Surat Basin News March 2014 by Chinchilla Newspapers Pty Ltd

SURAT BASIN NEWS

27 March 2014

$1.30 inc GST

INSIDE Page 7

Crackdown on illegal work camps

Page 11 New laws give landholders more say

Page 16 Western Downs council spends up big on infrastructure

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SURAT BASIN NEWS

THE NEWSPAPER

The Surat Basin News publishes every month and will be delivered via the four dominant newspapers of the region: the Chinchilla News, Western Star, Dalby Herald and The Chronicle. It will reach the homes and offices of almost 50,000 people living, working and playing in the Surat Basin, connecting the business and mining communities throughout the booming region.

EDITOR’S

NOTE Western Downs Regional Council is cracking down on illegal work camps. For anyone associated with the industry in the Surat Basin, this probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise. There are hundreds of small camps right across the Basin - some of which are in a location for just a few days. The camps help to alleviate pressure on infrastructure in small towns not designed to cope with big and sudden influxes of workers. But it is important they follow the rules. While it is not illegal for temporary camps to exist on petroleum leases for incidental activities, if the camps are made permanent they need to go through the proper approvals process. It’s vital councils know what is happening in their area to enable them to best use their resources. In Chinchilla, the town’s water supply has dropped from 100% to about 24% in just over a year. There is a constant stream of water trucks lined up at the council stand pipe in Railway St which transport water to camps around the region. As that water level continues to drop, residents are growing more and more concerned. Western Downs Regional Council has a massive job in keeping track of fast-paced projects and trying to ensure their resources are allocated accordingly. It’s important that industry plays by the rules so everyone knows where they stand.

Surat Basin News is a necessity. It was born out of a passion for Australia's fastest growing communities — a passion for a region of unbridled potential and a future of vast economic growth and opportunities. The newspaper, professionally designed and regionally topical, will be a must read for anyone associated with the exciting Surat Basin.

ONLINE

Surat Basin News has gone online to ensure our readers in every corner of the country has the latest news sent directly to them.

THE VISION

Surat Basin News will allow local businesses to network and communicate with everyone in the 1200 sq km basin, providing unprecedented access to new clients and markets. It will give a revealing insight into major industry while lifting the veil on current and proposed developments. It will be there for each and every announcement shaping the region's future while profiling the colourful characters that define our communities.

DISTRIBUTION

TEAM GENERAL MANAGER David Richardson Chinchilla 07 4662 7368 manager@suratbasin.com.au

ADVERTISING MANAGER

The Surast Basin News is inserted into the four dominant local newspapers for the region: the Chinchilla News and Murilla Advertiser, Western Star Roma, Dalby Herald and The Chronicle Toowoomba.

PURCHASE FROM Newsagents in Chinchilla, Roma, Dalby, Gladstone, Moura, Toowoomba, Calliope

WEBSITE

Laurell Ison advertise@suratbasin.com.au 07 4662 7368 Karin-ane King Roma 07 4662 2411 karin-ane.king@westernstarnews.com Nicole Boyd-Taylor Dalby 07 4672 5500 nicole.boyd-taylor@dalbyherald.com.au

EDITOR

View our previous editions on www.issuu.com/suratbasinnews

Jim Campbell

UPDATES

JOURNALISTS

Regular updates on www.suratbasin.com.au

This newspaper is a Platinium Member

THE

Lyndon Keane Owen Jacques Melissa Mobbs Lauren Gallagher

PAGE DESIGN Beth Walker

INDEX

BUILDING THE BASIN

IN THE NEWS Origin shut down rigs Qantas flies in to Miles MPC set up camp at Roma Crackdown on work camps

OPINIONS

THE

Page 3 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7

Pages 12 - 15

DOWN TO BUSINESS WDRC spends up big Page 16 China opportunities Page 17 Share prices Page 18, 19 Public have say on CSG Page 20 Yancoal ramps up Page 21

New Travel Centre Page 22, 23 Easternwell offers jobs Page 26 Introducing Soiltech Page 27

SURAT BASIN NEWS 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413 PO Box 138 Chinchilla Qld 4413

PLACES & FACES TSBE visits Roma Energy Summit

Page 28, 29 Page 30, 31

FRONT PAGE PHOTO: Darrenn Hoffman has paved a successful career in drilling with Saxon Energy in the Surat Basin. Photo: Dan Proud

PUBLISHED The Surat Basin News is published by Chinchilla Newspapers Pty Ltd 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413 The Surat Basin News is printed by APN Print 50 Industrial Avenue Toowoomba

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THIS WEEK

ASBESTOS SCARE

ORIGIN RIGS BACK ONLINE AFTER ASBESTOS CONTAMINATION T welve Origin drilling rigs that were temporarily shut down due to an asbestos contamination have been progressively brought back online. On March 13, the energy company called a temporary halt to projects across 12 south-west Queensland sites after drilling fluids being used were found to contain asbestos. The fluid was supplied by Australian Mud Company and Origin said all stocks of the affected material had been "quarantined and accounted for". An Origin spokesman said the product which

was found to contain asbestos was called NUTPLUG (and is included in another product called STOPLEAK). It is used during drilling to help seal the hole, and prevent drilling fluids moving sideways. The spokesman said the rigs were brought back online progressively from March 19. "Origin is diligently working through a comprehensive and systematic process of airborne and surface testing to ensure drilling rigs either have no traces of asbestos or have been verified as safe and cleared to resume operations," they said.

Lock the Gate Alliance president Drew Hutton said he was "appalled" at the fact it had taken this long to find out there was asbestos in the drilling fluids. "They have been telling us for years that the muds are harmless," Mr Hutton said. "The government also needs to answer some serious questions about how they could let this happen." Mr Hutton argued the government needed to tighten its regulations around the substances used in drilling.

SURAT BASIN NEWS - 27 MARCH 2014 Page 3

THIS WEEK

ASBESTOS SCARE

SURAT BASIN NEWS - 27 MARCH 2014 Page 3

IN THE NEWS

IN THE

NEWS CONTROVERSY OVER FOOTBALL GAME

NEW HOPE DISMISSES CLAIMS OF ‘MISCONDUCT’ N

ew Hope Group has slammed allegations by an outspoken action group that rugby union tickets and political donations were used to garner support for the stage three expansion of its Jondaryan coal mine. Earlier this month, the Stop Brisbane Coal Trains group announced it had referred the environmental impact statement process for the New Acland mine to the Crime and Misconduct Commission. SBCT spokesman John Gordon said he believed the group had uncovered "a culture of thinly-veiled cronyism and bribery" involving key state and federal Liberal National Party ministers, including Queensland Environment Minister Andrew Powell and Federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane. In a scathing assessment, Mr Gordon said New Hope Group had "wined and dined" the ministers in corporate boxes at rugby union matches in the lead-up to the stage three expansion application being submitted. In addition, Australian Electoral Commission records show New Hope Group's parent company, Washington H. Soul Pattinson, donated $700,000 to the LNP over the past three years. Mr Gordon said SBCT believed the actions were attempt to get backing for the controversial expansion of the mine, which is surrounded by prime agricultural land. "What chance is there of an objective decision being made regarding this mine expansion…when you have this culture of crony behaviour and thinly-veiled bribery going on?" he asked. "We have referred the matter to the CMC (because) we believe the timing of both the crony ministers at the rugby and the $700,000 party donation constitutes official misconduct." When approached by Surat Basin News for comment, Mr Powell said the hospitality had been disclosed. "In my role as Minister, I meet and engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Stop Brisbane Coal Trains group, and I have

appropriately disclosed the hospitality received in accordance with the Register of Members' Interests," he said. "Again, I stress the rigorous assessment of the draft environmental impact statement for the New Acland stage three3 project will be carried out by Queensland's independent Co-ordinator General". A New Hope Group spokesperson said the energy giant "strongly refutes" the claims and that it did not comment on matters relating to

Washington H. Soul Pattinson. "New Hope has not been contacted by the Crime and Misconduct Commission," the spokesperson said.

Page 4 SURAT BASIN NEWS - 27 MARCH 2014

IN THE NEWS

FLYING HIGH

THE INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE

QANTAS JETS INTO NEW MILES STRIP THE FLYING KANGAROO’S VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE SURAT BASIN

ANTASLINK'S announcement that it will commence flights into the recently-upgraded Miles Airport should be celebrated as a win for the community and for road safety, according to the mayor of Western Downs Regional Council. The airport's runway upgrade project was funded by Australia Pacific LNG to the tune of $20 million QantasLink will be the first commercial airline to take advantage of the facility, which has been designed to handle up to 70seat aircraft. The airline will make nine flights a week on the unregulated Brisbane to Miles route and Cr Ray Brown said he believed it would benefit the entire community, not just the resources sector.

"It's not all about the resource sector," he said. "You've got to remember there are some very big feedlots out there and they've already made contact with QantasLink. "It will be a great help for the agriculture sector and the urban sector." Cr Brown said one of the major positives about QantasLink's decision was the fact that it would allow people to travel by air, rather than on the Warrego Highway. "40,000 seats will be utilised by Qantas,

which means 40,000 people less on the roads, which is a bit of a win," he said. Plans are in place for an upgraded terminal and QantasLink chief executive officer John Gissing said the airline was delighted to offer Western Downs residents a quicker way to get to Brisbane "We're proud to be the first airline to operate a regular passenger service between Miles and Brisbane," he said. The first QantasLink flight will land in Miles on April 14.

Page7 SEE STORY

Council cracks down on camps

THE New South Wales Government has not yet requested advice on coal seam gas or coal mines from a national scientific committee created specifically to provide such information. Officially created in late 2012, the independent expert scientific committee on CSG and large coal mining has not taken any requests from the state on any of the 14 projects it has assessed. The committee has the specific role of providing advice on CSG and large coal mine's potential effects on water resources to state governments and the Commonwealth. While state governments are not required by law to request or act on the committee's advice, both the Commonwealth and Queensland governments have requested the committee's advice for numerous projects. But a report on its first year of operation, published on the federal Environment Department's website, revealed the committee's advice on 14 projects in NSW was not requested by the state government.

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IN THE NEWS MPC MOVES WEST FOR 120KM PIPELINE

GET SET FOR ANOTHER LINE

urphy Pipe and Civil has made major progress on a 120-kilometre steel gas pipeline it is building for energy giant Santos near Roma. The pipeline company - which already had a strong presence on the Western Downs was awarded the contract in December and, since then, has made good on its commitment to deliver the project - which will enable Santos to increase transport of coal seam gas to its liquefied natural gas facility on Curtis Island - on time. Murphy Pipe and Civil project manager Barry Heverin said the 600-millimetre welded-steel pipeline project would interconnect with Santos' existing pipeline system between Comet Ridge and Wallumbilla. He said major headway had been made on all aspects of the project, with all site office mobilisation now complete and functional, and field crews already commencing an extensive clear and grade in readiness for pipeline construction. "It's a fairly straight pipeline route, with not many deviations or major challenges, so our progress has been very good to date, and we are on target for our field construction team of around 265 to commence pipeline welding in the coming weeks," Mr Heverin said. "At peak, we will have a crew of 310 - 45 providing management, administration and

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safety support, and the remaining crew members working the line - to build this 120km gas pipeline. "On this project, our crews are working on a 28/9 roster, which will significantly increase the volume of pipeline we can lay throughout the construction phase, to ensure we meet our target of all pipe in ground by July." The crew is currently being accommodated in the Diamantina camp in Roma, but will move closer to the construction area in May, when the company's Duck Creek camp is completed. "We have already commenced construction of the Duck Creek camp which, when finished, will fully accommodate 300 crew members for the last phase of pipeline construction," Mr Heverin said. "The camp location is quite remote, so transporting the necessary infrastructure to site and ensuring all utilities are in place before our crews arrive has required extensive planning, but we are on target and will be calling Duck Creek home by May." The Duck Creek camp is the second built by the pipeline company in the Surat Basin. Mr Heverin said he expected construction and pre-commissioning of the pipeline project to be completed and ready for handover by November.

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IN THE NEWS

CHANGES ON THE CARDS

TOO MANY OBJECTIONS, GOV SAYS

he State Government is aiming to quash what it describes as "frustrating" ideological opposition to Queensland's booming resources sector by limiting who can object to mining applications. Under current legislation, any individual or group can object to an application, a process Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney admitted pained the government. "It's obvious that the current process allows (those) who are fundamentally opposed to the coal industryâ&#x20AC;Śto use the objection process to frustrate and delay those projects," he said.

"What we're looking at is a process that will have an assessment process that is relative to the risk the project poses." The government will release a discussion paper in coming weeks to focus on the issue, with the Deputy

Page 8 SURAT BASIN NEWS - 27 MARCH 2014

Premier agreeing that large-scale projects should be viewed differently to ones of a smaller natures. "So for the really big projects I think it should be open to almost anyone, but for the smaller projects and for the lesser approvals ... there is a much different requirement," explained Mr Seeney. Several high-profile Surat Basin groups, including the Oakey Coal Action Alliance and Basin Sustainability Alliance, have flagged concerns about the mooted changes, and Mr Seeney said he encouraged all

Queenslanders to take part in the discussion paper. "This review is not about any particular circumstance," Mr Seeney said. While the Deputy Premier remained coy on the plan, Lock the Gate Alliance president Drew Hutton slammed the move as an attempt to "curb the democratic rights of Queenslanders". "The Newman government and his bully-boy, Jeff Seeney, are trying to stop ordinary people and communities from protecting themselves against multimillionaires in the mining industries that are trying to make a quick buck and move on," Mr Hutton said.

IN THE NEWS

MP WAS ‘MISINFORMED’

BASIN LEADERS JOIN TO CONDEMN COMMENTS M

ayors in the resource-rich Surat Basin have blasted comments made by Federal Member for Maranoa Bruce Scott about communities preparing for a population decline as "misinformed" and "very dangerous". In a television interview, Mr Scott said he believed the completion of coal seam gas pipelines linking the region to the liquefied natural gas plants on Gladstone's Curtis Island would signal a major turnaround in population growth around Dalby, Chinchilla and Roma. The political stalwart's sentiment is not shared by Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Ray Brown and Maranoa Regional Council Mayor Rob Loughnan. Each of them told Surat Basin News the development of towns within their respective local government areas had been geared towards the operational and maintenance phases of projects, not initial construction. "Look, we've said all along we're developing our communities in relation to the operations and maintenance," Cr Brown said. "The construction workforces will start to wane in certain areas…but

you've still got an enormous drill program ahead of you. "They're the people who are going to live in your towns." A 2013 report by Energy Skills Queensland suggests that employment in the state's resources sector will peak at almost 15,000 in 2024.

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QGC PREPARES TO CUT QUEENSLAND JOBS AS PROJECTS WIND DOWN

Cr Loughnan slammed Mr Scott's comments as detrimental to communities, especially around Roma. "There are many holes to be drilled and equipped, pipes to be laid, plants to be operated and infrastructure to be maintained," he said. "My hope is that those jobs will increasingly fall to locals once the major construction work slows. "A lot of people have invested a great deal to build their businesses and relocate their families into this region, and (Mr Scott's comment) have to be hurtful for those who have taken a chance." When asked to clarify the comments he made during the interview, Mr Scott said he believed they may have been taken out of context. "What I was saying…is that we'll shortly start to see the reduction of personnel involved with gas development as they move from construction to production," he explained. "I did not say there were going to be no jobs. "We need to be prepared for the inevitable turning point when the flyin, fly-out workforces are reduced."

ABOUT 300 QGC workers will lose their jobs over coming weeks as the company shifts from a massive construction phase to its operations period. A QGC spokesman said the majority of sacked workers would be based in the Brisbane area, however Surat Basin News understands that up to 30 workers from the Surat Basin will also be in the firing line. The majority were short-term contractors and all have supported QCLNG through peak construction, according to QGC. “QGC will remain one of the biggest employers in Brisbane and the Surat Basin, where we directly employ more than 900 people including about 500 permanent roles,” the spokesman said. “Our latest Australian Industry Participation Report showed that more than 14,000 people work on our Queensland Curtis LNG Project and this number will also progressively decline. “QGC is reducing the number of roles in the next few weeks, which reflects the planned and progressive shift from construction of the Queensland Curtis LNG Project to commissioning and operations and the need to manage costs across BG Group. “QCLNG remains on budget and on schedule for first LNG in the final quarter of 2014.”

SURAT BASIN NEWS it’s all about our businesses, our people, our resources, our communities our phone number

4662 7368 SURAT BASIN NEWS - 27 MARCH 2014 Page 9

IN THE NEWS

BILL DEFEATED

THE INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE

LANDHOLDERS MISS CHANCE TO SAY ‘NO’ THE GREENS ARGUE PRIME MINISTER TONY ABBOTT HAS FORGOTTEN ABOUT A PLEDGE HE MADE TO TARA MOTHER DEBBI ORR

Gladstone’s Healthy Harbour Study A PROGRESS report on Gladstone's Healthy Harbour study will be delivered in May with a pilot report expected by the end of the year. Environment minister Andrew Powell said financial contributions from 22 partners in the community, industry and research who have matched or bettered the government's $3m outlay has made the study possible. The Healthy Harbour project aims to monitor the condition of the harbour through daily testing and to eventually make recommendations and suggest the action needed to ensure the harbour remains in an environmentally safe state.

War on red tape begins MORE than 10,000 national rules and laws will be put on the "biggest bonfire of regulations in our country's history", Prime Minister Tony Abbott has declared. The regulations, many of which were out-dated and redundant, will form part of the Abbott government's first "red tape repeal day" in parliament this week. Business and industry groups have already largely welcomed the repeal actions, while the charities sector has lamented the expected abolition of its regulator.

BILL to give landholders the right to say no to coal seam gas operations on their land was defeated by the Abbott government and Labor this month. The Greens bill, which attracted support from Democratic Labor Party Senator John Madigan, was defeated resoundingly, with just nine ayes votes against 50 naes. But it has exposed the Coalition likely walking away from a pledge Prime Minister Tony Abbott made to farmers on the Darling Downs last year. Mr Abbott, during a meeting in Tara, had promised to give landholders the right to say no to CSG companies, but his party, with Opposition support, voted down the Greens bill which could have made it a reality. The Greens Senator Larissa Waters, who moved the bill, described the lack of such a mechanism as a "David and Goliath situation forced upon unwilling farming families". "When Tony Abbott is out in the bush he says that mining companies shouldn't be allowed on farmers' land without permission but then he does nothing about it in Canberra," she said. Industry Minister Ian MacFarlane's Senate representative, Senator Michael Ronaldson, read out a statement from the government defending its move to vote the bill down. The statement said the government "not only supports, but expects the

Concerned Tara mother Debbi Orr had morning tea with Prime Minister Tony Abbott and federal member for Mananoa Bruce Scott in November, 2013, to discuss her CSG related health concerns. Mr Abbott pledged to give landholders more say at the meeting. Photo Contributed

responsible development of resources with appropriate rights for landholders". It also said "three coexistence principles" guided the government in that effort, including that resource development should "only occur with the farmer's agreement". While such agreements are standard at the state level during landholder-miner negotiations, landholders are not

technically able to prevent the exploitation of such resources under their land. A statement filed with Senate Estimates recently revealed Mr Abbott's office had also not asked the Environment Department for any briefings on the pledge he made before the election.

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IN THE NEWS

LEGISLATIVE CHANGES

NEW LAWS PASSED TO HELP PROTECT PRIME FARM LAND IN QUEENSLAND A STACK of laws attempting to force farmers, miners and gas drillers to live and work in harmony were passed in Queensland on March 20. The rules govern Central Queensland and the Darling Downs, where the resources sector is most likely to collide with long-tilled farming land. The changes mean that a mining or gas project must be given a specific "regional interest development approval", along with landholder permission, if it is to be built on land designated for farming. "I do not think the people in regional Queensland want the resources industry banned," Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said during the debate. "They do not want the coal seam gas

industry banned, but they want it controlled." After the laws passed on Thursday (March20) night, Mr Seeney said the changes would be a win for landholders. He said resource companies could no longer fight farmers in the Land Court after 40 days if it has failed to reach an agreement. However, if a deal is struck, a mining or gas firm is to be given an exception from the land restrictions. The Queensland Farmers' Federation welcomed the passing of the Bill, with CEO Dan Galligan saying it brought balance to a system that had been "lacking" in the past.

"The Act, and its proposed regulations, will not stop resources development, instead it provides an opportunity for farmers to strike an agreement with resources developers against terms suitable to them, putting them in the driving seat of determining how the two critical industries might coexist at the property scale," Mr Galligan said. Resource industry group APPEA also welcomed the changes, saying the framework was an example of what can be achieved when government shows strong leadership and there is a mature discussion between the gas and agricultural sectors on how each industry can coexist and

succeed. In a parallel or "cognate" debate, a bill to ban CSG drilling in south-west Queensland between Toowoomba and Cecil Plains was quashed. The Katter Party's Ray Hopper wanted the region free of CSG operations but it was opposed by both the government and opposition. Mr Mulherin said he would not back Mr Hopper's law because "we have seen what has happened in New South Wales and Victoria" where the industry had been stifled.

Page16 SEE STORY

Council spends up big

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OPINIONS

FLIGHTS WILL BENEFIT THE WHOLE REGION COMMENT Howard Hobbs MP Member for Warrego

ast month, we were talking about the State Government announcement to continue regulation on the Brisbane-RomaCharleville air services route. This month, I'm delighted to congratulate QantasLink, Origin Energy and the Western Downs Regional Council on the announcement that there will be nine direct flights per week between Brisbane and Miles. This will benefit the whole region and the surrounding townships. It is a great asset for the region and, considering the distances that have to be travelled, air flights are often the most cost-effective option. Recently, I joined Minister for Local Government, Community Recovery and Resilience David Crisafulli on an

inspection of the Roma levee bank and at the opening of the St George levee bank. We promised at the last election to deliver better planning, and the Roma levee is a showcase of what we can achieve when communities and the state work together. The bulk of the funding for stage one of the Roma levee is coming from programs such as Royalties for the Regions and the Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program. Another important aspect of the Roma levee is that on completion, which is nearing, it will drive down the cost of home insurance premiums. The cost of living is already high enough in resource industry communities and anything that can be done to reduce the cost of living pressures is helpful to all residents. The St George levee was officially opened by the Minister, as it is now complete. St George residents are also looking towards insurance companies for reduced premiums now that the risk has been reduced to their community. I was also honoured to have represented

Member for Warrego Howard Hobbs, Balonne Shire Council Mayor Donna Stewart and Local Government Minister David Crisafulli celebrate the opening of St George's levee. Photo Contributed

the Minister for Education, Training and Employment at the opening of the Chinchilla Community Kindergarten recently. The State Government has contributed $807,590 to the facility and I wish to congratulate Origin Energy for its contribution of $400,000 to the project. The kindergarten has been in operation since 1969 and has been relocated from its previous flood-prone site and expanded to cater for a total of 88

children. It is a fantastic facility and it would not have happened without Rachael Pascoe and her team, who diligently pursued funding avenues, even after some disheartening unsuccessful applications, with Origin Energy coming on board to provide a very significant portion of the funding. Rachael and her team are a credit to the Chinchilla community and I congratulate them on their outstanding achievement.

MORE ROYALTIES ON THE WAY FOR REGIONS COMMENT Campbell Newman Premier of Queensland

he LNP Government recognises the contribution the resources industry and its entire supply chain plays to Queensland's economy, our regional towns and for the state's employment opportunities. From day one, we recognised the resources sector as one of the four pillars of our economy and indeed it will play an important role in paying down a substantial part of the $80 billion of debt left behind by the former Labor Government. I'm encouraged by the commitment to the sector by industry leaders at the recent ResourcesQ conference held in Brisbane. ResourcesQ will set out a 30-year vision and action plan for the resources sector, a plan that will drive growth and jobs now and into the future. This started at last month's leaders' forum and we will continue to grow as we visit regions including Roma, Emerald, Mount Isa, Cairns and Gladstone to discuss how this plan should be shaped. We want Queensland to build on its competitive strengths and continue to be one of the world's leading resource destinations. The Government needs to work with the industry and all those involved. For too long, the previous government

treated the mining industry like a cash cow, without having the foresight to plan ahead and see how government and industry can best work together to ensure Queensland is the engine room of the country's economy. Royalties from the resources sector are a vital part of the State Budget, comprising $2.14 billion, or more than five percent of revenue to the Government. These benefits ensure the Government is able to deliver better services for Queenslanders and we are committed to working in partnership with the sector to ensure Queenslanders reap these kinds of benefits for generations to come. But ResourcesQ is not the end of our commitment to the sector. Earlier this year, 20 regional councils across the state were awarded almost $100 million to upgrade roads, water treatment and supply facilities, and important services like childcare centres. This is part of the $495 million, four-year Royalties for the Regions program. My Government is looking forward to announcing short-listed round three expressions of interest next month. Since 2012, through the Royalties for the Regions program, we've delivered benefits to regional Queensland including road projects, flood mitigation projects, fibre optic connections to regional towns, day care placements, sewerage treatment improvements and airport security upgrades. Unlike Labor, we are committed to returning a share of the revenue generated from the resources sector back to the towns and communities that support it.

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OPINIONS

MAJOR MILESTONE FOR MAYOR

LOOKING BACK OVER 20 YEARS COMMENT Cr Robert Loughnan Mayor, Maranoa Regional Council

he next fortnight will be a special time for me as I clock up my twentieth continuous year in local government. Please allow me to indulge in some nostalgic navel gazing to celebrate the occasion. Let me say though that I still do not value long service over achievement, and I am yet to collect an LGAQ long service certificate for that very reason. And yes, I believe our politicians do tend to stay on for that one term too long, in many cases risking their positive legacy. I enjoyed my years as a councillor on the Bungil Shire, however we were all frustrated at the time with the knowledge that outside of agriculture, the opportunities to diversify and attract people to our towns just didn't exist. The closure of the abattoir in Roma had impacted on the economy and six years of drought had taken its toll on the community. We had very little outside of tourism to work with, but we did investigate things like aquaculture and olives. Essentially though, we were hoping for a miracle as we watched our families and friends drifting off to Brisbane and the

east coast year after year. Then, after 2000, we started to see the miracle, despite conflicting stories about the prospects for the rapidly-growing coal seam gas industry. CSG pioneers like Jim Butler were adamant we were at the centre of a massive opportunity, while others claimed there was actually no gas at all in the Surat Basin. Jim's prediction has proved to be pretty close to the truth and the result for our economy is largely positive, despite lingering concerns for the community and for the environment, both above the ground and below. Most parents can now see opportunities to bring their kids back to the region in different roles, exactly what we were looking for 20 years ago. Likewise, in this current drought, some of our agricultural families have access to offfarm income they just didn't have last time around. Two of my councillors returned from the Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise study tour last year with clear messages about the need to revisit our old strategies of diversifying the economy. The two key recommendations were to investigate possible dam sites and options in the region, and to investigate the construction of an abattoir to complement the operations of Australia's most successful cattle saleyards. The fact that our federal member has now spoken supportively of council with regards to an abattoir proposal gives our

Maranoa community some skin in the game. We will be working with Mr Scott to identify and access Commonwealth funding to build a commercial business case to support the proposal. As TSBE chief executive officer Shane Charles recently explained, we need a business study and plan in place so that TSBE and council can readily present a prospectus whenever we are approached

by a potential investor. The financial support of the Federal Government would be critical to that outcome. With the fiftieth anniversary of the iconic Roma Saleyards just four years away, it might also be the ideal time to secure some federal funds to modernise the complex and make the abattoir proposal look even more appealing to investors.

Maranoa Regional Council Mayor Robert Loughnan says that, with the Roma Saleyards' 50th anniversary only four years away, it is time to start seeking federal funding to modernise the facility.

WESTERN DOWNS ECONOMY GROWS COMMENT Cr Ray Brown Mayor, Western Downs Regional Council

n a Western Downs first, residents of Miles and the surrounding areas will be able to catch QantasLink passenger flights between Miles and Brisbane from the newly-upgraded Miles Aerodrome. Work is still underway at the aerodrome to revamp the terminal and to facilitate additional parking. I'd like to commend

QantasLink for being the first airline to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the upgraded aerodrome. These new passenger flights will give residents an easier option to travel to Brisbane and beyond. From next month, QantasLink will be offering nine return flights a week to Brisbane in a mix of 50and 36-seater planes. These services will give residents and tourists a regular opportunity to fly in and out of the region, which will mean fewer cars on the road - especially during the busy holiday seasons - making it safer for everyone. The region's resource and agriculture sectors will also benefit from these services, with feedlots and farmers able to

showcase their businesses to existing and potential customers and suppliers from across Australia and even internationally. This in turn will further strengthen the Western Downs' $2.8 billion economy, so that our economy is set to continue surpassing the broader Queensland economy in measures like industry productivity, property, labour, and gross regional product. According to the Western Downs Regional Economic Brief, the Western Downs regional economy grew at an annual rate of 5.8 percent in 2012-13, which is 2.2% higher than Queensland as a whole. As part of facilitating our region's growing economy, the council is set to invest $115 million in water and wastewater projects

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OPINIONS

OPPORTUNITIES FOR AGRICULTURE TO CAPITALISE ON GAS AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMENT Prof. Steven Raine GasFields Commission

he value of livestock and cropping within the Darling Downs and Maranoa regions is currently worth almost $3 billion, or about one-third the total value of Queensland agriculture, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The value and contribution from agriculture in southern Queensland is set to grow substantially over the next decade if we can take advantage of the local water and infrastructure opportunities now happening, largely as a result of the development of the energy and resource industries in our region. I spoke about these opportunities for agriculture at the Energy and Infrastructure Summit - hosted by the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce earlier this month. Southern Queensland has many unique advantages. We are already a major agricultural region with significant grain, cotton, feedlot and horticultural industries. We are also blessed with natural resources, access to skilled labour and strategic connectivity to east coast markets, and have an established food processing and agricultural technology and services base. The new wave of infrastructure investment occurring in our region due to the resources sector now presents additional opportunities for agriculture.

Take the treated water produced as a byproduct of the coal seam gas industry, which is estimated to produce around 95,000 megalitres of water each year in the Surat Basin. The majority of this water could be used to irrigate up to 16,000 hectares and potentially add more than $50 million per year to the value of agriculture from this region. The development of new local transport infrastructure, including the Wellcamp Airport, Toowoomba range bypass, road network upgrades and proposed inland rail link, also has the potential to not only reduce freight costs but to create new transport options to deliver value-added agricultural products to new markets both in Australia and overseas. Toowoomba is ideally located halfway between Cairns and Melbourne, with transport connections to the major agricultural production zones throughout eastern Australia. Imagine if we could develop sufficient scale, co-ordination and capability to position Toowoomba and southern Queensland as an export hub for chilled meat, perishable vegetables, live cattle and other value-added agricultural industries. Transport and water are just two examples of how we could leverage the long-term development of the energy and resource sector to unlock new opportunities for our agricultural industry. Yes, there are always challenges, but probably the biggest hurdle will be in the minds our industry, business and government leaders to think big and strategically to deliver on these opportunities.

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OPINIONS

MORE WOMEN IN RESOURCE SECTOR Chief Executive Queensland Resources Council

COMMENT

Michael Roche

t is pleasing to note that women are continuing to take up more career opportunities in the resources sector. The number of women in QRC member companies increased to 17 percent of total workforce in 2012-13, up from 14% the previous year. The proportion of women working in the sector in "'non-traditional roles", including senior management, engineering, trades, geology and operators increased from 11.9% to 13.5%. This is keeping us on track to achieving our goal of 20% women in non-traditional roles by 2020. The QRC's 2014 International Women's Day Breakfast and Resources Awards for Women attracted an audience of almost 1000 people around the state, with the first woman to be appointed an asset president by BHP Billiton announced as winner of the overall award.Laura Tyler leads the team at the Cannington mine in north-west Queensland, the world's largest silver and lead mine. A mother of three, Laura has been "a working FIFO wife" across four continents and spends many hours mentoring other women to help them succeed in the sector. Laura recently became the first woman to be appointed a vice-president of the Queensland Resources Council. Overall winner: Laura Tyler, asset president, BHP Billiton Cannington mine Highly commended: Linda Murry, planning and logistics manager, Rio Tinto

Cheif executive officer Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise

COMMENT

Alcan; Amy Hodson-Clarke, well engineering and technology manager, Geodynamics Limited; Leisa Elder, vicepresident, community and sustainable development, Arrow Energy Rising Star winner: Cindy Emmett, Anglo graduate mechanical engineer, Anglo American Metallurgical Coal, Moranbah North Mine Highly commended: Roxy Quirk, pre-strip contracts senior analyst, BMA Goonyella Riverside mine; Monica Joseph, electrical engineer, zinc-lead concentrator, Glencore Mount Isa Mines Trade winner: Amy Woods, underground install electrician, Glencore Mount Isa Mines Highly commended: Megan Turner, fourth-year apprentice diesel fitter, Anglo American; Hayley Daniels, supervisor field maintenance electrician, BMA Coal Blackwater Mine Operator winner: Leah Ross, superintendent, open pit operations, Thiess Mining Curragh North Coal Mine Highly commended: Elisha Lauren Beresford, head operator trainer/multiskilled operator, Thiess Mining Curragh North Mine; Megan Hetherington, cablebolter, Glencore Mount Isa Copper Operations Gender diversity champion: Craig McCabe, general manager, Wesfarmers Curragh Coal mine Highly commended: Ben Bradley, manager human resources, BMA Caval Ridge mine; Penny Hamilton, diversity officer, Thiess Australia Mining Best company initiative: BMA - Daunia and Caval Ridge mine diversity program Highly commended: Thiess/Wesfarmers Curragh 'Oothungs (Sisters) in Mining'; Wesfarmers Resources - Women in Resources program

Shane Charles

GOOD NEWS WILL COME

FEEL disloyal talking about opportunities in agriculture whilst we are in a time of crippling drought. I want to reassure the heart and soul of our region - the agricultural sector - that the thoughts and prayers of all of us at Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise with you. Having said that, can we see light at the end of the tunnel? Perhaps not, if it does not rain. However, this month, I want to focus on some things that are happening in Toowoomba that will have serious implications for the broader community. Toowoomba will soon be the envy of every other regional area in Australia with the $1.7 billion range bypass commencing, the jet-capable runway of Wellcamp Airport being completed and the likelihood that inland rail network from Melbourne to Brisbane is no longer a pipedream, but a reality. With infrastructure comes opportunity. Toowoomba is positioning itself as the inland port for Australia. Connectivity of road, rail and air will bring amazing opportunities to become a

major and world-class transport and logistics centre. At TSBE, we are already looking to Asia for opportunities in agriculture. We need to find new markets, new ways of doing things and more profitable opportunities. I am fed up with our Australian farmers getting the same money they were 10 to 20 years ago for their commodities and, at the same time, having input costs go through the roof. Despite this infrastructure taking place in Toowoomba, how can regions around Toowoomba look to take advantage of the opportunities that this connectivity will bring? Do we need to look to beef, sheep, goat and kangaroo production opportunities to fill an insatiable Asian market? Will transport costs be cheap enough to allow us to supply fresh fruit and vegetables to China? Is infrastructure sufficient to get our product to Toowoomba cost effectively? I pose lots of questions and they will not be answered overnight. However, we need to start the thinking now.

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DOWN TO BUSINESS

DOWN TO

BUSINESS

COUNCIL SPENDS UP BIG

HUGE SPEND ON NEW INFRASTRUCTURE M

ore than $100 million could be spent on water and wastewater projects on the Western Downs over the next three years as the council sets it sights on providing a reliable and sustainable water supply for the region. The council will deliver more than 12 large-scale, multi-million-dollar water and wastewater infrastructure projects over the next 18 months, and utilities spokesman Deputy Mayor George Moore said the three-year spend could top $115m if everything went to plan. "To support our growing population,

the surge in development activity and to provide an improved level of service, council is investing $43m this financial year to enhance the region's water and wastewater infrastructure network," Cr Moore said. "Then, subject to budget allocations, another $32 million is planned for next financial year and an estimated $40 million could be spent the following financial year, for a possible total investment of $115 million over three years." Chinchilla and Miles will be the major winners in the infrastructure spend-

Page 16 SURAT BASIN NEWS - 27 MARCH 2014

up, with almost $50m allocated to upgrade the water and wastewater facilities in the towns. "An additional benefit of Miles' new and improved investment is that... the township will be able to look after its golf club greens with infrastructure being installed that will allow the supply of recycled water to other sporting and community fields in the future, and it will do so using recycled water, not potable drinking water," Cr Moore said.

Business Profile

DOWN TO BUSINESS

BEHIND THE DESK WITH

BRAVERY AWARD

REBECCA GRAHAM

A GAS industry worker has been recognised for bravery by Australia’s Bravery Council. On July 30, 2008, James Michael Dingle rescued a colleague following a gas explosion on a remote gas and oil exploration drilling site near Surat. A high pressure nitrogen hose had blown off a well head and severed the drilling supervisor’s left arm. The man was knocked face first into a two metre well where he also suffered a broken leg, ribs and other injuries. Concerned for his colleagues, Mr Dingle immediately entered the accident site and managed to turn off the valve that supplied high pressure nitrogen. He then pulled his colleague out of the water to safety. Mr Dingle was awarded a Commendation for Brave Conduct on March 24.

BUSINESS SUCCESS FLOWS EASILY FOR FLUID POWER C

runching the numbers and managing clients while the lads ply their trade in the field, Rebecca Graham is part of a good team on a good wicket. One of the four part-owners of Fluid Power, Chinchilla, she works alongside Jason Townson, Nikita Barry and her husband, Morgan. The team was the first company to provide mechanical hydraulics and auto electrical services to the CSG industry from a Chinchilla base. Seeing their success, several more followed. Surat Basin News visited the flourishing site, nestled on the western side of Chinchilla, to chat to Rebecca about Fluid Power's third year in the Surat Basin. HOW DID THE BUSINESS GET STARTED? Jason and Morgan were already working on one of the mine sites and saw a need to go into hydraulics. At that time none of the other companies had opened up so we looked at setting up here and using the boys' skills. We incorporated mechanical hydraulics into it and we've managed to grow a business out of it.

and we have a diesel fitter who has just bought a house here and is currently working for us as well. Without them, we would probably have to look at housing our workers, which is a major expense with rent the way it is at the moment. The other problem we have is parts. IS RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS A TOOWOOMBA?

WHAT SORT OF SKILLS DOES EACH OF THE

CHANGE OF PACE FROM

FOUR BUSINESS OWNERS BRING TO THE

Yes. We were originally from Karratha, WA. I'm born and bred in Toowoomba, but Morgan's a Kiwi. We met in Karratha, and lived there for seven years. He was doing what we're doing here. We decided to move back here to be closer to family. Then he got a job with McMahon Contractors and we grew from there.

TABLE?

I have a business background, so I've managed to do the office work. I and Nikita manage the office side and advertising - all the fun stuff - and the boys just focus on their trade and handle the workshop side of things. SO YOU KEEP THE BOYS IN THE WORKSHOP?

It's safer that way; they can't spend too much money out there. THE SURAT BASIN IS A LARGE SERVICE WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH THAT?

AREA.

One of the major things would be staffing, because of the cost of living her at the moment it's quite hard to get apprentices and diesel fitters who are not paid through the roof. We try to pay competitive rates, but obviously we're only a small business compared to Yancoal and all of those companies, so that would be our biggest problem. We currently have two apprentices who are local, luckily, so they live here already,

WHERE DO YOU SOURCE YOUR PARTS? We try to source them locally. We use Jackson's Parts and Industrials were possible, but there are things we have to source from Brisbane, or interstate. And of course there's the time period. When a digger's down, that's money lost for the customer. We have to get them up and running as fast as we can and our biggest delay is waiting for parts. Those two are the two major dramas that we have. IS THE BUSINESS GOING WELL IN

2014?

Yes, definitely. It was quite slow at the start of the year, but that seems to be the case every year.

Fluid Power office manager and part-owner Rebecca Graham.

DO YOU THINK THERE IS A MARKET FOR YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS TO OPEN UP THESE BUSINESSES, AS YOU HAVE, IN THE

SURAT BASIN? Definitely - if they can see a niche, like we did, and they have the skills to expand on. The money is here. Obviously we don't just do hydraulics, we offer a more complete solution. We're now sharing a yard with MJ auto electrical as well so we're not just offering mechanical; we can also offer auto electrical services as well. HOW STRICT DO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES FIND THE CONTRACT CONDITIONS? Obviously safety's the biggest concern on a lot of sites we go to, but Morgan and Jason both worked in mining for years. They're accustomed to it. Of course each mine site is different, and even if you're QGC inducted, for example, each site has a different induction which you have to be across. It's just part of the process, and we've learned to live with it. We don't really find it much of a hassle at the moment. It's been part of the industry since the boys started their apprenticeships.

GAS DISCUSSIONS GAS giants met with local farmers and contractors in Chinchilla this month to discuss the future of the industry in the Surat Basin, at the GasFields Community Leaders Council. QGC, Origin and Santos, who all have projects in the Surat Basin, discussed infrastructure, weed control and water treatment with concerned parties and GasFields Commission Queensland chairman John Cotter. The spread of weeds between properties across the Surat Basin has also been a contentious issue between landholders and gas companies, but discussions were amicable.

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE BUSINESS IN TEN YEARS?

In ten years hopefully we're still here, provided that the mining boom continues. We're hoping to have a bigger workshop by then, and still be going.

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DOWN TO BUSINESS Cockatoo Coal - ASX Code: COK

Blue Energy - ASX Code: BUL

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Leighton - ASX Code: LEI

0.75

39.00

22.00

0.040

0.70

38.00

21.00

0.035

0.65

37.00

20.00

0.030

0.60

36.00

19.00

0.025

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35.00

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Mar 7

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Share price listed was accurate at close of business on the days listed in 2014

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Feb 28

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TALKING AG: Agriculture Minister John McVeigh, guest speaker Nigel Corish and Toowoomba and Surat Basin

Enterprise boss Shane Charles discuss the future of agriculture in Dalby.

2. Mark Middleton, Adam McVeigh, Mark Harms and Stephanie Cook are all smiles.

3. Shaun Ryan, Paul Smith and Leanne Matthewson catch up at the event.

DALBY EVENT

AGRICULTURE HAS BRIGHT FUTURE IN SURAT BASIN YOUNG FARMER OF THE YEAR VISITS DALBY TO SHARE HIS POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE IN THE SURAT BASIN REGION

he honour of being named Young Farmer of the Year for 2013 has definitely not impacted on the ambition of Nigel Corish to continually improve as a primary producer. The Goondiwindi farmer was guest speaker at Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise's first Agribusiness Innovation Series - Doubling the Value of Production

- for the year in Dalby earlier this month. The Corish family runs four mixedfarming properties on the New South Wales-Queensland border, with irrigated cotton the main production crop. Despite the ongoing drought conditions and high-profile coal seam gas boom in the region, Mr Corish said he could see a bright future for the agricultural sector.

"It is very important that agriculture has a voice in Australia," he said. "As a young person involved in the industry, I truly believe there is a future in agriculture. "The average age in agriculture is 55 years old, so if we are going to double production, we needâ&#x20AC;Śyoung people coming through. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We also need to always be willing to

change, to always apply best management practices and to share our ideas and mistakes with each other to keep improving." Agriculture Minister John McVeigh also addressed the 80 attendees and spoke about the State Government's vision to double the value of agricultural production.

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BUSINESS PROFILE

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Origin - ASX Code: ORG

Transfield - ASX Code: TSE

Santos - ASX Code: STO

New Hope - ASX Code: NHC

15.00

14.20

0.88

3.40

14.80

14.00

0.86

3.35

14.60

13.80

0.84

3.30

14.40

13.60

0.82

3.25

14.20

13.40

0.80

3.20

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Mar 7

Mar 14 Mar 21

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28 Feb

Mar 7

28 Feb

Mar 14 Mar 21

Share price listed was accurate at close of business on the days listed in 2014

Mar 7

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28 Feb

Mar 7

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JOHN MCCORMACK - PIRTEK DALBY

STRONG FUTURE IN BASIN HOW DID YOU BEGIN WITH PIRTEK DALBY AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY?

I own McCormack Industries which is an agricultural engineering workshop at Aubigny. We have used Pirtek hydraulics there for the last 10 years. My two sons took over the running of the Aubigny workshop four years ago which freed my time up to have a look at the Surat Basin. Rolly Heath (who went to the Dalby Ag College with my son Jason) and myself started as Pirtek Chinchilla three and a half years ago. Rolly did all of the service work while I, with the help of Johnson Builders, built a shed at 8 Malduf Street, Chinchilla.

WHAT'S A NORMAL DAY IN THE OFFICE LIKE FOR YOU? As we are still setting up Pirtek Dalby, and there is only two of us here, a normal day is doing everything that a secretary , an operations manager, a fitter and a hydraulic engineer would do. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU - FAMILY, YOUR BACKGROUND, WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU AREN'T AT THE OFFICE. I am married and live at Aubigny near Oakey. We have two sons Jason and Brendan that work at the engineering works and two daughters who are both teachers. Gina is teaching in England and Emma is teaching at St Josephs in Chinchilla. We also have six grandchildren - five boys and one girl, aged between nine years to three months.

HOW MUCH HAVE YOU SEEN CHANGE DURING YOUR TIME IN THE SURAT BASIN? Chinchilla certainly has grown. It would be nice to see the first stage of the Industrial Park sell out so they can start on the second stage. WHAT DO YOU SEE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE SURAT BASIN? The Surat basin will be very strong and prosperous in the future and if more

companies and workshops were to open in Dalby and Chinchilla there would be more money spent in the local area. WHO IS A BUSINESS LEADER YOU ADMIRE AND WHY? Shane Charles. Shane set up the Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise from the start to 100 miles per hour in six months and it has been a massive work and information boost for all concerned.

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DOWN TO BUSINESS

RESEARCH QUESTIONS JOB NUMBERS, BUT...

INDUSTRY CLAIMS JOBS BOOM

he environmental movement and resources industries are again butting heads, after new research was released showing one in two Australians wanted more regulation of coal seam gas. A research paper by The Australia Institute cited a survey that found some 71% of respondents thought the Federal Government should control CSG regulation, not states. That research also argued against gas industry claims that increased export of LNG will lower gas prices. Report author Matt Grudnoff said

industry claims on a range of issues did not "stand up to scrutiny", arguing claims of creating "a lot of jobs" were also false. "The gas industry likes to make inflated claims about its economic importance yet it arrogantly tries to avoid answering community concerns," Mr Grudnoff said. "When there is so much at stake environmentally, the public has every right to demand greater transparency from the industry and greater interest from the federal government." But the release of the research came as

the resources industry, through the Queensland Resources Council and Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, hit back at its opponents. The gas lobby, APPEA, argued that Deloitte Access Economics estimated that during the CSG investment phase, national employment peaked at about 103,000 full time jobs in 2012. A statement from the gas industry said those jobs included work "within the oil and gas industry itself", but did not take into account that such figures also include other jobs created in the same

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period. The industry pointed to the United States experience of a boom in gas extraction, which was "not driven by government interventions", despite gas extracted in the US being used largely for domestic consumption, rather than export. Queensland's peak mining lobby, QRC chief Michael Roche, also hit out a campaign against coal and CSG in Queensland, saying there was "no science" to back up the campaign. "Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but it is disappointing to see WWF in particular becoming more Greenpeacelike by the day," Mr Roche said. Mr Roche said while the WWF had previously played "a constructive role" in promoting improved land management, it was "disappointing" to see the group "becoming more Greenpeace-like by the day". However, WWF Great Barrier Reef campaigner Richard Leck said two letters signed by hundreds of reputable scientists had voiced the scientific communities concerns about extra pressure on an already-declining reef. "As Mr Roche points out, other industries that work in or alongside the Reef's waters are transforming the way they do business and making their industries more environmentally sustainable," Mr Leck said. "WWF believes it is time the resources sector embarked on a similar transformation and phased out old, outdated practices like dumping millions of cubic metres of dredge spoil in the waters of the reef World Heritage Area."

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DOWN TO BUSINESS

YANCOAL MOVES IN

LOCALS WIN IN TAKEOVER WESTERN DOWNS LOCALS FIND NEW JOBS AS CAMEBY DOWNS MINE CHANGES HANDS

ince Chinese-owned Yancoal took over operations in December last year, more than 75 per cent of Cameby Downs' employees now hail from the Chinchilla and Miles regions. General manager Jack Wilson said the mine, located 15km east of Miles, was committed to achieving tangible and long-term local participation and would continue to set high local-employment targets. "We expect to be part of the Chinchilla and Miles communities for many years, so we want to ensure that our communities have opportunities to be part of the mine

wherever possible," he said. "We are also committed to encouraging those employees who don't come from the area to relocate here, so that they can enjoy the wonderful lifestyle the region has to offer." In a joint contract with Komatsu, the mine recently saw delivery of a fleet of new equipment that included 150-tonne dump trucks, loaders, dozers and a PC4000 excavator, as well as a supporting three-year maintenance contract. "The new plant is state-of-the-art and will not only improve production rates, it will significantly reduce noise impact on

neighbouring properties through proven sound-suppression technology," Mr Wilson said. "In addition to its mining investment in the local region, Cameby Downs is also working hard to support local community-based organisations through its successful Community Investment Program (CIP). "We administer the CIP through our Community Reference Group, which means that community members are able to have a say in who receives funding. "It is a streamlined process that ensures even the smallest of organisations won't be

put off by complex application processes. "We have had excellent feedback from the Chinchilla and Miles communities to date and regardless of our industry's ongoing challenging financial climate, we intend to keep our CIP operating well into the future." In 2012, the mine contributed more than $31,000 to local community groups through the CIP. To find out more, email info@yancoal.com.au.

Cameby Downs General Manager Jack Wilson and Komatsu's Bill Prior celebrate the mine's delivery of new equipment, including a 475 dozers and HD1600 dump truck, with Cameby Downs' David Hobden and Richard Giumelli.

THE INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE Largest non - resident population in the Basin THE Western Downs Region has become the focal point for a growing non-resident workforce in the Surat Basin resulting from the boom in the energy resource sector. Latest statistics reveal that the Western Downs had the largest non-resident population in the Basin in June 2013, with 7,485 persons or 60% of the regional total.

This was followed by Maranoa which accounted for a further 37% and Toowoomba for 3%. According to the Surat Basin Population Report, 2013, the Surat Basin's total non-resident population amounted to 12,480 persons in late June 2013. This was an estimated 6,035 persons, or 94% more than in June 2012, with most of the growth due to rapid expansion of

CSG/LNG gas field development and pipeline construction workforces. The largest increase occurred in Western Downs which grew by 3,310 persons, bringing the fulltime equivalent (FTE) population for the region up to 40,680. By comparison, the non-resident population rose by 2,590 in Maranoa and 135 in Toowoomba.

Head ofďŹ ce Roma SURAT BASIN NEWS - 27 MARCH 2014 Page 21

BUILDING THE BASIN

ADVERTISING FEATURE

BUILDING THE

BASIN

VILLAGE TRAVEL CENTRE OPENS T

he Surat Basin's newest major shopping complex is going from strength to strength with hundreds of hungry customers stopping at the Chinchilla Travel Centre every day. The $10 million development on the Warrego Highway, which first opened in October, has been a huge success for all involved. Mr Woodforth said the Travel Centre had become a "true destination" with buses stopping at the site every day as a pick up and drop off point for resource industry workers. The developer began working in Chinchilla three years ago and said it didn't take long to see the value in constructing a major travel centre outlet. "It's really a blue chip centre," Mr Woodforth explained. "The centre is forecast to have a turnover of about $6 million a year and it's on track to do that already." About 4000 people pass the centre every day, which explains why new tenants were not hard to find. All but one 150sq m office space is already leased out. "All the tenants are really loving the complex and they're committed to quality and great service," Mr Woodforth said. "As a combined centre, it all goes really well together." Chinchilla Travel Centre has created more than 130 new jobs for local residents and Mr Woodforth said it was highly patronised not only by locals, but also resource industry workers living in workers camps.

TRAVEL CENTRE TENANTS • Caltex • KFC • Subway • Bottle M art • The C offee C lub • Sunshine K ebabs • Kiss a nd M ake U p • Bottle T ree P roperty M anagement

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Page 22 SURAT BASIN NEWS - 27 MARCH 2014

SOUTHERN CROSS BRICKLAYING Domestic and Commerical Bricklaying • All Size Jobs • Repairs • Brickwork

• Retaining Walls • Blockwork • Rendering

call ricky brunner 1800 821 103 Toowoomba ricky@scbrick.com.au

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

BUILDING THE BASIN

imagine create deliver

WINNING FORMULA

VERVE SUCCEEDS WITH NEW TRAVEL CENTRE

Commercial / Retail Building Design Travel Centre / Service Station Design Fast Food Restaurant Design Child Care Centre Design Multi-Residential / Townhouse / Unit Design p : 07 3351 0810 e : info@vervebd.com.au

avin Nye is the owner and managing director of Verve Building Design and Concepts - the building design firm behind the huge new Travel Centre complex on the Warrego Highway in Chinchilla. Tthe Travel Centre is a one-stopshop for travellers heading through Chinchilla looking to refuel not only their cars, but also their stomachs. It was a project that came naturally to Mr Nye, who began working on fuel and fast food travel centres almost 15 years ago. These sectors are a specialty area for Verve Building Design and Concepts, often sought out by new clients who may have a unique site which requires 'out the box' thinking to bring their project to a workable reality. "We work closely with our Clients to develop and enhance their initial vision for their sites' use. We look after the concept design, development applications with councils, and oversee the construction right to the final key handover," Mr Nye explained. "We aim to streamline the process for the client, and in turn, reduce most of the stress developing a commercial site can bring for a developer." "It is an exciting and rewarding opportunity, to take a Client's site from a greenfield (vacant) state through to the finished project, such as the new Travel Centre complex here in Chinchilla," Verve's primary focus is to move away from the "cookie cutter" style service station buildings most people have become accustomed. "Our company strives to deliver visually appealing buildings whilst at the same time utilising cost effective construction methods, to achieve a successful design outcome."

Delivering high quality, cost-effective building design solutions

m: 0412 354 763 w: www.vervebd.com.au

PROUDLY ASSOCIATED WITH and PRINCIPAL DESIGNER OF THE VILLAGE TRAVEL CENTRE CHINCHILLA

G AV I N N Y E

"We try to push the envelope to really make sure these developments are pleasing to the eye " "We try to push the envelope to really make sure these developments pleasing to the eye," he said. The experienced building designer said he enjoyed working with Rohan Woodforth and RLW Group, as well as Hutchinson Builders, who delivered a high quality result for the Chinchilla Travel Centre and went on to say he hoped to do so again on future projects. Verve Building Design and Concepts is also designing and coordinating a major site and building overhaul in the Surat Basin region for a Multi National fast food client, which should commence construction within the next six months.

Quality First Floor Offices in this Exciting New Complex Your signage is visible to thousands of vehicles every day Two tenancies: 157 & 80sqm available immediately Busy 24 hour centre with quality tenants Extensive onsite parking lot

Bruce Holmes Commercial & Industrial Specialist p: (07) 4669 1790 m: 0402 348 695 e: bruce@suratbasinrealestate.com.au

The Coffee Club Chinchilla is

NOW OPEN C e lebrate Our Grand Opening Day! SATURDAY THE 5TH OF APRIL

CHINCHILLA

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CORNER PRICE STREET & WARREGO HWY PH: 4665 5691 SURAT BASIN NEWS - 27 MARCH 2014 Page 23

BUILDING THE BASIN

SURAT BASIN SPIDERPLOUGHS

GAINING INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR PIPELINE INNOVATION

urphy Pipe and Civil (MPC) may hail from the land down under, but the company's strong commitment to improving the pipeline industry through innovation, has earned it accolades on the other side of the globe. In the United Kingdom last week, MPC was announced the winner of the prestigious Pipeline Industry Guild

(PIG) Technology Award in recognition of the significant contribution to industry improvement the company had made through its development of the Spiderplough. The innovative Spiderplough made its first appearance in the Surat Basin's CSG fields back in 2010 and since then has been used to install more than 2500km

Murphy Pipe and Civil's award winning Spiderploughs are now a common sight throughout the Surat Basin CSG fields.

of HDPE pipeline for the QCLNG Upstream Gathering Project. In a world first last year, the Spiderplough successfully installed largescale 630mm HDPE pipeline and since then a fleet of the machines can now regularly be seen ploughing across CSG fields throughout the Surat Basin. At the PIG Awards, the judging panel acknowledged that MPC's successful introduction of HDPE Spiderplough installation technology to the Surat Basin CSG fields, had delivered enhanced safety benefits, better environmental management and increased productivity. MPC's Tony O'Sullivan said he was pleased the company's ongoing commitment into research and development of Spiderplough technology

had been recognised, not only by the Pipeline Industry Guild, but also by the broader international pipeline industry. "Our innovative R&D team has invested significant effort in adapting Spiderploughs to accommodate the needs of the Surat Basin's growing CSG resource sector, and I am pleased to say the result of this effort is a far safer, greener and more efficient way of installing HDPE pipelines," Mr O'Sullivan said. Mr O'Sullivan said MPC was grateful for the PIG accolade and the company would further develop Spiderplough technology to ensure it continued to deliver positive benefits and remained relevant to the entire Australian pipeline industry.

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under 18 months Dalby now opens up as a prime location for business. This huge shed offers 1175sq metres of potential storage space. Coupled with the fact that the property is zoned residential with 5 separate titles available, the market realization of these blocks alone is a conservative $250,000. This property is ideal for a company looking to decentralize but still have access to easy freight and handling routes, without the city price tag.

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Page 24 SURAT BASIN NEWS - 27 MARCH 2014

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

BUILDING THE BASIN

NEW WORKSHOPS

THE INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE

CAREER GROWS IN WEED MANAGEMENT T

he spread of exotic pests and weeds across the Surat Basin has become a hot topic this year, and it's a problem that Ursula Keating is all too familiar with. Ursula is the Western Queensland representative on the Executive of the Weed Society of Queensland. She is also a landowner in Chinchilla where her family operates a mixed farming enterprise as well as Warregold Australian Stock Horse Stud (www.warregold.com.au). Ursula is known by many landowners of the region through her role as Secretary of the Chinchilla Grandfather Clock Campdraft. To top it off, Ursula is a proud woman in business and runs her own Natural Resource Management consultancy Australian Agricultural and Environmental Solutions (AA&ES). With a science degree in tow and over seven years experience with the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) she established AA&ES in 2009. Her local business has gone from strength to strength mostly as a result of a passion for the land and its natural resources. AA&ES specialises in all aspects of pest management from weed identification and mapping; licensed weed control; property pest management planning, third party weed hygiene clean downs and certifications and portable clean down facilities. As a result of her local and regional expertise, this year Ursula became a training co-provider for the Australian Agricultural College Corporation (AACC) for the delivery of the nationally accredited competency Inspect and Clean Machinery for Plant, Animal and Soil Material AHCBIO201A. "I see this training program as a tool with which I can equip stakeholders with a basic understanding in the identification of priority pest weeds specific to the region," Ursula said. "It also assists people appreciate how easily weed seeds can be spread by vehicle and machinery movement and to

understand appropriate clean down procedures." In 2013 Ursula was a finalist in the RIRDC Queensland Rural Woman of the Year Award for her pest management advocacy work across the Surat Basin. "My project (if I was to be successful for

Underground coal project on the way

the Award and its bursary) was to develop a Surat Basin Pest Management Collaboration Network for all stakeholders within the Surat Basin and to run a regional Forum to work through the topical issues. "Even though I was not successful for the award I pressed on with my project. Nearly one year on I am the Chair of the Surat Basin Pest Management Collaboration Network which I initiated and developed with the support of Steve Martin, Environmental Manager of Powerlink Queensland." The group includes representatives from the CSG proponents; Landcare and catchment groups; Local and State government; major contractors to the CSG companies; utility companies; Agforce; Gasfields Commission and also landowners. The aim of the group is to share information on pest management within the Surat Basin such as weed wash down stations; pest outbreaks; best management practice; policies and procedures and so on. "The group has really gained momentum and I am really keen for landowners to be more involved in some way," Mrs Keating said. "Throughout 2014 I am looking at running workshops to provide information to landowners to assist them to better understand weed hygiene and the risks associated with the influx of machinery and construction in the region. U R S U L A C A N B E C O N TA C T E D O N 0 4 5 7 0 0 7 0 5 0 F O R F U RT H E R I N F O R M AT I O N .

Page28 SEE STORY

Who was spotted at Roma?

AN UNDERGROUND coal project near Bundaberg could be under construction within three years if a coal company backed by billionaire Gina Rinehart can keep up with its own predictions. International Coal is developing the Bundaberg Mine north-west of the regional town, telling the Australian Stock Exchange earlier this month its coal quality was as good as that in the world-renowned Bowen Basin of Central Queensland. Ms Rinehart's Queensland Coal Investments has taken a 25% stake in the Bundaberg development. Chief executive officer Glenn Simpson said International wanted to have the mine exporting from 2020, so it could capitalise on Australia's low dollar and available labour. International's choice of port is unclear with Mr Simpson saying it was investigating Bundaberg's terminals or those emerging at Wiggins Island near Gladstone. The value and scale of the mine will not be clear until International does more drilling and analysis, something Mr Simpson vowed to have done within 12 months. This will also govern how long the operation lives - it will only go ahead if International can be sure of at least 10 years of production. If the coal seam allows, 20 years would be more likely. International must then develop a "pre-feasibility" plan before it begins a long and costly government approvals process. In January, at least 60 landholders near the mining area held a meeting to protest gas and coal exploration in the region.

Australian Agriculture & Environmental Solutions •• Third party weed inspec ons of vehicles/plant/machinery Nationally credited training - AHCB10210A • Hire of portable recyclable wash down systems Inspect cleanon machinery for semi plantpermanent animal • Design andand construc of permanent; and wash down facili es andportable soil materials LARGE INDUSTRIAL, TRUCK & HEAVY EARTH-MOVING RADIATORS, INTERCOOLERS, HEAT EXCHANGERS AND OIL COOLERS

• Na onally accredited training •• Pest management planning and Regular courses offered atconsultancy Chinchilla, Roma, • Pest surveys and mapping Miles, Wandoan, Condamine & Dalby • Supervision of rig wash downs

www.aaaes.com.au info@aaaes.com.au

Phone 0457 007 050 SURAT BASIN NEWS - 27 MARCH 2014 Page 25

BUILDING THE BASIN

ADVERTISING FEATURE

JOBS BOOM

WORKFORCE SET TO GROW IN BASINS EASTERNWELL HAS PROJECTED A 33% GROWTH OF ITS CAMP MANAGEMENT SERVICES, WHICH MEANS THERE ARE PLENTY OF NEW JOBS ON THE WAY

asternwell looks set for a jobs boom over the next 12 months with at least 100 new jobs in the Surat and Cooper Basin regions. Easternwell, Australia's leading drilling and well servicing company and Transfield Services subsidiary, has projected a 33 per cent growth of its camp management services, creating the big increase in its workforce. Off the back of new contracts secured in regional Queensland, the expansion will further bolster Easternwell's national

presence, with over 60 remote camps throughout Australia providing 12,000 meals per day and accommodating over 3,000 people. Specialising in total turn-key camp management solutions including catering and hospitality, camp moves, maintenance and security, Easternwell has an extensive portfolio of contracts with some of Australia's largest companies including Santos, Saxon, Beach Energy, Lucas, QGC and Drill Search. Easternwell Camp Management general

manager Marco Waanders said Easternwell was at the forefront of an exciting industry and was experiencing significant growth in regional Queensland, ultimately creating much needed employment opportunities for the local community as well as career progression avenues for the Easternwell team. "We are currently seeking to recruit staff in various roles including camp managers, chefs, housekeepers, kitchen hands, gardeners, administrators and security," he said.

"We value our team and understand people want to work for an organisation that places their employees' health and wellbeing as a priority. Our healthy living program provides our employees with the resources and tools they need to remain motivated about their health while at work. "Similarly, our comprehensive induction and nationally recognised training programs including Certificate III in Hospitality, ensures their professional and personal development."

MORE FOR INFORMATION ON EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AT EASTERNWELL VISIT www.careers.easternwell.com.au or call (07) 4659 4340

Page 26 SURAT BASIN NEWS - 27 MARCH 2014

ADVERTISING FEATURE

BUILDING THE BASIN

NEW BILL INTRODUCED

PUSHING FOR GROWTH: Operations manager Ben Davidson, director Graeme Sheppard and technical manager Paul Sheppard are part of Soiltech's ever-increasing presence in the Surat Basin. Photo Contributed

MILES IS THE PERFECT BASE

SOILTECH INVESTS IN BOOMING BASIN

or well-known construction materials and geotechnical testing firm Soiltech Testing Services, the thriving Surat Basin continues to play a major role in planning for future growth. The company has offices in Miles, Toowoomba and Warwick and director Graeme Sheppard said being based around the heart of the coal seam gas boom had proved beneficial. "We have confidence in the continued growth of the area and believe there is enough work for us to base ourselves in Miles for many years to come," he told Surat Basin News. "By maintaining our presence in the region, we will continue to support the local community and grow as a business."

Soiltech Testing Services was established in the Garden City in the 1980s and underwent an ownership change in 2001, with Miles identified as a key location. "Several years ago, we saw the potential

D I R E C T O R G RA E M E S H E P PA R D . . .

“By maintaining our presence in the region, we will continue to support the local community and grow as a business.”

for future growth of our business due to the resource boom in Western Queensland," Mr Sheppard explained. "Miles was selected as a central location between Roma, Chinchilla and Wandoan, and a suitable property was sourced that adequately suited our needs." While a lot of the company's major projects - including ones for New Hope Coal and Santos GLNG - have been carried out away from its Miles base, Mr Sheppard said he believed the resources sector had created a lot of in-town work for his team. "We think it's actually created a lot of residential and commercial work, from building new sub-divisions to upgrading major roads," he said.

THE construction and resources industries are expected to save about $24 million through a new bill introduced into Queensland Parliament this month. Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie said reforms to the QLeave scheme would generate significant savings for the construction, resources and tourism industries. He said under Construction and Tourism (Red Tape Reduction) and Other Legislation Bill, the QLeave levy rate for construction and building projects would be reduced from 0.30% to 0.25%. "0.05% may not sound like much but it will equate to an estimated $24 million in savings for the construction and resources industries," he said. "Greater savings mean greater economic growth and job security for workers across Queensland. "QLeave ensures building and construction workers have access to paid leave, regardless of whether they work on different projects or for different employers." Mr Bleijie said the tourism industry also would benefit as the legislation gave travel agents more freedom to compete with the growing online tourism market. "Bricks and mortar agents are subject to more costs and conditions than their online competitors, making it nearly impossible for them to compete," he said. "Queensland community groups will also be big beneficiaries through the development of a new, simple, one-stop process to apply for Community Benefit Fund grants."

The Coordinator-General

Approval of a development scheme Surat Basin Infrastructure Corridor State Development Area

Geotechnical Testing Quarry Materials Testing Concrete Testing House & Commercial Site Investigations

49 Murilla Street - MILES (07) 4627 2888 E: miles@soiltech.com.au

www.soiltech.com.au

The approved development scheme can be seen at: • www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/sda, or • Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Level 5, 63 George Street, Brisbane.