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Monday June 10, 2013 163rd Edition

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How safe is your job? » Special report pages 4-5 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.

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CONTENTS NEWS

13

6

Water big loser in Galilee

8

Bechtel on workforce hunt

9

Laundry and haircuts take off

13 QGC still hiring

Regulars

8 Stuff to the Editor 1 19 Frank the Tank 15 20 Miner’s Trader Numbers You Numbers Numbers Can CountYou On** You * Can Count OnCount On 24 Weather & Tides Can *When audited by the CAB Numbers You Can Count On 27 Money Matters

7

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How secure is your job?

LAST week Darryl* was told he should start looking for another job. The supervisor in a Central Queensland coal mine is just one of thousands whose job is under the microscope, and any chance of a misstep is an excuse to be sacked.

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10th June 2013

“At the moment they are picking up on anything,” he told Shift Miner. “Fair enough if you’re not doing your job, but it’s for petty things like going 5 kmph over the speed limit on the way back to the crib.”

In the past year, more than 6000 jobs

have been shed in the Queensland coal sector and it’s likely there is more pain to come.

“You just don’t know if you will have a job in a month and it puts a whole lot of pressure on families. It puts your whole life on hold and you’re not game enough to do anything in case it all goes down the toilet.”

Darryl, who declined to be identified, said he had been grappling depression and saw his doctor last week.

“The doctor told me he had been seeing so many people and felt as though he was handing out medication left, right and centre.”

And the outlook is still pretty gloomy.

According to the state’s peak industry body, the Queensland’s coal industry can expect a couple of years of sideways movement on coal price.

The Queensland Resources Council’s chief executive Michael Roche said this is a vastly different scenario to the downturn experienced in the industry at the end of 2008 during the global financial crisis.

Back then, coal industry insiders described the crash as u-shaped: a sharp decline, followed by a period of flatline before a sharp rise up again.

“There is not going to be a big break out in pricing because there is a sufficient supply to keep a cap on pricing,” explained Mr Roche.

“The GFC period was marked by the fact that people just didn’t know when it was going to end, and just when people were in most despair the Chinese came into the market, demand and prices were suddenly up and we wondered what all the fuss was about.”

What has changed dramatically in 2013 is demand for coal.

“It’s economics 101,” said Mr Roche.

“The good prices attracted more supply and kept what would have been unprofitable mines open and so Australia is now trying to sell coal into an oversupplied market and the market is clearing at the buyer’s price and that’s a very low price.

“Everyone has a different view about the length of the down cycle but there is general agreement that globally the coal market is oversupplied. When people ask me, I say you’ve got to expect at least a couple of years of sideways movement in price.”

But what does it all mean for the man and woman - on the ground?

Queensland coal suppliers are now focussing on boosting tonnes and keeping unit costs down, and they are doing this by cutting discretionary costs and optimising production out of existing assets.

That means no new mines - or very few.

“There won’t be a lot of new work flowing from new investment from mining companies, particularly the majors,” said Mr Roche.

“That said, there are some start-up and mid-size groups that are looking to progress their projects and that could be a silver lining for some.

Mr Roche has recently been in Mackay and Moranbah to talk specifically to mining services businesses about what to expect in the future.

“I am trying to be as candid as possible

Special report It’s a gas WHILE coal jobs are waning, this is the opposite for the coal seam gas industry, where QGC is hiring 15 people a day and Bechtel is looking for an extra 500 workers.

There are 27,500 jobs in the gas industry, and more than 11,600 of those are in Gladstone.

See stories on pages 8 and 13.

as to conditioning people’s expectations over the next couple of years and what they need to be ready for,” he said.

“The positive news for suppliers is that producers are focussed on boosting production and that will produce a flow of work - maintenance, spares and things like that. But coal producers will have expectations on pricing where the suppliers will be asked to sharpen their pencil.”

Managing director of Stellar Recruitment, Shaun McCambridge, echoes Mr Roche’s sentiments and says these are challenging times for many coal industry workers.

“I think there is a lot of vulnerability.

About 13 months ago people were happy, but now they are cautious because of the drop in the price of coal and are questioning how viable some of these new projects are,” he told Shift Miner.

Despite the economic circumstances, Mr McCambridge said some businesses were actually growing and there were opportunities - it was just a matter of finding them.

He said there was still a shortage of white collar workers, such as engineers and mine management, but the use of contractors has wound back and this has had an impact.

“Some of our clients are getting new contractors to take over their existing contracts, so there is a movement amongst the same work - not new jobs. And we are seeing some mines working their own mines rather than using contractors.”

The mines in the emerging Galilee Basin, west of Rockhampton, could see up to 25,000 jobs if Adani, GVK Hancock and Waratah Coal get their projects off the ground.

“With Adani and GVK Hancock, a lot of people are holding on to the fact that might fire off any time, and early work has already started on these new projects,” Mr McCambridge said.

Meanwhile, some skills from the mining sector are transferrable to other industries, particularly around health, safety and environment, some trades and - to a certain extent - operators, he said.

“Coal seam gas is still very hot, so there is the possible transfer of skills and a lot of people are trying to get into that.”

“We do have Caval Ridge and Daunia [new BMA mines], so there will obviously be opportunities for some people who can transfer there.”

Although the mining industry in Western Australia is starting to experience a slowdown, it is still robust and there are jobs in places like Kalgoorlie, where it has traditionally been hard to attract people.

Mr McCambridge said all employees could do was work hard and to the best of their ability.

“Keep up your performance - and if you have to move, do your due diligence.”

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Bradbury moment for mining services business

Allan Ruming is determined to do a Steven Bradbury, who won his gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics when everyone else was wiped out.

CENTRAL Queensland mining services businesses are locked in a Steven Bradbury-style competition, where the last man standing will bring home the gold.

That’s the belief of well-known Mackay businessman and Group Engineering managing director Allan Ruming.

Mr Ruming is not talking off the cuff.

He is steering a ship that has let go of 20 employees and 15 contractors since last February. He currently has a staff of four.

“This is the worst downturn we have seen and it has the least visible signs of recovery,” he told Shift Miner. “We have been on the bottom for so long now we have gravel rash on our arse.”

The Paget industrial precinct in Mackay could be described as the epicentre of pain when it comes to the coal downturn. It is the heart of the coal supply chain and has been visibly hammered by the change in conditions.

“It’s easy if you’re big. You can afford a flak jacket. But if you’re small you have to dodge the bullets,” said Mr Ruming.

Companies have been madly dodging since mid last year, and they have long ago used up the softer options, such asking employees to take extended holiday leave, and working on a skeleton roster in a bid to keep on staff.

Mr Ruming said there are local businesses who have been kicked about pretty severely by major mining companies.

“I have heard of contracts being severed, I have heard of companies who have been

told cut your price or we’ll throw your contract in the bin or have been told to retender for work they have already won and trim the price,” he said.

“The number of businesses that are flat going nowhere or flat going downhill probably outnumber the business that are flat going uphill.

“There are more people in stress than not and there are a number in fairly severe stress. But having said that, there are a number of businesses, on the other hand, that are doing very well.”

But it’s crunch time for those who are in financial stress with the end of financial year fast approaching.

“Many businesses who are already in stress with cash flow issues will get to the end of financial year and make tough decisions. They will have to report back and they could owe considerable amounts of money to taxation.

“Many will think it’s time to shut the doors. Companies will change completely, disappear or absorb one another.”

It’s a time of dramatic change for many businesses. Group Engineering has shrunk from a staff of 35 people to four, and is about to move to a smaller premises.

So what’s in it for the stayers? Why keep the doors open, when it’s probably easier to walk away?

“You can call it the Bradbury syndrome, if you’re the last man standing you are going to get the gold - there is no doubt about that,” said Mr Ruming.

The 55-year-old business owner admits he’s had a gutful, but that’s why he’s hanging on.

“I think we can be the last man standing and we can do it by diversifying and not just going back to what we have always done,” he said.

Mr Ruming said it’s a time when businesses should work together to cut costs, and co-operatives like the Mackay Area Industry Network (MAIN) are critical.

“We are diversifying by looking at other businesses and thinking who we could co-opt with as a way of cutting margins.

That’s the way to keep the overall costs down,” he said.

“We are doing a couple of projects like that at the moment, and if we didn’t have those projects I don’t think I would be so bullish about our survival. We can’t be an island, we have to be a chain.”

Mr Ruming said when better business conditions returned, the companies that had survived would reap the rewards.

“When this has blown over, mining companies will be looking for those who have stood the test and are flexible and innovative. There are also going to be a lot of good people looking for jobs.”

While there is no dramatic turnaround

on the horizon, Mr Ruming said businesses remained largely upbeat.

“There are companies who are either dragging the bottom, or who are yet to hit the bottom, but at the same time most are optimistic about where they are going to be,” he said.

“This is a long, deep recession in our local market but the response has been really strong and people have said they will hang on and not just look at the next five minutes. The tenacity and ability of companies to survive this will inevitably improve their capabilities.”

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Water big loser in Kevin’s Corner approval

THE $4.2 billion Kevin’s Corner coal mine in the Galilee Basin, recently approved by the Queensland Coordinator-General, may lift the industry from its doldrums but there could be a serious environmental cost.

In his report, the CoordinatorGeneral Barry Broe noted groundwater levels would not recover to pre-mining levels and would be permanently lost.

According to his report, about 28 landholder bores could be “potentially at risk of mine dewatering”.

Barcaldine Regional Council

Mayor Rob Chandler told Shift Miner groundwater has always been a major concern.

“Under the EIS, they have ‘make-good’ agreements so if it gets the nod in that area, they will have to supply water to the towns and bring power,” he said.

“We don’t have regular flows through Alpha Creek or any of those creeks, but where they are going to get their water from now Connors River Dam has been scrapped - maybe from the Burdekin River?

“I am not even sure what allocations are allowed out of the

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Burdekin and the mines will use a lot of water if the towns are to grow as we expect.

“We will need to see those plans - it is a must. Water security is a must for Alpha and Jericho and we have hammered that home.”

Shift Miner asked the Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney about community concerns over the long-term effects on permanent water supplies, but a spokesperson pointed back to the Coordinator General’s report, stating that conditions relating to this had been set out.

The Connors River Dam will not proceed, the spokesperson said.

The Kevin’s Corner project, by proponent Hancock Galilee Pty Ltd, proposes a 30 million tonne per annum underground and open-cut coal mine and other associated infrastructure 65 kilometres north-west of the Alpha township.

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Mayor Chandler said the region will need investment into infrastructure with the state government giving the go ahead to several projects in the region, including Adani’s mega-mine.

“I did happen to notice in the state budget that there is not a lot there for the Galilee Basin, so hopefully they will note the impact mining will have.

“We will need a big injection of funds to build infrastructure to cope. We have done a lot of planning with funding and noted big ticket items - water, sewerage, airport and upgrades to health and emergency services,” he said.

The towns of Alpha and Jericho currently have no medical services.

“If the federal and state governments give the mining company the tick to go ahead, unless the infrastructure is ready to go, then council and the community will be left behind,” Mr Chandler said.

GVK Hancock has, however, consulted widely with the community, he said.

“I think the community is pretty much resigned to it if it

goes ahead. I think council and the community will be looking forward to a critical mass for hospital, doctors, water, power and sewerage.”

“There are people who are obviously going to be displaced by large-scale mines. There are property owners who have had land for generation who will not be feeling too happy. As long as there has been consultation and the compensation is right will help ease that.”

The new mine proposes to build its own airstrip, but Mr Chandler said this will not impact too much on the region or Alpha’s airport plans as it will be supporting associate providers and there are other mines in the region: Bandanna and Waratah.

Mr Chandler said the concern is that local businesses and the council will see their workforce go to the mines.

“We have been talking about teaming with local government to build a training centre and train people who are going to work in the mines.”

And council will need to retrain to fill void.

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Mines release not a “free pass” to pump

A dragline under water at Ensham Mine during the 2008 wet season.

THE extension of a pilot program that allowed mines to release water into the Fitzroy catchment during the wet season would not be an unregulated free-for-all.

In fact, individual mines have to prove their case to be eligible, according to the Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche.

“The Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney has made it clear this

will be a conversation that will be had mine by mine and he expects a prerequisite would be for companies and mines to demonstrate that they have taken a wide range of actions to deal with water issues,” he said.

“This is not simply a case of a free pass to pump out into water courses.”

Central Queensland coal mines have about 250 gigalitres of water

trapped on site after monsoonal rains over the past few years. Under the pilot program, four BMA mines were allowed to release floodwaters during last year’s wet season when the rivers were swiftly flowing.

Independent hydrologist consultants Gilbert and Sutherland have reported back that no environmental harm was done during this time.

Some in the region remain unconvinced.

The Capricorn Conservation Council’s Michael McCabe told the ABC more research is needed if mines are able to release more water.

“Our concerns are that we still don’t know what the actual trigger point limit is for the system’s capacity to absorb the salts and the toxins that may coming out,” he said.

Retired Gogango grazier Lex Lawrie has been campaigning against mine water releases since he noticed trees in the river dying some years ago.

He told the ABC he suspects the expansion of the scheme has more to do with commercial interests than anything else.

“I fear for the population of Rockhampton,” he said. “There’s a lot of people who can’t tolerate the toxicity of the water,” he said.

“I think the government needs the money the mines generate.”

Mr Roche does not shy away from the fact that legacy water is costing Queensland big bucks $750 million in lost royalties to be precise.

“We have to be brutally frank with the public; this is both an environmental and economic issue,” he said. “The fault lies with the previous government who did not respond to this and it has cost the state dearly.”

But Mr Roche said doing nothing was not an option.

“The water is sitting there getting saltier and saltier and water quality is deteriorating. If mines carrying large quantities of water are hit with a severe wet season you could have uncontrolled overtopping of water from mine sites.”

But Mr Roche has dismissed suggestions the releases would now be a free-for-all for mines.

He said each mine would be

individually assessed, and needed to show what other mitigation had been taken on site.

“In terms of managing for the future there has been a lot of reengineering on site to keep water out. They haven’t invented a big umbrella yet that sits on top of a coal mine so water will obviously continue to fall out of the sky into pits.”

Mr Roche said some mines were using evaporation techniques, others were using the water to irrigate other land covered by the mining lease and some had invested in expensive water treatment technologies.

“The idea is that you shandy the water quality to acceptable levels,” he said.

Mr Roche said not every mine in the region would want to change its pumping conditions, but there were probably about a dozen which would be interested.

“They are the mines with the bigger [legacy] problems. They pay off for the state will be it hopefully liberates more coal production and that has to be good for the economy at the moment.”

A NEW LIFE. A NEW OUTLOOK.

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Affected landholders in water compensation discussions

IN principle ‘make good’ agreements between CSG companies and landholders have been reached for about a third of the 85 bores with dropping water levels due to the CSG industry.

Under the Water Act in Queensland, if it can be proven that the extraction of CSG has reduced a bore’s water level by more than five metres in a sandstone (or similar) bore or two metres in a sandy (or similar) bore, the petroleum tenure holder responsible is required to “make good” for the lost water.

‘Making good’ can involve anything from repairing the bore, supplying an alternative water source or even financial remuneration for the affected landholder.

GasFields Commissioner and Dalby Irrigator Ian Hayllor says he is pleased to see detailed ‘make good’ discussions occurring.

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“The Water Act 2000 clearly sets out that petroleum tenure holders are obliged to make good on both registered and unregistered bores impaired by CSG activities,” he said.

“The Commission will continue monitoring the progression of make good agreements and if any bore owner wants more information on their rights and responsibilities or desire to have their bore independently assessed, the CSG compliance unit is there to advise them.”

Central Queenslanders were given their first glimpse of the the extent of the gas industries impact on groundwater supplies when the Department of Natural Resources released its long awaited report into groundwater late last month.

Titled the Surat Underground Water Impact Report (UWIR), it found there were 21,000 water bores within the Surat Basin which extends from about the New South Wales border to Middlemount in Central Queensland.

Of these, 528 bores are expected to require ‘make good’ agreements in the next sever al decades as a result of CSG extraction.

Of the bores in the area already affected, Origin Energy is responsible for ‘making good’ on 40 of them, while QGC is responsible for 32, with the remaining shared by other CSG businesses.

Bechtel on workforce hunt THE massive workforce building Gladstone’s LNG network has grown to 9000, with construction giant Bechtel still searching for another 500 highly skilled workers.

When Bechtel first began the mammoth task of building LNG facilities on Curtis Island, it thought its peak workforce would be 8800.

But as the project ramps up, it has surpassed those numbers, and is still looking for more workers - specifically special class welders, electricians, fitters, riggers and instrument technicians.

While the company has always recruited locally, with about half of its workforce hailing from the Gladstone region, it is now casting its nets further afield for these specialist roles.

Bechtel Gladstone general manager Kevin Berg said the company’s own analysis and planning showed there would always be a local shortage in areas such as special class welders, instrument fitters, electricians and riggers.

“You simply can’t put anyone into these roles,” he said. “It would be like putting a square peg into a round hole.

“A special class welder isn’t a welder or a boilermaker. They are like chalk and cheese. We need to find the appropriately skilled person to perform the work.”

Bechtel has recently been running

recruitment drives in Sydney, Melbourne and even Launceston in Tasmania.

In many cases, potential candidates are actually tested prior to employment to ensure they have the skills set required.

“I need to emphasise that the work we perform is demanding, heavy industrial construction. It’s not residential or light commercial or building construction and the experiences you gain performing that work don’t always transfer over,” Mr Berg said.

Currently there are more than 28,000 people registered on Bechtel’s database for trade roles, and as many as 125 applying for individual professional vacancies.

Mr Berg’s advice to jobseekers was to make sure their resume stands out.

“Many applicants for the roles have the same level of experience and skills, and others may be even more suitably qualified for the specific role,” he said.

“Our hiring process isn’t random or the luck of the draw. We spend considerable time and effort looking for the best possible candidate for each position.”

Mr Berg said having the qualifications specific to the role were vial and ensuring details and references stack up. He said good reference checks were particularly important and often made the difference.

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Laundry and haircuts to take off

FAST NEWS Contractor dies at Daunia A CONTRACTOR died at Daunia mine last week, but it’s not believed to be a work-related accident.

The mine is BMA’s newest, having only just begun operations in March.

A spokeswoman for BMA said the contractor had passed away a result of a non workrelated incident.

“BMA extends its sympathies to the employee’s family, friends and work colleagues during this difficult time,” she said.

LNG player lives to fight another year MINE industry workers catching flights out of Mackay could be sporting newly cut hair and a bag of clean laundry.

The Mackay airport has long serviced a huge fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workforce to the Bowen Basin, although the downturn has dampened the demand somewhat.

“We haven’t seen the spectacular growth [in passenger numbers] we saw over the past 12 years,” Mackay airport general manager Rob Porter told Shift Miner Added to that is the fact that Moranbah, in the heart of the Bowen Basin, now has its own airport - and there are direct flights there from Cairns and Brisbane.

But Mr Porter said while that will have some impact on Mackay airport, he is not tooAconcerned.

I ME X 1 3 _ A D _ 1 6 A . p d f Pa “The Moranbah airport will have an impact because they never had an airport before and

people working there will use it. You can get distracted by chasing FIFO. If you understand your community, you can grow,” he said.

Mr Porter said he expected more growth in passenger numbers to come.

“Because the Mackay region is heavy in the support services, we should still see growth. With two new mines starting up, there will be a need for services so I feel we’ll see things pick up.”

The airport catered for 1.1 million passengers last year, compared with 700,000 in Rockhampton and 1.2 million in Townsville.

“We know our transitting workforce pretty well, so we tailor our offering for our regular users.”

The airport has shower facilities, and there are now plans for a laundry service, ge 1 3 / 0 6 / 1 3 , 3 : 3 3 PM banking facilities and even a hair dresser.

“When people come here, they are usually

ASIA-PACIFIC’S INTERNATIONAL MINING EXHIBITION

here for a long time - at least 90 minutes - so we are working towards banking facilities.

“They are often out in the mines, but they still have their jobs to do, so we are trying to cater to that,” Mr Porter said.

As for the stereotype of the mine worker jumping on a flight and still covered in 12 hours of work?

Mr Porter said you wouldn’t recognise them: some will arrive in their work gear and then emerge from the shower facilities looking like a new person.

Also, they may not be welcomed at the other end if they are still smelling of the workplace.

“The guys and girls who pass through here are polite. If you are a frequent flyer, you do learn the rules, like taking your boots off and that sort of thing.

“They get themselves really prepared and organised.”

THE future of Gladstone’s fourth LNG processor and the strategic land it occupies on Gladstone Harbour is more certain last week following a decision by the Gladstone Ports Corporation to extend its site lease for another 12 months.

LNG Limited now has until June 30, 2014 to find a gas supplier - or a good prospect of one - to supply its proposed CSG to LNG export facility at Fisherman’s Landing.

The company’s managing director Maurice Brand said he was optimistic about the project’s future.

Just last month LNG Ltd received the latest knock to its plans when major shareholder PetroChina decided not to buy CSG producer Westside Corporation.

Had that deal been finalised, Westside could have become a major gas supplier to LNG Ltd via PetroChina.

LNG Ltd currently has the only mainlandbased site available for the processing and export of CSG in Gladstone.

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Farmers on weed warpath, but mayor defends CSG

John Cotter (centre) talked with graziers Rod Wilson (right) and son Will Wilson (left) from Calliope Station, Calliope, about the importance of proper weed management at the eastern end of CQ pipelines.

WEED management was one of the main concerns farmers raised with the GasFields Commission during a visit through Central Queensland earlier this month.

GasFields Commission Queensland chairman John Cotter said landholders affected by the coal seam gas (CSG) industry want to ensure proper weed management procedures are maintained.

In a statement, Mr Cotter said although CSG companies had comprehensive weed management plans. these should be implementation in close consultation with affected landholders and councils.

He said there was a need to ensure there were an adequate number and location of wash down facilities for construction vehicles travelling between ‘clean’ and ‘dirty’ regions and that there was appropriate resources to ensure regular checks of these wash down procedures and facilities.

Mr Cotter said he would be writing to Biosecurity Queensland to seek advice and assurances there were sufficient resources and monitoring of weed management in

the gas pipeline and CSG production areas of the state.

Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Ray Brown told Shift Miner the resource industry has taken the issue of weed management very seriously and takes many steps to ensure it does not spread weeds, such as Parthenium or Giant Rats Tail.

“We have a lot of safeguards in places like Wandoan, where we invested in a $1.5 million washdown facility and we’re looking at another for Miles, Chinchilla and Dalby,” he said.

One Dalby farmer is currently threatening legal action against a LNG company, which he claims introduced weeds two years ago.

The Queensland Country Life reported that Allan Leech is seeking hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages after his 618 hectare property, Halliford Station, which holds four QGC gas wells, was inundated with African Love Grass weed more than two years ago.

Mr Leech’s lawyer, Josh Aylward of Shine Lawyers, Dalby, said told the Queensland Country Life: “The gas workers on the

ground need to be better educated about their obligations for wash down, and the penalties for the companies for people who do not comply with these obligations need to be increased, otherwise this problem will just continue. We are getting many complaints about weed issues. The companies need to man up to this issue and take responsibility.”

But Mayor Ray Brown, who grew up on a property in the Western Downs region, told Shift Miner that energy sector has taken enormous steps to remain compliant and work closely with the council.

“We have been mindful that all environmental impact statements must have a pest management plan, and we have sighted these to make sure they are appropriate.

“I’ve had no major outbreaks of ‘they did this’, or ‘they didn’t do that’. Companies are very mindful of this and have shown utmost respect to our landowners. It’s not perfect, but they have certainly done the best they can.

“Landowners are also doing right to show concern.”

Mr Brown said equipment - including earth moving equipment - was being moved all over Queensland and it was a great source of concern. Not only was there the danger of spreading weeds, but also of soil-borne diseases that could affect livestock.

“We want a clean, green image with our livestock,” he said.

But it was not just the resource sector that should be put under the spotlight.

“Stock and station agents also have a part to play in trying to stop the mobilisation of pests.”

Mr Brown said pest management was very good, but now it was educating the energy sector about the rise of wild dog populations.

“Wild dogs are using the pipelines as thoroughfares and farmers have been baiting them, but energy sector need to be made aware. If you see a dog, you need to report it to the council.”

A slap on the wrist?

HEADING: THE Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and Biosecurity Queensland was slashed last year as the state government took its scalpel to the public sector.

According to its website, the emphasis has moved from regulation, policy and planning to on-ground service delivery.

A Biosecurity Queensland spokesperson told Shift Miner that the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) was committed to weed and pest animal management and continues to support a number of initiatives to assist landholders with weed spread prevention.

“Weed prevention and management actions are requested as part of major infrastructure project approvals.”

DAFF provided $3.2 million in funding to AgForce projects to deliver a series of 130 workshops during 2013 to affected landholders across the Surat, Bowen and Galilee Basins.

In January this year, DAFF also hosted a workshop with all CSG companies to emphasise the obligation of companies and their contractors to comply with the weed and pest hygiene requirements of their project Environmental Management Plan.

“Landholder complaints and concerns about weed hygiene are also investigated and addressed by Department of Natural Resources and Mines.

“The Queensland Land Access Code also places mandatory conditions relating to the obligations of companies undertaking resource activities to prevent the spread of declared pests and weeds.”

The spokesperson said failure to comply with this condition is a breach of the Land Access Code and, under Queensland resources legislation, compliance action may be taken where breaches occur.

The spokesperson did not say what the penalty was or how many investigations had been carried out.

She did say if a weed outbreak is attributed to the resource activity on a property, the landholder can recoup costs through compensation from the company for damage to the property under the land access laws.

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

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Fitzroy Basin gets a C

THE Fitzroy Basin has been given a pass for water health, but the marine area at the mouth of the Fitzroy River has been rated poor on a five-scale rating by the first Fitzroy River Report Card - just one step up from the bottom.

However, the report card, which was released yesterday, provides a snapshot of aquatic ecosystem health from June 2010 to June 2011 and this was a time

12

10th June 2013

of the big floods.

“Due to high rainfall and the corresponding major flooding that occurred in early 2011, a larger load of sediment reached the marine zone from the catchments, which impacted water quality, sea grass and coral condition,” the report card said.

The report card delivered an overall C for the catchment area, stating the river systems are in a

fair condition with a mix of both good and poor grades.

Meanwhile, the Queensland Resources Council has welcomed the launch of the report card as a clear demonstration of the Fitzroy Partnership’s aim to provide a more comprehensive picture of river health.

Its chief executive, Michael Roche, says the sector strongly believes that scientifically robust

information is the best way to build trust between all parts of the community, and to gain a clear picture of how every user of the Fitzroy Basin contributes to the health of the river.

“This is a collaborative way to move the discussion away from mine water discharges towards achieving the best outcomes for the river,” said Mr Roche The QRC was among 26 organisations from various backgrounds including government, mining, agriculture, industry, research and community groups involved in the delivery of the first report card for the Fitzroy Basin on the collective health of its rivers, creeks, estuary and related marine environment.

The report card developed by the Fitzroy Partnership for River Health, used the best available science to assess waterway health for the Nogoa, Isaac, Connors, Dawson and Mackenzie River systems and the Fitzroy River estuary as well as reporting on the condition of the marine environment.

Results were scrutinised by

News an independent science panel, chaired by Professor Barry Hart to ensure that methods used for assessment were relevant to Fitzroy Basin waterways.

Mr Roche noted that the 2010/11 report card related to a period that experienced the largest flood discharge volumes in recorded history for the Fitzroy Basin.

“These unprecedented discharges generated significantly larger than normal sediment and nutrient loads.

“Notwithstanding the special circumstances prevailing in 2010/11, the report card will provide valuable information for comparison in future years as more report cards are produced.”

Almost $1 million, plus extensive in-kind monitoring support, was used to establish the partnership and deliver the first report card for the period from July 2010 to June 2011.

The full report card, reporting area overviews, detailed datasets, additional information, river stewardship and grading information are all available online at www.riverhealth.org.au.

Shift Miner Magazine

News

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$150 billion projects ‘delayed’ but QGC still hiring

More than 11,600 people are working with QGC and its major contractors, with more than 15 people hired every day during the past six months.

AS a new report revealed $150 billion worth of projects had been delayed or cancelled across Australia since April last year, QGC has remained upbeat and trumpeted its employment record.

According to the coal seam gas company, more than 11,600 people are working with QGC and its major contractors, with more than 15 people hired every day during the past six months.

In its latest six-monthly report to Queensland’s CoordinatorGeneral on Australian industry participation, QGC said investment in construction, exploration and operations since January 2010 had passed $14.9 billion.

This included spending by both QGC and its QCLNG project on Curtis Island.

QGC said about $12 billion – or 80 per cent of the total $14.9 billion

– had been invested with Australian firms since January 1, 2010.

Queensland firms had received 64.5 per cent, or $9.6 billion, of the total.

The report covers October 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013.

QGC managing director Derek Fisher said more than 115,300 Australian businesses had registered their interest in doing business with QGC since 2010.

“QGC will be operating in Queensland for decades to come and our QCLNG Project is delivering economic and social benefits from the Surat Basin to Gladstone and across Queensland,” Mr Fisher said.

“In the six months to the end of March, QGC and our contractors hired more than 2800 people – or 15 people a day.

“A snapshot of current contracts shows we are investing nearly $1 billion in Gladstone and about $684 million in the Western Downs region.”

Meanwhile, it is not so good news for the rest of the sector.

According to the federal body, Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE), around $150 billion of projects have been delayed or cancelled since April 2012, while cost increases to committed projects currently account for 11 per cent of the stock of committed investment.

“The decline in the number of committed projects reflects the emerging trend for high value projects at the feasibility stage to be delayed or cancelled, while the value of committed investment has

remained close to record high levels due to cost increases to several key project,” said Professor Quentin Grafton, executive director and chief economist at BREE. BREE, for the first time, has undertaken a forward projection of the stock of committed investment in the resources and energy sectors.

In a scenario based on projects that BREE assess as ‘likely’ to progress, the stock of committed investment has peaked and is projected to decline over the next five years as a result of fewer high-value projects progressing through the investment pipeline to offset the completion of the LNG projects that are currently under construction.

“While BREE projects a likely decline in the stock of committed project investment, there remain opportunities for Australia to generate a higher level of committed investment,” said Professor Grafton.

“This will only be realised if many of the projects which BREE currently rate as ‘possible’ are able to progress through to the committed stage over the next five years.”

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Delayed but bright future for CQ rail sector

THE future of rail infrastructure in Central Queensland is delayed but not dead, according to the Rail Track Association Australia (RTAA).

RTAA president David Bainbridge told Shift Miner the appetite for rail construction in Australia is driven mostly by coal in the east and iron ore in the west. As a result, the outlook for those commodities has a direct bearing on the rail sector.

“Certainly there has been a change in the appetite for people to invest in rail infrastructure due to the global financial crisis,” he said.

“The dollar is too high, and demand from our key commodity customers of China, Korea and India is weakening.”

However, Mr Bainbridge says the upside to lower demand is that internal freight rates are becoming cheaper.

In reference to key Central Queensland rail projects like the missing link to the Abbot Point coal terminal and the proposed Galilee railway, Mr Bainbridge is forecasting delays.

“There are a number of projects in Queensland that will facilitate the boom if and when it returns and in whatever size it comes,” he said.

“It is a sad reality that all mining resources go in boom and bust cycles, and while we may wish it were otherwise the booms really boom and the busts really bust.

“But I think the planned projects across Australia will continue to be delivered and funded, but they will take a longer glide path than expected.”

Meanwhile Mr Bainbridge also predicted an evening up of the playing field between rail and road freight.

“Changing government subsidies might level up the fairness between rail and road in the future,” he said.

“Governments at all levels are broke and you can’t keep spending money [on subsidies] the country just doesn’t have.”

He said the rail industry has to look at its own efficiencies as well.

“Currently there are eight different rail gauges in Australia, and every state has completely different rules governing their rail. This can’t continue in the future.”

News Industrial hub for Moranbah

ANGLO American is undertaking a prefeasibility analysis for the establishment of a major new industrial hub in Moranbah.

The company made the announcement last week to a packed hall at the Bowen Basin Mining Club’s Moranbah networking event.

Anglo American says it intends to develop the industrial hub so that more business can set up locally to service future mining growth.

“The industrial park will be developed on Anglo American mining lease land in Moranbah,” the company said.

“It’s intended to support the

development of small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Moranbah region, in addition to supporting the industrial needs of Anglo American and more broadly the resources sector.”

While Moranbah is surrounded by lots of agricultural land that could be easily built on, most of it is held under mining leases, meaning in reality Moranbah has a very limited supply of land.

As a consequence the lack of available industrial land - at the right price - has been identified as a barrier to entry and growth for small business and larger mining suppliers.

Anglo American says the primary objective of the industrial estate is to provide a location for suppliers to its expanding operations in the town, principally its Grosvenor project.

However, the company says it will also make it available for small businesses, community facilities and educational services.

In July 2012 Anglo American commenced construction of the five million tonne a year Grosvenor project near Moranbah.

Grosvenor is an underground longwall project located immediately to the south of the existing Moranbah North mine which has been in operation since 1998.

The company also plans to develop the adjacent Moranbah South project by 2020.

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Jobs Ladder

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New toolkit to increase women participation in mining

IT IS a well-known fact that women are under-represented in the mining industry, but a new toolkit launched last month is set to change this.

The toolkit, developed by the Australian Human Rights Commission, aims to help the mining, construction and utilities industries to attract and retain female talent Based on data from organisations that report to Workplace Gender Equality

Agency (WGEA), women make up just 17 per cent of mining employees, 20 per cent of employees in construction, and 22.4 per cent of employees in the utilities sector.

Mining has the lowest percentage of female managers at just 13.7 per cent. In comparison, across all industries, women comprise almost 48 per cent of all employees and 34 per cent of managers.

Caroline Morrissey, manager

women in resources at the Queensland Resources Council said: “It’s not great.”

The QRC has a target of increasing women’s participation to 20 per cent by 2020.

“We are gradually creeping up and we are on target on to reaching that target,” she told Shift Miner. “Women are still bunched at 80 per cent in those admin roles.”

The level of participation has almost doubled in five years from 6 per cent in 2005-06 to 11 per cent in 2010-11.

“Our industry is looking at getting at least a proportion of female candidates being put forward, so we are making contractors work harder to find those women,” Ms Morrissey said.

The biggest barrier was mostly around attracting women to nontraditional roles in the first place - engineering, geology, trades, sciences and then attracting them to the industry.

“We need to get rid of this image that the industry is dirty, dark and dangerous, as that is a bit of hangover. And we need flexible working arrangements, and you can see our members

are doing quite a bit in that area, with the mummy shift.”

Meanwhile, WGEA director Helen Conway has welcomed the toolkit and said it is consistent with the advice the agency has been providing to maledominated organisations.

“It reinforces practical ways these organisations can meet the challenges they face in increasing their female workforce participation.

“Organisations that make their workplace attractive to female employees will have access to a broader pool of talent and be better able to tackle skills shortages. Importantly, too, gender diversity also leads to improved organisational performance,” Ms Conway said.

Ms Conway acknowledged that getting more women into male-dominated industries is a long-term game.

“Part of the solution involves looking at how gendered stereotypes about careers impact on the educational choices women make at school and at TAFE or University.

“Many organisations in these industries are now going

into schools to ensure young women know about rewarding employment opportunities available to them that they may not have considered,’ Ms Conway said.

At last month’s Australian Women in Resources Alliance (AWRA) conference, Ms Conway said the mining industry had clearly demonstrated an acceptance of the business benefits of gender equality and that other industries would be able to learn from some of the gender diversity initiatives coming out of the sector.

Ms Morrissey said using awards was an important means of encouraging women into the industry.

“It’s about profiling successful women in the industry, role models and mentors. We are just in process of setting up face-toface mentoring through www. womeninminingqueensland.com.”

The QRC began its annual Women in Mining Awards in 2006, which attracted 200 women.

This year it attracted 1000.

“To their credit, our member companies support our events by sending their women to our events and it wouldn’t happen with their support.”

N Cairns

Townsville

Rockhampton

Sunshine Coast Brisbane

10th June 2013

15

Shift Miner Magazine

Around Town

www.shiftminer.com

ARTY FARTY Blackwater High School held its annual art show recently at the local civic centre

Angela Russell and Nykea Lebsanft

Therese and Peter Foley

Courtney and Casey Bowers

Melinda and Brooke McGuiness

Conor and Cael Wilkinson-Reed

Joanne and Brett Truelson

Michelle and Barry Retschlag

June and Ian Huxley

Lauren Christmas and Rebecca Taylor admiring Lauren’s painting

Emily and Zac Bacon

Richard Whittaker and Barry Galloway

(L-R) Sky Lowndes, Melissa Dwyer and Julie Beak (L-R) Skye Barry and Simone and Tamika Magometous

Baxter Bowers

(L-R) Bryce, Lee-Anne and Kevin Cracknell

(L-R) Ian and Toni McKavanagh and Howard Benstead

Judith Robson with her painting which won Best Local Artist

(L-R) Sister Carmel, Derek Wood and Sister Colleen

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

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10th June 2013

Shift Miner Magazine

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Around Town

HE’S GOT THE X FACTOR

A crowd of 2000 crammed into the Blackwater Sports Complex to hear Reece Mastin. Reece and his backing band entertained the audience with everyone on their feet. Local bands also played, including Blackwater girl Breeanna Barney.

Local band Modern Day Mayhem performs

Local girl Breeanna Barney performs

Buy this and many other images at

www.shiftminer.com Shift Miner magazine – bringing the mining community closer together 10th June 2013

17

Shift Miner Magazine

Off Shift

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FROm THE EDITOR In March last year, I did a threeday drive around the Bowen Basin to get a taste of the boom. It was an eye-opener because I had absent from Australia for over 15 years this was a completely different world to the one I had left.

There was no available accommodation, the talk was about how FIFO was destroying communities and there was a lot of money flying around (none towards me, sadly). Mackay’s industrial precinct of Paget was a frenzy of activity - new buildings were going up so quickly the power company couldn’t keep up. There was a 15-month waiting list to get connected. The feeling everywhere was of being out of control. The coal industry was this juggernaut ploughing forward and everything else was rushing after it, trying desperately to catch up.

Fast forward 15 months and what a stark contrast. Rents and house values in mining towns have plummetted, investors are no doubt crying into their pretzels if they bought last year, Paget has come to a

standstill, 6000 jobs have gone and some businesses are closed. Many businesses are struggling. It could sound extremely depressing.

But for many in the industry, the general feeling is that even though it is pretty tough at the moment, the worst is over. The pace of this last boom was unsustainable and, if you read Redmond’s Rant on page 23, it created a pretty ugly and greedy environment. Perhaps this slowdown is a good time to review and plan a better way for the next boom.

And it isn’t all bad news. The gas industry is powering ahead and Australia’s economy - despite the forecast we are about to head into recession - continues to grow and our unemployment remains low.

This, however, is cold comfort if you are under threat of losing your job.

If your job is under threat, text us your thoughts at.........

Inga Stunzner Comment or SMS 0409 471 014

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Get up close to Qld’s leading boat brands - heaps of show specials on and o the water!

Boating and Fishing talks across the weekend.

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SHIFT MIN ER The Queenslan

d mining and

Stuff to the Editor Last edition, BHP spoke on the record for the first time about its new 5-star ANCAP vehicle safety policy. The article has sparked a backlash from readers:

Your headline last week should have read: ‘Coal prices down...so safety standards have changed too.’ While Mr Jenkins from BHP talks about things like stability control of 4WD vehicles and airbags as safety options that override things like roll bars and such and can reduce rollovers by 80 per cent, in actual fact on the ground BHP are forcing their employees to drive around in vehicles far less safe than they make out.

For instance at Blackwater mine, 18-seat busses have been introduced as recently as three months ago as a cost-saving initiative.

They are prone to problems such as the 4WD not working at all, or working intermittently, which I’m quite sure would upset the stability control function of these vehicles.

They have no options for passenger airbags except for driver and front seat passenger and no roll-over protection except the fibreglass pod itself, which they assure my husband is safe but has not passed any ANCAP safety rating. So do they park them up? No, they just change the rules and risk factors via a JSA and say the 4WD function isn’t needed so this much talked about stability control function... gone. So because of an uneducated decision from someone who knows nothing about the logistics of moving people safely around a mine site and cost cutting measures, these busses our partners and loved ones are on are the only means of transport. Site rescue has no basic training or even information about how best to attempt a rescue on one of these busses should it overturn - as they have only one exit.

So you see, Mr Jenkins’ theory on how our

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husbands and families are all so much better off now is quite frankly bullsh*t. His theory only works in a perfect world where all bosses value the safety of employees above profit. What Mr Jenkins said, in theory, is probably right, but while he has left the option for all the rules to be changed on the day via a pen and a JSA and by a supervisor that’s under pressure and just want to move dirt it can never work.

So, Mr Jenkins, if you are really serious about the safety of all mine workers we can all look forward to an inquiry by you to find out why these things are happening on your sites if your standards are so high and safety is your number one concern.

The Wife of a Very Concerned Coal Mine Worker Brisbane

Street Mac kay

Who are these d*ckheads making these rules about ANCAP? A bull bar is not there to protect the occupants but to protect the car from thousands of dollars of panel damage.

Pull ya head in BHP. 5-star ANCAP - the research and data tells us that 5-star vehicles are 80 per cent less likely to roll because of ESC, but ESC might work on bitumen but is dangerous on dirt roads such as mine sites.

BHP what a joke. Firstly for a bull bar to be fitted it must comply with Australian safety standards and, yes, that also includes airbags. Secondly, a bull bar is designed to brush animals off the car; without them all a 4WD will do is knock the animal through the windscreen killing both front occupants. Lastly, the real or traditional 4WDs were stronger than the modern ones because of a ladder chassis giving them structure. These so-called safety cars of today squash and crumple, so if they hit a car or child smaller than them they survive.

Go back to bullsh*t school, mate!

Photos to THE EDITOR

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SEEN SOMETHING WE HAVEN’T? Prizes for the best mining photos.

Take it on your phone or camera and send it in - Text to 0409 471 014 alex.graham@shiftminer.com

Shift Miner Magazine

Off Shift

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Frank the Tank’s Dear Frank,

My wife and I have been married for 25 years and we’re still very much in love, but lately I just feel as though our marriage is losing its spark.

I think we’re stuck in a bit of a rut. We just seem to stick to the same boring routine every week.

What can we do to spice our marriage up and get out of the same old routine?

Bruce, Emerald.

Twenty-five years! That’s longer than most prison sentences, Bruce.

Being married is probably better than being in prison, although the two share some similarities.

My first marriage was like a prison.

The only time I was allowed outside was to perform back-breaking labour, I was forced to eat flavourless gruel and was frequently sexually assaulted in the shower.

My attempts to tunnel out were foiled by the cruel warden who made me watch Sex and the City as punishment.

Luckily I was granted parole when the warden caught me in bed with her sisters.

Your problem is an all too common one, Bruce. It happens to a lot of couples who have been married for a long period of time.

If you want the magic back, you’ll just have to throw caution to the wind and be spontaneous.

Next time your wife texts you and asks you to bring home a bottle of milk, write

“Streakin” good love advice

the words, “Full cream?” on your genitals and send it back as a picture message.

Instead of having dinner at home, why not try an exciting new restaurant?

Last week my girlfriend and I went to a restaurant where customers battle against an animal in a gladiator-style pit, and if victorious are allowed to eat the animal.

I can tell you that I’ve never had more succulent duck, and there was something disturbingly arousing about watching my girlfriend try to strangle a live eel.

If you’re looking to spice things up in the boudoir perhaps you could try some role play?

I’m partial to a medieval role play myself.

I accuse my girlfriend of being a witch and she has to ‘convince’ me she’s not.

Just don’t get too invested in the fantasy. I had a friend who went overboard with a World War II role play and wound up getting arrested for trying to ambush a local sushi bar.

IN BRISBANE - A new barber

shop in the Brisbane CBD has got male clientele lining up for a trim.

‘Barber Babes’ on George Street in the city offers haircuts, eyebrow waxing and shaves...all by topless women in hot pants or underwear.

According to the owner/operator, many men don’t enjoy getting their hair cut, but Barber Babes aims to make the experience more pleasurable.

Some of the barbers are also available to give lap dances, but not while they’re performing their barbering duties.

A shortage of priests has the Catholic Church in Madrid concerned as there is an increase in demand for exorcisms.

IN SPAIN - The Catholic Church

in Madrid says it needs more priests trained to perform exorcisms.

According to a spokeswoman for the archdiocese, Madrid has only one exorcist priest

and needs more to help cope with the devil.

A Catholic website blames the increasing secularisation of Spanish society for an alleged increase in people needing help with their demons.

Bruce, Frank is right (I feel dirty just saying that) in that this is a common problem.

Now that you’ve identified it, however, it’s up to you and your wife to make the changes.

Only a conscious effort can put the spontaneity back in your marriage.

You could plan a romantic weekend away to some place you’ve never been and surprise your wife.

There’s also plenty of simple things you can do, if you always have roast on a Sunday, try going out for dinner.

Breaking up these little routines will help put some life back into your marriage.

Susan

Frank

Exorcisms made international news recently after speculation the Pope performed an exorcism on a disabled man in St Peter’s square.

Fair Dinkum!

SENSIBLE SUSAN

IN NEW YORK

- A man dressed as Cookie Monster was arrested recently after demanding money from a family who posed for a picture with him.

The Mexican national approached the family in New York and asked them to pose for

a picture; afterwards he demanded they pay him A$2 and became irate when they refused.

He was charged with a number of offences including hostile begging and endangering the welfare of a child.

Costumed characters looking for paid photo opps is becoming more prevalent in Times Square in effort to part tourists with their spending cash.

IN TASMANIA

- A man got more than he bargained for when the video camera he set up to capture paranormal activity accidentally filmed his partner in a sexual relationship with his teenage son.

Upon reviewing the footage to check for paranormal occurrences, the man discovered his partner kissing and cuddling his sixteen-year-old son.

She played down the incident, but his son revealed they had had sex on a number of occasions.

The woman pleaded guilty to five counts of sex with a minor in the Supreme Court of Tasmania and is due to be sentenced in the near future.

10th June 2013

19

CAR FOR SALE

BOAT FOR SALE Offshore Marine Master 2012 Mac5 Cuddy.

MITSUBISHI TRITON GLXR 2011 colour coded drop side steel tray, 5 sp manual, air, steer, power windows, cruise, CD, tow bar, long range tank, UHF, immaculate, 62000K, full history. $35,950 Phone: 0418 725 318

Brand new! 90HP Suzuki 4 stroke, Hydraulic steering, Live well, Bimini, Bait station, self draining fully welded floor, Kill tank.

4mm bottom, 3mm sides.

Comes on Dunbier Glider trailer. Fishermans dream $39,950 Phone: 0404 891 776

CAR FOR SALE

CAR FOR SALE

78 XC FALCON GS UTE 250 Alloy head Crossflow on straight LPG, Supercharged with Raptor V-L blower, T5 gearbox, 9\” Diff, 3.7:1 Ratio, Disc Brakes, Regretful sale

$27,500 ono Phone: 0428 344 437 CAR FOR SALE 2010 TOYOTA HILUX Mine Spec, BMA Thiess Mac Coal Certified, New 265 Maxxis Iron Mud Tires, ADB Bull Bar, Lightfrce 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 BOAT FOR SALE

5.5 mtr markham whaler. twin 90 hp yam, 145 hrs. sounders, gps, twin 160 ltr inbuilt eskys, twin 160ltr fuel in sides, good trailer,

Immaculate Holden

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 $108,000.00 Must be sold. OFFERS, OFFERS, OFFERS Very Negotiable

Phone: 0409 630 311

Currently leased @ $385 inc gst/week immaculate condition 94,000k.

Includes shares in Rockhampton Cab Company Perfect sideline income

All leather interior.

$22,990 ono Phone: 0407 373 664

$20,990

Phone: 0407 373 664 CAR FOR SALE

CAMPER AND CAR FOR SALE

Compass slide-on camper on Ford F250 ute.Camper sleeps 2 plus makeup 3rd. 3way Electrolux fridge, 2 burner stove, wired 12 & 240 volts, 100Lwater, PortaPotti, space for 2x4.5kg LPG and 2 batteries, steps and legs carried below floor. F250XL 2001, 4.2L diesel, 190,000km, strengthened springs, UHF, compressor.

Whole unit $45,000 ono.

Camper only $11,000 ono.

mags, new power

CAR FOR SALE 1991 TOYOTA TROOPY 1hz motor, turbo diesel and gas which gives more power and econ.

New suspension , injectors, timing belt, new paint ,windscreen, clutch, 12 months rego, 90% tyres.

$15,000 Phone: 0429 112 396 CAMPER FOR SALE TOP-FORM insulated alloy camper,

steering pump,new

fits into 1.8mt. tray, fully

water pump,new front

equipped, only need food

brake pads, 142000km, great condition

and personal gear to use,

$8,500 ono

$20,000

Phone: 0407 913 914

Phone: 0439 872 215

Phone: 07 4973 9698

BUSINESS FOR SALE Sewing & Patchwork Business in Yeppoon.

Only one of it’s kind on the Capricorn Cost. Operates 5.5 days per week. Agents for Brother & Elna. Busy store currently employing 1 x Casual Employee. Good

BOAT FOR SALE

TRAILER FOR SALE

LIGHTNING

Home built camping

7mtr Alloy Walk-around,

trailer, built to carry 3 full

Twin 90hp E-Techs with

sizes bikes or a quad and

very low hrs, Vessel

bike, camp slides forwards

is quick, economical

or backwards to balance

and safe, with all

picture taken back for

possible extras.

bikes to sit on 5 months rego. Tows very well

$60,000 +GST+S.A.V

$62,000

Phone: 0447 824 539

Phone: 0417 196 015

Phone: 49 739 698

BOAT FOR SALE 2008 BAJA26 OUTLAW LUXURY PERFORMANCE POWERBOAT AS NEW 496ci Magnum HO Mercruiser 70mph 4 Blade Prop Aluminium Tandem Trailer Toilet, Cabin, Bunks, Seating Custom Upholstery, Graphics $95,000 ono Phone: 0414 330 803

LOST SOLID YELLOW GOLD BANGLE

BOAT FOR SALE

At Mackay Airport on Thursday 7th March around 3pm. Lost at security Screening Area. $200 reward offered.

If you have any information please contact MACKAY POLICE on

49 683 444 or MARIA on

0409 265 027

2013 HORIZON 435 Easy Fisher PRO on Dunbier, with 40 HP Mercury Tiller, saftey gear, Bimini top, front casting deck, rear storage with bait tank, Hummingbird 160X sounder, battery/ box, Side pockets, Rolled side decks $14,490 Phone: 0749 467 286

HOUSE/LAND FOR SALE

LAND FOR SALE

LAND FOR SALE

NORTH OF YEPPOON

Get Tax advantages as a Primary Producer!

YEPPOON

BUSINESS/HOME FOR SALE

$48,000 Phone: 0749 337 305

VS CLUBSPORT

Turnover, lots of potential.

$595,000 ono Phone: 07 4937 3564

Ford Mustang Convertable 67 302 V8 Auto. Left hand drive, disc brakes.

Excellent condition, Fully restored.

series 2, 19 inch chrome

$22,000 neg

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

CLASSIC FOR SALE

BUSINESS FOR SALE OPEN TAXI LICENCE FOR SALE IN ROCKHAMPTON

Statesman WM 2007 model. V6 auto

CAR FOR SALE

TOYOTA RAV 4

Acreage Living, City Conveniences!

Buy and stock cattle on 32 acre Hobby Farm at Ravensbourne which is 40 minutes from Toowoomba and 90 minutes to Brisbane.

block, 5 minutes from CBD, schools, transport.

Phone: 0435 347 686

Phone: 0409 391 254

LAND FOR SALE 2.5 ACRES FARMLET

SELF-SUSTAINABLE living on a sapphire mine claim 5 km west of Rubyvale. Small house, off grid, solar/ rainwater/composting toilet, great view.

Bitumen Road and Phone to front Gate. School, PO, Garage, Hospital, Hotel kindergarden and stores 15 min Drive.

New gold mines in area.

$75,000 ono Phone: 0417 704 369

$48,000 Phone: 0413 501 222

$4,500 Phone: 0429 112 396 CARAVAN FOR SALE BOROMA 700ST Insulated Custom designed, Shower/Toilet, fitted with 2x Electrolux Air conditioners, TV/DVD, W/ Machine, Gas cooktop,Grill & Oven,2x80ltr Water tanks, Hot water system, Solar panel, Twin batteries, Battery charger, Wired for 240/12volt, 1x80ltr GWT, Excellent condition. $42,000 neg.

Phone: 0419 001 369 CAR FOR SALE

4000 sqm North facing, corner premium Plenty of space for shed, pool, kids to play. $300,000 LAND FOR SALE WONDAI 160 ACRES 160 undulating acres at Wondai. 16 Metre Weekender, power, phone, 2 watertanks, permanent gully, 2 dams, cattle yards with vet crush, fully fenced.

Splendid home site, with captivating sunsets.

1 Hour to Gympie $345,000 Phone: 0417 704 369

This one lady owner Toyota Rav4 2010 is the perfect small SUV. Well maintained with full service history.

Auto MY10 (4/10) 2.4L Cruiser FWD standard features include: Automatic, 5 seater Cruise control Power windows & mirrors, Dual Air Conditioning with Climate Control.

Phone: 0407 840 484 ROOM FOR RENT CANNONVALE $150/week incl power Own entry New house Must be working, clean & honest

Phone: 0497 804 684

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MOVIE Review BY JUSTIN CARLOS

now the third and final installment in the series has hit theatres.

After the death of Alan’s (Zach Galifianakis) father, it’s decided that he needs help for his mental issues, and it’s up to ‘the wolfpack’ to drive him to a rehab centre in Arizona.

IT seems that once movie studios discover a working formula, they’ll do whatever they can to recreate it.

The immense success of the first Hangover movie led to a sequel with the exact same premise as the original, and

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On the way they’re kidnapped by an angry crime boss and told if they don’t locate Mr Chow (Ken Jeong) and find some stolen gold, their friend Doug will be killed.

The film then boils down to a ‘race against time’ narrative, as the gang

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ACROSS 1. Shook with cold 5. Craving for drink 9. Prehistoric creature 10. Grease star, … Newton-John 12. Revolving entrance gate 13. Altercations (3-2) 14. Haul 16. Early settler 19. Advertising backer 21. Mackerel or trout 24. Clear-headed 25. Highway repairs 27. King’s chair 28. Sleeveless overdress 29. Brother or ...

30. Discouraged

attempt to locate Chow, get the gold and save their friend.

The premise is different to the other two Hangover films, which is refreshing, however Part Three lacks the real laughout-loud moments of its predecessors.

Much of the humour is more dialogue-based or relies on the extreme awkwardness of Alan or the ridiculousness of Mr Chow.

Gags like the tiger in the bathroom or the face tattoo from the first two movies aren’t really present, apart from an utterly outrageous opening sequence involving a giraffe.

The Hangover 3 is not without humour, however, and there’s still plenty of comedy to help push the story forward.

The plot itself is a little cliche; many avid movie-goers will likely see most of the film’s twists and turns coming from a mile away.

Part 3 is really just an average movie buoyed by the success of The Hangover franchise.

The film is certainly well worth watching, and will no doubt amuse most viewers, but in comparison to the first (and easily best) film in the franchise it falls well short.

If you’re a fan of the Hangover series or are just in the mood for something lighthearted that you don’t have to think too much about, then this one is for you.

Down 1. Administer an anaesthetic to 2. Take no notice of 3. Alleviates 4. Evading (capture) 6. Very funny 7. Took vengeance 8. Team coaches 11. Profound 15. Abode 17. Puts in quarantine 18. Orchestral performances# 47 20. Scarce 21. Easily broken 22. Knight’s protection 23. Climb 26. Large ocean mammal

LAST EDITION’S SOLUTIONS E N V E L O P M A O R E N RO L L E R I L T GR E A S I E E D N S P E D A P R S T R E AMS S E C A A S CO T L S I I T S COR C H I U A N E S T L E

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# 48 SHIFT MINER Handy Crossword 129ME - (15A grid) Handy Crossword 068s. pdf

© Lovatts Crosswords - 5/08/2009 - Artist -mb

What can you learn from a

WINO

MORE- mining news MORE- industrial news MORE- investment news Shift Miner Wednesday’s Industry neWs onlIne (WIno) by Shift Miner Handy Cross blank grid.pdf ©Lovatts PublicationsPremium 5/03/09 Queensland business and industrial news www.shiftminer.com/news

artist – mb neWs you Won’t Get anyWhere else

SHIFT MINER

WEDNESDAY’S INDUSTRIAL NEWS ONLINE

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Surviving the ‘party with strangers’

Despite the offensive nature of Peter Sellers performing in ‘brown face’, The Party is a hilarious example of what can happen when you don’t know anyone.

THERE’S nothing worse than being invited to a party or function where you don’t know anybody.

We’ve all been there. Maybe you attend with your partner, or perhaps it’s a shindig for a work colleague where you don’t really know anyone else.

It can often be exceedingly awkward, and nine times out of 10 you’ll either wind up weirdly following around the one person

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10th June 2013

you know from the party like a sad labrador, or hanging out by the crackers and dip, intermittently nodding at other guests between mouthfuls of cheese cubes and kabana.

We at Shift Miner are conscious of situations that can make our readers feel socially awkward, and as such we’ve decided to offer some advice on how to survive the dreaded ‘party with strangers’.

The most obvious and effective way

of dealing with a party where you don’t know anybody is by simply declining the invitation in the first instance.

This is often more difficult than it seems, because many people take on the persona of a slippery used-car salesman when trying to drum up interest for a get-together.

They’ll tell you that there’ll be plenty of people there you know and may even exaggerate further by telling you they’ve mastered voodoo and have used their power to resurrect all your childhood pets for the party.

No matter how enticing or amazing the party sounds, always give a noncommittal answer in the first instance, something like, “Sounds pretty good. I think I’ve got something else on that day though, but I might swing by if I get a chance.”

A good old-fashioned ‘maybe’ sees your bets hedged and won’t offend the host of the party.

Obviously the noncommittal response is not appropriate in every situation.

If you’re in a relationship you will invariably have to attend a party with your partner where you know virtually no-one, so what should you do?

Depending on the function you’re attending, our good friend alcohol may be your best bet.

A bit of Dutch courage will ideally

make you more talkative and help to break the ice with others at the party.

It’s vitally important you monitor your intake of alcohol closely; if you go overboard you might get a little too loose.

The last thing you want to do is encourage everyone at your girlfriend’s great aunty’s 65th birthday party to go skinny dipping.

In a lot of cases your partner will be conscious that you don’t know anyone and may try to line you up with a ‘party buddy’, a friend of theirs who they think you’ll hit it off with.

For this reason it’s highly recommended you always leave something in the car so you’ve got an excuse to get out of a conversation.

Sure, it might turn out that your party buddy is awesome, but it’s equally likely that they’ll be insufferably boring or intolerably obnoxious, the latter is particularly likely if they don’t know anyone else and are also employing the alcohol technique.

If your party buddy won’t stop talking about the national broadband network or keeps trying to show you pornography bloopers on their phone, you can always say, “Oh, sorry, I left my phone in the car, I’d just better grab it.”

Then you just have to pray to God they don’t gravitate back to you when you reenter the party.

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Redmond’s Rants

Superboom fallout presents new opportunity

A POPULAR management theorem in times of slowed demand is to reduce operational costs by reducing staff. If choosing between increasing efficiency or reducing staff, the latter seems more popular. But is there a better way?

Within the structure and function of a Bowen Basin coal mine, there are some extremely poor operational habits and cultures that amount to wastage through neglect.

The super boom created a marketplace in which certain coal companies had the luxury of a client offering an open order-book - or, in other words, as much as coal as could be shipped out. In an address to staff at BMA’s Goonyella Riverside mine in April 2010, senior site executive (SSE) told of this situation.

Staff were urged to be safe, but were encouraged to make full tallies. The effect and long-lasting damage of this is still blowing through the operational efficiency of many mines.

As a reaction to the news of an open order-book, the demand on everything went mad. A recruitment fee for a single mine worker peaked at $10,000. Make no mistake; that was $10,000 per person recruited, paid directly to the recruitment company upon successfully filling the role.

I’m not sure how the terms of ‘successful’ were negotiated. It seemed that having someone - anyone - turn up to on site dressed in orange and holding a generic ticket fitted the bill.

I would like to challenge some training providers to supply figures on failure rates of people sitting coal mine inductions at this time. I believe the rate would be

disproportionately low compared to other industries that did not having the strength of an open order-book.

The super cycle found mining companies wanting to use all machinery, hiring in sub-contractor fleets, rebuilding old fleets and buying new fleets.

They demanded total and unbending operational support from maintenance.

Due to the hours being logged on machines and the increase in fleet numbers, it’s no surprise things went haywire. Despite qualified, experienced and skilled technical staff, they were simply digging faster than could be re-supplied or supported by maintenance. We could not fix things at the rate they were failing (breaking, wearing etc). The plan went out the window. The yen was pouring in.

But in this downturn, I would like to offer a counterpoint to shedding staff as the only option when it comes to balancing the books. After all, we have only lost demand for the quantity of coal, not our clients.

The 24-hour production cycle means that machinery has to be ready and useable all of the time. This is known as ‘availability’. I propose we abandon the 24-

hour production cycle and that operations only dig for 12 hours, and at night.

If we now base our production targets around one 12-hour night shift, it would mean availability targets for fleets would increase because during the 12-hour period of non-production (day shift) the fleet would be able to be maintained with no loss to down time.

Operating only on night shift would have the advantage that temperatures are, on average, lower - and that extends tyre life and component hours. A small day shift crew would be able to repair haul roads, mining benches, digging floors and bunds without the hassle of haul traffic.

When the night shift operators walk on site everything would be ready to go.

Machines fueled, serviced, repaired and pre-started. Haul roads, mining benches, digging floors and bunds would be order.

I simply can’t understand why mining houses are not capitalising on this brief slow period to rebuild fleets, replace, restock, employ, sort out supply lines and dissect the failures from the super boom so when this eye passes and the storm again hits us we are able to simply bend down and pick up money.

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 Writer’s Guild four years in a row in the Truth Telling category...

The world’s dumbest trends

THE internet is pretty fantastically convenient. There’s no disputing it.

As a member of generation Y, I have literally no idea how one would have gone about booking airline travel without the internet; was it something to do with carrier pigeons or colour coded flare guns?

The online world puts a vast and possibly unmeasurable encyclopedia of information at your fingertips. Imagine wanting to know who the first man to summit Kilimanjaro was and having to look it up in a book.

That’s so dreadfully inconvenient!

Despite the thousands of positive uses for the internet, it also promotes some of the most incredible stupidity the human race can conjure.

What is perhaps more baffling is that this stupidity then infects other people and before you know it, a viral trend is born.

Here is a list of some of the world’s most ridiculous online trends. Let them be a cautionary tale to all with a penchant for casting off the oppressive shackles of common sense.

Eating cinnamon It sounds innocuous enough, but attempting to eat a spoonful of cinnamon without water is no mean feat. It causes coughing, spluttering,

vomiting and the amusement of all who witness the plight of the poor fool who tries it.

Unfortunately, cinnamon is surprisingly caustic and taking the ‘cinnamon challenge’ can lead to breathing problems or, in some cases, collapsed lungs.

Snorting condoms No, it’s not a weird typo...snorting condoms. This ‘challenge’ has gone viral on YouTube and involves sticking a condom up your nose, snorting it, then pulling it out your mouth.

Not only is this spectacle incredibly weird and disgusting, it also presents a very tangible choking hazard.

Planking I’m sure we all remember the great planking fad a few years back. Basically you lie face down on an unsafe object, like a ledge or railing, at a precarious angle.

The extreme heights often associated with planking are what make it so idiotic, a Brisbane man fell to his death in 2011 after attempting to ‘plank’ on the narrow ledge of an inner city apartment building.

Go forth and view people performing these ridiculous challenges on YouTube and be amused by the rampant stupidity of others. While we at Shift Miner encourage the viewing and sharing of videos of people participating in idiotic viral trends, we do not endorse any combination of planking, eating cinnamon or snorting condoms.

10th June 2013

23

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Bait Shop Banter

still producing quality fish.

“People are still catching barra in the estuaries, and there’s been a lot of good king and blue salmon getting around.

There’s also been lots of nice whiting in the rivers,” said Neil.

If you’re looking to run your pots, most creeks from the Proserpine River to the Pioneer River are crabbing well.

“The fishing’s been incredible. There’s a lot of bait around and a lot of activity; the spotty and Spanish mackerel have been biting really bloody good, and there’s even been a few small black marlin caught near the Keppels.”

The cooler weather is also producing some action in the creeks.

“The flathead are moving into the mouths of the creeks to breed. There’s been quite a few catches in Ross Creek, Coorooman and Corio, and the bream and blue salmon are coming on as well,” said Tony.

Corio Bay is still producing some quality barra, but they’re likely to quieten as the weather gets cooler.

Just a reminder that the Secret Spot Bait and Tackle has moved to a new location at 1 Charles Street, Yeppoon.

GLADSTONE - The windy

weather has kept the fishing quiet and in close around Gladstone in the past fortnight.

Greg from Pat’s Tackle World reckons the cooler weather will see the barra quieten, and the colder months produce some good blue salmon.

“The blue salmon have appeared so a lot of locals and people new to the area will get to experience some good quality salmon this winter.

“If you’re chasing blues, soft plastics and hardbody lures are effective, as well as strip bait, prawns and Yorkies.”

Anglers looking to bag a barra when the weather’s cooler should move towards the hot water outlet in the Calliope River.

The crabbing around Gladstone continues to be fruitful, with a lot of full crabs being caught.

MACKAY - Despite some

Luke Doyle caught this coronation trout on a recent fishing trip with mates.

YEPPOON - In between some

unfriendly weather, the fishing around Yeppoon has been phenomenal.

Tony from the Secret Spot Bait and Tackle says there’s been plenty of action out wide when the weather’s been good.

recent poor weather, there are still plenty of fish being caught around Mackay.

According to Neil from Tackle World Mackay, if you can get out wide during a patch of good weather there’s plenty of nice reef fish on offer.

“There’s a lot of good reef fish being caught on the closer inshore reefs - lots of nice coral trout, sweet lip and even some red throat emperor.”

If the weather stifles your plans to get out on the reef, the creeks and estuaries are

your weather forecast Ti

MACKAY Gladstone

MACKAY Gladstone

Mon 10 Tue 11

A moist winter WEEK 1: The North West Cloud Bands (NWCB) have continued to bring cloud from the west into eastern Australia (see map). There seems to be one every 7-10 days with rain reaching the Coalfields either Wednesday or Thursday each week. The cloud last week dipped south causing the wettest June on record from Adelaide/Melbourne/Albury triangle and surrounds. It missed Queensland for the first time in six weeks.

We’ve seen the third frosts for the

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southern Coalfields from Gindie south to Surat/Miles. Now the onshore easterlies bring brief showers to the coast, which will try and move into the eastern Coalfields as a ‘spit’ early in the week. Then an upper low seems to develop over the Birdsville area. If its winds get up with some good rain and storms, it may affect the southern Coalfields late Thursday/ Friday with shower activity.

Boaties! On-shore winds continue. MonTue: S/SE 15-20 gusting to 25 in a squally shower north of Yeppoon to Whitsundays.

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

angus.peacocke@shiftminer.com

With Mike Griffin

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1.04 3.17 1.03 3.92

0510 1108 1647 2326

1.09 3.11 1.15 3.81

0546 1145 1723

1.16 3.05 1.29

0005 0626 1230 1807

3.69 1.23 3.00 1.45

0051 0713 1325 1908

3.56 1.28 2.98 1.60

0146 0810 1435 2032

3.44 1.28 3.03 1.66

0558 1139 1737 2358

1.32 4.20 1.11 5.29

0626 1208 1807

1.40 4.11 1.24

0027 0657 1241 1839

5.16 1.48 4.03 1.41

0101 0733 1321 1918

5.00 1.57 3.94 1.61

0139 0816 1410 2006

4.81 1.64 3.87 1.83

0228 0909 1515 2109

4.63 1.66 3.87 2.01

0331 1014 1632 2232

4.49 1.58 4.03 2.04

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0358 1023 1658 2315

3.36 1.07 3.47 1.38

0506 1123 1800

3.40 0.89 3.78

0019 0609 1219 1854

1.13 3.47 0.71 4.08

0117 0709 1314 1944

0.87 3.56 0.55 4.33

0211 0803 1407 2033

0.64 3.63 0.43 4.51

0302 0855 1458 2121

0.46 3.69 0.35 4.61

0444 1122 1744 2355

4.46 1.38 4.36 1.87

0555 1225 1847

4.54 1.09 4.79

0106 0657 1321 1942

1.57 4.67 0.80 5.24

0207 0754 1414 2034

1.24 4.79 0.54 5.65

0303 0848 1505 2123

0.94 4.88 0.34 5.99

0357 0940 1555 2211

0.70 4.95 0.20 6.23

0449 1032 1644 2259

0.51 4.98 0.13 6.36

Wed-Thr: SE 16-12 with a brief shower about – easing in the south. Fri: SE 15-10 tending ESE/ENE 13-9 late brief showers mainly south of Shoalwater Bay. Sat: ESE 10-15 a brief shower about tending SE 12-17 late. Sun: S/SE 15-20 with squally showers developing.

WEEK 2:The SOI, after taking a steep dive to -4 early in May, has now risen to +14 and rising. This is a major jump, the highest in nearly three years. With the NWCB activity this may be an indicator of a wet second half of the year. Temperatures could climb

into the high 20s with afternoon storm activity Monday/Tuesday. Then some tropical air with moisture from the North Tropical Coast causes thick cloud from Innisfail to Bowen. Then, if another variation of an NWCB timely arrives, this could trigger some rain by midweek, followed by a cold southerly with frost in the south.

Marine Lovers! Cloud increases. Mon-Fri: SE/ESE 15-20 with squally showers. Heavy falls start around Whitsundays then move south. There is an easing trend over the weekend.

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Luke Doyle and his mates love to fish and have managed to grab some pretty big monsters.

Unless they did a tag and release, these beauties will keep their bellies full for a while.

A big trout.

A big cod.

A big catch.

A big red.

10th June 2013

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Shift Miner Magazine

Sport

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Clermont the king of the codes THE sons of the Central Highlands town of Clermont are doing their families proud this year with both the rugby league and union sides undefeated in their respective competitions.

In rugby league, the Clermont Bears are sitting on top of the Central Highlands table after round seven, having not lost a game.

Not only that, they have scored more than 100 more points than the nearest team.

Even if they lost yesterday’s game against Blackwater (results unavailable at the time of print), the Clermont side are well on track for a premiership in 2013.

Darren Sargood President of the Central Highlands competition says the Clermont side has weathered the downturn in mining better than most.

“Some people were expecting that the mining downturn may have affected Clermont this year, but that doesn’t seem to be the case,” he said.

“They signed a couple of really strong players in the off season and it seems like even their off-week side is pretty strong.”

“Some of the other clubs on the other hand have been affected by the mining downturn, and they have fewer players available.”

“Even for those teams who can field a good side, they don’t seem to be able to do it every week like Clermont can.”

Shifting codes, and it’s a similar story for the Clermont Bush Pigs in the Central Highlands Rugby Union competition.

The Clermont rugby side is also undefeated, having completed a full round

fixtures so far.

Probably the strength for the Clermont side is it has always drawn its players from a mixture of industries, including agriculture, mining and town employment.

So when mining has a downturn, there are still plenty of people available to play.

President of the Central Highlands Rugby Union competition Eddie Shaw says Clermont are almost always a strong team in the competition.

“We are back into club rugby after the representative season, and Clermont are looking to be the team to beat again this year.”

“Unlike some of the other towns like Capella, Tieri and Moranbah, Clermont seemed to have a full strength side most weeks.”

“There was some talk that they might

not have the same numbers this year, but that is not the case.”

“Although Emerald are looking strong again as well, so it might be a similar grand final to 2012.”

Meanwhile in other Rugby news, the Central Highlands has delivered its first Queensland Country player since Jacob Raulini reached that level four years ago.

Harry Elliot, a chemical engineer working for Rio Tinto, will play in a curtain raiser against NSW Country next week at Number 8.

The well-pedigreed 24-year-old previously played for the Churchie School 1st XV alongside Wallabies Quade Cooper and David Pocock, as well as playing premier league in Brisbane.

Woorabinda sporting leaders to benefit from Rio Tinto sponsorship

CQ indigenous kids presenting their jerseys to Radike Samo and Nick Frisby.

Last week Queensland Rugby joined Rio Tinto in launching the Queensland Reds Future Indigenous Leaders Program.

The program is designed to create meaningful career pathways and leadership opportunities for young indigenous students throughout the state.

It’s hoped the new leaders program will provide the necessary mentoring support and

incentives to ensure indigenous students from the Cherbourg and Woorabinda regions are reaching their potential and becoming leaders within their communities. The program covers all areas of development including, sport, numeracy and literacy. It will have a particular focus on leadership for older students.

The Future Indigenous Leaders Program was officially launched last week prior to

Pictured: (Left to right) Kestrel Mine’s Alissa Gordon and GJ Gardner Homes’ Tim Pearce and Holly Reid.

Holly Reid graduated high school last year with a Certificate I in Business and has now commenced a full time traineeship with GJ Gardner Homes while studying a Certificate III in Business.

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10th June 2013

the Reds second annual indigenous game.

The program’s first ever 20 participants were able to present players with a special edition indigenous art print jersey.

Rio Tinto’s Alison Smith says the company wants to help people living in the communities in which they operate.

“Rio Tinto is proud to partner with Queensland Rugby Union in the Future

Indigenous Leaders Program” “We want to help talented Aboriginal students not only stay at school, but do the best they can.”

“Saturday’s indigenous game shone a spotlight on the achievements of these students, as well as celebrated the launch of this new program in 2013 between the QRU and Rio Tinto.”

Kestrel WISE supports future careers for Emerald students

We support a range of local projects through the Kestrel Mine, Clermont and Hail Creek Mine community development Funds.

In 2012, more than 90 Emerald State High School students completed Year 12 with VET qualifications through Kestrel WISE in a wide range of industries, developing skills and creating career pathways after school.

kestrel.cdf@riotinto.com clermont.cdf@riotinto.com hailcreek.cdf@riotinto.com

The Kestrel Mine Community Development Fund is pleased to partner with Emerald State Highschool to support the Kestrel WISE programme.

www.riotintocoalaustralia.com.au

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

Shift Miner Magazine

Off Shift

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Slow selling for CQ trophy property

THE market for super prestige property across Gladstone, Mackay and Rockhampton has gone dormant, according to the latest monthly report from valuers Herron Todd White (HTW).

It’s probably not surprising given the more subdued outlook in the coal sector and the generally pessimistic outlook in the beef industry.

In Mackay, a super prestige property is considered to be one that sells for in excess of $1 million. While there was a spike in sales last year, things have

ground to a halt in 2013.

“2012 saw more $1 million plus sales recorded that in the previous three years,” the HTW report reads.

“Without doubt the jewel in the crown was the sale of arguably the best residence in Mackay, which sold for in excess of $2.6 million, the highest residential sale seen in Mackay for some time.

“This architecturally designed home boasts a reported 1100 square metres of total of dwelling area, and is located on elevated acreage offering good suburban and distant

ocean and offshore island views.

“While volumes were strong in 2012, this has reduced considerably in the latter part of 2012 and into 2013 with limited activity in the $1 million plus range so far this year.”

Further south in Rockhampton, super prestige is considered to be a house worth more that $850,000. HTW said property in that bracket was very thinly traded in the city and that was expected to continue into the foreseeable future.

“During 2009 and 2010 only 12 properties sold for over this price point,” HTW says.

“Of these, only seven sold for greater than $1 million, with the highest selling for $1.5 million in 2010.

“Since January 2011 only seven sales have occurred over $850,000, with the highest sale during this period being for $1 million. That sale was for a historically iconic home known as Clancholla House, located on 8607 sqm of land in the centre of the Range. It has played host to a number of dignitaries including Princess Alexandra in 1959.”

On the Capricorn Coast, the super prestige market is considered to have a very similar price point, however, there appears to have been a significant correction in prices since the GFC. “We consider that potential purchasers looking to spend over $850,000 in a coastal town are comparing available properties to the Gold and Sunshine

coasts,” the report says.

“Since the start of 2012 there have only been four sales over $850,000 with most of these sales falling between $950,000 and $1.6 million. The stand-out sale on the Capricorn Coast during this period is 42 The Esplanade, Cooee Bay, which sold in September 2012 for $2.75 million. The property is located opposite the beach and comprises over 580 square metres of living over four levels.”

Finally in Gladstone, where the CSG boom continues unabated, super prestige property is considered over $950,000 and is typically located with elevated harbour or beach front views.

“The prestige residential market within Gladstone and Boyne Tannum are thinly traded with very few prestige properties on the market,” HTW said.

“Current market conditions in the location are slow with prices decreasing.

Prestige units sold within Gladstone are the Aspex apartments, which overlook the Marina and are within close proximity to Gladstone City. These units have decreased considerably.”

“Typical prices achieved in the peak of the 2011 market were up to $1.5 million, currently listings within this complex start at $690,000 and have been listed for an extended marketing period with little interest.”

Forget about retiring: you need to work

WHETHER you’re 18 or 50, you’ve probably dreamed at some point of how you’re going to spend your retirement and when you’ll be able to get there.

Although retirement might be the dream, Australia needs people to keep working and may soon raise the retirement age to 70 as a way of keeping baby boomers in the workforce.

A report by the National Sustainability Council predicts a near doubling in the amount of retirees in the next 20 years, which will heavily strain taxpayer spending on health and aged care.

With many baby boomers sitting on substantial assets, such as high value homes, there are fears that Gen X and Gen Y will refuse to pay the taxes necessary to support their forebears in retirement.

The Sustainability Council predicts fewer people to be in work and paying taxes to help support an aging population.

The report also suggests the gap between rich and poor in Australia has widened significantly.

This may affect educational opportunities for children in low income families, leading to a future shortage of educated Australians, which may further strain future taxpayer spending.

A lack of educated Aussies may also see more jobs in professional industries snapped up by workers from overseas.

Should the retirement age by raised to 70 for the good of the nation, or is there a better way to handle the problems of the future?

Have your say on the Shift Miner Facebook page

www.facebook.com/shiftminer 10th June 2013

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Shift Miner Magazine

Money Matters

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Is your will in order?

IT’S not really a pleasant thought. We’re all going to die at some stage, so it’s important to consider what happens financially after we’re gone.

No, this isn’t an advertisement for funeral cover, although the introductory sentence there probably makes it sound as though it is.

It’s estimated that nearly half of all Australians die intestate (without making a will).

It might seem like no big deal, but shuffling off your mortal coil without a proper will could have dire consequences for those left behind.

If you die intestate, or with an invalid will, the government will pay your bills from your assets and then distribute the rest of your estate based on a pre-determined formula; certain family members receive more.

If you die intestate without any living relatives the balance of your estate is paid to the government.

Not to get too morose here, but wills aren’t just for older people with substantial assets. No matter what age you are, you should leave a will to ensure your assets are distributed in accordance with your wishes should you get struck by lightning or taken down by a rogue wallaby.

You can obtain a will kit from Australia Post, or the Public Trust will prepare wills free of charge (but usually only if they are

Help secure your financial future.

Want to know more about saving, investments or superannuation?

nominated as executor of your estate).

Solicitors can also prepare a will for you, however there are fees involved.

It is important to make sure your will is properly witnessed, otherwise this will render it invalid and basically useless if you pass away.

So you might be reading this thinking: “I made my will five years ago, everything’s fine.” Well it probably is, but it’s also important to update your will regularly as your circumstances change.

If you have been through a divorce, had children or grandchildren, or one of your beneficiaries has died then it’s important to update your will accordingly.

When making your will it is also advisable to appoint a power of attorney, which is simply someone you nominate to make legal decisions for you if you are unable to do so.

You can prepare other documents as well that specify how you want to be treated if you become ill, and how you would like your body dealt with if you become unable to make decisions for yourself.

These decisions are obviously not to be taken lightly, so it’s best to seek legal advice before making them. The last thing you want is for someone to turn your life support machine off if you go in to have your tonsils taken out.

Is this you?

Put yourself in the picture.

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Don’t get scammed on the slopes

Your accommodation promises for Phuket may be a lot closer to the beach than you anticipated - and pray you packed a sleeping bag and don’t mind being close to nature...

THE winter school holidays are fast approaching, and if you’re planning a trip away take extra care if you’re booking your accommodation online.

SCAMwatch, which is an arm of the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), has received reports that fraudsters are targetting would-be travellers with holiday rental accommodation scams.

Scammers are setting up fake online listings for rental properties to try and lure unsuspecting consumers into parting with their money. With these scams you pay for your accommodation, but the property either does not exist or, if it is real, the owner knows nothing about your booking.

Scammers are also reportedly hacking into

popular holiday rental or travel websites in order to intercept emails between interested travellers and legitimate accommodation providers so that you send your money to the scammer instead of the owner.

SCAMwatch advises would-be travellers to be on guard and do their homework when considering any holiday rental offer.

How these scams work There are a variety of scams out there targeting would-be travellers. Common travel scams to look out for are outlined below.

Holiday voucher scams • You are approached by a stranger over the phone, by email or even in person

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offering to sell you vouchers for heavily discounted holiday accommodation.

• The accommodation is usually for holiday destinations popular with Australians such as Phuket, Koh Samui and Bali.

• If you purchase a voucher, you may never receive it, or find that upon arrival at your destination the owner has no knowledge of the deal.

Holiday hacking scams • Scammers hack into popular holiday rental or travel websites to access email inquiries that you have sent to holiday accommodation providers/owners.

• The scammer then assumes the identity of the property owner and steers you into paying them the rental fees in return for a bogus booking.

• When you arrive at your holiday destination, the real owner has no record of the ‘booking’ and you are left with nowhere to stay.

Fake listings scams • You visit a reputable online accommodation service provider where you come across an ad offering a property for rent at a really cheap price.

• The offer may use fake copies of genuine ads to try and trick you into thinking it’s the real deal.

• The ‘seller’ asks for payment to be made via money transfer.

• If you take up the offer, you find that upon arrival at your destination the

owner has no knowledge of the deal, and might not even rent out the property.

Protect yourself While it may be hard at times to distinguish between legitimate business people and scammers, there are things you can do to help ensure that your dream holiday doesn’t turn into a nightmare.

• Be cautious – if the price looks too good to be true, it probably is.

• Do your homework – contact the company directly using contact details you sourced independently through a phone book or online search.

• Don’t trust the legitimacy of an ad just because it appears in a reputable newspaper or online classifieds website – scammers often use these.

• If you receive an email out of the blue from a stranger offering a great holiday deal, do not click on any links or open attachments – just press ‘delete’.

• Pay attention to the details – check the URL is the legitimate website, and confirm that names and addresses mentioned match up with publicly available information.

• Always keep your computer security up to date with antivirus and antispyware software and a good firewall.

• If you think you have provided your financial details or sent money to a scammer, contact your financial institution immediately.

For more information go to scamwatch.gov.au

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• Fully fenced backyard for the kids and the pet • Pebble Crete driveway and lockup garage Rent return of $370 per week gives you a 5.5% Gross Return.

Sale $349,500 Each View By appointment Mark Shore 0418 799222 raywhiterockhampton.com.au | 4923 0000

10th June 2013

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Money Matters

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What’s love got to do with it?

• Relationship goals: Work out your relationship goals with your partner.

Once you understand how your partner approaches financial matters, it will make it easier to create a money plan that suits you both.

• Current financial situation: Take stock of all your earnings, savings, assets (any shares or property you own) and debts (even credit card debts). Next, look at what goals you share: do you want to get married, buy a home or have a baby?

• Attitudes to spending and saving: Are you a spender or saver? What about your partner?

• The financial controller: Who will handle the finances?

If you’re serious about sharing your finances, consider doing this: ARE you moving in with someone, opening a joint account or starting a joint loan or investment?

It pays to go into love and money matters with your eyes open.

Here are some tips on managing finances with your partner.

Talking to your partner about money is important, whether you have similar or different spending and saving styles.

Here are four crucial issues to discuss:

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Use both your names • Put both your names on services like electricity and gas.

• Make sure joint assets like your home are purchased in both your names, and that joint debts are in both names, not just one.

• Be careful of putting your name on a loan that will only benefit your partner.

Share costs: it could be cheaper • If you have private health insurance,

it could be cheaper to share a couples plan than pay for your own plans individually.

• If you are married, you can ask your employer to pay super contributions to your spouse or de facto partner. This could reduce your tax, as you can claim a deduction for the super you direct to your partner.

Plan for a shared future • Make a will and keep it up to date.

• Get your partner and older children to work with you on a household budget.

Don’t be blinded by love – be aware of how much money is coming in and going out in your relationship. Here are some things to watch out for: • A joint loan doesn’t always mean you’re only liable for half the debt. If your partner defaults, you may be liable for the whole amount, plus fees, interest and charges – even if your relationship ends.

• If a utility service such as electricity or gas is only in your name, then it’s your sole responsibility to pay the bills.

• Think carefully before you guarantee a loan for your partner or family members. If things don’t go to plan and the borrower can’t repay the money, you will have to pay for any loan you’ve guaranteed, plus fees, interest and

charges. For example, if the guarantee is secured against your home you could risk losing it.

Many people find themselves having to pay for their partner or ex-partner’s debts, even though they had nothing to do with the original purchase apart from signing some papers.

Prenups For people entering their second marriage or partnership, and who might already have children, you could consider organising a binding financial agreement (BFA), also known as a prenup. BFAs can help if you’re worried about who should get what if the relationship ends. They are only binding if you have both signed the agreement and received legal and financial advice before signing.

Take care of yourself If you earn less income than your partner, you may feel you don’t have a right to make decisions about where the money goes. Talk to your partner about how you feel. You should work as a partnership, including when it comes to money.

For more tips like this, go to the new federal government website: moneysmart.gov.au

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Be a smart borrower you can save and buy the item outright, or put it on lay-by and gradually pay it off.

Have I checked my credit health?

Have you got a free copy of your credit report?

Credit providers use your report to assess your capacity to repay a new loan, credit card, or mobile phone plan, or if you seek to increase your limit on an existing credit card.

Can I afford the repayments?

Use a budget planner to work out your current spending and how much you can afford in repayments.

Budget planner Allow for interest rate rises, unexpected expenses and financial emergencies. Before you borrow, try living on less for a few months to see if you can afford the loan.

CREDIT can help you do many things: buy your dream house, get a new car or pay for essential household items. But getting into debt is easier than getting out of it. Fees, charges and interest rates can make credit very expensive, especially if you borrow more than you can afford.

If you’re thinking about borrowing money, ask yourself the following questions.

What am I borrowing money for?

Is it for something you need, or something you want? Are you borrowing money to help someone else? Or do you need credit to pay electricity and other bills? If you are having trouble with paying bills, find out more on debt options other than borrowing.

Is borrowing my best option?

There may be other ways to get what you want without borrowing money. For example,

Is now the right time to borrow?

Think about any changes that might affect your income. How secure is your job? Are you planning to start a family or take time off for study? Do you have any health issues that may mean you’ll earn less for a while? If you said ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you might be better off saving now and borrowing later.

Know who and what you’re dealing with Credit providers and brokers that are not licensed are operating illegally in

Australia. Make sure you only deal with a company or person who is licensed.

Search ASIC Connect’s Professional Registers to check your credit provider has been licensed or you can phone ASIC’s Infoline on 1300 300 630.

Make sure you know what you’re signing up for before you go ahead. Check the terms and conditions of any loan contract, including penalties for missed repayments or for paying off a loan early.

Don’t be pressured into buying Salespeople use different techniques to persuade you to buy their product or service. Learn how to avoid sales pressure so you don’t end up with something you can’t afford and/or don’t really want.

Get help if you can’t pay your debts It’s important to act quickly if you’re having trouble making repayments. Keep paying what you can afford. Even though it can be difficult to face the problem, ignoring it will only make things worse.

Contact your credit provider without delay. There are places you can go for help.

Complain if things go wrong.

Try to resolve any problem with your credit provider or broker first. If you aren’t satisfied, go to ASIC’s how to complain webpage or call ASIC’s Infoline on 1300 300 630.

Moneysmart.gov.au has more detailed tips.

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