SM109_Shift Miner magazine

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Monday 11th April 109th Edition 2011

M A G A Z I N E

UNHAPPY CAMPERS BLACKWATER locals are furious after the state government overruled the local council and allowed an unapproved mining camp to continue to operate in town.

Last week, the Central Highlands Regional Council cancelled the lease on the Rosewood mining camp - only to have the state government extend the lease days later.

According to the Central Highlands mayor Peter Maguire, the Rosewood site has never had building, planning or plumbing approval. “The thing was just plonked there on the ground, it’s an awful looking facility and when it’s wet you can’t drive in or out without getting completely bogged,� said Cr Maguire. “We made it clear to them 14, 15 months ago that we would not be renewing the lease.� “This was meant to be a temporary facility that was allowed to go ahead under the former council, it was never meant to be there long term.�

But the state government owns the land and has given the camp’s operators Qantac a last minute reprieve by extending the lease for another 12 months.

That will provide enough time to find another site, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM). “We recognise the camp is home for more than 500 workers in the mining industry,â€? the DERM statement read. Âť continued page 4

Norwich Park’s pink haul

News Sailing through Gladstone’s busy harbour  page 7 News New handbook for a happy FIFO home  page 8

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CONTENTS 109th EDITION. 2011

slack in supporting sporting groups, and many have not an avenue to tell MOST people would agree that sport their stories. is something that helps builds comIf you turn to page 21 you can read munities. the latest from clubs right across cenWhether it’s a game of social ten- tral Queensland. nis, competitive netball or a round of Anyone who has any sporting news rugby, sport builds friendships and is welcome to submit their informaactive community groups. tion, you’ll find all the details on the Over the past few years Shift Min- sports page.

PIE PERFECTION er Magazine has written several artiIt’s part of our commitment to cles about how 12 hour shifts are bring you a newspaper the whole KOALA killing off sport in the Bowen Basin. mining community can enjoy - whethCARE It’s a trend we’d like to see er it’s to find out the latest industrial METHOD: Serves 8 reversed, and we believe it is impor- news, to have a look at what’s for sale Lemon Meringue pie is a true Mix crushed plain biscuits and tant for all employers in the region to TRADER in the classifieds, to check out who’s melted butter together. Press family favourite that has been get behind their local clubs. been snapped in the social pics or to PL[WXUH ¿UPO\ LQWR WKH EDVH RI around for centuries. Food That’s why we’ve started a new historian’s recorded that lemon a well greased 23cm x 5cm pie catch up on the latest sports results. ÀDYRXUHG FXVWDUGV SXGGLQJV SODWH ÀDWWHQLQJ DQG VPRRWKLQJ sports page, dedicated to the stories We hope you enjoy the read! and pies have been served since out with the back of a spoon that come out of your local clubs. the medieval times. However or spatula. Refrigerate for 20 We believe the media has also been

11

EASTER GETAWAYS

FROM THE EDITOR

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3 egg whites ½ cup caster sugar 90g melted butter

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22 MONEY MATTERS

Miner’s spirit helps SES

SHIFT MINER The

Editor: Alex Graham Advertising: Angus Peacocke 0428 154 653

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Page 3 - Shift Miner Magazine, 11th April 2011

News

109th EDITION. 2011

FROM PAGE 1

Locals want temporary camp gone Blackwater Community Progress Group chair Kev Cracknell was on the Duaringa Shire Council when it first approved the camp back in 2006. “They came to us at the 11th hour and said this is what we need,� he said. “People were angry about it back then, but as a council we felt we had to try and do the right thing by mining which has been a great supporter of our community.� “Since then the camp’s operators have applied for [and received] multiple extensions to the lease, and the camp has doubled in size from 200 beds to 500.�

The two original projects that needed emergency accommodation for workers were completed years ago.

Mr Cracknell said with hindsight, they should never have allowed the camp to go ahead. “They have made no effort, to the community’s knowledge, to find an alternative site,� he said. “They are treating the local community - that they want to be a part of - with utter contempt.� “The local residents who have put up with dust, traffic and noise and everything else that goes with it, have every right to be disgusted at all levels of government.�

Most of the workers who stay at the

Rosewood camp are employed at Caledon’s Cook Colliery.

Shift Miner Magazine contacted the company to see if it had plans to re-house its workforce elsewhere, but management was tight-lipped. “We don’t own the accommodation site, but obviously we have been following the issue closely,� said Caledon’s managing director Mark Trevan.

Shift Miner Magazine was unable to contact Qantac’s managing director Graham Cleary to find out what the company plans to do next.

Mr Cracknell said Qantac had been given enough chances. “I know the workers need somewhere to live but this is just blatant disregard for the rules and the community on behalf of the operators,� he said.

He is also angry council isn’t doing more to protest the decision. “The council has just washed its hands of this - like Pontius Pilate - and handed it back to the state government.�

But that is criticism Cr Maguire isn’t willing to wear. “If someone can tell me what we can do to undo the stuff ups of the previous council, then I’d like to know,� he said

The issue brings to a head simmering tensions in Blackwater over the number of new mining camps in the town.

Currently the Urban Land Development Authority (ULDA) is finalising new town plans, but some locals want any new camps to be built outside of the town’s perimeters.

The LNP Member for Gregory Vaughan Johnson told state parliament last week the ULDA’s ability to fast-track land in Blackwater had already been proved an “abysmal failure�. “Local builders will be forced to pack up and leave before the ULDA’s promised 200 lots emerge on the market,� he said. “It is going to take a minimum of one or two years before any land is released under the housing plan.�

In the past fortnight, both community groups and the mayors have met the deputy premier Paul Lucas in regards to town planning in the region.

But Shift Miner Magazine understands locals mayors were only given a 12 minute meeting with Mr Lucas last week, during which he spoke for most of the time.

It’s also understood the ULDA intends to release revised plans for Blackwater and Moranbah this week - but the extent of those changes are not known.

Crash claims Glenden man THE small Bowen Basin town of Glenden is mourning the loss of a much-loved miner who died from injuries following a horrific car crash on the Peak Downs Highway.

The 44-year-old Newlands mine worker had been driving his ute near the North Eton turn off when he collided with another ute and semi-trailer on March 21.

He was taken to the Mackay Base Hospital and later transferred to the Townsville Hospital, where he died from his injuries last week.

Xstrata’s Mackay region general manager Lindsay Richardson said everyone at Newlands was saddened by the loss of a well-liked colleague. “Our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time, we continue to provide support to his wife, family, friends and colleagues,� Mr Richardson said.

Police investigations are continuing into the accident.

“Our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time...�

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Page 4 - Shift Miner Magazine, 11th April 2011

News

109th EDITION. 2011

CQ miners negotiate a new deal FAST NEWS NEGOTIATIONS are underway at mine sites across central Queensland, with the latest enterprise bargaining agreements (EBA) being thrashed out.

The old agreements have expired - or are about to - at more than a dozen mines in the region.

The CFMEU’s Steve Pierce is the union negotiator for BMA (BHP Mitsubishi Alliance) workers at Goonyella, Peak Downs, Saraji, Norwich Park, Crinum, Gregory and Blackwater mines.

Mr Pierce said the mining giant was being more difficult than expected.

“We’ve had reasonable discussions with most of the other companies but BHP seems to have forgotten that John Howard is no longer in power,” Mr Pierce said.

“BHP is trying to broker a work choices agreement even though work choices no longer applies.”

“What members are saying to us is, if the agreement is well below the standard, they won’t automatically give the company a three year agreement, they’ll want a much

shorter term so they’re not committed to a sub-standard agreement.”

But Mr Pierce said negotiations at BMA’s Mt Walker mine, which is run by Thiess, were travelling better.

“South Walker has been reasonably cordial and we’ve got to a position where we’re talking about the matters, there’s no issues there yet,” he said.

Meanwhile, the CFMEU’s Chris Brodsky said negotiations with Anglo American were also progressing well.

“It’s going quite well, our biggest issue has been trying to claw back anything we lost under work choices,” he said.

“Anglo’s German Creek EBA has been certified and Moranbah North is going to

vote on the April 15.”

“We start negotiation at Foxleigh next month but Grasstree isn’t until the start of the new year.”

And with shades of the FIFO/DIDO debate, it seems EBA bargaining is more about conditions than remuneration this time around.

“Our members are after things like secure housing and accommodation, conditions on the mine site, industrial conditions, and getting back to having unions being recognised in the work place,” Mr Brodsky said.

Shift Miner Magazine understands new agreements have been finalised at BMA’s Broadmeadows mine, and Vale’s Carborough Downs mine.

“What members are saying to us is, if the agreement is well below the standard, they won’t automatically give the company a three...”

Mining incidents rise slightly THE number of reported incidents on Queensland mine and quarry sites has risen slightly in the month of February, according to the latest safety report compiled by the mines inspectorate.

There were 189 accidents or near misses in February, compared with 159 in January.

Vehicle related incidents (collisions and loss of control of vehicle), explosions and electrical accidents were all up from the previous month.

There were 35 reported incidents of loss of control of vehicles, including one case where a loader carrying four workers slid 60 metres down a sharp slope before coming to a stop.

The incidence of fire-related acci-

dents rose sharply, making up 25 per cent of total accidents, compared with just 18 per cent in January.

A boilermaker suffered burns to his hands, chin, lip, and ear when residual oil ignited in the area he was brazing.

Another miner was lucky to escape with just a singed beard, after fuel soaked material ignited causing a flash.

The number of workers injured during falls on mine sites was down for February, however there were still a number of serious incidents recorded.

A dump truck driver fell 2.5 metres from the cab of his truck to the ground, and broke his ribs, vertebrae and pelvis.

Incidents for February (as compared with January)

Fall of equipment - 22 (up from 16) Vehicle collision - 20 (up from 15) Loss of control of vehicle - 35 (up from 27) Fire 48 (up from 30) Explosion 12 (up from 7) Fall of person 3 (down from 6) Fall of ground 4 (down from 16) Mechanical 15 (down from 22) Electrical 17 (equal with January) Other 13 - (up from 9)

Lake Lindsay with JH JOHN Holland will take over the running of Anglo American’s Lake Lindsay and Oak Park open cut mines near Middlemount.

The three-year $144 million contract will see John Holland provide mining services such as planning, scheduling, drill and blast, truck excavator waste removal and mining.

Over the full term of the contract, John Holland will move 10-15 million cubic metres of overburden each year.

It’s the first time John Holland has secured a contract with mining giant Anglo. .....................................................................

Tsunami equipment rush There has been a spike in demand for used heavy machinery in Australia, in the wake Japan’s tragic earthquake and tsunami crisis.

The latest shipping index by Skelton Sherborne found that demand for Japanesemade equipment rose sharply last month.

That’s despite the total number of imported machines dropping by 25 per cent overall. .....................................................................

QGC stalled WORK has been at a standstill for almost a month on a Queensland Gas Company (QGC) pipeline because the company did not have the necessary environmental approvals.

QCG stopped worked on its major gas pipeline between the Surat Basin gas fields and Gladstone when it realised some environmental plans for soil and species management had not been approved.

According to QGC, it became aware of the breach on Wednesday 16 March, and ordered its contractor MCJV to stop work the next day.

The company alerted state and federal regulars to the potential breaches the following week.

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Page 5 - Shift Miner Magazine, 11th April 2011

News

109th EDITION. 2011

$5 Billion BMA Coal prices and expansion in CQ the Aussie dollar WHILE the new LNG industry is ramping up in Queensland, the already established coal industry continues to expand.

MINING giant BMA has announced $5 billion of expansion projects in central Queensland.

At the top of the agenda is the $1.25 billion Hay Point terminal expansion, which began last year.

The expansion project includes a third berth, trestle, surge bins and out-loading conveyors - and will increase capacity from 44 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) 55mtpa.

The current jetty will also be replaced and the new model will be capable of withstanding high seas and winds.

BMA will also spend $1.6 billion developing the new Daunia mine, next to its Poitrel site.

The mine will produce 4.5 mtpa and is expected to start production in 2013.

Another $900 million will be spent

extending the life of the Broadmeadow mine by another 21 years.

Production will also lift by 0.4 mtpa to 4.8 mtpa.

BHP Billiton metallurgical coal president Hubie van Dalsen said they wanted the projects off the ground quickly, to keep up with an increased demand for hard coking coal.

“Subject to further approvals, this initial investment will be followed in the near term by the construction of the Caval Ridge mine, which will utilise expanded Hay Point port capacity created from this investment.”

The Premier Anna Bligh has welcomed the investment, which is expected to bring another 3000 jobs to the state.

“This is a ringing endorsement for Queensland,” Ms Bligh said.

“Mines in the Central Queensland area were impacted by flooding in December and January and this is a clear sign we’re open for business.”

A double edged sword Wesfarmers Curragh mine near Blackwater has secured a 53 per cent increase in the price of its steel-making coal as Asian customers respond to dwindling Australian coal supplies.

Central Queensland is responsible for about two-thirds of the world’s exported metallurgical coal, which means any cut in supply can be very quick to create a spike in the price.

Like many other local mines, Wesfarmers was forced to cut back production at Curragh during the last four months because of the huge wet season.

At the time of printing the company had still not lifted its “force majeure” declaration for the mine.

Queensland Treasury estimates the loss of production across Queensland will cost the state $8 billion.

Under the new price contract, coal from Curragh will now sell for around $328 a

tonne - just shy of the record prices at the height of the global financial crisis.

Australian Bureau of Resource Economics (ABARE) mining analyst Alan Copeland said the new price was not surprising.

However, he said the strong Australian dollar was likely to affect profitability.

“Virtually all international coal trade is priced in US dollars, so a stronger Australian dollar means exporters will receive a lower Australian dollar value for exports which are priced in US dollars,” he said.

While the high dollar will lower profits - it is unlikely to derail the mining boom, because mining companies have a range of financial tools that they can use to plan for a high Australian dollar.

The buying power of the Australian dollar also means more bang for their buck when buying expensive imported mining equipment like excavators and drag-lines.

Survey examines mining’s social impact THE social impact of mining on central Queensland towns is under the spotlight in a new study being carried out by a team of QUT researchers.

QUT head of Justice, Professor Kerry Carrington, is spearheading the project, and is providing her time and expertise for free.

The data will be collated and handed over to community groups in the Bowen Basin, so it can be used to address state government criteria when new mines are proposed in the region.

“I’m volunteering my time, expertise and the highly sophisticated software we

have available to lend a hand to these communities,” said Professor Carrington.

“I spoke to people in the community and realised there was a big gap.”

“Communities groups can’t buy their research like mining companies can, and so this is about levelling the playing field.”

Professor Carrington said new state government laws which require a thorough evaluation of the social impact of new mining developments were meaningless if no data was collected.

“For the legislation to work there has to be robust data and that’s what

FAST GLASS REPAIR

we are gathering now.”

“This is about getting some base line data that enables us to compare one town to another.”

More than 350 people have filled in the survey over the past three weeks, but the aim is to have 1000 respondents.

“The group so far is a broad cross-section including teachers, social workers, CEOS, about a third work for resource companies, there have been mayors and civic leaders.”

One of the key questions in the survey asks respondents to rate their support of a new mining development depending on

the percentage of fly-in fly-out or drive-in drive-out workers.

“Once we have collected the data we will give it directly to community representatives and they can decide how they will use it.”

There will also be a follow up survey on worker and family well-being in mining towns.

Professor Carrington is known in mining circles for her research that found alcoholfuelled violence is more prevalent in town with worker camps.

You can find the survey at www.miningcommunities.com.au

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M: 0448 243 343 E: darylweng@gmail.com Page 6 - Shift Miner Magazine, 11th April 2011

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News

109th EDITION. 2011

Barge versus yacht in LNG hot spot

THE soaring number of commercial and private boats using the Gladstone harbour is creating significant social and safety issues for traditional harbour users.

Symbolic of the sort of issues emerging is one involving junior sailors from the Gladstone yacht club.

Junior sailors currently use an area behind the RG Tanna terminal to develop their sailing skills; however, this area is now in the direct path of barge traffic heading to Curtis Island.

According to the assistant Gladstone harbour master, John Fallon, the increased

LNG traffic will have an impact on recreational harbour goers.

However, he said the rights of existing users will be maintained.

“There is going to be a significant increase in the number of vessels using the harbour,” he said.

“However we have the view that the harbour users here first have the rights.”

“The sailing club was here first and therefore it has the rights to the majority of the harbour.”

“It’s likely that there is going to be conflict needs on Saturday afternoons between barge operators and sailors, but I am confident that this can be resolved.”

Maritime Queensland is expecting the number of recreational boats in Gladstone harbour to increase to 44,000 in the future and the movement of large ships will increase by about 20 per cent.

On top of this, it is forecasting a huge increase in barge transport around the harbour, with 52 pieces of specialist loading plants likely to be parked in the narrows when not in use.

Every day thousands of tonnes of aggregate will be barged from an area near the RG Tanna terminal to Curtis Island, and hundreds of workers will be transported to and from the island.

LNG shipping at Gladstone safe: Maritime Qld SHIPPING of liquefied natural gas (LNG) through the Gladstone harbour will be safe and meet all relevant global standards, according to the assistant harbour master.

Some locals, including long-term resident Paul Tooker, have suggested current plans are breaching international guidelines.

Mr Tooker said the biggest concern is the shipping channel will be less than 500 metres from the water-end of Goondoon Street in central Gladstone.

“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,” said Mr Tooker.

“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.”

But assistant harbour master John Fallon has moved to allay those fears.

“There are international guidelines for transporting gas by ship, and the transportation of gas out of Gladstone Harbour will

meet all of those standards,” said Mr Fallon.

“The first thing people have to realise is that these ships are not full of compressed gas, the gas is transported in a liquid form by lowering its temperature.”

“The second thing is there will be a fleet of tug boats whose jobs will be specifically to escort ships carrying LNG from berth out into the harbour.”

“They will be dedicated to this task.”

“There will be a fleet of tug boats whose jobs will be specifically to escort ships carrying LNG from berth out into the harbour.”

Global Experience Local Knowledge

There will also be more than 90 pieces of specialist machinery floating around the harbour.

To help deal with so much traffic, the Gladstone Harbour Control will require all ships over 12 metres to have an automatic identification system (AIS) on board.

The AIS system will continuously log the ship’s course and speed, so that boat operators can be notified of collision risks.

Clearing starts on Curtis Island WORK is now underway to turn Gladstone’s Curtis Island into central Queensland’s LNG hub.

Bechtel is running the $40 million contract to build the LNG train for the Queensland Gas Company’s QCLNG project on the island.

Bechtel is also running the overall contract for Santos’ GLNG project - and over the past month a $150 million subcontract has been awarded to Macmahons and John Holland to begin the job.

Macmahons has now begun civil works on the site.

Over the next 18 months it will carry out clearing, bulk earthworks and build pavements, roads and drainage on the 144 hectare site.

Macmahons CEO Nick Bowen said the project was ground-breaking.

“The GLNG project is an important development for Queensland and the Australian resources sector, and Macmahon is pleased to be involved in this exciting project.”

John Holland has also begun work on the marine side of the project.

The company will design and built a new ferry berth, a roll on/roll off berth, load on/load off berth and a bulk aggregate unloading berth.

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Page 7 - Shift Miner Magazine, 11th April 2011

News

109th EDITION. 2011

Orange out, pink and blue in PINKY PROMISE: Norwich Park’s breast cancer statement

ORANGE is usually the dominant colour on mine sites, but even if you blink you couldn’t miss the giant pink elephant in the room at Norwich Park mine.

BMA Coal, Downer Mining and Duratray International have joined forces to turn

the mine’s Caterpillar 793F haul truck bright pink to support breast cancer awareness.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation CEO, Carole Renouf, said it was wonderful to see a traditionally male-dominated industry like mining get behind the breast cancer cause.

“We hope that when people see the eyecatching pink truck they will be reminded to support the NBCF and help us to reduce the number of deaths from breast cancer with better treatment and ultimately prevention,” she said.

“The pink truck will go a long way to helping us highlight to rural and remote communities the importance of being breast-aware and also of funding breast cancer research.”

Just down the road at Macarthur Coal’s Coppabella mine, the eyesore is big and blue.

A new 6.8 metre wide by eight-metre long dragline bucket has been painted blue to raise awareness of men’s health issues.

CQMS Razer built the bucket, and Sun City Signs painted it, as part of Cancer Council Queensland’s Blue Challenges, raising awareness of men’s health and funds in the fight against men’s cancers.

Aside from raising awareness, the mine hopes to raise $3500 from employee, Macarthur Coal and Global Cranes donations.

Dragline maintenance planner Noel Brookfield said he was proud of the team’s efforts.

“This year, we’ve made a real effort at the mine to help encourage our people to be

more proactive about their health and live healthier and more active lifestyles,” he said.

“Men typically don’t talk about their health the way women do, so we needed to find a way to connect with them and to start the conversation.”

“The distinctive paint job on our new bucket has been really well received and has already got them talking about cancer prevention and early detection, which is a great step forward for our people and their families.”

For more information on how to cut your cancer risk and detect cancer early, call the Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20 or visit www.cancerqld.org.au.

BLUE BUCKET: Coppabella’s eye-catching way to promote men’s health issues

A handbook for happy FIFO families FOR families with FIFO/DIDO partners maintaining the status quo at home can be hard work, but a new guidebook could make life a little easier.

The creator of a social network website for mining families has now produced a guidebook called The Survival Guide for Mining Families - and it’s filled with practical tips for keeping relationships healthy, including advice from a registered psychologist.

Mining Family Matters website creator Alicia Ranford said the guide is designed to help reduce the pressure from FIFO/DIDO family problems.

“Mining is such a great industry and it can work well for families, but to succeed they need to address issues as they arise, the guide will help with that,” she said.

“The information in the guide is the most requested information off our website.”

“I think the guide will continue evolve and we would hope to update it on a yearly basis as we grow the information we can share with our readers,” Ms Ranford said.

Families can purchase the guide from the website, but Ms Ranford hopes companies will purchase it on behalf of their workers.

“That’s exactly what’s been happening,

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“Our guide is certainly not designed to replace mining companies employee assistance programs and it certainly doesn’t replace professional help, but it will go a long way to giving employees and their families tools to cope with the mining life.”

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“The information in the guide is the most requested information off our website.”

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people have been letting their employer know about the guide or we’ve got in touch with their HR people to let them know about the guide.”

“We are really excited about the mining companies who are buying it and supporting the people who support the mining industry,” Ms Ranford said.

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GLADSTONE • ROCKHAMPTON • BRISBANE • GOLD COAST • SUNSHINE COAST Page 8 - Shift Miner Magazine, 11th April 2011

News

109th EDITION. 2011

Reality TV goes underground

FORGET the farmer wants a wife, the latest reality TV craze in the US explores the world of underground coal miners.

The 10-part series Coal looks at low seam underground shaft coal mining in West Virginia, and actually films men at work underground.

Anyone involved in the coal industry in Queensland must be wondering how the show was made, given coal companies are not known for embracing cameras underground for safety and commercial reasons.

But, not surprisingly, everything is not as it first appears in the new show.

The mine was, in fact, dormant until quite recently when it was recommissioned for the reality show by its executive producer Thom Beers.

In an interview with the Kansas City Star newspaper, Mr Beers said he’d spent three years looking for a coal mine to film and he

had specifically wanted a family business that was barely making a living.

He found 46-year-old industry veteran Tom Roberts, who was then hired early last year by Cobalt Coal to restart the Westchester mine.

“I’ve blown a couple of fortunes in coal,” Mr Roberts says on the show - but again, that’s misleading given his personal money is not on the line in this venture.

In fact, he’s on a salary and was given a signing bonus of 500,000 shares in the stock.

Cobalt also hired Mike Crowder to employ workers and coax 40 loads of coal out of them, every shift, twice a day.

So that is how a coal mining company came to be part of the land of reality TV. It’s not known if the show will air here in Australia, but you can have a look at spiketv. com if you’re interested.

Hitting the high notes in CQ OVER the past few years, Moving Opera! has been delighting audiences in the coalfields thanks to grants from mining giants BMA and Rio Tinto.

The program gives students the rare opportunity to work with Queensland’s most talented opera singers and put on a show that would be more at home on Broadway than in the Bowen Basin.

The program is once again up and running this year, with the first of the region’s workshops held in Emerald and Blackwater recently.

The school halls of Clermont will also be alive with the sound of music in June.

This is the fourth year Rio Tinto has sponsored the program in Clermont, and energy chief execeutive Doug Ritche said it would now be extended to Weipa.

“We will also for the first time, be supporting the Vocal Threads program in Weipa, where we operate a bauxite mine, to bring music and arts workshops to schools

with a high population of Indigenous students,” he said.

“Opera Queensland is world class in both performance and education programs.”

“We are proud to be associated with the company and to help bring the long term benefits of the arts to the communities in which we operate.”

Mining magnates dominate rich list WANT to borrow a dollar?

Then get in touch with one of the 81 resource and mining big wigs in the BRW 2011 Executive Rich List.

At the top of the list is West Australian Andrew “Twiggy’ Forrest with a bank balance of $6.2 billion, up from his not-to-besneezed-at $3.79 billion in 2010.

But the old boys better watch their backs, young gun and humble Queenslander Nathan Tinkler has almost doubled his $366 million fortune of 2010 - and he’s not about to slow down.

Mr Tinkler is number one on BRW’s

Young Rich List with a healthy bank balance of $610 million, although it has taken a slight hit since the 34-year-old bought the Newcastle Knights.

But don’t think only the rich get richer.

Nathan ‘I’ll be a billionaire when I grow up’ Tinkler was an electrician by trade.

He took a chance and bought an unwanted coal deposit in CQ and 18 months later cashed it in for $450 million.

Mr Tinkler said the secret to success was not looking to others to solve your problems, and approaching business with a positive attitude.

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“Investors are reluctant to put their hand in their pocket for exploration and probably more so if that person only has a Tafe electrical trade certificate!” he said.

“There is only so much capital out there for projects and it’s up to you to find your own way, no one is going to call you out of the blue and hand it to you.”

To get the money to buy the CQ deposit Tinkler mortgaged the family home (with-

out telling the missus!) and the rest, as they say, is history.

Mr Tinkler more recently floated coal company Aston Resources making a personal paper profit of $170 million.

Overall, BRW reports that young executives have increased their fortunes by 7 per cent, and the old boys (and girls) increased their bank balances by 29 per cent - on the back of a booming mining sector.

“Tinkler took a chance and bought an unwanted coal deposit in CQ and 18 months later cashed it in for $450 million.”

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Page 9 - Shift Miner Magazine, 11th April 2011

News

109th EDITION. 2011

Tree eskies keep koalas at Clermont “They are a bit like putting an esky around each seedling, as the product stores water in the walls of the tree guard which is drip-fed to the seedling for 16 days post-planting.”

If the seedlings survive, that in turn increases the chances of the local koala population.

Rio Tinto and the University of Queensland have had a long running and extremely successful koala program at the company’s rehabilitated Blair Athol mine site.

Now it’s hoped those results can be mirrored at the new Clermont mine site - but in a shorter time frame.

“If reasonable annual rainfall occurs this area will be suitable to support koalas within eight years,” said Rio Tinto’s Clermont general manager operations Andrew Cole.

The lessons learnt at Blair Athol, where koalas moved back to the area 12 years after mining, will now be put in place at the Clermont mine.

“We know now how to adjust our land

REHAB FOR BEARS: Rio Tinto has a long running koala program at Clermont

A simple invention - not unlike the humble esky - is being used to improve the survival chances of koalas at Rio Tinto’s new Clermont mine site.

Ecologists have invented a plastic water tube tree guard that is being used to drip

feed 210 coolibah seedlings at the site.

“We hope this will give the small trees a much better chance of surviving the transplanting period, and establishing a strong root system,” said Koala Venture researcher Dr Sean Fitzgibbon.

SOCIAL IMPACT OF MINING SURVEY A research team at QUT is conducting a survey on the social impact of mining in Qld. The last decade has seen a marked change in how the mining industry sources labour from residential to non-residential and operates continuous 12-hour shifts. We are interested in your views on how this has affected you and/or your community.

Participants have to be over 18 and work or live in a community impacted by mining development.

To access the survey go to: https://sites.google.com/site/socialimpactofminingsurvey/ or www.miningcommunities.com.au For a hard copy or further details contact: Professor Kerry Carrington, kerry.carrington@qut.edu.au School of Justice, Faculty of Law, QUT 07 3138 7112

Page 10 - Shift Miner Magazine, 11th April 2011

DRIP FEEDING: Yep, it’s an esky - but for plants

clearing practices to allow koalas to move ahead of our work, and we know the types of trees to grow to encourage koalas to return,” Mr Cole said.

“Re-establishing the koala habitat on formerly mined land requires the right type of trees to attract the koalas back as well as trees that are of a sufficient size and species mix.”

“We have more planting days planned for later this year that will extend the area that is being rehabilitated.”

“If reasonable annual rainfall occurs this area will be suitable to support koalas within eight years.”

$7000 rum raising for SES A central Queensland miner has sold a rare bottle of Bundaberg Rum on eBay for a staggering $7,099 to raise money for his local State Emergency Services (SES).

Barry De Berg camped outside the Bundaberg Rum Distillery for almost 48 hours in order to purchase the first commercially available bottle of rum in the Master Distiller’s collection.

“We arrived at 2 pm on a Friday afternoon, and once the word got out that there were people already lining up a few more people turned out,” he told Shift Miner Magazine.

“By Friday night there would have been 20 people camping out, by Saturday night we’d swelled to about 50 people.”

The bottle sold to a Brisbane-based collector on eBay for more than one hundred times the price Mr Daberg purchased it for at the distillery.

Thanks to the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) matched giving program, the money raised by Mr Daberg’s eBay auction will be doubled, meaning more than $14,000 will be donated to the Bundaberg branch of the SES.

“By Friday night there would have been 20 people camping out, by Saturday night we’d swelled to about 50 people.”

Your Health 109th EDITION. 2011

EXPERT ADVICE For those too busy or embarrassed to ask the important questions about their health Welcome back, hope youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve all had yet another safe week, today we are continuing on with our question from Jeff relating to fatigue and its impact on you.

What are the safety consequences of fatigue? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a long list: â&#x20AC;˘ Diminished alertness â&#x20AC;˘ Slowed reaction time â&#x20AC;˘ Poor communication â&#x20AC;˘ Poor hand-eye coordination â&#x20AC;˘ Increased errors â&#x20AC;˘ Reduced vigilance â&#x20AC;˘ Reduced decision-making ability â&#x20AC;˘ Poor judgement of performance, especially when assessing risks â&#x20AC;˘ Getting easily distracted â&#x20AC;˘ Inability to remember the sequence of events According to Queensland Health, fatigue will alter you perception of how serious a situation has become.

Simple tasks become much harder and can lead to poor decisionmaking which can then lead to an accident. Research has shown the risk of work-related injuries and

illnesses increases in people who work more than 60 hours a week, or working 12 hours or more in a day.

Compared with an eight hour shift, accident rates are doubled after 12 hours at work.

So keep an eye on those around you, and make sure both you and your colleagues are safe to be working with.

The warning signs and symptoms of fatigue include: â&#x20AC;˘ Blurred vision â&#x20AC;˘ Difficulty keeping your eyes open â&#x20AC;˘ Head nodding â&#x20AC;˘ Drowsy relaxed feeling â&#x20AC;˘ Irritability â&#x20AC;˘ Not feeling refreshed after sleep (waking tired) â&#x20AC;˘ Falling asleep at work â&#x20AC;˘ Microsleeps - falling asleep for less than a second to a few seconds, and being unaware that you have done so (usually due to sleep loss)

Until next time, stay healthy & stay informed.

Tammy Farrell is a registered nurse, nutritionist and author of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Real Manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Toolbox â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A DIY Health Manual for Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. 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 thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when she began compiling the book, helping hundreds of men answer questions about their bodies.

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Lemon Meringue Pie Serves 8

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Lemon Meringue pie is a true family favourite that has been around for centuries. Food historianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recorded that lemon Ă&#x20AC;DYRXUHG FXVWDUGV SXGGLQJV and pies have been served since the medieval times. However LW ZDVQÂśW XQWLO WKH ÂśV that they perfected the lemon meringue pie as we know it today.

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Enjoy it at home with friends and family using this simple recipe.

INGREDIENTS: J SODLQ ELVFXLWV FUXVKHG 250mls condensed milk ½ cup lemon juice Rind of 1 lemon 3 egg yolks 3 egg whites ½ cup caster sugar 90g melted butter

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Preheat oven to 180°C. Beat egg whites gradually adding the caster sugar a spoonful at a time. Keep beating until stiff and mixture forms peaks. Spoon egg white mixture evenly on top RI WKH OHPRQ ¿OOLQJ WR IRUP WKH shape of a pie. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes or until the top starts to turn golden. Remove from oven and let cool before serving. Serve with a side of cream or vanilla ice cream.

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Page 11 - Shift Miner Magazine, 11th April 2011

around town 109th EDITION. 2011

SING IT LOUD

Blacwater’s youngest lungs were on show recently, when Opera Queensland singers conducted a workshop with local children as part of the Moving Opera! program. They put on a fantastic performance for all to enjoy.

Fergus, Callum, Kenny and Campbell McKellar, and Amelia Noon

Bridie and Kelsea Anderson and Georgia Willmann

Shirley Pidgeon, Jenny Pimpin and Brent Manuel

Tayla Bean, Isobella Brierton, Victortia Robertson and Amber Bean

Elmeroe De Nysschen from BMA and Mark Taylor

Samuel, Cassidy and Jesse Mogensen

Tanya, Wayne and Indy Delaforce

Joye Beath, Sarah Brown, Stacey, Bryan and Aimon Hill

Amber Row Row and Kiah Biddle

Stuart qand Rachel Cameron and Taylor Armstrong

RIGHT HOOK Blackwater PCYC held a boxing competition recently with boxers from Gladstone, Rockhampton, Palm Island and Blackwater.

Laura Bowen, Krystal Healy, Laura Riverstone, Kaitlyn Erikson and Cassandra Weir

Travis Dixon, Ethan Spence, Tyler Hinks and Bailey Lee

Kristen Skinns, Gary Howell & Wayne Cook

Natalie Cahpman and Agnes Appo

Sarah Walker and Kerri Hamm

Cheryl Tillman and Mark Berry

Les and Blake Moore with Taylor Lancaster

Cameron, Mitchell, Junior, Eboney, Larcolm, Waynette, Enid, Matilda, Dylan and Zach

Shane and Jacob Chalk

Tuxi, Liana and Petrina Currie

Holding a social event you want Cecilia to photograph? 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, 11th April 2011

around town 109th EDITION. 2011

GREAT STATE HALL BALL Moranbah State School P&C Committee hosted its first ‘Great State Hall Ball’ recently. Almost 250 people were treated to a delicious three course meal and live entertainment by Troy Morrison Trio & Chucky. Revellers danced the night away and made good use of the unique addition to the ball; a photo booth. All proceeds from the night will be used to improve school facilities and support educational programs.

Lauren Dennis and Kylie Brady

Sue Zealey, Angela Nickless, Amy McAmley, Emma Budden, Jasmin Weeden and Kelly Jacobs

Tara, Poppy and Rabbit O’Sullivan

Vivienne Papu, Paula Peters and Tess Casswell

Susan Anderson, Kimberly Bean, Leanne Featherstone and Alana

Kristy Atkinson, Karina Townsend and Delaney Nugent

Jackie Rudken, Lea Anderson, Jackie Caruana and Stacey Banks

Rejane Sant and Paula Mendes

Shannon Rowe, Kerryn Nicholas and Lauren McCulloch

Jill Morris, Rachel Blaszczak and Kellie Barron

Justin and Tralane Warde-Musicka

Theresa Malone and Nicole McKenzie

Andrew and Kristi Elworthy

Tracey and Mark Mellor

Gary Holt

Mikahlia Brown and Jo Andrews

Ross and Marie Brackley

Tony and Lisa Setter

BUY THIS AND MANY OTHER IMAGES AT

www.shiftminer.com Shift Miner magazine – bringing the mining community closer together Page 13 - Shift Miner Magazine, 11th April 2011

stuff to the editor 109th EDITION. 2011

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Snapped chassisâ&#x20AC;?

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How low must the morale of the humble miner with his orange shirt and baggy blue strides sink before these fat cat camp managers get off there over-sized novelty arses and fix this dire situation.

Yours sincerely Mot Z. Rella In more serious news, one reader is annoyed with the constant reporting of a skills crisis: Yes we know there is a skills crisis. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not rocket science. Anyone who has worked in the industry knew this day was coming, but no-one has done anything about it. Mining companies should be training up more people like they did in the past. Frank, Mackay Our story about minors not being able to operate equipment in mines and quarries has outraged one reader:

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More bureaucratic red tape. Farmers should be worried, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be them next for sure. No kids driving utes to the bus stop or helping dad on the tractor. Ridiculous.

Tom, Blackwater One happy reader had a great result advertising in the Minerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Trader classifieds page of our paper: Sold my ute in the first week of advertising thanx to u guys. Cheers - Mitch, Rocky Another reader is enjoying our new sports page: Great to see someone make an attempt to cover local sport in the Bowen Basin. No other paper does it.

Thanks, Peter, Moranbah

SEEN SOMETHING WE HAVENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T? PRIZES FOR THE BEST MINING PHOTOS. TAKE IT ON YOUR PHONE OR CAMERA AND SEND IT IN

Got something to share?

Send us your text messages or phone photos to 0428 154 653 Or email to shift.miner@gmail.com

Text to 0428 154 653 Email shift.miner@gmail.com

Breakfast

Michael Bailey - Weekdays 5am - 9am

Mornings

Greg Cary - Weekdays 9am -12pm

NEWS, TALK AND THE MUSIC YOU LOVE www.4ro.com.au

Page 14 - Shift Miner Magazine, 11th April 2011

Afternoons

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.

Alan Jones - Weekdays 1pm - 2pm

SALES ENQUIRIES: (07) 4920 2000

FAIR DINKUM 109th EDITION. 2011

Fair Dinkum!

In Brisbane - A Fortitude Valley pizzeria is the scene for what could best be described as a very cheesy miracle.

A likeness of Jesus Christ was discovered on a three cheese pizza made at New Farm restaurant, Posh Pizza.

An associate professor from the Australian Catholic University said the apparition almost certainly does not constitute a miracle, and the Australian Skeptics Society puts the cheesy likeness down to random chance.

The owners of Posh Pizza sold the ‘slice of heaven’ on eBay, with all proceeds going to charity.

In America - A Florida man told police that he stole a truck carrying Krispy Kreme doughnuts because he was tired and needed somewhere to sleep.

After the truck was involved in a small accident police apprehended the man and performed a search of the stolen vehicle,

discovering a small bag of marijuana.

The offender was charged with grand theft auto and possession of the drug, although he denied the substance belonged to him.

A local newspaper reported that it was not known whether the doughnuts had been eaten.

Still in America - According to a recent US study, sex can kill you.

A new study has revealed that sudden bursts of physical activity, like having sex, significantly increase the risk of heart attack or cardiac death.

The study found that people are 2.7 times more likely to suffer a heart attack during - or immediately after - sex than when they are inactive.

Researchers involved in the study stressed the fact that these elevated risk levels lasted only an hour or two, and were not meant to deter people from physical exercise.

In the UK - A British man was sentenced to two years’ jail for the inability to control an unusual fetish.

David Truscott was found in a farmer’s paddock in southwestern England covered in cow manure and pleasuring himself.

Police officers arrived and found him naked - except for a single sock - covered in dung, and surrounded by tissues.

It was the third time the man was discovered on the same farm in similar circumstances, prompting the sentencing judge to opt for a term of imprisonment instead of a suspended sentence.

“A likeness of Jesus Christ was discovered on a three cheese pizza made at a New Farm restaurant.”

Transparency You Can See* *When audited by the CAB

M A G A Z I N E

www.shiftminer.com Proudly Audited by

For more information visit www.auditbureau.org.au

Frank the Tank’s

“Streakin” good love advice Dear Frank, I’ve been hanging out with this girl recently and we have a lot of fun together.

The problem is, I’m not sure whether she thinks we’ve been going out on dates, or whether she just wants to be friends.

Should I say something in an effort to clear this up, or just go with the flow?

Nick, Monto Dear Nick, I must admit, I’ve never experienced this problem you speak of. When women go out with Frank they’re positive it’s a date, but I have amazing powers when it comes to the fairer sex that cannot be explained by modern science.

Once, through the use of nothing but sheer mental willpower, I caused a single mother to lactate chocolate milk.

I can also unhook a woman’s bra by coughing loudly, and through a gruelling dietary regime I can tailor my bowel movements to mimic any woman’s favourite perfume. It’s safe to assume that you don’t possess these gifts, so I’m

Sensible Susan Nick, There’s a good chance that this girl is in the same predicament you are, not knowing whether or not what you’ve been doing actually counts as ‘dating.’

afraid that my advice to you will have to be a little more rudimentary.

Based on what you’ve told me in your letter, you’ve managed to resist the urge to grope this woman while ‘hanging out.’

This was your first mistake. How is this poor girl going to know if you’re interested in her sexually if you’re not grabbing at her lady-parts like a mentally diseased chimp at a bunch of bananas?

Another way to make your intentions known is by using a lot of innuendo and double entendres. Try taking this girl out for a round of golf. That should give you a few solid hours to work the words, balls, shaft, and hole into a suitably suggestive proposition, and with any luck you’ll be playing the 19th before the day’s out.

I would strongly discourage you from trying to talk to this woman about the situation. If she identifies you early on as a ‘talker’ that will be the end of you. You see, Nick, women love nothing more than talking. One of the worst things you can do at the outset of a potential relationship is talk to a woman, because then she’ll expect that level of talking to increase as the relationship goes on. My last girlfriend thought I was deaf for the first six months of our relationship, and that this accounted for our lack of verbal communication. She was wrong.

If all else fails you can employ what I call ‘the fail safe’. Break into this girl’s house while she’s at work and wait in her bedroom naked. When she arrives home you’ll either receive a well deserved trip to pleasure town, or a fairly entertaining story to tell your lawyer.

Frank

If you continue to go with the flow there’s a chance that you may wind up in the ‘friend zone’ which, judging by your letter, is not where you’d like to be.

I would suggest the next time you go out maybe drop some hints or, depending on how confident you’re feeling, make a bit of a move.

Even if it doesn’t pan out the way you’d hoped, at least you’ll know where you stand, which is better than being in ‘relationship limbo’.

Susan

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

Page 15 - Shift Miner Magazine, 11th April 2011

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Page 16 - Shift Miner Magazine, 11th April 2011

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BOAT

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109th EDITION. 2011

NOW ON!

5 minute fiction

by Bernard S. Jansen

1

2

3

4

5

9

6

7

ACROSS

8

Apology Accepted

1. Judges’ rooms

10

5. Pinches (nose)

11

9. Ironing

12

13

10. Tripoli native 12. Reprocessing

14

15

13. Early anaesthetic

16

14. Bushman’s bedroll

18

17 19

20

16. Insist upon

21 22

25

24

19. Returned to health

23

21. Kick out

26

24. Snow drop 25. Tiredness

27

28

29

30

27. Naked 28. Finish off 29. Abhor 30. Self-centred people

6

3 7 4

5 3 2 7

k.pdf 2010

6 4 9

3 1 6 2 6

5

DOWN

6 2 9

2. The A of CIA 3. Simple 4. Classifying 6. Wrecked cars (5-4) 7. Wherever

3

5 8 1

1. Frolics

8. Soldiers on watch 11. Stare lustfully at

4 2 5

MEDIUM

21. Addressing crowd

“Sorry?” he said.

18. Neat & respectable (5-3)

22. Thoughtless 23. Financial holdings 26. Unsuitable # 99

M A# D 98A L S D H A S T A C O N T E A RN O R I P A T E S E H J S E T A E A D A CH E S L M R S L OC A L I S E U Z F T A S B E S T OS

C

A R E AG U L A I R L OY

2 7 5 8 4 9 1 3 6

4 3 8 2 6 1 7 5 9

9 1 6 7 5 3 8 4 2

He reached into the basket, took out a towel and put it on the line. He took one of his highvis work-shirts from the basket.

He started to peg the collar to the line.

20. Daybreak

17. Very insightful

LAST EDITION’S SOLUTIONS DR AMA T I E W G R P L A C A T E A R I L R E DUND A T S N C L OD E C E V E H I C L E E U H C N I CH E H I K R O N E L SON G E U S A D I S T

“Hello,” he said as he approached. She didn’t react, except that she may have flinched, slightly. She kept hanging up the clothes.

“Upside down,” she said, startling him. He turned toward her. She stood, her hands on her hips, looking at him.

15. Foam-crested waves

1

He looked out the kitchen window and saw her hanging washing on the line. The breeze tugged at the towels and shirts, and the line danced as it fought to hold them back. The breeze pulled her skirt up around her legs and made her hair a long, blonde banner. She was so beautiful; but, so stubborn. He sipped the cold water in his glass, then sighed. He put down the glass, and went out to her.

7 5 2 1 8 6 4 9 3

6 8 4 3 9 5 2 7 1

3 9 1 4 7 2 6 8 5

5 4 3 6 1 8 9 2 7

1 2 7 9 3 4 5 6 8

8 6 9 5 2 7 3 1 4

“You hang shirts upside down,” she said, pointing to two, already on the line.

“Oh,” he said. He took off the peg and hung the shirt the other way around, checking his work against the two templates. He glanced at her. She hadn’t moved.

Her hair was flicking around her face. He saw the curve of her body under her clothes and the trace of a smile on her face.

Maybe a smile, anyway.

“Why don’t you go upstairs?” he said. “I’ll finish this off.”

She didn’t move as he awkwardly hung a bra beside the shirt.

“Go on,” he said. “Put you feet up. I’ll be up in a few minutes.”

He leaned over and, holding the back of her head with both hands, kissed her forehead. The smell and feel of her hair reminded him of better times. He fished a lone sock from the basket and hung it beside the bra.

She stepped toward him and kissed him on the cheek. “Come find me inside,” she said softly.

Her words were almost stolen by the breeze. It seemed right then that her eyes were shining wet.

He said nothing. She turned and walked toward the stairs. He watched her as she walked, until she was in the house.

He smiled as he reached into the basket for a pair of shorts. He kept smiling as he felt the wind jostling around him as he hung the rest of the washing. A line, a quote from sometime in the past, kept echoing through his head. “The wind bloweth where it listeth.”

Must be Shakespeare, he thought.

He noticed there were only two pegs left when he was finished. He put the two pegs in his pocket and walked towards the stairs, carrying the empty washing basket over his shoulder, thinking again of happier times.

As the screen-door flapped and slammed behind him, he decided those times were now.

Bernard S. Jansen is 32, 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, 11th April 2011

BOAT

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109th EDITION. 2011

NOW ON!

Bait shop Banter FISHING IN YEPPOON The only good place to fish at the moment is in your dreams.

Virtually no-one is getting offshore right across central Queensland, and the Capricorn Coast is no different.

In some good news, John from the Rosslyn Bay Fisherman’s Co-op reckons the first window for getting in your boat might come around Easter time.

“Well, we’re hoping for four or five days just before Easter, but until then it has just been far too rough for both commercial and private operators,” he said.

There have been a few reasonable king salmon and barra being caught around the estuaries but that is about all there is to report.

“They’re just out there in the paddock getting fatter,” laughs John.

John says when the weather does turn fishermen will really have to hunt for a bounty.

“A lot of fish have really moved since

cyclone Hamish, the trout and red throat are back out in deep water and the ocean is pretty churned up.”

“But hunting them down is half the fun of it anyway.”

“When it does come good it should stay good, so that’s something to look forward to anyway.”

FISHING IN GLADSTONE Same deal down the road in Gladstone.

Dylan from Pat’s Tackle World said if anyone manages to get offshore they are bringing home a few nice big reds and trout.

“There are still plenty of crabs getting caught too, and the barra are still everywhere,” he said.

But the prawns, which have been going crazy for the past couple of months, have died down again.

“Most people are trying to do the creek thing, and there’s the odd mangrove jack, and plenty of bream around.”

Tide Times

April

Dylan is hoping the fresh change that has come through might signal a cool winter, and that would see salmon moving into the harbour.

There’s something to live for...

FISHING IN MACKAY The situation is just a dire in Mackay.

Aaron from Nashy’s Compleat Angler just laughed at the suggestion of a fishing report.

“The weather is supposed to improve soon so maybe I will have something to report then,” he said.

If you want to do a spot of night fishing, Kinchant Dam should start producing around full moon next week.

Creeks are usually the haven for fisherman when the weather is this abysmal, but even they are full of fresh water and logs.

“Crabs are doing ok but the prawns are off again.”

“My only advice to people would be get your gear sorted out now so you are ready

MACKAY Gladstone

Time Ht

Time Ht

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

Phone: 49373145

email: stanagebaymarine@bigpond.com web: www.stanagebay.com

With Mike Griffin

Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht

0213 3.47 0338 3.56 0454 3.77 0555 4.00 0042 0.93 0135 0.67 0223 0.49 0850 1.65 1016 1.46 1127 1.17 1223 0.86 0648 4.18 0736 4.26 0822 4.26 1454 2.80 1628 3.03 1739 3.36 1833 3.72 1312 0.60 1356 0.40 1439 0.30 2056 1.71 2227 1.51 2341 1.23

1922 4.03 2007 4.29 2051 4.48

0411 4.56 0539 4.86 0028 1.63 0132 1.22 0228 0.87 0319 0.62 0407 0.47 1106 2.03 1224 1.61 0645 5.25 0739 5.59 0828 5.81 0913 5.89 0958 5.84 1706 3.73 1826 4.18 1323 1.15 1413 0.75 1459 0.43 1542 0.21 1623 0.10 2306 2.00

1925 4.68 2015 5.15 2100 5.56 2144 5.90 2228 6.13

Mon 18 Tue 19 Wed 20 Thu 21 Fri 22 Sat 23 Sun 24 MACKAY Gladstone

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

Your weather forecast

Mon 11 Tue 12 Wed 13 Thu 14 Fri 15 Sat 16 Sun 17 Time Ht Time Ht

to go when the weather lets you.”

With this much down time, there really is no excuses for a debacle of a tackle box.

Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht 0309 0.40 0356 0.43 0442 0.57 0530 0.81 0622 1.08 0050 3.87 0152 3.63 0907 4.17 0952 4.00 1039 3.76 1129 3.48 1221 3.21 0722 1.32 0832 1.46 1519 0.30 1559 0.42 1639 0.64 1719 0.94 1800 1.26 1321 3.00 1430 2.90 2135 4.57 2220 4.54 2307 4.38 2356 4.14

1854 1.55 2020 1.74

0454 0.43 0541 0.54 0628 0.79 0042 5.86 0132 5.48 0229 5.09 0340 4.78 1042 5.66 1128 5.34 1215 4.93 0718 1.13 0815 1.48 0922 1.75 1045 1.81 1703 0.12 1743 0.29 1824 0.62 1306 4.48 1403 4.07 1514 3.81 1641 3.78 2311 6.22 2355 6.12

1907 1.04 1957 1.49 2102 1.89 2230 2.09

Page 18 - Shift Miner Magazine, 11th April 2011

Coolest mornings so far this year Week 1 - The muggy conditions of late March have been followed by some refreshing rain with overcast skies. Then a strong high pressure in the Tasman brought fresh to strong winds for the coast and the coolest mornings so far this year in the first week of April. Emerald 15.1C, Rolleston 13.7C and Biloela a very cool 10.8C on the April 5. Moranbah and Collinsville followed suit with 16C on the April 7. Autumn has finally arrived and the cool breeze has made for very comfortable conditions. If a small low in the Coral Sea behaves and moves east then calm conditions and misty fog type conditions could start this week. Warm in the north of Emerald with sunny days follow as a meridional high moves along the NSW/QLD coast. Hint of a thundery shower in the south late Monday south of Rolleston. Good start for the week with light winds ( at last!) for

the boaties. Watch for increased moderate winds from high along the coast mid week.

Week 2 - The Southern Oscillation Index for the first week of April was +24. After the record highs of previous months this trend continues. The Monsoon Trough (MT) in the north is still showing signs of activity although buttressed by strong winds and drier air from the south. If a large low develops in the Bight moves into the Tasman then warm conditions could return for the early part of the week. If the Coral Sea low keeps going then good swells will develop for the Central Coast. With the favourable winds there may be a chance for the marine lover along the Capricorn Coast. Another strong high looms in the Tasman late week with fresh winds for the coast.

Could be a dodgy weekend. Early Easter is looking good! If a front in the south moves quickly then watch out for storms mid-late weekend.

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Page 19 - Shift Miner Magazine, 11th April 2011

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109th EDITION. 2011

Your guide to an easy Easter escape GREAT ESCAPE: Great Keppel Island is just a 30 minute boat ride from the Capricorn Coast Right: BREATHTAKING: Eungella National Park is home to a unique plants and animals - and the odd platypus

WITH an extra long Easter break approaching, you may be asking yourself where you can go to get away and relax for a few days.

Fear not, Shift Miner Magazine is here to offer you some of CQ’s best camping and leisure spots.

Depending on where you’re based and how far you’re willing to travel there are

some truly magical spots right in our own backyard that are sure to provide that much needed escape from the daily grind.

Located about an hour north-west of Mackay is the breathtaking Eungella National Park.

Nestled 2,400 feet above sea level in the Clarke Range, the region is home to unique

NOW ON!

plant and animal life found only in the Eungella area.

Activities include numerous walking trails, wildlife viewing (if you’re lucky you may catch a rare glimpse of a platypus in the wild) and much more.

Accommodation and camping facilities are available at the Broken River Mountain Retreat, Broken River camping ground and the Fern Flat camping ground.

Just 35 kilometres south of Monto is one of Queensland’s most spectacular gorges, Cania Gorge.

This area boasts a truly diverse landscape, ranging from sandstone cliffs and caves, to eucalypt and dry rain forests.

Attractions include pristine Lake Cania, numerous bush walks and four-wheel driving trails, and even the remnants of a crashed World War II bomber, which remained undiscovered in the national park for nearly 50 years.

Accommodation is available at the Cania Caravan and Tourist Park, where activities include bird feeding, outdoor movies, fishing and kayaking, and even a par three golf course.

If a sea change is more your style then you may want to consider some fun in the sun on Great Keppel Island.

A short boat journey from Yeppon, Great Keppel offers white sand beaches, turquoise waters, coral gardens and acres of bushland.

Swim, snorkel, bush walk, or just lay on the beach, your choices are virtually endless.

Day trips to the island are available, and include morning tea and a buffet lunch, with bookings available through the Keppel Bay Marina.

If you fancy more than a day of the island lifestyle, accommodation is available at the Great Keppel Island Holiday Village.

Ferry transfers are available daily, with the trip taking about 30 minutes.

“If a sea change is more your style then you may want to consider some fun in the sun on Great Keppel Island.”

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0427 984 551 or 0488 594 666 Page 20 - Shift Miner Magazine, 11th April 2011

A gentleman’s pursuit CQ style CRICKET has often been described as a gentleman’s pursuit, but people offering that description have obviously never played in a country cricket carnival.

Don’t get me wrong, the people are great and the games are always good fun, but I dare say when cricket was conceived all those years ago by a group of Poms, they had not envisioned a bunch of Aussies trying to master the art of taking an outfield catch without spilling their beer.

The annual Country Week Cricket Carnival will be taking place over the Easter long weekend in Rockhampton this year.

The carnival is usually held in January, but when the heavens opened and the floods came the event was quickly postponed.

Later this month, 32 teams will battle

it out over three days for a chance to be crowned number one in their chosen grade.

Central Queensland’s cricket manager, Mark Dingle, said numbers were down slightly from previous carnivals, but that was to be expected given the floods.

Despite fewer teams, the atmosphere will be just the same as always, with plenty of beer and light-hearted ridicule sure to be flowing thick and fast.

If you’re going to be in the Rockhampton area between April 22 and 24 then you can check out all the action at the Kalka Shades cricket grounds, Rockhampton cricket grounds, Victoria Park, Judds Park and Wood Park.

If you’re interested in nominating in next year’s carnival contact Mark Dingle by email: markd@qldcricket.com.au.

What’s happening in sport in your town?

Basilisks contest a lineout in a recent game against Dawson Valley Drovers

Emerald Rugby League celebrate new lights courtesy of BMA and Enwise

Basili sks on the attack in a recent game against Dawson Valley Drovers

Fortnightly rugby league wrap....

Three rounds of the Central Highlands senior rugby league competition have been played with both the Middlemount Panthers and Dysart Bulls showing early promise.

While results for round three were not available prior to print, both Dysart and Middlemount had good wins in round two.

In what was a sloppy affair following recent rain, the Dysart Bulls were able to dominate the Emerald Cowboys who had the home ground advantage.

While there was some tight defence in the first half, the Dysart side were able to runaway with the game in the second half of their match winning 42 to 6.

According to the Bull’s coach Bill Devine, Phil Derksen was a deserved winner of the players player award.

“He opened the scoring with a great individual try where he chipped over the top and won the race to the ball,” he said.

“He then converted what would be the first of seven from seven kicks at goal to finish with 18 points for the game.”

According to Devine, the turning point in the game was some great try saving tackles by the Bulls late in the first half.

This paved the way for Hayden Reid, Mick Sale, Brendan Leadley, Josh Kilpatrick and Ian Watson to score tries in the second half In other round two results the Middlemount Panthers showed a flare for attack putting 40 points on the Emerald Tigers, who lost the game by 18 points.

Despite the loss, Tiger’s winger Whetu Austin debuted well picking up three tries in his second game of the day, having earlier played in the under 18s.

Meanwhile in Junior Rugby League, two under 18 Moranbah Miners players have made their way to the Capricornia secondary schoolboys rugby league team.

Mike Fairbairn, a student from Moranbah State High School, and Daniel Champion, a student from Glenden State High School, were both selected at the recent trial held in Rockhampton.

Both players will head to Cairns for the state championships later this year.

Fortnightly rugby union wrap...

In the central Queensland rugby union competition the Blackwater Basilisks have made a good start to their 2011 first grade competition campaign.

At the time of print, the Basilisks had had one win and one loss, although results were not yet available on their encounter with competition favourites Colts on the weekend.

The Blackwater Basilisks played their first game of the season in front of a packed home crowd a fortnight ago against the Dawson Valley Drovers.

The Drovers rediscovered the “winning way” after getting rid of dead weight coach Angus Peacocke at the end of last year.

The Basilisks were in front 13-7 with only seconds left on the clock when the Drovers managed to break the line and cross for a late try.

Dawson then kicked a last minute conversion which robbed the Basilisks of a fairytale start to their new life in the A Grade competition.

Vice President Tyson Munro said the Basilisks suffered from lack of possession.

“We were down in a lot of positions and only lost by one point in a game that could have easily gone either way, there’s lots of positives to take away from this,” he said.

“With a solid game plan that revolves around a quality forward pack, the Basilisks just need a bit of game time to start clicking.”

In the round two game against Frenchville, the Basilisks played Frenchville at home and came away with their first A grade competition victory in history.

In junior rugby union, Central Highlands schools have once again raised the bar with the number of participants taking part in rugby activities during Super Rugby Week.

Of the more than 10,000 Queensland school children engaged in activities for Super Rugby Week more than 2000 were from Central Higlands schools QRU Community Rugby General Manager David Hanham said the response was fantastic.

“Last year we exceeded 102,000 player participants across Queensland for the first time,” he said.

“Now in 2011 we have got this impressive result with schools and it just confirms that Rugby is on the way to becoming one of the most popular sports for children.”

Tieri-based Queensland rugby union regional manager, Joel Johnston said the high participation reflect the efforts being made by schools.

“This again shows the level of support for rugby from the schools, staff and students in the Central Highlands region,” he said.

“To have 2000 students participate is brilliant especially when you consider the whole of NSW only had 5500”.

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

Part of 2000 - some of the kids particiapting in Rugby week recently

Mike Fairbairn - Moranbah Miners junior selected for representative honours

Daniel Champion Moranbah Miners junior selected for representative honours

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Event details

date

venue

start

Rugby League

A Grade Emerald Tigers vs Emerald Cowboy’s

16/4/11

McIndoe Park Emerald

Evening

Rugby Union

Basilisks Rugby Union Football Club v Brother

16/4/11

Vic Park Rockhampton

Afternoon

Rugby League

Easter Weekend Bye

22/4/11

Rugby Union

Easter Weekend Bye

22/4/11

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

klkatchel@curragh.com.au

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

YOUR BRAND

SUPPORTING LOCAL SPORT? LOOKS LIKE EVERYONES KICKED A GOAL. Interested? call Angus on 0428 154 653

Page 21 - Shift Miner Magazine, 11th April 2011

MONEY MATTERS 109th EDITION. 2011

MONEY TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS What is negative gearing and can I use it to make my wage go further? individual tax bracket.

Investors who gear their property to gain maximum income tax benefits and who are subject to normal withholding tax from their weekly pay can attract substantial tax savings and refunds.

A refund for a single property can be as much as $13,000 per year.

Without a Income Weekly Tax Variation (ITWV) in place, these funds are held by the Australian Tax Office until the annual tax return is lodged.

Having a lump sum at year end is nice, but it can put pressure on

“This results in more take home pay - which effectively increases your net wage, releasing funds towards the cost of the investment like loan payments, rates, and body corporate fees.”

an investor’s weekly cash flow.

So by lodging a ITWV, investors can have the Australian Taxation Office vary the amount of PAYG tax withheld from their weekly pay.

This results in more take home pay - which effectively increases your net wage, releasing funds towards the cost of the investment like loan payments, rates, and body corporate fees.

That is what makes negative gearing

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Page 22 - Shift Miner Magazine, 11th April 2011

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A property is negatively geared when the costs of owning it – interest on the loan, bank charges, maintenance, repairs and capital depreciation - exceed the income it produces which is the rent.

Put simply, your investment must make a loss before you can claim a tax benefit.

So your investment property mortgage is paid each week by the tenant, the taxman and whatever is left after that is paid by you.

This short fall, or loss as the tax department calls it, could be as little as $7.00 per day depending on your

MONEY MATTERS 109th EDITION. 2011

Home values are steady as she goes THE value of residential homes across Australia has remained steady over the past 12 months, according to the latest figures from real estate research company RP Data.

Home values in the capital cities rose just 0.8 per cent, while in regional areas the prices rose just 0.4 per cent.

According to RP Data’s senior analyst Cameron Kusher, the data is an encouraging sign for people looking to buy.

“February’s index result suggests that Aussie home values continue to tread water despite robust household income growth,” he said.

“When you consider that Australian inflation was 2.7 per cent in the year to December 2010, in real terms Australian residential property values have been

declining, which is a good outcome for prospective buyers.”

However, for home owners in the mining states like Queensland, the news is less positive.

In Darwin, where they have just endured the biggest wet in history home values have fallen nearly 10 per cent.

In Brisbane, they are down nearly 3.5 per cent and in Perth they are back just under two per cent.

Falls which Mr Kusher attributed to higher interest rates and the wet weather.

“A near double interest rate hike in November 2010 combined with numerous natural disasters has conspired to make the last three months difficult ones for Australia’s housing market,” Mr Kusher added.

However demand for rental accommodation has continued to ensure that property investment remains a steady as she goes investment with rental yields for apartments and detached houses sitting around five per cent.

The best performing location was Darwin where yields were 5.7 per cent reflecting the fact that rental accommodation is very hard to secure because of the large transient workforce.

Yields in Sydney and Brisbane were both around 5.1 per cent.

The median value for a house in an Australian capital city is $459,000 and the median value for a regional Australian house is significantly lower at $323,000.

“February’s index result suggests that Aussie home values continue to tread water despite robust household income growth.”

Boom prediction materialises in Gladstone

VALUERS Herron Todd White (HTW) have confirmed what everyone suspected Gladstone is now a booming seller’s market.

In its latest monthly report into residential property values in the region, HTW said the recent coal seam gas announcements have pushed up prices for Gladstone homes.

This has prompted the market in Gladstone to strongly favour the seller, with developers eagerly looking to purchase and develop land for units and townhouses.

Interestingly, the boom in the residential market is not being mirrored in

the commercial sector.

Instead, HTW said the escalating cost of development is deterring investors from purchasing in Gladstone, a scenario which will likely continue in the coming months. Residential real estate in other central Queensland regions remains fairly flat, according to the report.

The global financial crisis and a reduction in the first home buyer’s grant have slowed the market considerably in Mackay.

Despite this, the Mackay region maintains one of the the highest median house prices in regional Queensland.

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Page 23 - Shift Miner Magazine, 11th April 2011

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