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Monday 14th March 107th Edition 2011
M A G A Z I N E
EXPOSED The truth about FIFO MORE people are permanently moving to the Bowen Basin than are taking up fly-in fly-out (FIFO) or drive-in drive-out (DIDO) jobs, according to the latest population snapshot of the region. The 2010 Bowen Basin population report, released by the Queensland Treasury’s Office of Economic and Statistical Research, offers an insight into the actual numbers of non-resident workers who stay in the region. The number of non-resident workers in the region stood at 14,600 last year - or 15 per cent of the entire population. That’s up slightly from the 12 per cent recorded when the annual survey began in 2006. However, the resident population also continues to climb, with 5763 people permanently moving to the region over the last five years. “Unlike many rural areas of Queensland, all local government areas in the Bowen Basin have experienced positive growth in their resident populations since 2006,� the report read. “[That is] due largely to the inflow of employment associated with mining and its support industries.� However, there are substantial variations between the growth patterns within the local government areas of the region.
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News BMA reaches out to small business  page 2 News Are camps the only solution in Moranbah?  page 4 News Why Mackay moteliers can’t keep up with demand  page 6 News Gladstone’s critical accommodation shortage  page 6 Around Town The dressiest day on Bluff’s social calendar  page 12
RAWING TO THE TOP Meet mining’s most impressive women  page 8
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Money Matters Rockhampton’s move from beef to industry  page 22
News
107th EDITION. 2011
BMA ‘genuine’ about small business opportunities SMALL business leaders in the Bowen Basin have applauded BMA’s local buying program as the first genuine attempt by a mining company to help local businesses tender for goods and services. BMA has launched the new program for businesses in Emerald, Blackwater, Moranbah and Dysart, which it says will open up opportunities for local firms to compete for lucrative goods and services contracts. More than 150 local businesses turned up to information sessions across the four towns last week.
Regional development manager for the Central Highlands Development Corporation, Sherry Smith, said the meetings were a positive step in the right direction. “Before this, local businesses found it difficult to find these opportunities as they didn’t know how to go about it or who to approach,” she said. “The feedback from those businesses, some of whom have been in town for many years, is that this is the first time they have ever seen a mine approach them for business dealings.” The Moranbah Traders Association’s Lyn
uyers b e m o for h s y a d i l Free ho
Busk agreed the new program was a genuine attempt by BMA to give small businesses a go. But she said some responsibility now rested with business owners. “BMA has made a significant gesture, and now local business owners must think outside the box abut what services and goods they can offer.”
Ms Busk said some businesses would be able to ramp up production to meet BMA’s need, but they might be reluctant to do so without a guarantee of business. “Businesses will be waiting with bated breath to see how this progresses.” “The trouble is that while many have the ability to expand to meet demand, they will want a firm commitment before they put those wheels in motion.” “For example a local embroidery business could conceivably embroider all BMA work shirts, but they are not going to spend $30,000 on a new embroidery machine if this is not a genuine offer.” Business owners who are yet to sign on to be part of the program can still do so. Ms Busk said this could be the “foot in the door” opportunity for local entrepreneurs. “There are people who are willing and have the ability to ramp up services to cater for this, that’s what business is all about.” “But the proof is in the pudding, we will have to wait until we see something concrete come out of this and we are talking 12 months before we start to see results.”
“BMA has made a significant gesture, and now local business owners must think outside the box abut what services and goods they can offer.”
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CONTENTS 107th EDITION. 2011
SPORTS UPDATE
FROM THE EDITOR
PIER REVIEW
21
23 BIG BARRA
TARTED UP
20
18
FIFO is an extremely emotive issue in the Coalfields at the moment. That’s why it is so welcome to have some facts on the issue. The latest Bowen Basin population report is an interesting read because it does not the support the idea that there has been an explosion of non-resident (FIFO and DIDO) workers in the region. In fact, over the past five years, the number of non-residents workers has only increased by three per cent to represent 15 per cent of the entire region’s population. It should also be noted that in growth terms, the resident population is outstripping the non-resident population. However, the numbers do vary greatly between the towns within the Bowen Basin - you can read more about that in our front page story. Obviously, the report cannot doc-
ument the intentions of companies to introduce mines with a higher proportion of FIFO workers. If companies like BMA are allowed to proceed with enormous projects like the Caval Ridge mine with a 100 per cent FIFO workforce that would change future findings of the survey. The Isaac regional council is currently asking its residents - and FIFO and DIDO miners - to have their say on how they would like to see non-resident workers accommodated in Moranbah. It’s an enormous undertaking, and commendable given the unrest the issue is causing at a local level. You can read about the survey on page four, and I urge all of you to have a look at the website www.adaptivecommunities. com.au and have your say on one of the most important issues in mining in central Queensland.
Alex Graham
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State government slammed
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MINER’S TRADER PUZZLES
18 YOUR HEALTH 22 MONEY MATTERS
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Bowen Basin’s premier magazine In The a bowl, combine until smooth Phone: (07) 4921 4333 Fax: (07) 4922 6908 angus.peacocke@shiftminer.com Proudly Audited by Proudly Audited by Philadelphia, eggs, cream and Editor: Alex Graham Advertising: Angus Peacocke 0428 154 653 Proudly Audited Audited by by seasoning to taste. First Proudly evenly Published fortnightly by Fitzroy Publishing Pty Ltd crushed spoon the onion mix into the Locally Owned and Operated M A G A Z I NForEmore information visit www.auditbureau.org.au A.B.N 72122739879 PO Box 1440, Rockhampton Q 4700 ladelphia Cream pastry shell, then pour over the For more information visit www.auditbureau.org.au d Philadelphia mixture. Sprinkle For more information visit www.auditbureau.org.au the top with the grated parmesan For more information visit www.auditbureau.org.au and bake at 180°C for 25 grated parmesan minutes or until golden and the , to taste ¿OOLQJ KDV VHW 6HUYH KRW RU FROG with a side of tomato relish. o garnish
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110 Campbell Street, Rockhampton. Page 3 - Shift Miner Magazine, 14th March 2011
News
107th EDITION. 2011
Miners in camps, motels, units - or new town? THE Isaac regional council has begun a massive survey to determine how miners who drive or fly into the area for work should live while they are in town. How to accommodate non-resident workers, or FIFO (fly-in fly-out) and DIDO (drive-in drive-out) workers as they are more commonly known, is a contentious issue in the Bowen Basin. There is rising concern among permanent residents that mining companies are pushing for FIFO workforces, and that will see more mining camps built on the outskirts of towns. But Isaac councillor Gina Lacey said looking at accommodation options that don’t involve massive camps have not been properly explored. “When it comes to non-resident workers, is the only way to put them in a camp on the side of the highway?” “It just seems like poor planning and the need to address this now is so much greater because council is under pressure from industry to work out a solution faster,” she said. Now, for the first time, residents of the Isaac region - which includes the towns of Moranbah, Glenden, Coppabella, Middlemount, Dysart, Nebo and Clermont - are
being asked how they would like to see non-resident workers housed. “This is honest and genuine consultation, the council wants to hear the community’s voice to help us start making these important decisions,” said Cr Lacey. “There are a lot of different views out there and we thought it was time to check back in and look at where council stands on the issue and we can’t do that without asking.” The council has set up a website adaptivecommunities.com.au which gives six options for housing non-resident workers. These range from FIFO and DIDO workers living in self-contained units and motels throughout established communities, to building an entire new town that would expand and retract in line with new projects in the region. “The beauty of this project is that it will be validated data,” said Cr Lacey. “At the moment when we have discussions around mining camps and FIFO workers we are reliant on conversation and rhetoric.” “This allows us to actually find out what people think.” The council also wants to hear how nonresident workers would like to live.
“While council is primarily concerned with its ratepayers, we certainly want to hear from non-resident workers - they are the ones who live there after all.” Cr Lacey said the best outcome for the region would be building new housing that would encourage people to eventually make the move permanent. “If we build it they will come, and I back
Moranbah.” “We have a great lifestyle here and I think if people had the opportunity to experience it, many more would want to move here with their families.” People have until 25 March to vote, and there will be information sessions held at the Moranbah Community Centre at 7.30pm on the 17 and 18 March.
HAVE YOUR SAY IN THE MINER’S POLL If you are a FIFO/DIDO worker... Would you prefer to stay in a: 1. camp text 10438 to 0412 055 255 2. motel text 10439 to 0412 055 255 3. self-contained unit text 10440 to 0412 055 255 4. caravan park text 10441 to 0412 055 255
Would you prefer to live (while you are at work): 1. in town, as part of the community text 10442 to 0412 055 255 2. out of town, in a completely self-sufficient camp text 10443 to 0412 055 255
“When it comes to non-resident workers, is the only way to put them in a camp on the side of the highway?”
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While both the Isaac and Central Highlands regions have a total population figure that sits in the 32-34,000 bracket, their growth trajectories are vastly different. In Isaac, 65 per cent of the population growth has been in terms of non-resident workers, whereas 76 per cent of growth in the Central Highlands was in the resident population. This dichotomy can be seen when the towns of Moranbah (in Isaac) and Emerald (in the Central Highlands) are compared. The 2010 survey found Emerald now has 17,835 residents and 905 non-resident workers, meaning non-resident workers account for 5 per cent of the town’s total population. In Moranbah, 8511 people permanently live in the town, while 2,931 FIFO and DIDO workers live there while on shift that’s 26 per cent of the population. In fact, more than two-thirds of the Bowen Basin’s non-resident workers stay in the Isaac region. In terms of accommodating FIFO and DIDO workers, single person quarters
(SPQs) remain the most common option. About 85 per cent of non-resident workers stay in SPQs, although hotels and motels have increased their share from five to nine per cent since 2006. This ground seems to have been made at the expense of caravan parks, which have dropped by a dramatic 13 per cent, to represent just six per cent of total worker accommodation.
“More than two-thirds of the Bowen Basin’s non-resident workers stay in the Isaac region.”
News
107th EDITION. 2011
Deep concerns for Gladstone channel
FAST NEWS Rolleston back on track Rolleston mine is now relinked to coal rail network, after three months of isolation due to the extensive damage caused by the January floods. Huge sections of the track had been washed away, and several bridges were damaged in the 100 kilometres between the mine and where it connects with the Blackwater system. It’s good news for the Xstrata mine which recently had a new fleet of trucks delivered to the site. .....................................................................
Byerwen mine stamped significant
DREDGING will begin in the Gladstone port in three months time to deeper the channel for the new LNG export industry. The $1.3 billion project is the largest seabed dredging in Australian history, and many locals have grave concerns about its impact on the environment. Ultimately, 36 million cubic metres of soil will be removed from the harbour, and then used to reclaim around 400 hectares of land on Curtis Island. The Queensland treasurer Andrew Fraser has described it as a milestone project. “This is the largest dredging project undertaken in Australia and will ensure the economic future of the port and of Gladstone,” Mr Fraser said. “Totally funded by the LNG proponents, the first stage of the project will see six million cubic tonnes of material dredged from the Western Basin and placed in the port’s offshore spoil area.” However some residents of Gladstone are concerned that best practice is being
pushed aside in the race to get the LNG industry up and running. Long term resident Paul Tooker, who formerly worked in Gladstone’s heavy industry before retiring three years ago, said he is not anti-development. “We are not trying to stop industrial development, Gladstone is an industrial town, and it’s going to continue to be that,” he said. “But industrial development does have to meet best practice, and we don’t want it to destroy the town for us and for future generations.” “Right now the current plans for developing the port are being rushed through and are not meeting the gas industry’s own guidelines for shipping gas.” “They are breaching at least three of the guidelines, and we keep telling them this.” “But the LNG companies won’t listen to us, the Ports Corporation won’t listen to us, and the Government won’t listen to us.” According to Mr Tooker, the biggest concern is the shipping channel will be less than
500 metres from the water-end of Goondoon Street in central Gladstone. He said that was a clear breach of the safety guidelines set out by the Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO). At this distance, Mr Tooker said if the worst case scenario happened and a boat exploded, most - if not all - of Gladstone’s CBD would be affected by the fire. Another former resident of Gladstone, Geoff Bonney, who owns a fishing shack on Curtis Island, said the dredging will forever change the harbour. “It’s an environmental disaster,” he said. “What effect is it going to have on the Great Barrier Reef ?” “What effect is it going to have on water flows at the southern end of the harbour?” “You don’t know... no one knows.” “My understanding is that it is going to impact on the whole dugong population along the Queensland coast, not just the dugongs whose seagrass in the harbour will be destroyed.”
A proposed mine, 30 kilometres west of Glenden in the Bowen Basin, has been declared a “significant project” by Queensland’s co-ordinator general. QCoal and Japan’s JFE Steel are joint partners in the $1.5 billion project, which would produce up to 10 million tonnes a year of coking coal. It would be both an open cut and underground mine, and would use existing rail facilities to move the coal to port at Abbot Point near Bowen. .....................................................................
Japanese money in LNG The BG Group now has a concrete $20 billion agreement with Tokyo Gas to supply Japan with LNG from its Curtis Island project off Gladstone. The deal was first announced in March last year, but has now been finalised. It is the first time a Japanese buyer has committed to a long-term contract for LNG produced from an unconventional source. BG was the first of the big four Gladstone LNG proponents to have its project approved.
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Page 5 - Shift Miner Magazine, 14th March 2011
News
107th EDITION. 2011
Chronic bed shortage threatens CSG industry A CRITICAL bed shortage in Gladstone will mean a number of key projects in the region will simply not be able to secure accommodation for their workers. Less than one per cent of the total accommodation on offer in the Gladstone region is currently unoccupied. That is unlikely to change before key coal seam gas projects need rooms available by June, despite builders rushing to meet demand. Compounding the situation - a vicious cycle has emerged where competition for skilled labour is delaying the completion of new accommodation. Builders are arriving in Gladstone with one company, but are quickly moving to other jobs with higher wages - often with the big coal seam gas projects. Ironically, these workers then need to be housed - but the provision of accommodation has been slowed because builders keep losing their staff. The Maroon Group is one building company that is involved in building new worker accommodation for the town. General manager Grant Smith says the problem is likely to get worse before it gets better.
“I have heard builders talking about local businesses losing people because they cannot match the money being thrown at them by the big companies in town,” he said. “When the feasibility was originally done for these new CSG projects, we were talking about a split of 60/40 for supply of goods and services.” “That is, 60 per cent of the work was going to outside contracts and 40 per cent to local providers.” “Now that ratio is closer to 90/10 with 90 per cent of work coming from out of town.” Mr Smith said that was simply intensifying the accommodation problem. “It’s a vicious circle, we now have proponents who want rooms by June, but we just can’t build them in that time frame.” “We have been pushing these guys for three years to make a decision, but I guess they needed to go through their own protocols before they could sign any contracts.” “It’s a horse and cart situation, and I don’t know what the answer is, but they can’t build a project without accommodation for their workers.” “I know of at least two groups who are
screaming for rooms on the same date.” The Maroon Group is using sub-contractors Carmichael Builders to build a 2265-room single persons accommodation complex at Calliope. The complex is being built in three phases, with the first 240 rooms to be built by mid-July. All of those rooms are contracted for workers being used in the Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal (WICET) expansion. However, Mr Smith says behind them is a long list of companies desperate for both short term and long term accommodation for workers. “We are in negotiations with some other proponents about their requirements in the next five years, we are hopeful of having some further announcements by the end of the month,” he said. “Its pretty much a whole line of people,
first and foremost are the gas projects, but behind them are a number of other companies involved in what going to happen to Gladstone over the coming years.” “Most of the stuff is being secured on long term contracts so rental rates are getting pushed through the roof.” “That is having a huge impact on the local community, mum and dads have still got to live in Gladstone.” “The important thing with council is that we certainly don’t want to get to a point where Gladstone is a tent city.” “The new standards prohibit that happening, as there are now parts of the building code that set out minimum standards for temporary worker accommodation.” “But I don’t think we have ever seen a place on the eastern seaboard where there is so much growth, people and infrastructure needed, as there is in Gladstone.”
“It’s a horse and cart situation, and I don’t know what the answer is, but they can’t build a project without accommodation for their workers.”
Tight finance crippling Mackay motels TIGHTER lending conditions are preventing Mackay motel owners from building to meet the expected demand of the region’s mining boom. The recent Mackay Accommodation Study has found that motel demand will almost double in the mining hub over the next decade. With more than $20 billion worth of projects forecast in the mining sector, the large number of mining vehicles parked at motels is symbolic of the demand for beds required by the industry. The study was was undertaken by the Mackay Whitsunday Regional Econom-
ic Development Corporation, and CEO Narelle Pearse said the main issue preventing more supply was the lack of finance. “The survey found that people were mostly looking for four-star single rooms, and a lot of the people we surveyed also wanted self-contained accommodation, “ Ms Pearse said. “The biggest impediment to the development of more of this accommodation is the difficulty developers are having getting finance to build new motels.” “Since the GFC a lot of financiers are wanting to move to a strata title model, where
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Page 6 - Shift Miner Magazine, 14th March 2011
each room is sold off to individual owners.” “The banks are obviously more risk averse, and whereas in the past you could fund these motels yourself, banks are now wanting pre-sales off the plan.” Ms Pearse said while that model had worked well in other places, there can be long-term difficulties.
“The problem starts when 10 years down the road you decide to refurbish and you need to get agreement from a large number of people.” Motels in Mackay are some of the most profitable in Queensland. The study found that a 4.5 star room in the town costs about $290 a night.
“The banks are obviously more risk averse, and whereas in the past you could fund these motels yourself, banks are now wanting pre-sales off the plan.”
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News
107th EDITION. 2011
Wandoan’s David v Goliath court battle RESIDENTS of the tiny town of Wandoan in the Surat Basin have launched a legal battle to stop a new mine operating within two kilometres of their community. Xstrata’s proposed Wandoan mine would produce 100 million tonnes of coal a year at full capacity. Stakeholders had until the end of February to lodge their feedback to the mine’s social impact management plan, but now the Wandoan community reference group has taken it one step further - to court.
It has lodged an objection in the lands court regarding how close to town mining can occur. Residents are concerned the state government has already given the nod for mining to occur less than two kilometres from the centre of town. They argue the combined effects of dust and noise will make the small community unlivable. The group’s president Bill Blackley said the two-kilometre buffer should start from the edge of town, and not from its centre.
A sample pit at the proposed Wandoan mine
“In our most recent meeting with management from Xstrata, they did propose a compromise where the two kilometres would start from a single point on the edge of town.” “However, it only kept the mining away from that part of town, if you went a kilometre either side then the mining is going to be less than a kilometre from town.” “They did say they would come back to us within a fortnight, and that fortnight is now passed, and we haven’t yet heard anything.” “We just want an agreement to maintain an exclusion zone two kilometres wide around Wandoan.” Mr Blackley said he had been reluctant to take the issue to court because of the possible costs involved for a small community. But he said they now had no other option. The group has received advice from the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) regarding the cost and complexities of launching such a challenge. The EDO is a government-funded organ-
isation that offers community group’s free legal advice on environmental issues that are considered to be in the public interest. However, that support does not extend to financing an ongoing legal challenge, which means the Wandoan community group now faces a David and Goliath battle to stop mining close to town. Xstrata’s Wandoan coal project initially plans to mine around 30 million tonnes of thermal coal per year. It would eventually ramp up production to more than 100,000 tonnes a year, making it the largest coal mine in Australia - and possibly the world. While the state government has given its approval for the project, Xstrata still needs the go ahead from the federal government before the project can go ahead. It is understood the company is also negotiating with five rural landholders whose properties they need to acquire before the mine can go ahead.
“We just want an agreement to maintain an exclusion zone two kilometres wide around Wandoan.”
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FEature
WOMEN’S RAW POW AWARD WINNING: Hart Hat recruits Patricia Ahwang & Latoyia Ahwang with Thiess’ Sally Rinehart, QRC boss Michael Roche and another Hard Hat recruit Madonna McLean
Thiess throws Indigenous women keys to mining career WHEN Patricia Ahwang laid eyes on the dump truck she was about to drive for the first time, she admits she was terrified. “Now I can say the triple-7s are only a small truck, but when I first looked at it I thought oh my God, they want me to drive that thing?”
“But once I got up and in and found out it wasn’t as hard as I first thought I really enjoyed it.” Ms Ahwang is one of 10 Indigenous women who now drive dump trucks for Thiess at the Burton mine in the Bowen Basin. When Thiess began recruiting mid last
year to fill 140 positions, a decision was made to think outside the box and employ local Indigenous women. The Indigenous Women in Hard Hats program was the brainchild of Thiess diversity manager Sally Rinehart. “I had been asked to speak at a Women in Hard Hats conference and I thought this is a really good idea, and maybe we can take it one step further,” she told Shift Miner. After talks with training provider Ebenezer Mining, Office of Women and DEEDI, a six week training course was developed. Now, the 10 women chosen for the program have been working on site for four months. “These women are not trainees - they are not with us for 12 months and then have to find full time work,” said Ms Rinehart. “They are full time employees and we
really wanted that because we wanted this to be a long term career opportunity.” For Ms Ahwang, who had previously worked in the juvenile justice area, the break was out of left field. “I thought this is my first and only opportunity to get out to the mines and so I should grab it with two hands and run with it.” The dump truck driver now has her sights set on a long term career in the sector. “I want to be on the digger, or trained on the driller - I am the type of person who likes challenges.” Ms Ahwang also said she doesn’t cop any stick from her male co-workers about her driving. “If anything we get quite the opposite.” “We [women] are not big rev heads and we do treat the trucks differently.” The groundbreaking program has just won “best company initiative” at the recent Resources Awards for Women. Ms Rinehart said there are plans to roll out the program at several other Thiess operations in the Bowen Basin.
SHE’S UNDERGROUND: Electrician Simone Forbes loves her job at Moranbah North
Sharon’s busy training while Simone is underground SHARON Ward was a teacher aide for 14 years at Nebo State Primary School before she became a dump truck driver at Rio Tinto’s Hail Creek mine.
“I never imagined that a career change into the mining industry would bring such satisfaction,” she said. Ms Ward took out the Resources Awards
Page 8 - Shift Miner Magazine, 14th March 2011
for Women (RAW) in the “operator” category - a field so hotly contested she shared the honours with Kerri-Lea Nicholas from the Ernest Henry mine in Cloncurry. “I applied at a time when Hail Creek Mine was taking a proactive approach in encouraging women with no mining experience to apply for non-traditional roles,” Ms Ward said. “My three kids were growing up and I didn’t need to be at home as much.” “I was also ready to do something new and challenging.” After six years driving haul trucks, dozers, graders, and water trucks Ms Ward moved into a learning and development officer role last year. “As a trainer, I have an impact on someone else’s ability to be competent and safe in their work,” she said. “In a way, I’ve now come full circle and gone back to my roots as a teacher aide.” “I don’t see myself as a trail blazer for women in the industry but I think my decision has opened doors for other women to take opportunities when they come.” An underground electrician at Anglo American’s Moranbah North mine, Simone Forbes agrees that just having women on site makes a difference. “I think by just being there, demonstrating my ability by doing a great job and being comfortable working in an under-
FULL CIRCLE: Sharon Ward is a former teacher aide who is now a trainer at Hail Creek mine
ground mine environment, I am helping change perceptions about women in resources,” she said. Ms Forbes won the “tradesperson” category at the RAW awards, and said never felt intimidated about applying for a job underground. “If people ever say to me “I couldn’t do that, I couldn’t work underground”, it just makes me want to progress even further.” “I work 11 hours of a 12 hour shift underground, carrying out maintenance on the equipment that supports our underground operations and I thoroughly enjoy the responsibility my job offers.” Ms Forbes said the industry offered so many opportunities. “Working in mining could never get boring, it keeps getting better.”
FEature
ER ON SHOW
The Queensland Resources Council’s Resources Awards for Women have been announced. You might recognise some familiar faces among the winners, because many work at mine sites across central Queensland. The awards also acknowledge the role companies play in attracting and recruiting women into their workforce.
Mums make good project managers MINING needs to do more to encourage women to stay in the industry after they have children, according this year’s winner of the prestigious Resources Award for Women (RAW). Heather Parry works for Leighton Contractors and is the project manager of the $157 million Dawson North mine project near Moura. The 37-year-old engineer began her career in construction, and said being a woman was less of a problem in the mining sector than it was on a building site. “In construction, attitudes have got a long way to go,” she said.
HANDS ON: 2011 RAW winner Heather Parry said more can be done to keep women in the mining industry after children
“But I think people like Anglo American’s chief executive Cynthia Carroll have changed the perceptions of people in the resources industry, although there is still some way to go.” Ms Parry has been actively helping to change perceptions. Her mining fleet at the Dawson North project boasts an almost 20 per cent female component. One of the first steps was changing the advertisements in the recruitment campaign. “There was a picture of this big bloke in a hard hat and I said where are the images of the girls?” “If you have a photo of a big burly miner that is who you are going to get applying.” “I think image is everything, it will make or break you, so we changed the image to include some girls as well.” Ms Parry agreed with the push to mandate quotas for women on company boards in Australia. “They have had enough time, and I think it’s the catalyst that is needed to make change.” “What you’d find is that while some companies would initially create token jobs to meet the quotas once more women came on board they would realise the value of having them there.”
Women “one in five” on site QUEENSLAND’S mining and energy sector wants 20 per cent of its workforce to be women by 2020. The ambitious new target was announced at the Queensland Resources Council’s annual International Women’s Day breakfast and Resources Awards for Women (RAW) in Brisbane last week. Back in 2006, the sector set itself the target of doubling the proportion of women in non-traditional roles from six per cent to 12 per cent by 2020. That target is almost a reality in 2011, with total female participation sitting at 15 per cent, and in non-traditional roles at just under 11 per cent. Now, QRC chief executive Michael
Roche has announced the industry has set its sights on a more impressive figure. “We will not rest on our laurels,” Mr Roche said. “We will have to continue to be innovative in our attraction and retention strategies to reach our new target of 20 percent women by 2020 and find the skilled people we need.” Mr Roche said over the next decade the industry will need to find tens of thousands of people to support expansion work and new projects. “So it is vital that we encourage women, who are still significantly under-represented in our ranks, to enter and remain in our sector,” he said.
“We will have to continue to be innovative in our attraction and retention strategies to reach our new target of 20 percent women by 2020 and find the skilled people we need.”
Ms Parry said while there were plenty of incentives to encourage high school girls into a career in the resources sector - including the funding of tertiary places - not enough was being done to retain experienced women. “I have a daughter and to be honest it has been hard work,” she said. “I have even had employers ask me if I plan to have any more children, that is pretty tough.” She said it should be recognised that mothers bring a set of valuable skills to the workplace. “In actual fact mums make very good project managers because they have a high stress threshold, they are used to multi-tasking and they can time manage.” Ms Parry said she believed the industry needed to seriously look at introducing measures such as job sharing arrangements for women. “I believe it could work, it just requires someone to sit down and have a think about how.”
2011 RAW AWARDS WINNERS: Overall: Heather Parry, Leighton Contractors - Project Manager Dawson North Mine Two runners up: Karen Stanley, Origin Energy, Brisbane MaryAnn Wipaki, Xstrata Copper, Mount Isa Highly Commended: Lisa Barter, Santos, Brisbane Operator: Joint winners: Sharon Ward, Hail Creek Mine, Rio Tinto Coal Australia Kerrie-Lea Nicholas, Ernest Henry Mine, Cloncurry Lifetime achievement award: Robyn Wright, Xstrata Copper, Mt Isa
Trade: Winner: Simone Forbes: Moranbah North Mine, Anglo American Runner up: Amanda Humphrey, Mount Isa Xstrata Copper Smelter Junior Winner: Sarah Coughlan, Nanango Runner up: Jamie McIntyre, Toowoomba State High Best Company Initiative Thiess Gender Diversity Champion Winner: Richard Kostowski, Xstrata Copper, Mount Isa Highly Commended: Sally Rinehart, Thiess, Brisbane
HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR COMMUNITY’S FUTURE?
The Adaptive Communities Process is your chance to help shape the future of your community. An initiative of Isaac Regional Council, six concepts for non-resident workers’ accommodation are currently being presented for discussion. Go to www.adaptivecommunities.com.au and register your preference. Your opinion counts… Vote today.
ISAAC REGIONAL COUNCIL PO Box 97 Moranbah QLD 4744 Phone: (07) 4941 4550 Fax: (07) 4941 8666
Page 9 - Shift Miner Magazine, 14th March 2011
OBITUARY 107th EDITION. 2011
Vale Ron Kitching 1929 - 2011 Pioneer, explorer, author, family man, entrepreneur, scholar An obituary for Ron Kitching by his friend and fellow mining industry heavyweight Viv Forbes I first met Ron Kitching in 1966 – he took me to inspect a copper prospect called Mount Colin near Cloncurry. We struck a chord that day and since then our lives seem to have crossed many times over his long life. I never failed to learn something useful or interesting from him. Ron was never luke warm – he was either engrossed and enthusiastic, or indifferent, or fiercely opposed. He was engrossed and enthusiastic about exploration, drilling, soils, pastures, cattle, water, the principles of freedom, sound money, classical liberalism, the history of the universe and the battle for carbon sense. He was fiercely opposed to inflationists, communists, socialists, alarmists and centralists. Ron was born in Gin Gin,Queensland in 1929. Ron’s father was a butcher, but he made sure Ron got a good education at BBC in Brisbane. For a short time Ron worked in the real estate department of Queensland Trustees in Brisbane. He started his real working life at Mount Isa as a diamond driller when he was 20 years old. Four years later he became one of the founders of Glindemann and Kitching, a renowned Australian drilling company. Probably his greatest achievement was his pivotal role in developing the Universal Drill, now used for exploration drilling all over the world. He told me recently that these drills were being used on every continent on earth. Ross Large Professor of Economic Geology at the University of Tasmania said: “Inspiring and dedicated people like Ron Kitching have been critical to the success of the mining industry in Australia. In the 1970’s Ron perceived a need for a better drill and worked tirelessly to achieve his goals. He carried a lot of people along with him and he showed us all what can be achieved with a clear vision and a determination to succeed.” Ron also enjoyed a good joke. The story of how he discovered a “great new ore” body under the Spear Creek sports ground in Mount Isa is best recounted in his own words at: http://economics.org. au/2011/03/gk-discover-new-ore-bodies-atspear-creek/ Ron was often present and part of historic occasions. In 1954 he drilled what Geoffrey Blainey has called “one of the most remarkable
Ron Kitching with Viv Forbes and Ron Manners at a birthday dinner for the late F.A. Hayek in 2004
drill-holes in the world”. This hole, to the south of the main leadzinc operations at Mount Isa, penetrated 500 feet of amazingly rich copper ore. This drilling revealed the magnificent 1100 ore body which contained plus 180Mt of plus 3.5 per cent copper, Mount Isa’s source of copper ore for over 30 years. Ron once told me how the General Manager at the time (Sir George Fisher) came by after work every day to chat to Ron and look in amazement at the glittering copper core laid out after that day’s drilling. He also drilled the discovery holes on so many other great Australian ore bodies, including Mary Kathleen uranium, McArthur River lead-zinc, Constance Range Iron, Blackwater coal, Warrego gold, Telfer gold and Mount Agnew nickel. Ron also influenced world events, behind the scenes. He was a long time member of the Mont Pelerin Society and went to meetings they held behind the Iron Curtain. At one meeting in Moscow in Soviet days Ron took a port full of books on free markets and sound money. There were a few Russians who surreptitiously attended the meeting. After the meeting, Ron went into the aisle of the auditorium, opened his port and started giving his books away to eager Russian students. A few books went to one Russian who was later economic adviser to Gorbachev.
Page 10 - Shift Miner Magazine, 14th March 2011
Ron repeated these subversive activities later in China and influenced an economic adviser to Deng Xiaoping. Then he went to Chile and became a famous journalist and regular columnist for the leading Chilean newspaper. One of his early notes from Chile was: “Chile is a great place, Viv. Explorers are heroes here and mining is not a dirty word”. With no degrees to his name, Ron understood Classical Liberal Economics and monetary theory far better that most university professors. He is the only bloke I know who read “Human Action” and “Socialism” from cover to cover and filled the texts with notes and underlining. He was a friend to Frederick Hayek and a great admirer of Ludwig von Mises. He initiated a tour of Australia by Hayek and I believe funded most of it. Ron was a great supporter of the Yeoman keyline system of land conservation and pasture improvements. Ron was never afraid to stand alone or to support unfashionable causes that he believed were right. Causes like the Progress Party, the Foundation for Economic Education and the Carbon Sense Coalition. His great little book “Understand-
ing Personal and Economic Liberty” has enlightened and delighted many readers. As Malcolm Roberts says: “His book changed my life. Any socialists who creep into heaven through the back door will need to be wary. He’ll quickly sort ‘em out. Meanwhile, we’re the better for his earthly contribution.” He believed that freedom, sound money, open science and protection of property rights would work miracles in solving the problems of the human race. He understood clearly how we were getting smothered in bureaucracy and weakened by taxation and debasement of the currency. At the same time Ron was a great family man and his numerous offspring are a great credit to the values he gave them. He spent his last few years in the Mount Morgan/Yeppoon/Rockhampton district, exploring, promoting the Rahco mining equipment and combating climate alarmism. Most people in Rockhampton were probably unaware of the intellectual and entrepreneurial giant who lived among them. As John McRobert said: “The world is the poorer for his passing, but the richer for his having been.” Ron died quietly at his home in Rockhampton on 2 March 2011 aged 81, survived by his seven children.
“Inspiring and dedicated people like Ron Kitching have been critical to the success of the mining industry in Australia.”
News
107th EDITION. 2011
Bag of blood in the mail POLICE are investigating why a bag of blood was delivered to the Rockhampton branch of Joy Mining last week. Twenty people were evacuated from the Parkhurst site when a worker found the bag within a package delivered to the business. Police were called to the site, and fire crews wearing full protective suits removed the suspicious package - which was completely sealed. Senior Sergeant John Hamrey said the bag had been set off for laboratory tests, but at first glance it appeared to be an intravenous (IV) bag of undiluted blood. “It was certainly very odd,” he said. Sergeant Hamrey said it did not appear the bag had been deliberately sent to the company, but had somehow ended up inside the packaging of a delivery. “It was found in the actual packaging part of the box.” “It was fully sealed and it didn’t have any documentation with it.” “It is from a veterinary distributors in America so we need to try and find out how it came to be here.” No workers came into contact with the blood, and police have praised the initia-
BLOODY DISCOVERY: Police are investigating how an IV bag full of blood ended up at Joy Mining
tive of the company for contacting authorities so quickly. “They did the right thing, safety has to come first.” “The worker who found the package let their senior people know and we were notified from there.”
5000km dash to prove new diesel THE boss of Linc Energy is halfway through a 5500-kilometre drive from southern Queensland to Perth, to prove the company’s new synthetic diesel. The fuel was made using the company’s underground coal gasification (UCG) and gas to liquid (GTL) technologies, that are being trialled at the Chinchilla plant. It comes as another UCG company in Queensland, Cougar Energy, is fighting the Queensland government’s decision to close down its trial project near Kingaroy. Linc CEO Peter Bond said the drive will prove the new fuel is reliable, as well as cleaner and more efficient than conventional diesel. “We have gasified our own coal through our unique Linc Energy UCG process and fed it through our Fischer-Tropsch facility to create synthetic crude oil or suncrude, which was then refined into synthetic diesel, and that is what will fuel the Linc Energy car across the continent,” said Mr Bond. He said the synthetic diesel produced during this method was cleaner and con-
tained almost no sulphur or complex aromatic hydrocarbons. “It’s like putting a premium diesel fuel in your car; it gives you more bang for your buck in terms of clean burning and environmental performance.” Linc plans to combine its UCG and GTL technologies commercially at sites in Australia and around the world - and aside from the diesel will also produce jet fuels. Meanwhile, the company has just bought three American oil fields for $US20 million from Rancher Energy in a bankruptcy sale. Rancher had previously bought the same fields for $US70 million. Linc plans to use the carbon dioxide byproduct of its UCG process to boost production at the Wyoming oil fields. The three fields hold an estimated 466.6 million barrels of oil - of which 146.6 million have already been produced to date - and an independent report commissioned by Rancher indicates that could be increased by 70 million barrels using the CO2 flooding technique.
Cougar swipes shut down decision as flawed COUGAR Energy is challenging the Queensland government’s decision to shut down its underground coal gasification (UCG) project at Kingaroy - in a case that could wind up in court. The site was temporarily shut down mid last year, when minute traces of banned chemicals were found in a water bore. Last month, the government ordered the site be permanently closed after an independent scientific panel decided it could not operate without an unacceptable risk of causing environmental harm. But Cougar has since released a detailed submission to the Department of Environ-
ment and Resource Management (DERM) challenging the decision. “Cougar Energy believes that DERM’s proposed amendment to the existing Environmental Authority is flawed and invalid, and relies on incorrect and flawed statements of the Queensland Government’s independent scientific panel,” said Cougar’s chairman Malcolm McAully. In its submission, Cougar argues that closing down the site was an excessive response to the two isolated readings that found minute levels of benzene in smaller quantities than have been recorded in other resource projects around the state. “It must be remembered that Cougar
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Energy’s Kingaroy project has never presented any danger to human health, drinking water, livestock not farming activities in the region,” Mr McAully said. The company has also stated the independent scientific report into the project contained two incorrect statements about Cougar’s chemical readings - both detrimental to the company’s position - and incorrectly stated the company’s in-house technical capability. Cougar wants the panel to review all of
its reports submitted to DERM during the entire process - 17 in total, and more than more than 650 pages of documents. The Department is now required to respond to the objections. If it still finds the Queensland government was technically and legally justified in shutting down the project, Cougar has two levers to pull. It can call for an internal review, and it can pursue the matter in court.
“Cougar Energy believes that DERM’s proposed amendment to the existing Environmental Authority is flawed and invalid...”
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Page 11 - Shift Miner Magazine, 14th March 2011
around town 107th EDITION. 2011
BLUFF RACES Amy Bird and Stephen Jablonski
AJ Stewart, Trent Reynolds and Joel Munns
Ben Chirgwin and Sarah Fernyhough
Dana and Jenni Denman, Amber Courtney, DJ, Shaniya, Luke and Mandy Geissler
Cat Molloy (bride-to-be) with her friends Courtney Donald, Karen Madill, Lauren Nelson, Roxana Gianezza, Teresa Trickey, Jen Hequilla. Cat will be married in Pauany NZ on 18th March.
Alex Rogers and Tayla and Kaitlyn Tobane with Hannah King
Kate Young and Jemima Johnson
Fynn Collins, Kaitlyn Rogers and Michelle Muller
Scott Reibig, Nathan Lang and Wayne Hohenhaus
Cheryl and Greg Brumby
Nicole Murray and Simone and Mariah Storch
Garry Hawkey with Ray and Tim Steinhardt
Bobby Gough with Daniel
Colby Napper, Jess Crane and James Goodwin
Rebecca Horne and Naden Broom
Shaggy Collins and Beau and Scot Neilsen
Winners of the best dressed children section were Hannah Moulds and Brock Olive Fashion on the Field contestants
Teliea Hunter, Karra-Lee Kleinig, and Jade Scutt
Teisha Ingram, Breeanna Weight and Michala Donohue
Mona, Carly and Kellie Saunders and Tracy Upton
Amanda Ohl and Rory Muller
MATE V MATE
The Blackwater PCYC held a “mate versus mate” boxing night recently
Kelly Oxenham and Popey
Michelle and Mark Window
Brad and Kim Smith
Kerry Vesey, Cheryl Brumby and Lyn Burke
Holding a social event you want photographed? Call the Shift Miner office on 4921 4333 to let us know. You can also give our office a bell if you’d like a copy of any of the photos in this edition.
Page 12 - Shift Miner Magazine, 14th March 2011
around town 107th EDITION. 2011
CASINO ROYALE
Simply Sunshine Childcare in Moranbah hosted a Gangsters and Molls themed Casino Night to raise funds for the centre. Melinda Murphy and Kylie Hicks
RECYCLING... OUTFITS
Stana Peters, Natasha Boatramp, Amy Forrester (Natasha is wearing a retro electric blue bridesmaid dress that her table won in an action for $100... The same dress was later re-auctioned for $220!)
Lauren McCulloch, Valmai Mitchell, Ali Beentjes, Kerryn Nicholas
‘White Summer’ band members: Ben Summerville, Matthew Attard, Taila Gouge and Jess Faulkner
Shannon Rowe, Kerryn Nicholas, Danni Bennett
Matthew Kay
Naomi Armitage
Susan Martin and Michelle Troon
Angela Dixon, Kerry Randall and Norma Breen
Alan Martin, Lee Baker, Anthony Ham and Gerad Corkill
Mac Gordon, Natasha Mallise, Crispian Mallise and Chris Nichols
Mark and Maria Barnham
Karina and Andrew Townsend
back: Melissa Jack, Tenille Jack, Renee Daly. Front: Lisa Jack and Donna Kendry
Moranbah Community Workers Club was the venue for the Sids and Kids ‘Dare to re-wear’ fundraiser. Attendees were encouraged to wear an outfit that they had previously worn to another community event. The night was deemed a huge success, with more than $12,000 raised for the very worthwhile charity and a fabulous night had by all.
Fiona Branch and Veronica Hake
Nikki Reyes and Danni Bennett
Melissa Lemke, Libby Humphrey and Theresa Hutchinson
Karlie Cummins, Melinda Murphy and Sherilyn Walsh
BUY THIS AND MANY OTHER IMAGES AT
www.shiftminer.com Shift Miner magazine – bringing the mining community closer together Page 13 - Shift Miner Magazine, 14th March 2011
stuff to the editor 107th EDITION. 2011
“Lake Lindsay rollover”
Stuff to the Editor Our article on social media and the use of Facebook and Twitter at work has caused a stir: Only an idiot would write something private on Facebook. It’s just plain stupid. Your J.H, Rockhampton ide to
I seriously wouldn’t even know how to get on Facebook. Texting is hard enough. R.E, Walkerston A price on carbon is back on the agenda, and it already has people talking: I guess a price on carbon would work like the price on income, the price on goods and services, the capital gains price, the resource rent price and the proposed price on floods. Sorting out this profusion of prices is truly a taxing task. Viv Forbes, Rosedale Here we go again. A price on carbon. No-one will be able to afford to feed themselves or drive if this keeps up. Frank, Moranbah Trouble is you can’t trust either side on climate change and carbon tax. They have both changed their mind so often I can’t work out who thinks what anymore. B.R, Mackay
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Changing light bulbs to save money has given one reader a bright idea: After I read your article I got around to calling for one of those energy inspections at home. Had been meaning to for ages. Amanda, Gladstone Frank’s fan club is back: Hey Frank, can’t you come out to the Coalfields and have a couple of quiet drinks? Your mates in Emerald Thank God for Frank the Tank. He’s the only man that makes any sense to me. P.D, Dysart
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FAIR DINKUM 107th EDITION. 2011
Fair Dinkum!
IN AUSTRALIA - imagine giving birth to a 5.7 kilo baby. Well, that’s exactly what Victorian mum Amanda Booker did last week. She has had three strapping boys - that all tipped the scales at more than 4.5 kilos at their birth. But the latest, Jasper Booker, takes the cake. In fact his mum says: “Jasper not only takes the cake, he takes it into a corner and eats it by himself.” Nicely said! IN AMERICA - a homeless man handed in almost $1500 in cash that he found in the street. John Kavanaugh found the money in an envelope, and instead of pocketing its contents, took it straight down to the local police station. Turns out the envelope had slipped out of the pocket of attorney Robert Stauffer. Mr Stauffer has since presented Mr Kavanaugh with an undisclosed sum as a reward and has told the media “you can’t judge anybody by how they look”.
STILL IN AMERICA - the president of a university has launched an investigation into an on-campus demonstration that involved a live sex act. Apparently the demonstration involved a man, his financee and a sex toy - and was carried out in front of an audience of more than 100 students. It was part of an after-class event for a popular human sexuality course at the Northwestern University. The President said he is “troubled and disappointed” about the incident, and that it was poor judgement on behalf of the academic involved. The professor who teaches the class has commented about the incident in an email to students. He said the after-class events were “educational and interesting in non-traditional ways” and that student feedback was “uniformly positive”. Not really the kind of thing you’d expect your kids to be studying at uni...
Frank the Tank’s
“Streakin” good love advice Dear Frank, A few weeks ago I met a girl out at a nightclub and, in order to impress her, I told a few white lies. Specifically, I said I was an exceptionally skilled guitarist and that I played A grade footy. As it turns out, things are working out between us and we’ve been dating, but now she wants me to play guitar for her, and with footy season rapidly approaching she’s asking when she can come and watch me play. How can I tell her that I was lying without her breaking up with me? Todd, Rockhampton Well Todd, let me start by saying that I am a firm advocate of telling women lies. In fact, some of my greatest sexual conquests have come on the back of monumental fibs. Last year I convinced two Swedish backpackers that it was Australian law to submit to a full cavity search upon entering any establishment that served beer. I can assure you that was the most entertaining pub crawl I’ve ever been on, and well worth the subsequent term of imprisonment. When it comes to telling a great lie it really all boils down to how committed you are to making it seem
Sensible Susan Todd, If you’ve been seeing this woman for a few weeks she obviously thinks you are more than just a football playing guitarist.
true. I once went a whole month without speaking in order to impress a woman who thought I was a mute. Unfortunately I came unstuck when I yelled out in bed, she may not have been so upset if it was her name that I yelled out, but I can’t be expected to remember every minor detail about a woman. I am sensing from your letter, Todd, that you may not be willing to learn the guitar or sign up for football to impress your girlfriend. Fear not though - I have a few aces up my sleeve. Now, drugging people often gets a lot of bad press, but it is a seriously underused technique in the dating world. Mix your girlfriend up a nice cocktail, add the ‘secret ingredient’ and when she starts to get groggy put some guitar music on the stereo and a game of footy on TV. When she regains consciousness in the morning ask her what she thought of your musical and athletic prowess. As she sifts through her drug addled mind for answers she should receive flashbacks of watching football and listening to the guitar, and naturally, she’ll think it was you she was watching and listening to. Repeat this process every Friday night for a long and healthy relationship. If you fear your girlfriend is getting wise to the repeated druggings it might be time to call it quits, unless you enjoy the quaint charm of prison food and sodomy. Frank
My advice is take her out for a nice dinner, and then come clean. Let her know that you were only trying to impress her, and with a little luck she’ll be flattered. If she breaks up with you just because you’re not a gifted musician or athlete, then perhaps she’s not the right girl for you in the first place. Susan
If you have a question for Frank and Susan Email Us at: franksusan.shiftminer@gmail.com
Page 15 - Shift Miner Magazine, 14th March 2011
BIKE FOR SALE KAWASAKI GTR1000 997cc, 68KW, 6 speed,A very reliable touring bike with hard luggage boxes and top box.shaft drive, . 450km per tank full, 1994 model. Ride across the country in comfort $4000 ono 0407377251 or 0749425940.
PICTURE COMING SOON !!
CAR FOR SALE
CAR FOR SALE
2006 Hyundai
Black Mitsubishi Lancer 2.4l
automatic, 31,000 klms, Warranty and
motor,Limited Edition ES \’07 model.
rego until October
80,000km.Well
2011. VGC.
MINERS TRADER CLASSIES FROM JUST $19.50
UNIT FOR SALE 3 x 1brm s/cont units at Haliday Bay Golf Resort. 30 mins Nth Mackay. 100m to stunning beach & boatramp. Rent to reduce your tax or enjoy yourself. $195,000ea. Also avail for rent . Ph: 0429 151 500. BOAT FOR SALE 480 coastrunner CV,, fully registered until july 2011,,75 hp honda 4 stroke,,boat and motor have only 25hrs,,also comes with heaps of extras,, $26,000 0429 841 205
$15,000. ONO.
074928 5610
0429194943
CAR FOR SALE
2005 Toyota Landcruiser, turbo diesel, charcoal grey, 5 speed manual, 112,000 kms, excellent condition, far too many extras to mention, one owner $55,000 ONO Ph: 0438 035 478
HOUSE FOR SALE
ACRES FOR SALE
Four bedroom Yeppoon home on five acres.
HOME HILL, 7.94 HA
Two bathroom, two toilet, large teenagers bedroom,
(19.62 Acres) 46 ML
office, massive gym/games room fully furnished with
River Allocation with
pool table and rowing machine, treadmill and weights.
12 acres of Kensington
Separate granny flat, two bedroom fully self contained.
Pride Mangoes (500
Outdoor undercover entertainment area overlooks
trees) Absolute river
pool and tennis court. Two bay carport with electric
front powered block
roller doors. Beautiful palm gardens. Close to hospital,
with top quality soils
shopping centre and schools. Private sale.
49827848
Phone Sharon on 0417601299. $950,000.00
0407654765
WHITSUNDAY HOLIDAY RENTAL Impress your girlfriend,family or mates & book this spacious f/furn beachfront home - 30mins Nth Airlie Beach. Ideal affordable getaway from $160/nt View www.stayz.com. au Property ID 25669 wallerjen@westnet.com.au Ph 07 49461628 PASTURE FOR SALE
Black Spear Seed (no weeds)
Ideal for land rehabilitation
Harvested and stored in the Rockhampton region.
Ph 07 49346190 nights ACRES FOR SALE Property 5 Mins to Miriamvale, 2x125 acre blocks + 120 acre reserve. Massive water supply & extensive irrigation. Grow anything. Choice blocks. $550,000 house Block or $900,000 the lot. Ph:0749791384
Page 16 - Shift Miner Magazine, 14th March 2011
maintained.
$10,000 ono
HOUSE FOR SALE Renovated 3 bedroom home on 1228m2 with own bore, 3 phase power, fully enclosed shed 11m x 9m with concrete floor. 20 mins to Coles or Bunnings Toowoomba. $249,000. John 0428 646 014, 07 5464 6200
CAR FOR SALE PRADO GRANDE 08 Diesel, Auto, Leather Int, S/Roof, Centre Fridge, Adj Air Susp, Sat Nav, D/Hill Assist, 3Yr Factory Ext Wty, T/Windows, Floor Covers, 75,000klm VGC $60,900 o.n.o. Mob: 0407 138 822
HOUSE FOR SALE Glendale Relocatable home, 13.2m x 7.2m, 2 x
$115,000 ono Ph: 4926 9084 mob: 0431 197 846.
Black Background White Letters. Slimline front, Standard rear
MINERS TRADER CLASSIES FROM JUST $19.50
$150 0448167867
BIKE FOR SALE
BIKE FOR SALE
Honda Blackbird 1100
Honda Goldwing (Luxury
24,000km, Tinted Screen,
Model) 2007 Model First Reg March 08, Full Log Book History, 38,000Km
Excellent condition,
As new condition,Tow
must sell due to
Bar, UHF Radio, Carry
wedding. $8,990 m. 0417 767 454 JETSKI FOR SALE 2008 Kawasaki Supercharged Ultra 250 Immaculate, 1500CC, 3 seater, 19 hours, extended warranty, swiftco trailer plus heaps of extras. $17,000 ONO 0418 185 339 BIKE FOR SALE Harley Davidson 2005 softail deluxe,250 wide ass kit, diamond cut spokes, slash cut pipes, burly bars,13000km like new $46,000 ono ph.0407 491 388
kit,6cyl,193.000kms,
With development
lowered suspension,
progressing on the
cd/dvd with sub woofer
island, don’t miss
and bluetooth, this car is in VGC.
$499 000
$14,500 ono.
0427 411 531
0408 549 027
CAR FOR SALE Monaro HG/SS Chev,308,3 speed auto,10 blt diff, polished 600 holley, elecrtic blue holley fuel pump,elect windows,dual exhaust,19 inc mags,new battery -leads, $38500 ono, 0439872215
SSV 09
a/c, excellent cond, Rockhampton
CAR FOR SALE
Fully furnished.
Personalised Plates
raked ceiling in large lounge/dining, 2 x split system
Ford BA sedan 2003/GT
this opportunity!
PLATES FOR SALE
bedroom, main with ensuite, plenty of kitchen
Ultimate holiday or investment house
PICTURE COMING SOON !!
cupboards, wall oven, and ceramic glass cook top,
HOUSE FOR SALE
on Keswick Island .
HOUSE FOR RENT Airlie Beach Holiday House 30 sqm deck 180 degree veiws, 200 metre easy walk to Lagoon, 3 bedrooms, 2 car parking,self contained, a/c $170/night 0402 035 217. or 49487900
CARAVAN FOR SALE 16’ Jayco pop top caravan, single beds, new curtains/ 3 way fridge/ tyres, gas stove/oven, r/o awning with sides, RWC, gas certificate, always kept under cover, $15,500. (07) 4922 5037 or 0418 879 284
Rack, Highway Pegs, Lots of Chrome, Located at Airlie Beach 0405 180 724 BOAT FOR SALE Mustang 3200SE, Sportscruiser, Yr03, lth 9.75mtr, 4.3 GXI Volvo Pentas, stern drives, bow thrusters. 195hrs, covers, sleeps 6, nav sounder, vhf, tv, steros, toilet, ice box, stove, fridge, , bbq, Dry stored, exc cond, Sea Pen Available $115,000 0407 138 822 BOAT FOR SALE Keith Brown 30. Pro. built solid f/glass half cabin fishing vessel.length 9m, beam 3m, drft 1.2.210hp 3208 cat deisel. 500l fuel. Cruise 13 knots. HF & VHF radios,plotter, 6”sounder.All safety gear & ground tackle.Twin berth, covered back deck.Ideal fishingor Island cruising. Yeppoon 49 392 182, 0409491024 $59,000 neg HOUSE FOR SALE Investor Kickstart! We double your rent for the first 3 months! Reduce Your Tax!!! Grow your Assets! RETIRE IN COMFORT Choose from one of our many home and land packages in QLD from $329,900. 0451 050 588 CAR FOR SALE HQ 1972 Holden sedan - GTS Replica. Currently has a modified 186 motor, runs well, sounds great, straight body, partly restored. Selling with 308 motor (was running), extractors and Rochester Carbie. $7990 ono Ph 0411367777.
.pdf 2010
5 minute fiction
OFF SHIFT 107th EDITION. 2011
by Bernard S. Jansen
BIG WEEKEND
1
2
3
4
5
9
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ACROSS
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1. Arguments
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5. Fabled land of gold, El ...
11 12
9. Objects on display 13
10. Fired (at) from cover 12. Imperils
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13. Noisy confused fight
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14. Frankenstein’s creator, ... Shelley
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16. Smallest & weakest
21 22
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19. Booting (out)
23
21. Inquisitive
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24. Diameter halves 25. Snags
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27. People from Baghdad 28. Keep apart 29. True 30. Weighs up
7 6 5 3 8 1 3 4 8 5 8 9 7 4 3 9 8 8 5 6 7 1 6 1 4 7 3 MEDIUM
DOWN 1. Waits in line 2. Blackflies 3. Redbreasted bird 4. Raffle 6. Balms 7. Deeply shocked 8. Leftover pieces 11. Quickly (1,1,1,1) 15. Skills 17. Minor battle 18. Polluted shower (4,4) 20. Gallivants (about) 21. Spruces up 22. Fragments 23. Doormen 26. Supporting beam
# 97
LAST EDITION’S SOLUTIONS T E S T T U B E I I L A D L I B B E M V I M E L E V A T I D R S E T CH S V I WH I NG E S A G E O T R I E R D T L S A I MAGE S N N Y GU T T E D
E
CU N D HU O S ON U C A E N L L WA Y E I AME S Q B EGU L A I SO L
R A# T 96E M X MA N E T M S E U P U T A RGE S D S P A T E R S L I I L E D E E A T E S
7 6 2 9 8 1 4 3 5
9 3 5 6 7 4 1 8 2
4 8 1 5 2 3 9 6 7
8 4 3 7 6 2 5 9 1
1 9 7 8 3 5 2 4 6
5 2 6 4 1 9 3 7 8
6 5 9 1 4 8 7 2 3
2 1 8 3 9 7 6 5 4
3 7 4 2 5 6 8 1 9
Pete stood alone in the soft glow of the dawn at the bus-stop, waiting for the shift-bus. He had a jacket on, but even that wasn’t enough to keep out the cold. Winter was coming quick. Someone came round the corner, walking towards Pete, smoking a cigarette. It was Will. He stopped a few metres from Pete and said G’day quietly as he looked down the street for the bus. Pete said, “You look shattered.” “Yeah, big weekend.” “What’d you get up to?” Will drew hard on his smoke. “Friday was a few quiet ones at Smithy’s place. Followed by a few more. Didn’t get home till about three.” “Good time?” Yeah, not too bad. Slept through Saturday, though.” Will threw his cigarette butt on the ground, then quickly lit another. He liked to get as much nicotine into himself as he could before the forty-minute bus-ride to site. “And Saturday?” said Pete. “You get up to much?” Will managed a grin. “Oh yeah. We went hard on Saturday night. Starting drinking at our place, for a while, to get limbered up. Then we went up the Tavern.” “Drinking before drinking?” Will gave Pete a dirty look. “Too expensive to get completely ratfaced at pub prices. Can’t smoke out, either. There was a band at the Tav, too. They sounded pretty good; I think.” Pete thought an iPod would have sounded good to Will when he was that well lubricated, but he said nothing. Will continued. “We started doing shots there, which was fun, until it got a little out of hand. We stayed at the Tavern till we got kicked out.”
“Too drunk?” “No, closing time. Funny thing, I was sure I went home after that. At least I think I was going to.” “So what happened?” “I can’t rightly remember, but it looks like we went down to The Arms after that.” Pete grimaced. The only attractive feature of The Arms was that it had the latest closing time in town, and 1980s prices. A rough joint, but you could stay later, and get drunker... “You can’t remember what you did?” Will smirked. “It was too big a night to remember. I saw the pictures on Facebook though; it was The Arms alright. We got hammered. A really good night. Very big night.” “You get sick?” “At least a few times. Smithy seemed to think that was the best thing to take photos of.” Pete shook his head. Smithy had developed a talent for drinking photography over the last few years. It was kind of like wildlife and action photography combined. Tired of not remembering what he did the night before, Smithy had started taking pictures along the way with his phone camera. He could still take good pictures when he was so drunk he couldn’t walk. Facebook had made Smithy’s photos of his escapades accessible to the world. A lot of people logged in to see what they and their friends had been up to, but couldn’t remember. Will looked down the street. “Bus’s coming,” he said, as he lit his last smoke. Pete said, “You have such big weekends. You must hate Mondays.” “Not at all, mate. I need a week at work to get away from it all and recover. A man needs some rest in life.”
Bernard S. Jansen is 31, married has three young boys. He lives in Emerald, works as an engineer at a local coal mine and is active in his local church. Read more of Bernard’s writing online at surgebin.blogspot.com or email him at bernard.jansen@gmail.com GOT AN IDEA FOR A STORY? Let Bernard know - email him at bernard.jansen@gmail.com or hop on his blog surgebin.blogspot.com
Page 17 - Shift Miner Magazine, 14th March 2011
OFF SHIFT 107th EDITION. 2011
Bait shop Banter YEPPOON Get out wide, and get fishing if you are anywhere near the Capricorn Coast. Adrian from the Secret Spot in Yeppon said there have been heaps of Spanish mackerel off Barren Island, and the Fern Country is producing some nice quality red emperor. “They are reeling them in around the 8 to 10 kilo mark, and cuttlefish is the go,” he said. Plenty of spotty mackerel to be had around
the Flat and Perforated, and the Pinnacles are the place to go for nannagai and cobia. “No-one has been able to get out for so long there is a lot of trout around the closer islands like Pumpkin and the back of South Keppel,” said Adrian. Many locals have been heading south to have a shot at the barra fishing at Pike’s Crossing. Adrian himself had a whirl lately - he caught seven and lost 12 in three and a half hours. Check out the photo below left for proof of his catch:
MACKAY
The sun is out, the wind has calmed down, and the fish are biting! Bruce from Nashy’s Compleat Angler said there have been a few breaks in the weather, and locals have been making the most of it. “There have been reports of some really good bluies at tug harbour, off Hay Point and Dally Bay off the rocky outcrops there.” Apparently bluies are an excellent eating fishing, but you have to work hard to reel them in. “They are fighting fish and you tend to lose a lot, but when you get them they’re
worth it,” said Bruce. There has also been some nice fingermark at the patches east of the habour. Barra continue to be good fishing, particularly in deep holes and around the mouths of creeks - and live mullet and prawns are the bait of choice. “Things are really improving and there is some really good fish to be had, people are just waiting for their opportunity to go out for a couple of days and enjoy it.” Fingers crossed.
GLADSTONE
Barra are everywhere, and giving locals something to do on the weekend. “People who have never caught a fish before are catching metre-long barra,” said Michael from the Compleat Angler. You can find them in the Calliope and Boyne Rivers, and even out in the harbour since Awoonga Dam spilled over. But the dam is still quiet, so get out in the creeks and rivers. Prawns are also going besserk and can be found pretty much anywhere, according to Michael. The trawlers are giving the harbour a good going over, so stick to deep holes and mud gutters up creeks and you’ll catch a good feed. Crabs are still around in the protected waters, and there is a heap of good bream
out in the marina. While it has still been blowing a gale off the coast, those who manage to get out wide are bringing in excellent catches. Michael says coral trout and stripies are being caught at Rat Island, Spanish mackerel off Seal Rocks and one report of a 20-pound red emperor off Twelve Mile. If you have a good photo or fishing yarn send it through to our resident bait chucker-
angus.peacocke@shiftminer.com
FISHING PARADISE FOUND
Calling all serious fisherman to the best fishing location on the coast. Close to mining areas (You have probably driven past the turn-off!) Fully s/c accommodation silly season & 2011 Crew bookings available
Your weather forecast Tide Times With Mike Griffin
Week 1 - Heavy rain last weekend caused river rises from the central west into the Coalfields. Some 7 day totals with 24 hr totals for last Saturday in brackets: Retreat 241 (115), Tambo 165 (104), Sapphire 164 (107), Bingegang 157 (103), Mantuan Downs 147 (110), Springsure Jnt 136 (110), Woleebee 122, Jambin 115 (89), Baralaba 113, Eromanga 111, Craigmore 110, Blackdown 108 (85), Mimdale 104 (100), Rockhampton 102. The Nogoa jumped four metres at the Duckponds and Craigmore rose to 5.7m by Tuesday/Wednesday before falling rapidly. The Dawson at Knebworth rose 2m Sunday/Monday. before falling again by Wednesday. Then the first burst of autumn struck the coast. Fresh to strong SE winds with busts to 50 km/h brought cooler conditions for the Coalfields. Minimum temperatures crashed from 23C to 17C from Rolleston to the Callide. Biloela recorded a 14.2C min on 9 March. Cooler morning conditions like this have been not felt for 5 months. Heavy rain on the North Tropical Coast (Cardwell
Page 18 - Shift Miner Magazine, 14th March 2011
MACKAY Gladstone
212mm and Mission Beach 259mm in 24hrs) from an active Monsoon Trough could head south towards the Central Coast (Bowen to Sarina). Monsoonal showers along the coast over the weekend to Tuesday 15 March could head west and affect the Coalfields; mainly north of Emerald. Some squally (gusts to 30 knots) showers north of Yeppoon with 20 knots winds could whip up seas to 2-.2.5 metres early in the week. Not good for the boaties. The showers and wind should ease by Friday making the weekend a good chance. Week 2 - The SOI again sits in record territory +21 for March. This suggests the Monsoon Trough in the north could affect central Queensland waters with moist north easterly winds and cause more coastal showers that may drift west during the weekend. Conditions could be warmer early in the week. If a front in the south moves north it could stimulate some storms by late week followed by another autumn burst of cooler air. Boaties watch the Gold Coast for a sign of a cooler south easterly burst during the week.
March
Mon 14 Tue 15 Wed 16 Thu 17 Fri 18 Sat 19 Sun 20 Time Ht Time Ht
Time Ht
Time Ht
Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht
0420 3.45 0534 3.75 0007 1.23 0106 0.90 0156 0.62 0242 0.41 0326 0.30 1056 1.64 1204 1.32 0631 4.07 0720 4.33 0804 4.50 0847 4.56 0929 4.52 1701 2.92 1810 3.24 1257 0.98 1344 0.68 1427 0.44 1507 0.29 1547 0.25 2256 1.54
1902 3.58 1948 3.88 2032 4.14 2114 4.34 2157 4.46
0624 4.74 0101 1.60 0158 1.15 0250 0.76 0338 0.47 0424 0.29 0509 0.25 1305 1.83 0723 5.24 0813 5.69 0857 6.03 0940 6.23 1022 6.28 1104 6.16 1857 4.05 1400 1.35 1446 0.92 1530 0.57 1611 0.30 1651 0.13 1731 0.10
1952 4.52 2039 4.95 2123 5.33 2206 5.66 2248 5.90 2332 6.02
Mon 21 Tue 22 Wed 23 Thu 24 Fri 25 Sat 26 Sun 27 MACKAY Gladstone
Heavy rain heralds first burst of Autumn
Phone: 49373145
email: stanagebaymarine@bigpond.com web: www.stanagebay.com
Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht 0411 0.34 0455 0.52 0542 0.81 0015 4.11 0111 3.84 0222 3.61 0349 3.52 1012 4.35 1056 4.07 1143 3.71 0634 1.16 0740 1.45 0905 1.59 1032 1.52 1626 0.34 1705 0.56 1743 0.87 1236 3.35 1338 3.04 1458 2.89 1630 2.96 2240 4.46 2326 4.33
1824 1.22 1921 1.53 2054 1.72 2233 1.68
0554 0.39 0015 5.95 0101 5.72 0151 5.37 0254 5.00 0418 4.76 0555 4.80 1147 5.84 0640 0.69 0729 1.12 0826 1.57 0943 1.91 1124 1.94 1250 1.67 1809 0.25 1231 5.36 1319 4.79 1416 4.24 1534 3.85 1717 3.79 1846 4.09
1848 0.55 1930 0.98 2020 1.46 2132 1.86 2313 2.00
off shift 107th EDITION. 2011
Back in August, former Shift Miner staffer Lincoln “Linx” Bertoli decided to ditch the comforts of a steady pay packet and go and live the dream. Lucky bugger. For the rest of us stuck working to earn our keep in this cruel world, Linx will now taunt us with a regular column in “Off Shift”. If you can’t be there yourself, you might as well live vicariously through someone else... and just hope something unfortunate happens to him out there on the open road... The iconic Urangan Pier overlooks Fraser Island, one of the jewels of Queensland’s coastline.
Hey now, hey now... Don’t dream its over EXACTLY four months and 13 days (probably) after we set out, and our Australian epic was sadly coming to an end. After covering more than 10,000 godforsaken kilometres, countless conversations with grey nomads and more than a few shrivelling nights in the tent, we were homeward bound. The last port of call was Hervey Bay; Queensland’s whale capital and – as it would turn out – our future home. Those who have spent a little time around the Bay will tell you it’s also home to a somewhat eccentric shark museum (God bless you Vic Hislop, you nutbag) and the iconic Urangan Pier. It is the latter that also gives you access to some great land based fishing. The originally pier stretched 1107 metres east into the Pacific Ocean, thanks to its day job as a deepwater cargo handling facility. The pier’s working life came to end in 1985 and the last 239 metres were demol-
ished… not for long as it turns out. The Fraser Coast public spoke up, the remaining 868 metres was donated to the council and a Queensland icon was born. Everything from flathead to tiger shark and snapper to stingray has been reeled in from the Urangan Pier, and on any given day there are countless anglers trying their luck from the timber sleepers. Kite surfers also frequent the shallow flats that surround said pier at low tide… but frankly, that’s just annoying. Hervey Bay is also the gateway to Fraser Island; home to dingoes and a hangout for a few dropkicks who probably shouldn’t get behind the wheel of a four wheel drives. And that’s where we were headed, destined to spend our last few days of freedom soaking up the sun and sand on Fraser, before returning to the dreaded world of work. Goodbye open road. You will be missed.
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Page 19 - Shift Miner Magazine, 14th March 2011
Your Health 107th EDITION. 2011
EXPERT ADVICE For those too busy or embarrassed to ask the important questions about their health
Dear Tammy, I am just wondering if you can tell me about coeliac disease, I have only just
It can be quite difficult for people to know they have coeliac disease if they are purely relying on symptoms, because they do not occur in the same way for everybody. Symptoms can range from very mild to very severe.
found out that it apparently runs in my family.
Possible symptoms include:
Is there anything I can
• Constipation, diarrhoea, extreme wind
do for my own health to
• Stomach pain, cramping, bloating
prevent it?
• Nausea and vomiting
From ‘concerned’
• Headaches, tiredness
Hi Concerned, Thanks for your question. Coeliac disease is actually an autoimmune disease. That means it is out of your control in terms of preventing either yourself or your family from having it. For people with coeliac disease, there is an immune response when gluten is eaten (gluten is in wheat, rye and barley), which causes damage to the lining of your small intestine and can result in some serious problems for your health. So to cut to the chase, the best way to manage coeliac disease is to eliminate ALL GLUTEN from your diet.
Cheese and Onion Tart
• Iron, Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiencies
Serves 4
• Hair loss • Skin rash (specifically called dermatitis herpetiformis) • Depression • Mouth ulcers • Weight loss
INGREDIENTS: To know if you have coeliac disease, you will need to have a colonscopy. There are genotype blood tests which can be done to classify the likelihood of you having the disease if it is in your family, but please, do yourself a favour and see your GP to be properly diagnosed.
Tammy Farrell is a registered nurse, nutritionist and author of ‘The Real Man’s Toolbox – A DIY Health Manual for Men’. Tammy grew up in the Hunter Valley with two brothers in the local coal mines. In 2007, she started to give health talks in the Hunter, and that’s when she began compiling the book, helping hundreds of men answer questions about their bodies.
More space for your toys?
Need extra space for that boat, bike or trailer? Downsizing? Moving house? Safe storage for tradesmen? Boxes and wrapping for sale.
M OURA
SELF STORAGE 21 Gillespie Street MOURA QLD 4718
50
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off
s until 30 June
new shed rental
T: 07 49972227
Page 20 - Shift Miner Magazine, 14th March 2011
SELF STORAGE
1 sheet of frozen short crust pastry 2 tbsp butter 2 brown onions, peeled and thinly sliced 1 clove garlic, crushed 125g block Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened 2 eggs ¼ cup cream 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan Salt and pepper, to taste Tomato relish to garnish METHOD: Preheat the oven to 200°C. Thoroughly spray a 27cm pie tin with oil. Gently press the
Over a low heat, melt butter in a fry pan. Add onions and garlic and sauté for 8 minutes or until golden. Remove from the heat and leave to cool. In a bowl, combine until smooth Philadelphia, eggs, cream and seasoning to taste. First evenly spoon the onion mix into the pastry shell, then pour over the Philadelphia mixture. Sprinkle the top with the grated parmesan and bake at 180°C for 25 minutes or until golden and the ¿OOLQJ KDV VHW 6HUYH KRW RU FROG with a side of tomato relish. Tip: You could use either red or brown onions in this dish.
Zest Eatery Open 4.00pm to 8.00pm daily
2011
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This tasty cheese and onion tart is straightforward to make and delicious in taste. It can be eaten either hot straight out of the oven, or cold and is a perfect dish for entertaining.
short crust pastry dough into the tin and prick pastry all over with a fork. Bake in oven for 5-8 minute or until just golden, then remove and leave to cool until needed.
1300 622 222 themac.com.au COPPABELLA | DYSART | MIDDLEMOUNT | MORANBAH | NEBO
What’s happening in sport in your town? RUGBY UNION
The Barcaldine Sevens tournament was won by a combined Capella / CQUniversity team recently. The carnival had more than $2000 in prize money on offer, and attracted the Longreach Jumbucks, the Longreach Rustlers, the U19 Rockhampton Brahmans, a Capella-CQUni combined side and the crowd favourites, the Invitational VII. It was exclusive entry to the Invitational VII side - you had to have a body-weight of more than 100kgs to be able to join the team. Sadly, the running nature of rugby sevens did not lend itself to the style of game preferred by the Invitational VII team who didn’t make the finals. While the game was played in the right spirit, competition was intense and it came down to a battle between the young, exuberant U19 Rockhampton Brahmans team and the older Capella-Uni team in the Shield Final. This Shield was won by the Capella/ CQUniversity 29 points to 10. Central Queensland rugby regional development manager, Joel Johnston, said it was a great event. “The hard work put in by the organisers Andrew and Leisa Pierce and the support of Trevor Sullivan Stock and Realty really paid off with a fantastic competition showcasing the game of rugby and hopefully attracting a few new supporters and players,” he said.
Standing L-R: Tim Reeves, Joel Johnston, Brendan Wright, Jono Bradbury, Sam Robinson and Matt Gearon Kneeling L-R: Duncan Campbell, Mick Weeks, Dan Hooper and Tom Reddy
IN MORE RUGBY NEWS
The Moranbah Bulls rugby side are pleased to report strong numbers at training in the lead up to this years competition. There has also been a reshuffle in the coaching ranks with Joel Hunter taking on the senior head coach position. Joel will be assisted by Kristian Paul and former Qld Reds development coach Anthony Clarke. With high expectations on the field the committee has made several new appointments to help the club develop further into the future, including a new social committee representative and two new committee member roles. Preseason training has started for the Bull’s with some familiar faces and more importantly many new faces showing up for a run. The team currently trains at 7pm on Monday and Wednesday nights at the Moranbah rugby league field on Mills Avenue.
RUGBY LEAGUE
The Dysart Bulls senior rugby league side has sent a signal to other clubs in the competition with a 34 points to 6 win over the Moranbah Miners reserve-grade side at Moranbah. The trial game was played under hot conditions as a curtain raiser to the Mackay Cutters versus Brisbane Easts state league trial.
Brett Jorgensen led the Dysart Bulls side well and Phil Derksen, Mitch Fegan and Matty Schell also stood out in what was a good team effort.
If your local club has any news or photos it wants added to this page, you can submit your articles to angus.peacocke@shiftminer.com
Dysart would like to thank the Moranbah club for the opportunity to play on such a showpiece day for rugby league on the Central Highlands and their hospitality.
world’s leading skiers and wake-boarders, John has now ventured out on his own to start a skiing school. “I have not seen winter since 2006, I have followed the endless summer water skiing, wake-boarding, bare-footing all over the world for the last 4 years,” he said. The former miner will be in the central Queensland area until Easter when the water skiing nationals are held in Townsville. Then it will be back off to the US for another season. Interested skiers can contact John at synergyski@prowake.com.au or on 0429 857 134
The Emerald Cowboys showing off their skills
WATER SKIING
Mining journeyman John Schotellius has returned to his roots by bringing his water skiing school back to central Queensland. After spending nearly four years travelling and training with some of the
Former miner John Schotellius back in CQ water
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Event details
date
venue
start
Rugby League - Dysart Bulls v Emerald Cowboys
19/3/2011 Tieri No. 1 Field
afternoon
Rugby League - Central West v Central Highlands
19/3/11
Tieri No. 1 Field
afternoon
Rugby Union - Dawson Valley Drovers charity day
19/3/11
Moura Oval
afternoon
Rugby Union - Blackwater Basilisks home game
26/3/11
Blackwater oval
afternoon
Rugby League - Clermont v Blackwater
26/3/11
Blackwater
afternoon
Rugby League - Cowboys Vs Middlemount
26/3/11
Blackwater
afternoon
Rugby League - Emerald Vs Bluff
26/3/11
Emerald
afternoon
Rugby League - Tieri vs Springsure
26/3/11
Emerald
afternoon
CQ Outback Cruisers
9/4/11
Meet at Middlemount Caltex
10am
CLUB CONTACTS
PERSON
CONTACT
Dysart Bulls RL
Gavin Reid
gavreid1961@bigpond.com
CQ Cruisers
Clinton Saunders
clintonselina4@bigpond.com
Blackwater Basilisks RUFC
Kerry Lee Katchel
clintonselina4@bigpond.com
Emerald Tigers RL
Jay Edwards
0448 154 231 jayedwards10@hotmail.com
Emerald Brothers Cowboys RL
Damon Walsh
emeraldcowboys@hotmail.com (07) 4987 4610
Moranbah Bulls RUFC
Joel Hunter
0429 575 276 joel.hunter@bmacoal.com
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THERE could be big opportunities to invest in industrial real estate in Rockhampton, as the city moves away from being “simply a cow town�. Those comments were part of Herron Todd White’s (HTW) latest monthly review of the central Queensland town. The report said while rental rates in industrial precincts are a lot lower in Rockhampton than in other regional centres like Mackay and Townsville, that was likely to change. “The long term economic outlook for Rockhampton over the next 15 to 20 years is good and the centre can no longer be considered simply a ‘cow town’,� the report said. “The commercial market has remained stagnant during 2009-10, however, we consider there is room for escalation in rents across all facets of the commercial property market over the coming years.� HTW said new industrial real estate in
the Rockhampton area is achieving yields of between eight and nine per cent, and rents are between $110 to $150 per square metre. By comparison, similar land in Mackay costs between $200 to $250 a square metre, or almost double the price. “If Rockhampton manages to produce more industrial land and in turn secure major mining tenants, there is likely to be great expansion in the market as well as an increase in rents and returns in the long term,� HTW added. “There is also room for movement in some parts of the retail market, predominately bulky goods.� “Rents for retail warehouses located on the Bruce highway are achieving rates ranging from $170 to $220 per square metre.� “At these rates, the gap is closing between the retail and industrial market, and this suggests that there is perhaps room for growth in this sector also.�
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FIFO to undermine coastal house prices? THE increasing use of fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workforces in the Bowen Basin could affect the price of houses in the nearby cities of Rockhampton and Mackay, according to property valuers. In its latest monthly report, Herrod Todd White (HTW) said there could be less demand for housing in Mackay in the future, if miners start flying into the Bowen Basin directly from other cities. “Based on historical data, Mackay’s rental market has been strong over a number of years,” the report said. “While the Bowen Basin and associated coal mines continue to flourish, there is no
foreseeable reason why the rental market shouldn’t continue to be strong.” “However, risks include affordability issues relating to the already high house prices… and the fly-in-fly-out workforces proposed for the new mines in the Bowen Basin.” “This may present a significant risk to rental market and vacancy rates, should a large scale fly-in–fly-out workforce be approved at some future point.” Residents of Moranbah have already launched a united campaign to stop a massive new mine on the edge of town operating using a 100 per cent FIFO workforce. Those residents have been calling for
more local residential development - but this is the first time valuers have suggested the knock-on effect could be felt across the region. Further west in the newly emerging Galilee mining province at Alpha, it has even been proposed that the entire workforce could fly in from as far away as China. However, HTW said despite these
risks it anticipated demand for housing in Mackay was likely to remain strong, and vacancy rates low. “With proposed mining expansions, coupled with infrastructure projects, as well as private and government development in Mackay earmarked over the next 12 months, the rental market doesn’t look like slowing any time soon.”
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