamine, east of the Leichhardt Highway.

Both areas are surrounded by existing granted petroleum exploration and production tenures and existing infrastructure. The tenders are governed by the same approvals process that applies to all applications for coal, mineral, petroleum and gas exploration permits, including land access laws. Preferred tenderers will be recommended by an evaluation panel of senior officers from the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Projects Queensland and the Department of State

Development, Infrastructure and Planning. A tender document has been prepared which contains detailed information on the geology of the two areas, other land uses that exist in the two areas, the tender process and application requirements. It’s available from the www.mines.industry.qld.gov.au/mining/competitive-cash-bidding.htm website. Expressions of interest for the competitive cash-bidding tenders close on February 14 at 2.30pm.

Gas giant awards $100m pipeline contract

QLNG project director Mitch Ingram says work on gas field development would expand rapidly over the next year, providing excellent opportunities for local companies to bid for work and ensure more jobs for locals. “Local communities are reaping the benefits of our spending on the construction of infrastructure for our QCLNG Project,” Mr Ingram said. “This is just one example of a business that will offer employment to local people and use suppliers and service providers in the Western Downs, spreading the economic benefits more broadly. “We have spent more than $400 million in the Western Downs region between Toowoomba and Roma and there is much more to come.” Work on the pipeline will start immediately and will provide employment for about 250 people, with Murphy Pipe and Civil

recruiting locally, where possible. The work is expected to be completed in the middle of next year. The gas pipelines will link three field compression stations to a central processing plant. The water pipelines will link storage ponds in the area to the Kenya Water Treatment Plant, south of Chinchilla. CNOOC is also a winner under the round of deals. It lifts its stake in the first of two liquefaction units to be built on Curtis Island at Gladstone, from 10 per cent to 50 per cent, or effectively a quarter of entire LNG project. It also gets a 25 per cent stake in key Bowen and Surat basin fields. QGC remains the operator of the Curtis Island facility and retains majority ownership of the QCLNG project.

FROM PAGE 1

“This agreement will substantially increase our partnership with CNOOC in the QCLNG project. The new LNG sales agreement will also enhance our close relationship with CNOOC by providing material new supplies of natural gas to China.” The announcement also keeps on track official projections that Australia will be the leading exporter of liquid natural gas by 2021 with much of that from the Bowen and Surat basins. There are now more than $50 billion worth of LNG projects under construction and the industry is to become Queensland’s largest export industry behind only coal. That means the demand for skilled workers will continue.

Sale of the larger stake in the QLNG project came just days after QGC announced it had awarded a $100 million contract to Brisbane pipeline construction company Murphy Pipe and Civil Constructions for the installation of more than 90km of steel pipelines. That follows a $250 million contract awarded to Murphy’s earlier this year for polyethylene pipelines that transport gas and water from wells to processing facilities. The pipelines will transport coal seam gas and water between processing facilities west of Dalby. The latest contract is for about 25km of 400mm-diameter gas pipelines and 66km of 560mm, 760mm and 960mm-diameter water pipelines. Cables will be laid at the same time.

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Page 6 - Shift Miner Magazine, 5th November 2012

News

149th EDITION. 2012

Kestrel takes grand slam of mine safety FOR the first time in the history of competition the Kestrel mine underground rescue team has won all three Queensland underground mine rescue competitions in the one year. The undefeated team of eight completed their clean sweep last week in winning the 50th Australian underground mines rescue competition at Moranbah. The rescue competitions are designed to develop the skills and training of the various rescue teams to keep them at the top of their game should a real life rescue be required. The members of the winning team were Derrin Powell, Dave Taylor, Luke Jaavuo, Chris Catip, Jason Francis, Anthony Appleton, Dave O’Regan and Ben Lang. All work at the Rio Tinto-owned Kestrel mine near Emerald. Over the two days of competition teams were required to undertake a simulated rescue exercise wearing gas masks, fight a fire, erect a secondary roof support and monitor

and control gas levels. Kestrel team captain Derrin Powell says the simulated rescue scenarios were challenging. “I’m proud that the team performed so well across such a wide range of safety exercises,” he says. “It was a highly challenging arena with the other teams competing strongly so we were both delighted and overwhelmed to come away with the win.” Kestrel mine general manager John Coughlan offered his congratulations to Mr Powell and his team. “[This year] has been an outstanding year for the team winning three out of three mines rescue competitions,” he says. “No other site in Queensland has ever achieved this record and it is a reflection of the team’s strong work ethic and safety leadership.”

“It was a highly challenging arena with the other teams competing strongly so we were both delighted and overwhelmed to come away with the win.”

The members of the winning rescue team. All work at the Rio Tinto owned Kestrel mine near Emerald.

Page 7 - Shift Miner Magazine, 5th November 2012

News

149th EDITION. 2012

Runaway truck incidents a major safety concern FOUR heavy rigid truck runaways were reported between April to September in Queensland raising concerns over the main-

tenance of brake systems and inadequate operator training. The Mines Inspectorate says while there

were no injuries, the potential consequence of a truck making an unplanned movement or a vehicle failing to stop could be a death or serious injury. The incidents happened at three surface mines and one on the surface of an underground operation and involved three heavy rigid trucks and one heavy rigid concrete agitator truck. The Mines Inspectorate says the incidents were a result of several factors, either singly or in combination, including poorly maintained brake systems, inadequate operator training on proper gear selection for the grade, and inadequate training on operating ancillary braking systems. The operator being complacent was also a factor. “Many times during a shift, trucks operate on steeper grades than in normal onhighway use. Brakes must be adequate for the grade, load and speed, particularly if hauling downgrade while loaded,” the Mines Inspectorate says. Its recommendations to avoid runaways include consulting the manufacturers’ data

on brake specifications to ensure safe operation and to take note of safety bulletins. The inspectorate also recommends that the training and assessment an operator goes through for a heavy rigid vehicle covers, at least, proper gear selection for grade, safety critical aspects of operation — including emergency braking systems, retarders and other controls specific to the vehicle being operated — and ensuring these have appropriate input from competent maintenance personnel. It recommends that dynamic brake testing for these vehicles is carried out at least quarterly and this should include a thorough inspection of the brake system and its components. “Remember contractors’ equipment operating and brake maintenance practices are no less important than the practices adopted by the mine site,” it says. The inspectorate says contractors’ equipment must not operate onsite before maintenance and test records are checked to verify brake systems’ integrity. Brake maintenance processes for contractors’ equipment should be audited regularly also.

“Brakes must be adequate for the grade, load and speed, particularly if hauling downgrade while loaded.”

Bandanna submits on Springsure Creek lease BANDANNA Energy has submitted a mining lease application for its underground coal mine, the Springsure Creek project, south east of Emerald in Central Queensland. Its original application was rejected in July on technical errors, but Bandanna Energy gained a $67.3 million loan from Credit Suisse to push the project forward. The new application adjusted the layout and design of the mine after consulting with community members, the Central Highlands Regional Council and the state government. The company says the adjustments were to minimise its impact and to improve “the

beneficial co-existence of underground coal mining and the operation of agricultural farms and homesteads”. “The Springsure Creek Project is the only large-scale, greenfield thermal coal project in Australia that has contracted port and rail capacity through facilities under construction,” says managing director Michael Gray. Mr Gray says despite the challenging conditions in the current coal markets, Bandanna is well placed, with a strong cash position and ongoing discussions with project partners.

“We have already committed investment to increase agricultural production at Bandanna’s current freehold property at Denlo Park through improved irrigation infrastructure,” he says. “We are in the process of developing an agriculture strategy, with respected agricultural science input, to further improve sur-

face level agriculture production.” Springsure Creek Coal project has an allocation of 4 million tonnes per annum capacity through the new Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal. Mr Gray says Bandanna is working towards producing its first coal exports in the second half of 2014.

“We are in the process of developing an agriculture strategy, with respected agricultural science input, to further improve surface level agriculture production.”

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149th EDITION. 2012

“I don’t see any improvement in the next six to eight months, but things should start to pick up in the next 12 to 18 months.” Mr Ruming says he hopes this time he will be proven wrong, but after talking with people in the Mackay Area Industrial Network and businesses in Paget, he is looking at the future with “cautious pessimism”. “The long-term future is looking really good and we should see continuing growth. We just have a long period of adjustment,” he says. Normally after a boom, businesses go through a process of maintenance and product improvement, but this is not happening this time round. “The tap was turned off so quickly and with no warning, and it happened so dramatically,” Mr Ruming says. Now we will see a long, slow period of adjustment and over the next 18 months the major players will look to restructuring and reducing costs. Mr Ruming says the last six years have

Paget businesses face long struggle BUSINESSES in the industrial precinct of Paget on the southern edge of Mackay have been hit hard with the mining downturn and there may be no end in sight for the next 18 months. The head of Group Engineering and

spokesperson for the Paget precinct, Alan Ruming, told Shift Miner that 90 per cent of businesses are feeling a slowdown and 30 per cent of those are really suffering. “And I don’t think for a minute that this is temporary,” he says.

not been normal and was driven by construction, but after adjustment the mining industry should go back to how it should be. And the future there is bright. It is little balm for the short-term, however. “It is fairly difficult. We are a 21-yearold business and we are feeling it. We have had no working coming through the door and are struggling to keep our people employed,” he says. His concern is that BMA’s recent agreement to increase employees’ pay by 5 per cent each year over the next three years is an indication that mines will be cutting costs in every area but wages and salaries. “The theory is that if mining companies continue to pay 5 per cent each year, the disparity between what I pay an engineer who I employ and who the mine employs will be so great that I won’t find anyone,” Mr Ruming says. “I may lose all my key people because I can’t afford to pay them.”

“It is fairly difficult. We are a 21-year-old business and we are feeling it. We have had no working coming through the door and are struggling to keep our people employed.”

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Page 9 - Shift Miner Magazine, 5th November 2012

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149th EDITION. 2012

New shipping figures closer than Greenpeace: QRC A REPORT from North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation has rebuffed claims by environmentalists that more than 11,000 coal ships will travel through the Great Barrier Reef area by 2020. Michael Roche, chief executive of the Queensland Resources Council, says the Abbot Point Voluntary Cumulative Impact Assessment is the first of its kind and shows the correct shipping forecasts. He adds that as recently as September, Greenpeace was claiming that 11,400 coal ships would in very quick time be travelling to and from coal ports in the reef area. “This new study shows that even when the optimistic forecasts from all coal port operators are tallied together, the coal shipping volumes by 2020 are more like 4200 or just 37 per cent of the Greenpeace claim,” Mr Roche says. The study shows that when other commercial shipping (carrying passengers and cargo such as sugar, livestock, LNG, bauxite and general cargoes) is included, the total com-

mercial ship number for 2020 is put at 7400. The study points out that the federal government’s Bureau of Resource and Energy Economics is projecting coal exports from Queensland ports by 2020 of between 301Mt (mid-range) and 327Mt (high range). “That compares with the extraordinary claim by Greenpeace that coal exports from Queensland were going to grow from 165Mt last year to an extraordinary 1056Mt,” Mr Roche says. “It took 13 years to grow Queensland coal exports by 71 million to that 165Mt number, but Greenpeace would have the public believe that in quick time coal exports are going to grow more than six-fold. “It is of course these fanciful Greenpeace coal export predictions that sit behind their equally incredible claims around shipping volumes.” The shipping study also shows routine shipping presents no substantial risk of lasting damage to the environmental values of the reef and that management of the impacts and risks from shipping in the reef area are found to be extremely well managed.

“It took 13 years to grow Queensland coal exports by 71 million to that 165Mt number, but Greenpeace would have the public believe that in quick time coal exports are going to grow more than six-fold.”

Page 10 - Shift Miner Magazine, 5th November 2012

A new report says 7400 ships will travel through the reef rather than more than 11,000 by 2020 as claimed by Greenpeace.

News

149th EDITION. 2012

Workplace bullying costs jobs, destroys lives WORKERS are being bullied out of their jobs and say there is little being done to protect them. One man, who contacted Shift Miner after a recent story about bullying on Queensland mining sites, says he has had to seek health support because of his negative experiences. He has also left the workplace after being deemed a troublemaker by his employer, a large contracting firm. The worker, who is still angry and disillusioned about the resources industry, says he is not the only person in his situation but was now left under financial pressure purely because of the actions of others and because he had spoken out as he believed it “the right thing to do”. “It’s fine for people to say you are better off away from these people but how do I pay the mortgage,” he says. The bullying behaviour he described was minor as single incidents, something he acknowledged, but put together over several months sounded like systematic bullying. Included in the list of behaviours by up to four fellow workers was changing of time sheets to show the man was not at work when he was, making complaints about his work standard and moving his belongings

when unattended. He believed he had been singled out as he was not a member of the union and would not take part in their childish and consistent criticism of fellow workers. Shift Miner knows the name of the worksite, contractor and the man spoken to but has chosen not to publish it at this point as there is the possibility of legal action surrounding the dismissal. The man was not the only person to come forward about bullying after a recent story that covered the Australian Mines & Metal’s Association (AMMA) claim that many Queensland miners are being bullied by unions. The AMMA made the comments in its submission to a national inquiry into workplace bullying “Bullying by unions (including officials, delegates and members) continues to remain a serious workplace issue, particularly in the resource and construction industries,” the AMMA’s 23-page submission said. Another worker said a supervisor had destroyed her career through bullying and it had cost her job, house and put her family under extreme financial pressure. In its submission the AMMA gave two examples where it believed unions had vic-

A Central Queensland mine workers says he is ready to leave the industry after being sacked after raising concerns about bullying in the workplace. He says speaking out cost him his job.

timised employees. In one case an employee was victimised for not supporting a proposed enterprise bargaining agreement and in another unions victimised employees who did not support union-endorsed strike action. The House of Representatives Standing

Committee on Education and Employment inquiry is currently compiling its report into bullying after receiving more than 200 written submissions. The Productivity Commission estimates the total annual cost of workplace bullying in Australia at between $6 billion and $36 billion.

Caval Ridge stays on schedule CAVAL RIDGE mine is still on schedule to deliver its first production in 2014, although BHP Billiton will be keeping a close eye on market conditions. This was the message from the mining giant’s chief executive, Marius Kloppers, recently at the Brisbane Mining Club. Caval Ridge has been the subject of rumours that it would be mothballed, an allegation the company rejected. BHP did, however, dump plans to build the Red Hill project and its Saraji East project and delayed the expansion of Peak Downs. Mr Kloppers says it is difficult to see further incremental capital investment in the Queensland coal mining industry until issue affecting competitiveness are addressed. “While our resource base in Queensland is very high quality, the heavy cost of taxes, royalties, declining productivity and a strong Australian dollar means that further investment to grow these operations is much less likely,” he says. “It is particularly unfortunate that these costs are increasing at a time when industry profitability is declining.” Mr Kloppers says the core challenge for

government and industry working together is to reverse this. Saraji East was expected to produce 14 million tonnes of metallurgical coal and construction work was planned to start in 2015. The Red Hill development was also expected to produce 14 million tonnes of coking coal a year, with construction on the site 30 kilometres north of Moranbah planned for late 2015 Between the two projects, 5500 people would have been contracted during construction and 2900 employed during peak operation. Meanwhile, Caval Ridge will produce 5.5 million tonnes of coal a year and has a life expectancy of more than 60 years. The first coal is expected to be exported in three years time. It has been highly controversial in the Moranbah community because it will become the first Queensland coal mine to be run entirely with a fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workforce. That means no new families will move to the town with the project, with the workforce to be houses in a giant mining camp on the outskirts of town.

Page 11 - Shift Miner Magazine, 5th November 2012

News

149th EDITION. 2012

Industry denies it’s not crying wolf on prices?

THE peak body for the minerals and energy sector in Queensland has hit back at claims that the industry is “crying wolf” over the current slump in commodity prices. Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche told a recent func-

tion in Brisbane that industry critics who claim that resource commodity prices (and revenues) are still high by historical standards and that the industry is therefore crying wolf are telling only half the story. “The latest such foray was from

CFMEU National President Tony Maher in a newspaper opinion piece yesterday,” Mr Roche says. Mr Maher wrote in The Courier Mail: “It’s in the mining industry’s interests to fuel anxiety that the boom is over. After all, if there’s no boom, how can they be required to share the benefits by providing secure jobs and investing in local communities and economies? “But commodity prices easing back to levels typical of five years ago doesn’t mean the boom is over. The gravy train of absolutely huge profit margins, and speculators becoming billionaires without ever mining a tonne of coal, may be over, but the mining boom isn’t. Far from it. “Recent forecasts show increases in volume will drive production of resources to three times the pre-boom levels during the next decade.” Mr Roche says: “Mr Maher said that the ‘numbers tell the story’, and he is absolutely right.” In his speech to the lunchtime gathering, Mr Roche pointed out:

● That

the average cash cost of production per tonne of thermal coal in Australia was US$77. That cash cost does not include allowance for

depreciation, capital replacement costs, company tax and carbon tax. Typical thermal coal prices are currently below US$80 per tonne.

● Six

years ago 60 per cent of thermal coal production in Queensland was in the most competitive bottom two cost quartiles globally. Today, threequarters of production is in the top two quartiles.

● Six years ago three-quarters of coking coal production was in the bottom two quartiles. Today nearly 60 per cent is in the top two quartiles.

● Over the past six years average mining wages have increased by 43 per cent.

● Average

costs of installing an extra tonne of thermal coal production is two-thirds higher in Queensland than in the rest of the world average.

Mr Roche says that the recent royalty increases in the Queensland Budget had seen effective tax rates (royalties plus company income tax) for coal zoom to the top of the global ladder and that unless the new royalty thresholds were indexed, the effective tax rate would keep on rising. The QRC has a submission with the government requesting that the royalty thresholds be indexed.

Fast train goes nowhere A PROPOSED fast train linking Gladstone to Rockhampton in the north and Bundaberg in the south is going nowhere. Despite this, Neil Lethlean, economic development manager of Capricorn Enterprises, which commissioned a feasibility study, has not given up hope. “It is a very positive project, but it now needs a lead role by someone,” he told Shift Miner. “It needs a full feasibility study to see if there is demand and that would have to be done by Queensland Rail,” he says. Queensland Rail and Capricorn Enterprise commissioned the report, released two months ago, to look into the viability of the project, long and short-term demand, other sectors that may benefit and potential private sector support. If the project did secure funding from the state government, construction would begin by 2014/2015. “We haven’t heard from the state government, and all the minister said is that there is no money with new initiatives, so it’s just sitting there,” Mr Lethlean says.

The study found Gladstone was in dire need of a reliable fast-speed transport network, but it was possibly seven years too late. One of the main findings was also that Gladstone may not have the workforce to support a project of this scale. “The projected labour force in the Gladstone LGA of 47,500 persons by 2012 would be insufficient by approximately 8000 people and seven years too late to cope with the possible demand for workers,” the report says. The LNG projects on Curtis Island will be reaching their maximum workforce within the next six months. Tanner Consulting – in association with strategic economic and rail professionals – carried out the five month study. It involved communication and consultation with identified stakeholders, including project proponents (labour force requirements), government agencies and parliamentarians, community representatives (social and economic effects), plus rail officials.

“It needs a full feasibility study to see if there is demand and that would have to be done by Queensland Rail.” Page 12 - Shift Miner Magazine, 5th November 2012

SHIFT

MINER ladder

All the jobs torn out?

Don’t worry they are also available at www.shiftminer.com/jobs

Get where you want to be

Apprenticeships in crisis as cuts bite

WITH a skills shortage in the trades hitting the headlines only months ago, it appears set to happen again with Central Queensland industry cutting back on its apprenticeship in-take. Training group Gladstone Area Group Apprentices Limited (GAGAL) spokesperson Kerry Whitaker told Shift Miner that instrumental and electrical apprenticeships in particular are suffering.

“This dual training package is highly regarded and you are never without work, anywhere in the world, and you can earn squillions,” Ms Whitaker says. “If you get trained at QAL [Queensland Alumina Limited], Stanwell Power Station or Rio, it’s fantastic training. But it’s tough at the moment and some of these companies are struggling and having to lay people off.” Ms Whitaker says these companies usu-

ally take on more apprentices than they need to but there is still a massive shortage of electrical/instrumentation apprentices. “This is a five-year trade so a long lead time until they qualify. Existing industry still needs them and so will the LNG industry and with fewer and fewer commencing their apprenticeship, there is going to be a huge gap in five years time.” Ms Whitaker says GAGAL has been putting together packages to get apprentices placed, but the self-funded, not-for-profit organisation has not been able to get anyone to buy into it. “To be an apprentice you must have a job,” she says. While the best training is the old fashioned way of doing 80 per cent on the job and 20 per cent theory, Ms Whitaker says that other ways may need to be considered to meet the skills gap. “Industry as a whole loves flexibility and they love responsiveness. For example, if the business is slow, let’s send the kids to college for three weeks to do some theory.

Unfortunately the system is neither flexible or responsive,” she says. “We need a combination of industry and government support of innovative programs to increase the numbers of apprentices in training. We canvassed a program in 2009, which would have gone some way to meeting the electrical/instrumentation requirements but unfortunately were unable to get the support.” In addition, there has been a constant change in training packages without any mapping across from one package to the next, confusing what is already a complex process. “One of the biggest frustrations to industry has been this constant changing without any relevant consultation,” Ms Whitaker says. It takes five years to complete an electrical/instrumentation dual apprenticeship, and some of these changes can result in students repeating large sections. “Do the fundamentals change in electrics? Not really, so I don’t understand the need to change the complete training package unless it’s to update technology.”

“If you get trained at QAL [Queensland Alumina Limited], Stanwell Power Station or Rio, it’s fantastic training. But it’s tough at the moment and some of these companies are struggling and having to lay people off.”

Ads down as roles go ADVERTISING is reflecting the cutbacks in the state’s resources workforce. In this month’s SEEK jobs index, compiled by Shift Miner using online job ads, there were 7836 Mining, Resources & Energy jobs advertised in Australia this week. That’s down from 9067 in the middle of last month. More than a third of those — 3477 —- were paying $150,000 or more and

that’s down by about 500 roles on last month’s index. There were 871 mining jobs based in Brisbane, 2302 in regional Queensland, 1901 in Western Australia and 28 on the Gold Coast — the only region to maintain its figure. Engineering roles continued to dominate the upper levels of pay with dozens of roles advertised for Queensland mines with packages above $200,000.

We’re great at footy and sickies WHEN was the last time you chucked a sickie? Um, that is had a bogus day off for all those burdened with a strong work ethic. Seems across all industries, Queensland workers pull a swifty and have a day off when they aren’t crook more than any other state (though Canberra does beat us with 13). Latest figures in a 2012 absenteeism survey by Direct Health Solutions show Queenslanders take an average 11 days off a

year, compared with about nine nationally. DHS boss Paul Dundon says there was a higher tolerance for sick leave in Queensland. An estimated 25 per cent of sick leave was not legitimate, costing the state $1.5 billion a year. And the biggest reason we miss work when we could have gone? Sport. So, you’d better practise that cough for the Melbourne Cup sickie call. You’ll need to sound a little hoarse.

Page 13 - Shift Miner Magazine, 5th November 2012

around town 149th EDITION. 2012

EVERYTHING BUT THE HORSE

(L-R) Rodeo Princess Sarah Morgan and her sister Leah who was named Rodeo Queen

Somethings for sale and others not at the Blackwater Rotary club rodeo and charity auction

Grace Madsen

(L-R) Amanda and Cayden Thompson with Trae and Seth Alexander

(L-R) Annie, Rachel and Tui Cameron

The New Zealand team who competed against the Australian High school team

(L-R) Kate and Ash Yarrow

(L-R) Peter and Jace Small

(L-R) Jo McKay and Bo Hunt

(L-R) Mick, Liz and Beulah Gilligan, Reonna and Simon Tahao, Cody Davis, Sam Church, Maya and Lorraine Putt

(L-R) Stacey Johnston and Cody Alexander

(L-R) Wes, Ella, Elisa and Arlee Goodwin

(L-R) Charlee Keleher and Sienna Booker

(L-R) Jai Dwyer and Bryce Fernie

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, 5th November 2012

around town 149th EDITION. 2012

STILL A FUTURE FOR BOOKS

Moranbah students find a way to fill the school holidays

(L-R) Sarah Horsfall, Aaron Blakoe, Bree Hemsley

(L-R) Vicki Ainsworth, Kristen Grogan, Alana De Luca, Debbie Martorana

Bree Hemsley

Aaron Blakoe

(L-R) Bree Hemsley, Sarah Horsfall, Aaron Blakoe

(L-R) Bree Hemsley, Sarah Horsfall

Sarah Horsfall

(L-R) Debbie Martorana, Alana De Luca, Vicki Ainsworth, Kristen Grogan

Buy this and many other images at

www.shiftminer.com Shift Miner magazine â&#x20AC;&#x201C; bringing the mining community closer together Page 15 - Shift Miner Magazine, 5th November 2012

News

149th EDITION. 2012

Farm gates will continue to be locked: Hutton A WEEK of anti-resource sector protest was a success, says Drew Hutton, the figurehead of the green lobby push against coal seam gas and mining in Australia. Brisbane-based Mr Hutton told Shift Miner that more than 15,000 people actively took part in the week of action across the country that included a launch rally in Murwillumbah, northern New South Wales, and a Sydney rally. There was also a protest on Kangaroo Point cliffs in Brisbane with six banners being unfurled and two men were arrested on New Hope property for putting a banner on the Acland mine site. He says the fight against resource companies would continue because gas and coal projects are continuing. “The Newman Government has shown they are just as committed to expansion as the Bligh Government,” he says. “We will continue our activity as we want to slow the expansion as well as show

our deeply held opinions [on resources].” The Lock the Gate Alliance now has 170 community groups as members across Australia. This is up from about 50 this time last year. Some of those groups have more than 1000 members, Mr Hutton says, and it is expected numbers will continue to swell. Meanwhile, Mr Hutton has just toured New Zealand and spoken about the Lock the Gate Alliance to a wide range of organisations from farmers to environmentalists. The country is on the cusp of large scale resources expansion and had sent senior government staff to conferences in Brisbane last year to see how Queensland handled resource-related issues. Mr Hutton says everyone he met was interested in the situation in Australia. Lock the Gate has continually stressed its view on resource expansion is that it should occur away from urban areas, prime farming land and water sources.

Battle lines - environmentalists and landholders remain committed to keeping resource companies off farming land says Lock the Gate Alliance spokesman Drew Hutton.

“The Newman Government has shown they are just as committed to expansion as the Bligh Government.”

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stuff to the editor 149th EDITION. 2012

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I have been in this job for over 25 TA years YLORS RS SOLICITO and back when I started there was no S Y CLAIM AL INJUR PERSON such thing as bullying. Everyone survived okay. Simple rule is do your job, do it well, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t whinge and you will always get Yes, I know what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like to get on the wrong side of the union. I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t got a problem ahead in this industry. Kevin, Dysart y t Macka ane Stree 17 Brisb Level 2/ with unions, but that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean I agree Finally someone talking about this. I got with everything they say. Anonymous called in by management four months ago over a complaint that I was bullying Greenies prank an irritation (New Hope first target in protest week, P8 SM148) one of the blokes working under me. The bloke in question was never on time, fre- What happened to that old sticker - the quently ignored clear safety procedures only wilderness is between a greenies and could not be relied upon to finish any ears? Says it all, I reckon. Les, Clovelly job. To get the work done I had to keep Twenty-two and 29-year-olds from inner pushing him. If that is bullying, I will walk Brisbane reckon they are going to make backwards to Boulia. Darren, Comet. a point about the environment. So they The Partne

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Thanks for giving this some coverage Shift Miner. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work in the 1940s anymore and the fact that a boss doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like you - or where you come from - doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t give them the right to bully you at work. I had to put up with this for eight months at the last site before I just decided to leave. It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worth the drama. Some blokes reckon because they have been here for 30 years they can tread all over everybody else. Anonymous.

break all the safety rules in the book, stop a business operating, waste police time, and guess who has to pay for it? We do. George, Mackay

Why shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the unions be able to put pressure on people? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a small group of people willing to stand up for workers rights, which everyone benefits from. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the scabs who are the problem. Retired Miner

I can see who wears the pants in that household. Ulf Withers [Facebook]

And finally some interesting suggestions for Jeff. (Dear Frank, My girlfriend seems to think that because she watches Greyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Anatomy......... P19 SM148) Honestly, mate. You need to swallow some cement if that is the worst she does. Mitch McGovern [Facebook]

That idea for a halloween party is awesome. Rock on Frank Wes Thomas [Facebook]

Got something to share? Send us your text messages or phone photos to 0428 154 653 Or email to alex.graham@shiftminer.com

Redmondâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rants

n at Join the conversatio ftminer shi m/ .co ok bo ace www.f

page 17

SEEN SOMETHING WE HAVENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 LIFE, as Forrest Gump says, really is like a box of chocolates. You never know what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to get until you choose something from the box you have and have a good hard bite. Some get a smooth and delicious soft centre they never want to end. Others get a hard nut brittle that just about breaks a tooth. And so it goes on mining worksites across Queensland when it comes to work satisfaction, bullying and how much support aggrieved workers get from human resources and senior staff. The story on our last editionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s front page about bullying being rife on worksites brought a range of responses from the emotional and desperate to disbelief. Remarkably there were no companies, union members or human resources staff that wanted to contact us officially or unofficially to discuss the story or comment on claims made by the Australian Mines & Metalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Association (AMMA). The AMMA has told a Federal inquiry into bullying that it is out of control across Queensland mines.

If bullying wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as big an issue any publication would expect a stream of emails telling us we got the story wrong. The only emails we received were from workers seeking help, wanting to tell their story or just unsure about what to do once they had been bullied. That shows much more has to be done and quickly to protect people on worksites from bullying. Stamping out bullying is good for the bottom line and its good for reputation and its good for productivity so why are companies not doing more? Is it because we have been trained by society to turn a blind eye to things that arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t our business? But workplace bullying is everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business - just like safety - as it destroys people and careers. Everyone has the right to work without bullying and feel safe and supported in their workplace. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time we all made sure everyone gets to have a chocolate we enjoy and are proud of from that box of life.

Greg Sweetnam Comment or SMS 0428 154 653

The musings of a CQ miner...

No Grey Be nice to know someone. Not a date, dinner and pleasantries, but a passionate, volatile and ever-bonding event in an unworthy place. Be good to have to hide. Not to switch off the phone and stay still, but to evade, disguise and move. Be good to be an outlaw. Not to swear at a highway patrol or get a tattoo, but to grab a lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth in one daring move, to cut completely, not parry or slice,

to be worthless, to not have medicine or safety, to exclude everything - a hated, hunted, smart outlaw. Be good to deny. Not to lie or bend or colour or justify. Deny absolute: without reason. Beyond a cause. Who is Redmond? 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 Writerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guild four years in a row in the Truth Telling category...

Page 17 - Shift Miner Magazine, 5th November 2012

FAIR DINKUM 149th EDITION. 2012

Fair Dinkum! IN THE UNITED STATES – Isn’t it ironic? Well not really, but I am guessing a man arrested for attacking his boyfriend because he played Alanis Morissette on too high a rotation may plead provocation. Allen Casey, a 24-year-old Jacksonville man, is accused of hitting his boyfriend in the face with a plate for listening to too much Alanis Morissette music, according to News4Jax. When the cops were called to the couple’s residence, the arresting officer asked Casey if his boyfriend was telling the truth, and the spark that caused the attack was really excessive Alanis. “That’s all that (mother f---er) listens to,” Casey said, according to an arrest report. The victim was treated for a large cut on his face and Casey was arrested for felony domestic battery. As Alanis says: “You live you learn, You love you learn, You cry you learn, You lose you learn, You bleed you learn, You scream you learn.”

Can listening to Alanis Morissette be a defence for provocation?

AGAIN IN THE US – Siblings busted trying to flog a telly reckon they were not stealing, just having sex. Yep, who wouldn’t rather be known as incestuous rather than being done for theft? Police say Robert and Amanda Lar-

rivee, were caught trying to steal televisions from a bar in Massachusetts, according to WGGB. A witness reported that the two entered the bar’s bathroom and started “ripping the television off the wall”. When officers arrived, the pair reportedly claimed that they weren’t stealing a TV, they were having sex. Incest is illegal in Massachusetts and punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Shameless and stupid - hope they will keep it in the family! AND ONE MORE FOR THE US OF A – It is enough to put you off your soup! Florida couple Jeremie Calo and Tiffani Lynn Barganier, both 32, was apprehended by police after allegedly having sex on top of an outdoor table at an Orange County restaurant. The Smoking Gun reports that restaurant manager, Tom Murphy, told officials that several customers complained about the couple. Murphy says he initially tried talking to the couple himself, but Calo simply replied, “[Barganier] can’t get up at this time.” Murphy says he threatened to call police if Calo didn’t pay his $101 bill, but the man reportedly wrote a cheque that contained only the word, “NO.” When Murphy was dialing 911, Calo allegedly attempted to walk out with two of the restaurant’s glasses, but another employee stopped him. A scuffle between Murphy and Calo ensued, and Murphy and two employees ended up having to hold Calo down until authorities arrived. Calo is facing charges for fighting with the manager and refusing to pay his tab but he will not be facing sex-related charges because no one who claims to have seen the act would write statements for the police.

e h t k n a Fr Tank’s

“Streakin” good love advice

Dear Frank, I’ve got a problem, but I don’t know if there’s much you can do to help me. I’m short. By short I mean I’m barely five foot. I don’t have much success with the ladies, and I am pretty sure it comes down to height. Any tips? Luke, Baralaba

I’ll tell you what, Luke. I ought to wash your mouth out with my fist for doubting my ability – streakin’ good love advice has helped those far more unfortunate than you, my friend. About 15 years ago this bloke came to me for love advice, not to disparage the gentleman, but he was a short fellow of extremely generous proportion. I gave him a few pointers and the next thing you know he’s sending me pictures of himself on the Gold Coast, partying with four topless models. Unfortunately the physical strain of attempting to satisfy four women at once was too much for him and he suffered a catastrophic heart attack. He died the way he always wanted though: in a spa filled with barbecue sauce and naked women, while elbow-deep in a bucket of fried chicken. In any case, the point I’m trying to make here is that physical appearance is merely incidental when it comes to

Sensible Susan Luke, I’m going to go out on a limb and say your lack of success with ladies is more due

impressing the ladies. Sure, if you look like some Hollywood heartthrob you probably won’t have to try as hard to get the birds, but that doesn’t mean you’re out of the game altogether. Now, a lot of women out there (excluding my ex-wives) have a genetic instinct to nurture. Come up with a harrowing back story to explain your short stature, and you’ll win the ladies over by igniting their need to nurture your tortured soul. Just off the top of my head, you could tell women that you were adopted by a cruel and uncaring factory owner, who forced you to toil day after day, making chocolate for very little pay. Your only outlet was singing cautionary songs to warn tour groups of the dangers of tasting experimental confectionary whilst on the tour. All you were given to eat until you turned 18 was candy, and that’s what stunted your growth and gave you a rare type of diabetes that can only be treated by gentle massage to the upper groin… A sob story like that will have her eating out of your hand. She’ll be so focused on helping you forget your tragic upbringing that she won’t care if you’ve got two heads. If you’re not much of a storyteller there is one other option. Melbourne Cup is coming up, so why not go on eBay and purchase a heap of jockey gear? Think up a few pick up lines involving the word ‘ride’ and head to a local race meet. You’ll have birds hanging off both arms in no time. Frank

to your lack of confidence than anything else. It’s true, some women do like to date men taller than themselves, but for a lot of women it’s not a big deal. Most women would much rather date a nice guy with a good personality who happens to be short than a jerk who just happens to be six-foot-two. Try a little confidence, and I think you’ll be surprised how much it helps. Susan

If you have a question for Frank and Susan Email Us at: franksusan.shiftminer@gmail.com

Page 18 - Shift Miner Magazine, 5th November 2012

CAR FOR SALE 2008 TOYOTA AVENSIS VERSO 68000 Ks, 4 doors 7 seats, 4 cyl. A1 condition. New tyres. Complied 2009 Rear nudge-bar. Full logs. All Toyota serviced. Always kept undercover. With 7 seats there’s plenty of space for the whole family. $21,900 NEG Phone : 0413 913 042 CAR FOR SALE 2010 TOYOTA HILUX Mine Spec, BMA Thiess Mac Coal Certified, New 265 Maxxis Iron Mud Tires, ADB Bull Bar, Lightforce Driving Light,Twin Battery, Snorkle, Iron-Man Lift Kit, Mine Radio x 2, UHF, 135 Litre Fuel Tank, Oconners Tray, Toolboxes, Fire Ext 1st Aid MSDS. $ 40,000 Phone: 0421 000 789

CARAVAN AND CAR FOR SALE 2010 SOUTHERN CROSS 5TH WHEELER 8mtrs,complete with all upgrades. FORD F250 V8 deisel w/ gas injection. tow vehicle. Full details on request.Will pass any inspection. Phone: 07 4162 5730

BOAT FOR SALE 2004 PowerCat 2600 Sports Cabriolet. Twin 115hp Yamaha 4 stroke engines. Sleeps 4, Toilet, Shower. Road registered tandem trailer. Always maintained and kept in a shed. All safety gear. Excellent condition. Registered until September 2013. Reduced to $108,000 Very Negotiable Phone: 0409 630 311 CAR FOR SALE

LAMPS FOR SALE GENUINE PROTECTOR ECCLES MINING LAMPS

FORD MUSTANG CONVERTABLE 67

Not Reproduction

302 V8 Auto. Left Hand

Varying models and condition in full size working lamps.

Drive, Disc Brakes. Excellent Condition, Fully Restored

Miniature ornamental lamps available.

$48,000

Phone : 07 4933 6310

Phone: 07 4933 7305

CAMPER AND CAR FOR SALE Compass slide-on camper on Ford F250 ute.Camper sleeps 2 plus makeup 3rd. Range of accessories incl. F250XL 2001, 4.2L diesel, 190,000km, strengthened springs, UHF, compressor. Whole unit $45,000 ono. Camper only $11,000 ono.

CARAVAN AND CAR FOR SALE F250 + SIERRA 5TH WHEELER 30ft, both 2006, both reg Oct 12, one bdrm unit on wheels, rear kitchen, q/bed,2 TVs,solar, gen 2.4kva, has much more $145,000 neg

Phone: 0448 874 000

Phone: 0407 913 914

Phone: 0413 317 292

BUSINESS FOR SALE SACK THE BOSS AND EARN REAL $ Dry Ice blasting/cleaning equipment including website. dry ice unit only 60hrs! Kaeser air compressor only107hrs! Genuine reason for sale. cost $96000. can be relocated anywhere! $60,000 ono Phone: 0410 091 105

CAR FOR SALE 2006 DODGE RAM 3500 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 $79,000 ono Phone: 0432 429 264

BOAT FOR SALE SAILING CATAMARAN 12.6m Light Cruiser. Sleeps 3.Auxiliary motor,dinghy and outboard. Located at Yeppoon. Call for full inventory and inspection. $150,000

HOUSE/LAND FOR SALE NORTH OF YEPPOON 40ha.Open country, House,Dam,Bore(1100gl/ ph)Submersible pump, Yards &ramp Excellent garden & views.50ks nth of Yeppoon Turnoff. 1.3ks off highway,bitumen road. School buses from Highway $595,000 ono Phone: 07 4937 3564 HOUSE FOR SALE EMU PARK Excellent low set 3YO brick at Emu Park. 3beds, 2bath big yard, fenced. $350,000 Phone: 0419 020 566 UNIT FOR SALE MACKAY The solution to accommodation in Mackay. Stay a few days, earn income while you’re away. 1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom Beachfront Resort living, pool and restaurant onsite. For More Info Call: Phone: 0428 227 623

HOUSE FOR SALE MACLEAY ISLAND Your own private resort Absolute waterfront home Retire or use as a getaway www.realestate.com. au/property-house-qldeay+island-111073031 Phone: 1300 091 773 HOUSE FOR SALE Gracemere acreage and residence. Large well appointed 5 bedroom home on 10 acres. Stables, yards, shed, bore. 3 km from new

BUSINESS FOR SALE 2 X PRIME MOVERS With large capacity cranes, 4 Trailers, Bundy based, Soild work contacts, Carrying house frames and trussestoGladstone, Rocky,Mackayand Central Highlands.established 1981 T\O approx $380,000 Call for more info and pics Asking $350,000 WIWO Phone: 0408 988 866 LAND FOR SALE YEPPOON Acreage Living, City Conveniences! 4000 sqm North facing, corner premium block, 5 minutes from CBD, schools, transport. Plenty of space for shed, pool, kids to play. $300,000 Phone: 0409 391 254 LAND FOR SALE BURNETT RIVER FRONTAGE 100acres, 600m of river frontage, 10meg water allocation, ex dairy farm, power at front of block, cleared, dam, cattle yards, 20mins to Gin Gin – 25 mins to Childers

shopping centre.

$290K neg.

$700,000

Phone: 0439 861 946

BUSINESS FOR SALE INVESTMENT FREEHOLD HOTEL MOTEL One hour from Bundaberg 9 year lease with experienced tenant returning $57,200 p.yr + annual CPI increases. Get together a syndicate on 50% deposit -finance $540,000 Phone: 07 4151 4500 BUSINESS FOR SALE Looking for an investment that drives itself? Open Taxi Licence for sale in Rockhampton Currently leased @ $385 inc gst/week Includes shares in Rockhampton Cab Company Perfect sideline income $320,000 neg Phone: 0407 373 664 CAR FOR SALE 2008 H3 HUMMER Luxury 6.2lt V8 LS3. Auto transmission. Full leather, BOSE sound, 22” American racing rims.Only known H3 V8 in Australia. Collector’s item. 27000kms. Excellent condition. Very classy vehicle with performance to match. $73,000 ono Phone: 0427 189 834 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 HOUSE/LAND FOR SALE MOUNT PERRY ” Main Top” Best most usable 40 acres in town. Good large level flats, great mountain veiws, hay shed, machinery shed, dam, House requires work. Power to house. Plenty of feed, Potential to work 7 on 7 off roster at mount Rawdon Gold mine. $235,000 Phone: 0488 079 675 LAND FOR SALE PROSERPINE Rural land. 15 min cbd proserpine. 2x200 acre lots. good grazing land and house sites will sell seperatly POA $520,000 the pair Phone: 0447 031 588

Phone: 07 4933 3106 HOUSE FOR SALE GRACEMERE, Immaculate 4BR home BIR. 18 solar panels. Fully insulated & A/C. Ceiling fans. 2 bathrooms. 2 Toilets. Double lock-up garage. Stainless steel kitchen appliances. Spacious open plan kitchen, dining & lounge. Potential rental return above $22 000p/a. $429,000 Phone: 0418 796 074

UNIT FOR SALE 100sqm renovated open plan unit with a HUGE

HOUSE FOR SALE YEPPOON

Great investment BETTER

New 4 bedroom 2 bathroom brick home. Aircon in main bedroom & Media room. Fans throughout. Double garage elec roller doors. Security screens.

lifestyle! More info/

$449,000

balcony overlooking the Sunshine Coast’s best point break!! Austar, gym, 150m lagoon pool.

pics avail. Be Quick! Phone: 0424 108 784

Phone: 0421 601 710

Page 19 - Shift Miner Magazine, 5th November 2012

OFF SHIFT 149th EDITION. 2012

Bait shop Banter YEPPOON THE barra bounty might be off limits again for another year, but Adrian from The Secret Spot Bait & Tackle says the going was great while the game was on. It seems the whole of the Fitzroy, particularly the town reaches and Nerimbera area plus Coorooman, were firing great guns on a variety of lures. Oh well, bye bye barra but don’t despair, it is now time to regather and set your sights offshore. Adrian reports that out front has been serving up scattered catches of spotty mac off the inshore reefs: Finlays, Conical and Barren and Child. There are also good coastal trout getting about. While they may not be in huge numbers, if you can pull one in you should be rewarded with a nice solid specimen around the 5-6 kilo mark. For further fishy fun, big patches of bait running through Greasy Alley and The Pinnacles are keeping the juvenile marlin on the hunt. The Pinnacles and Flat and Perforat-

ed are the go for red jew and red emperor and although you could get lucky and snag a Spanish mackerel, Adrian says their numbers are nothing to write home about. And if you could go a plate of salt and pepper calamari then head for Pumpkin Passage and Bald Rock to nab some sweet kilo-sized squid. Adrian reckons the bright pink squid lures seem to be the best colour to get the business done.

GLADSTONE The estuaries are coming up trumps, says Dylan from Pat’s Tackle World. It seems mangrove jack, bream, whiting and flathead are all on the table. There are also large numbers of decent sized grunter, measuring up to 500 to 600 mm and even in some cases getting up to the 700 mm mark. Punters offshore are also doing well with red emperor, red throats and coral trouts all getting a guernsey. Dylan reports there have been a few sail fish and juvenile marlin in the 20-30

Tide Times

November

MACKAY Gladstone

Mon 5 Tue 6 Wed 7 Thu 8 Time Ht Time Ht

Time Ht

kg bracket being caught just off North Entrance and around Rock Cod Shoals and Masthead Island. Bait up with live yakka or yellowtail pike or try a freshly trolled garfish. Crabs and prawns are still on the down low so those looking to cruise for crustaceans will need to hang 10.

MACKAY Greg from Reef Marine is hoping the bit of rain they have had around Mackay should give the crabs a gee up and get them on the hop again. With Christmas fast approaching the muddies should be ramping up and fingers crossed the rain is just what is needed to kickstart them into action. Try your usual crabbing hot spots: Mur-

Sammy Weise is justifiably pleased with this tidy coral trout. Photo supplied by Secret Spot Bait & Tackle

ray, Constance and Sandy creeks plus the Seaforth area. The rain is also good news for prawns and with lots of small ones about they should be ripe for the picking in a couple of weeks. Greg says there are many reports of good grunter catches coming in. And as they are usually a moon fish, Greg recommends targeting them on the higher tides (5-5.5m) on a dark or new moon. Greg is also hanging out for the northerlies to kick in and bring in a load of mackerel, which should give you guys something to chase now that the barra are back in their box. If you have a good photo or fishing yarn send it through to our resident bait chucker-

angus.peacocke@shiftminer.com

Your weather forecast With Mike Griffin

Fri 9 Sat 10 Sun 11 Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht

0011 2.73 0118 2.64 0246 2.68 0408 2.89 0513 3.22 0607 3.57 0036 0.61 0542 1.48 0655 1.66 0842 1.69 1010 1.53 1117 1.29 1214 1.02 0654 3.90 1257 3.35 1403 3.29 1514 3.34 1621 3.46 1722 3.62 1816 3.75 1308 0.77 1917 1.52 2030 1.51 2147 1.37 2251 1.13 2346 0.86

1906 3.85

0158 3.42 0326 3.37 0501 3.60 0609 4.02 0051 1.11 0138 0.74 0223 0.44 0754 1.99 0915 2.16 1054 2.06 1210 1.75 0702 4.51 0748 4.99 0832 5.42 1440 4.28 1602 4.27 1717 4.46 1818 4.74 1309 1.38 1402 1.04 1453 0.77 2131 2.04 2254 1.86 2359 1.51

1909 5.01 1956 5.20 2043 5.29

Mon 12 Tue 13 Wed 14 Thu 15 Fri 16 Sat 17 Sun 18 MACKAY Gladstone

Collette Quinn and her 18kg, 1125mm barra beauty. Caught at Coorooman Creek on live mullet. Photo supplied by Secret Spot Bait & Tackle

Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht 0121 0.41 0206 0.27 0250 0.22 0334 0.26 0419 0.40 0506 0.63 0005 3.36 0739 4.18 0824 4.38 0909 4.51 0956 4.53 1045 4.44 1138 4.28 0557 0.90 1358 0.57 1447 0.43 1535 0.36 1624 0.40 1714 0.51 1807 0.69 1236 4.07 1955 3.89 2042 3.88 2130 3.81 2219 3.69 2310 3.53

1903 0.87

0307 0.21 0350 0.07 0435 0.04 0519 0.13 0605 0.34 0051 4.55 0150 4.29 0917 5.77 1001 6.04 1046 6.18 1133 6.16 1223 5.99 0654 0.67 0749 1.04 1541 0.58 1630 0.47 1720 0.46 1812 0.56 1904 0.74 1315 5.71 1413 5.38 2129 5.30 2216 5.22 2306 5.06 2357 4.82

2001 0.95 2102 1.13

Page 20 - Shift Miner Magazine, 5th November 2012

First storms for the season relieve heat. Week 1 - Isolated thunderstorms brought some decent falls with light to moderate rain for most of the southern half of the Coalfields. After the very dry parched conditions from August to early October a trough triggered isolated heavy falls cleared the smoky skies over the southern half of Queensland. Some totals (mm) of note across CQ from the 28th -31st Oct: Blue Hills 70, The Gap 70, Byfield 68, Peakvale 66, Yeppoon 63, Moura 49, Bauhinia Downs 46, Mt. Mayde 44, Rockhampton South 45, Redcliffe 42, Aramac 40, Orion 32, Longreach 36, Thangool 38, Coolmaringa 38, Rolleston 36, Rannes 35, Woodleigh 31, Bogantungan 29, Upper Van Dyke 28, Emerald 26, Baralaba 25, Westwood 24, Springsure 22, Jambin 19, Middlemount 17, Dysart 14, Windermere 12, Taroom 12, Wandoan 11, Clermont 9. The easterly breeze that followed made conditions rather comfortable. Then the heat returned with 35C to 37C (55+ in the sun) temperatures ahead of another cooler change early in the week. Again this will be heralded by a thundery shower or an isolated storm over the weekend. Temperatures gradually rise into the mid – 30s by Fri. Followed by an isolated storm; which could be severe (gusty winds- heavy rain fall – hail is a risk in the south??). Boaties! - The wild seas and gusts to 38 knots (70kph) last weekend have eased. Mon: SE 12-17 slightly stronger squally showers Whitsundays. Tue: SE 15-20 with a squally shower. Wed: SE 18-13 tending ESE 15-11 avo in south. Thr: ESE 16-11 tending

ENE 13-9 avo. Fri: ENE/NE 10-15 could gust 18-20 knots avo close inshore (CIS). Sat: NNE/N 10-15 gusting 25 CIS avo. Storms (gusts 45knots – 90kph) inland threaten coast. Sun: NNW/NNE 12-18 gusting near 25 knots CIS. Late storms (violent downpours, 1000-140 degree wind shifts & gusts 90kph) could reach coast and islands by late evening. Week 2 - The SOI continues to hover around the +2. This is putting the confidence barometer on track for a neutral summer. November is what most Central Queenslanders call the “Storm Season” and the start of the “Cyclone Season” (Nov to Apr). The Queensland Trough (QT) in the west seems to start the week along the NT/QLD border. Showing some tropical influence for the first time this season. Too early for a friend of Sandy to develop in the Coral Sea. Although there is a late season Typhoon off China and a Cyclone in India. Does that mean we are in for a late cyclone season? Temperatures over the Coalfields rise again into the mid-thirties by mid week. If the QT moves east then late evening storms could be a problem later in the week. Marine Lovers! If the storms pass then a weak ridge may not last long. Very tricky winds – watch for freshening afternoon sea breezes. Mon: A brief E’ly tends rapidly ENE/NE 11-17. Tue: NE 15-20, gusting 25 south avo Wed: NNE/N 10-15 gusting 28 avo inshore. Thr: N/NNE 15-20 G 30 late nite storm south. Fri/Sat: SE 15-20 with squally showers.

OFF SHIFT 149th EDITION. 2012

Kick a goal with the League of Legends HOW do you get a rugby league player into an art gallery? Take a picture of him. And there are plenty of pics of blokes and their balls at a Rockhampton Art Gallery exhibition celebrating the history of Rugby League, League of Legends: 100 years of Rugby League in Australia. A National Museum of Australia travelling exhibition, League of Legends: 100 years of Rugby League in Australia is on display from October 12 to November 25. “From the local under-sevens to the elite teams of the National Rugby League, its popularity has seen rugby league become a major sports business providing entertainment to millions of Australians,” says Guy Hansen, curator of League of Legends: 100 Years of Rugby League in Australia. “For a game that occupies such a central

place in Australian sporting life, its early history is surprisingly unknown to its legion of fans. We’ve got some great stories to tell,” Dr Hansen says. On August 8, 1907 a group of leading rugby union players and supporters met at Bateman’s Hotel in Sydney to discuss the creation of the New South Wales Rugby Football League. Adopting the playing rules of the rebel Northern Union of England, including a player salary, the new competition began in earnest in Australia on Easter Monday, April 20, 1908. With its mix of brute strength and athleticism, it has grown to become one of the most popular of Australian sports, a fastpaced, skilful game with an entrenched and highly passionate fan base. The exhibition highlights some of the

Travelling to England by sea posed a challenge for teams wanting to maintain their fitness and skills. Here the 1937 Kangaroos work on their scrummaging technique on board the SS Awatea. Photo: Courtesy Paul Hayes

pivotal moments in the history of the sport. Images from League’s early years offer a fascinating recall of the game’s early history: names delicately inscribed on a 1907 Kangaroos match ball, the legendary 1924 Toowoomba Clydesdales and the first Western Suburbs League Club at Ashfield. ‘The Human Ballet’, the ‘Downs Fox’, ‘Chook’ Raper and ‘Poppa’ Clay League’s stars through the decades and their collection colourful nicknames are documented in a mixture of portraits and on-field action. The controversies are there too, from the fibro boys getting fired up by slapping each other’s faces as part of their pre-match warmup to Craig Bellamy and the Melbourne Storm facing the media after being stripped of their titles for salary cap breaches. And what would League be without the State of Origin? The photos reignite the passion, the violence, the raw guts emotion: a burred up King Wally in Paul Geyer’s face, calling him ‘a filthy dog’ and Terry Hill and Gordon Tallis going nose-to-nose during the second game of the 1999 State of Origin series. For those who believe too much league is never enough, the exhibition’s website offers

an additional treasure trove of supporting material from tips for preserving your trophies and audio programs to footy yarns from fans: “State of Origin (Lang Park) the year before XXXX cans were banned from the Pig Pen (1986?). Sat watching the game as a 10 year-old with a school friend and his father. He was hit in the head with a full can of beer. Burst into tears. His old man was overjoyed that he didn’t have to queue for beer,” recalled a fan fondly. Or ‘Jennifer’s’ cherished memory of “three generations following Parramatta, looking forward to Sundays to go to Cumberland Oval, making sure Mum’s (Nan) blue and gold basket was packed with the hotdogs to make, the blue and yellow cans of soft drink along with the blue and gold cupcakes and most importantly the little transistor radio to pass down the family line to hear Rex Mossop say TRY to Parra.” “I encourage everyone to bring their dads, granddads, brothers or their mates to have a look at this exhibition and revel in the history that the exhibition brings to our Regional Gallery,” says Councillor Rose Swadling, chair of Communities Committee, Rockhampton Regional Council.

Page 21 - Shift Miner Magazine, 5th November 2012

k.pdf 2010

OFF SHIFT

MOVIE REVIEW

149th EDITION. 2012

BY JUSTIN CARLOS

ACROSS

10 11

1. Wildest (of scheme) 5. Moscow is there 9. Heinous act 10. Small packet 12. Perceptive 13. Baby night bird 14. Heredity unit 16. Century 19. Green light (2-5) 21. Set of rules 24. Camera bulb 25. Backpacks 27. Antiseptic 28. Very bad 29. Brutal person 30. Infuriates

Taken sequel can’t top the original

Down 14

17 19

21 22

2 3

3 8 1 7 5

6 8 9 4

3 7 1

1 5 4

9 8

MEDIUM

1. Wax pencil 2. Found, came ... 3. Attract (penalty) 4. Locate 6. Plain 7. University students 8. Aircraft height 11. Engrave 15. African & Indian mammals 17. Nog drinks (3,5) 18. Ventured (guess) 20. Anti-flood embankment 21. Humiliation 22. Mocks 23. Bible songs 26. Oil-bearing rock

Last editions solutions

# 35

2 9

2 8 1 7 5 3 4 9 6

3 7 4 6 1 9 8 2 5

9 5 6 4 8 2 1 3 7

6 9 8 5 2 7 3 4 1

T R E ND I L A X E O L E A P F RO O L E T NO T OR I E S S R E RR S A G E C A RR I ON I I N I DUMP S C R A E K A CCORD I E T NUD I S T

1 3 7 8 9 4 5 6 2

4 2 5 1 3 6 9 7 8

Y G

C T Y S T

8 4 9 2 6 5 7 1 3

E S A P L I V A I T E A S

R E R A N B P A S P A C L O H Y P N

5 6 3 9 7 1 2 8 4

ACTION fans rejoice! Liam Neeson is back to reprise his role as retired superspy Bryan Mills in Taken 2. The film picks up several years after the events of Taken, in which Bryan travelled to Paris to free his daughter from a group of Albanian gangsters who abduct girls and sell them into sex slavery. Still pining for the family life that he gave up in favour of his career with the CIA, Bryan invites his ex-wife and daughter to Istanbul to spend the week with him. He hopes of possibly reuniting with his long estranged wife. Unfortunately, the families of the Albanian gangsters Bryan took down in the first film are none too pleased at the deaths of their kinsman, and plan to abduct Bryan and his family to avenge their fallen comrades. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what follows. Bryan and his wife are kidnapped and he sets about breaking free, mowing down anyone who stands in his way. As I watched Taken 2, I couldn’t help feel that it didn’t quite reach the

same lofty heights as the first film. The fight scenes seem less exciting, the suspense dialled down, and there’s an overall feeling of anticipation of an epic action scene that is never quite fulfilled. Fans of the first film may be disappointed that the violence in Taken 2 has been toned down substantially, no doubt in an effort to achieve a more “box office friendly” rating. It’s also fairly difficult to suspend disbelief in relation to the Albanians’ “master plan’ to avenge the dead, which they persist in unwaveringly, despite the fact that it results in the continuing deaths of even more of their countrymen. If you enjoyed the first film in the Taken franchise there’s no doubt you’ll at least get some enjoyment out of the sequel — I must admit I particularly enjoyed the demise of the principal villain. It’s highly likely, however, you’ll find yourself stopping off at the video store on the way home to rent the first film, as Taken 2 just seems to fall short of satisfying your action appetite

7 1 2 3 4 8 6 5 9

C A P W E A S R OD K I A N I G P B E RR I E B A E OS I

E L E G A N C E C Y P R U S

# 36

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. SHIFT MINER Handy Cross 2750 ShiftMiner115.pdf ©Lovatts Publications 26/05/2011

Michael Bailey

Greg Cary

Alan Jones

Laurie Atlas

Weekdays 5am - 9am

NOW WITH MORE NEWS, MORE TALK AND THE MUSIC YOU LOVE WWW.4RO.COM.AU

Page 22 - Shift Miner Magazine, 5th November 2012

Weekdays 12pm - 1pm PHONE: 1300 872 911

Weekdays 9am - 12pm

Weekdays 1pm - 6pm

SALES ENQUIRIES: (07) 4920 2000

SPORT

149th EDITION. 2012

“Inglis like” Huet the Home “vibe” over standout at Western 7’s FIFO the key for BITS RUGBY administrators are comparing Central Highlands-based Indigenous rugby player Issiah Huet with NRL star Greg Inglis in the wake of his performances in Emerald last week. The 180cm tall and solidly built 16-yearold was named player of the tournament at the Western 7s tournament. It caps off a great year for Huet, who also made the U16 Australian side in the 15-man form of the game. Queensland Rugby development officer Dan Hooper says Huet was dangerous every time he got the ball. “He scored a lot of good tries and was always a threat when he had the ball,” Hooper says. “It was very rare that he didn’t score if he wasn’t tackled by the first defender. He

reminds me of Greg Inglis, a very natural runner and he is big — over six foot.” While Huet’s individual performances might have been impressive, it was St Brendan’s college in Yeppoon that stole the show in team performances. The schoolboy rugby league and union powerhouse won the U14, U16 and U18 divisions for the second year in a row, although the margin was less than in 2011. In the U18s they defeated Burdekin 19 points to 7. In the U16s and U14s they defeated Rockhampton Grammar 19 points to 12, and 39 points to seven respectively. In the girls’ divisions Marist Brothers won both the U16s and U18s. More than 42 teams attended the threeday carnival at Emerald High School, which organisers say is close to capacity.

Welsh, Brumby to turn Bulls around THE Moranbah Bulls Rugby Club has secured the coaching services of a former Welsh international, an ACT Brumbies player and a Sydney first grader for 2013. The three highly pedigreed players will share the coaching duties to get around the availability problems surrounding shift work. On paper at least, the coaching staff at the Bulls will be one of the strongest to ever direct play in Central Queensland. Club president Kristian Paul says securing a coach for 2013 is a key part of the Moranbah Bull’s strategy to rebuild the club after a disappointing year. “Michael Hartley played prop for the Brumbies, Brent Cobain played for Wales and Adrian Morris played top level down in Sydney,” he says of the coaching staff. “Coaching wasn’t a problem in the first year because we had a coach who was a teacher, but last year we had a coach who was

working on a roster so sometimes we were without a coach for three games in a row.” “One of the other things that we are keen to get moving forward again in 2013 is organising to get our own clubhouse.” “Every other club in town has its own facility, people know where they are and it just allows them to have a place and an identity.” “As far as we have got is setting up a working committee, but some of those people have left town now so we will have our AGM and ramp it up after that.” The clubs plan is to build its own clubhouse at the touch grounds where they are currently based. The Bulls are also planning an early start to the 2013 campaign, with training starting next week. All interested players are welcome to attend on Thursday night at the Moranbah touch grounds.

PRESIDENT of the Boyne Island Tannum Sands (BITS) AFL side Damon Stebbings says they will be disciplined about maintaining a winning culture at the club in 2013. That’s despite two very dominant years and back-to-back flags in the Gladstone and Rockhampton district AFL competition. “We aren’t planning any major changes for next season,” Mr Stebbings says. “I will be staying on as president, but we are losing our junior vice president and senior vice president.” “At the start of this year we had something like 72 players registered to play, but during the season numbers fell to around 50 regular players.” “With all the new players in town there was a real fly-in fly-out culture developing, and we fought really hard and put a lot of effort into keeping the same club vibe we have always had.”

“That meant some hard decisions had to be made with selections in the finals, and rewarding people who had been with the club throughout the year.” With more than 6000 people expected to be employed on Curtis Island over the next 18 months — many of them from the AFL states — Gladstone’s AFL clubs could be facing another embarrassment of riches in 2013. BITs say they will again use their networks to help players new to town with short-term accommodation and finding work - a system that worked well this year. It’s a club policy that no coaching positions are automatically renewed, and despite the recent successes all coaching staff will have to re-apply for their jobs again next year. Coaching positions will be advertised shortly and interviews will be completed by the 21st December.

It’s a club policy that no coaching positions are automatically renewed, and despite the recent successes all coaching staff will have to re-apply for their jobs again next year.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Sport

Event

Date

Venue

Rugby

Moranbah Bulls pre season

15/11/12

Moranbah Touch Grounds

Cricket

Rolleston v Magpies

10/11/12

Rolleston

Cricket

Brothers v Springsure

10/11/12

Emerald

Cricket

Clermont v Blackwater

10/11/12

Clermont

Triathlon

Alpha Triathlon

25/11/12

Alpha

Water Ski

CQ round 3

17-18/11/12

Rockhampton ski gardens

Rio Tinto Coal Australia is proud to be a part rtt of the Clermont, Emerald, Capella, Nebo, Sarina, Mirani and Mackay communities.

We support a range of local projects through the Kestrel Mine Community Development Fund and Clermont Community Development Fund.

The Kestrel Mine Community Development Fund is pleased to partner with Emerald State High School to support the Kestrel WISE programme. heir This initiative has provided students with the opportunity to develop skills for their nce ce e future careers and undertake school based apprenticeships and traineeships since 2003, creating career pathways after school. In 2012, more than 50 students undertook a School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship in a wide range of industries including childcare, community services, agriculture, hospitality, hairdressing and boiler making.

Pictured: Year 12 student Rebecca Milham undertaking a traineeship at Borilla Community Kindy.

For more information about funding for your local project or organisation please contact Alissa Gordon on (07) 4988 3504 or alissa.gordon@riotinto.com

www.riotintocoalaustralia.com.au

Page 23 - Shift Miner Magazine, 5th November 2012

MONEY MATTERS 149th EDITION. 2012

Mackay’s rent squeeze loosens THE real estate bubble has certainly popped across the Bowen Basin, with the number of houses for sale and rent in the Bowen Basin towns of Moranbah, Dysart, Emerald and Blackwater almost doubling in the past two months. And now Mackay is feeling the pinch. Not long ago, it was the investor’s prize with one of the tightest vacancy rates in the state. Now latest figures from the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) show that from June to September, the vacancy rate has more than doubled, jumping from 1.7 per cent to 4 per cent. According local REIQ agents, the cancellation of projects in the mining industry has immediately carried over into the rental market. The cancellation of leases due to the relocation of workers, newly constructed properties becoming available, and some investors moving into their rentals have resulted in the vacancy rate increasing markedly. Higher-end rents are also reportedly coming down. As for the rest of Queensland, residential rental vacancy rates have remained tight. Findings from the Institute’s September Residential Rental Vacancy Rate Survey, compiled from information and data by REIQ accredited agencies and agents, showed most major regions posting vacancy rates of 2.5 per cent or less in September. The survey found the tightest major rental market in Queensland was Gladstone at 0.9 per cent. Property managers from REIQ accredited agencies say there is continued high demand for rental properties with a large number of industry contractors coming to town for work opportunities. The market continues to have strong demand for rentals priced under $500 per week. A vacancy rate of three per cent is considered to be the equilibrium of supply and demand. REIQ chief executive Anton Kardash says vacancy rates are continuing to trend into undersupply territory as investor activity slowly swings back into life. Institute analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data shows there were about 3900 dwellings financed to Queensland investors in August – up 19 per cent on the same period last year – but still well below the historical figure of 5000 dwellings financed per month. “The rental market across Queensland has been constricted for more than two years now,” Mr Kardash says. “The reasons for this have been the low numbers of investors in the marketplace as well as the generally slow property sales market over the period. “With the reduction in the numbers of properties being added to the rental pool, we are seeing more demand for a much smaller supply of properties.” The survey found the vacancy rate for Brisbane at the end of September was 1.7 per cent

New homes have come on the market, just as the mining industry has started shedding its workforce.

– down from 2.1 per cent three months before. Inner Brisbane’s vacancy rate was 1.5 per cent – down from 1.6 per cent. Property managers from REIQ-accredited agencies say that market activity was slower over the period as was the case historically. Interest was also highest for new properties. The Brisbane surrounds region – which includes Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay and Redland City – posted a vacancy rate of 2.2 per cent – down from 2.7 per cent at the end of June. According to REIQ accredited agencies, this fall in vacancy rates was mostly to do with a lack of buying activity from investors as well as some investors opting to sell their properties instead of renting them out. The Gold Coast posted a vacancy rate of 3.5 per cent – an improvement on 4 per cent in June. Demand is predominantly for houses over units, while higher-end properties are also doing well. The vacancy rate on the Sunshine Coast is now also 2.5 per cent – down from 3 per cent three months before. The majority of rental properties are taking one to two weeks to relet and are attracting between two and five applicants. Town

Selling

Renting

Emerald:

473

131

Mackay:

1595

332

Moranbah:

296

362

Blackwater:

201

Rockhampton:

1894

157

Gladstone:

1137

176

Page 24 - Shift Miner Magazine, 5th November 2012

MONEY MATTERS 149th EDITION. 2012

MONEY TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS

Using equity to build wealth IN the following four articles we will discuss aspects of investing in property that will directly affect those in the mining sector. • Why is this a great time to invest in property? • How can I use an investment property to drive down my home mortgage?

• Where are the best places to buy? Mining towns, regional towns, capital cities? Should I buy new or old? Houses or units? • Success stories of people in the mining sector who have successfully and safely invested in property and how they are doing it.

Why it is a great time to invest in property? Many people are wondering if this is a good time to invest in property. Let me tell you it has never been better. Prices have stabilised, interest rates are at record lows and rents are rising. Many are concerned their superannuation is being eaten away by fees and stock market downturns, however we all need to invest for our future. Investing in property has the advantage of you being able to control your investment, not putting it in the hands of a fund manager. You are the one concerned about your own futures, so look after it yourself directly. No-one will ever take as much care as you do. Investing in property is also a fantastic way to minimise the tax you are paying to the point where the tenant and the taxman more than pay for your investment. The surplus funds from the property can be used to drive down your home mortgages. Many people can even pay their homes off in four to six years by using an effective mortgage reduction strategy. So not only do you own your home in a short period of time, you are also on the way to establishing an investment port-

folio that will continue to grow over the coming years. Ninety per cent of investors only ever buy one investment property. Why is that? Perhaps a number of reasons. Properties may be negative geared and one property may be all they think they can afford. Many find the time, effort and research required is simply too daunting. Others may have nightmare stories about tenants etc and not be aware of how easy it is to avoid these issues. A good property investment company will alleviate all these concerns with a well-structured, affordable portfolio. Don’t let fear hold you back — get all the facts first. Those in the mining sector are generally time poor and pay a lot of tax! Therefore investing in property should be considered a priority — to reduce tax, pay down your home loan and establish a solid future for yourself and your family. Next week we will look at how to reduce your home mortgage with an investment property. Angela Trz’an, chief executive, Investment Property Masters. Contact 1300 657 184

Page 25 - Shift Miner Magazine, 5th November 2012

Numbers You Can Trust* *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 26 - Shift Miner Magazine, 5th November 2012

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Page 27 - Shift Miner Magazine, 5th November 2012