SURAT BASIN NEWS
28 OCTOBER 2013
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SURAT BASIN
TODAY
QGC CEMENTS ITS SURAT BASIN COMMITMENT WITH NEW HEADQUARTERS AND WORLD-CLASS WATER TREATMENT PLANT
QGC’s A ngus H etherington g ets t o w ork a t the c ompany’s K enya Water T reatment P lant near C hinchilla. PHOTO: Dan P roud
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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 living, working and playing in the Surat Basin, connecting the business and mining communities throughout the booming region.
EDITOR’S
NOTE QGC has flexed its muscles in the Surat Basin this past month with a string of huge milestones that signalled its long-term commitment to the region. The company opened its regional headquarters in Chinchilla - a mission control centre for its operations across the Basin. It celebrated the completion of the QCLNG gas pipeline from the Surat Basin to Curtis Island, and opened its Kenya Water Treatment Plant outside Chinchilla. An ambitous project, the plant will treat coal seam gas water and discharge it into the Condamine River - Chinchilla’s drinking water supply - while also providing water to several farmers for irrigation. The process was closely scrutinised by the State Government and it will remain very much under the microscope to ensure drinking water guidelines are met - and rightly so. Water is the lifeblood of this region and we can’t afford to make mistakes - there is far too much at stake.
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
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
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TEAM GENERAL MANAGER David Richardson Chinchilla 07 4662 7368 manager@suratbasin.com.au
ADVERTISING MANAGER 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 Jim Campbell
UPDATES
JOURNALISTS
Regular updates on www.suratbasin.com.au
This newspaper is a Platinium Member
Lyndon Keane Graham Osborne
SURAT BASIN NEWS
THE
12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413 PO Box 138 Chinchilla Qld 4413
INDEX IN THE NEWS QGC opens Kenya Plant MP wants to close wells Coal dust irks residents Mine sells for $1
OPINIONS
THE
Page 4 Page 6 Page 7 Page 10
BUILDING THE BASIN Santos/APLNG partnershipPage 30 FKG project wins award Page 31 Asbestos removal Page 33 Wagners airport unveiled Page 34
PUBLISHED The Surat Basin News is printed by Chinchilla Newspapers Pty Ltd 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413
Pages 14 - 17
PLACES & FACES
DOWN TO BUSINESS Origin shows off facilities Dalby business profile Roma business profile The Basin’s jobs boom Santos goes hi-tech Lead story of this section
Page 18 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 1
QGC office opening Caulfield Cup party QGC Busy at Work Face to Face
Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39
The Surat Basin News is printed by APN Print 50 Industrial Avenue Toowoomba
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THIS WEEK
CASA SIGNS OFF ON UPDATED AIRPORT
MILES AIRPORT OPEN FOR BUSINESS A
fter an injection of about $15 million from Origin, the newly-renovated Miles Airport is now operational. The facility, situated south of the town and in the heart of the energy company's Condabri gas project, obtained final Civil
Aviation Safety Authority approval late last week. The keys to the facility have been handed back to Western Downs Regional Council with the airport open for business on October 28. It is believed an official opening for the facility will be held early next year.
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IN THE NEWS
QGC WATER TREATMENT PLANT QGC'S long-awaited Kenya Water Treatment Plant is not the saviour to agricultural and community water security the State Government purports it to be, according to the Basin Sustainability Alliance. The plant, which represents part of QGC's $1 billion investment in Surat Basin water infrastructure, will transport treated coal seam gas water into the Chinchilla Weir. BSA chair David Hamilton said it was difficult to listen to glowing praise for the plant when so many farmers were concerned about CSG's impact on groundwater supply security. "There's no doubt that's it's better to do something useful with the water, rather than see it evaporate in a pond, but BSA has said all along that the extracted water must be used to mitigate impacts before it's put to new uses," he said. "This desalination plant doesn't magically manufacture water; it is water that has been drawn from underground as part of the gas extraction process. "We don't deny the treatment of this water provides short-term benefit to some farmers and supplements Chinchilla's water supply, but we can't forget that that extracting the water is potentially depleting an aquifer and affecting current users. "It's like robbing Peter to pay Paul."
ON TOUR: Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney inspects the new facility. Photo: Lyndon Keane
IN THE
NEWS
KENYA OPENS
WATER FLOWS FROM QGC’S NEW PLANT IN WHAT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN AN AUSTRALIA-FIRST, TREATED COAL SEAM GAS WATER IS NOW FLOWING INTO CHINCHILLA’S DRINKING WATER SUPPLY
T
he official opening of the most visible sign of QGC's $1 billion investment in Surat Basin water infrastructure has been lauded as "a particularly significant day" for the coal seam gas industry by Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney. Kenya Water Treatment Plant, situated about 35 kilometres south-west of
Chinchilla, has the capacity to treat 92 megalitres of water per day at full production, thanks in part to state-ofthe-art reverse osmosis processing equipment and a 33-megawatt, gas-fired power plant. While QGC is keeping the exact cost of construction to itself, a company source told Surat Basin News the plant and its
TOWERING PRESENCE: Three brine concentrators dwarf the rest of the equipment at the water treatment plant. - Photo: Lyndon Keane
under-construction sister facility - at Woleebee Creek, near Wandoan represented "a sizeable portion" of the $1 billion expenditure. As part of an $800 million, 20-year contract, Veiola Water Australia is operating and maintaining the facility, which transports treated water along a pipeline into the Chinchilla Weir. Several primary producers, including Ken Schmidt, are also drawing water directly from the pipeline. Mr Schmidt said he believed the facility turned a by-product of CGS mining "into an important economic stimulus for the local area". Despite concerns from some community members about the project, BG Australia chairwoman Catherine Tanna thanked those who had shown "faith" in the mammoth operation. "When QGC begins exporting natural gas that comes from these parts in 2014, we will have invested about $14 million a day, every day, for four years in this project," she said. Speaking in front of about 100 people at the opening, Mr Seeney spoke passionately and off-the-cuff about what he believed the facility meant for Queensland. Mr Seeney said QGC's Woleebee Creek Water Treatment Plant near Wandoan would impact his constituents in Callide and that such facilities made it possible for the industry to boom. "I have always acknowledged CSG water as a valuable by-product, not a problem," he said.
IN THE NEWS
PROJECT MILESTONE
THE INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE
PIPELINE LINKS BASIN TO WORLD THE FINAL KILOMETRE OF THE QCLNG GAS PIPELINE HAS BEEN LAID NEAR BILOELA, MEANING GAS EXPORTATION IS A BIG STEP CLOSER
QGC celebrates first operational site in Gladstone THE gateway to QGC's much-hyped Queensland Curtis LNG plant is now operational after the company officially opened the doors to its first site in Gladstone on October 18. The $7.5 million supply base covers 2000 square metres and will be the control point for all equipment and materials going to and from the plant once it is operating.
Santos denies claims contractors used sacred site as toilet
M
ore than a mind-boggling 12 million working hours have gone into linking the Surat Basin to QGC's ambitious Queensland Curtis LNG Project. At more than 540 kilometres long, the main gas pipeline is now in the ground and represents two years and 44 million kilometres of work from vehicles on the project. Last week, the final kilometre of the pipeline - which has a onemetre diameter - was laid near Biloela. The pipeline was laid by construction contractor MCJV, a joint venture between McConnell Dowell Constructors and Consolidated Contracting Company Australia, and, when commissioned, will transport
natural gas from QGC's Surat Basin tenements to its QCLNG plant near Gladstone. Once the gas reaches Curtis Island, it will be liquefied for export. QGC managing director Derek Fisher said the milestone represented "a world-class engineering feat". "This is a tremendous achievement, meaning we remain on track to start commissioning the world's first plant to convert natural gas from coal seams into liquefied natural gas next year," he said. "In the process, we have set records for Australian pipeline construction, including the longest twin pipe-pull in Australia when,
The Narrows channel at Curtis Island was crossed earlier this year."
SANTOS has hit back at accusations its contractors used a sacred indigenous site near Gladstone as a toilet and rubbish dump. The Port Curtis Coral Coast Native Title Group said the contractors "basically destroyed the site". A group spokesman slammed the damage as "the ultimate sign of disrespect". Santos said in a statement "there is no evidence to support the claim".
$2b extension swings in to operation
FAST PROJECT FACTS • 46,200 i ndividual 1 2-m m etre lengths, e ach w eighing f our tonnes • Workforce o f m ore t han 1575 a t p eak c onstruction • Project v ehicles t ravelled more t han 4 4 m illion kilometres • Remotely-a a ctivated v alves a t least e very 9 0km f or shutdowns
After four years, more than six million hours and 3400 tonnes of steel, Rio Tinto's Kestrel South coal mine extension was officially opened on October 15. The underground extension came with a $2 billion price tag and is flagged to boost the site's coking coal production to six million tonnes per annum. Kestrel South will reach full capacity in late 2014.
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IN THE NEWS
MP TAKES UP FIGHT
HOPPER ATTEMPTS TO SHUT DOWN WELLS A
fight led by Condamine MP Ray Hopper to shut down almost 500 gas wells in the Surat Basin could leave the State Government open to an enormous legal bill and potentially a constitutional challenge if successful. The Katter's Australia Party member introduced the private member's bill to protect agricultural land from coal seam gas which is currently being scrutinised by the parliamentary committee on agriculture, resources and environment. Earlier this month, Mr Hopper was quizzed on the bill, which would ban all gas and mining exploration east of the Condamine River from Chinchilla to the New South Wales border. Key cropping land would also be covered by the bill. Mr Hopper said it was time for action because it would be too costly to wind back the clock once development ramped up. "Once they're established and find the gas that is there, the compensation will be too immense, the industry will explode in that area and there will be no
farmers," he said. "This must go into place and go into place immediately." Although many gas companies already operate in the area, Arrow Energy's Surat
Gas Project would be most affected by the bill. The Member for Condamine said he believed gas expansions threatened the groundwater supplies of the Condamine
Condamine MP Ray Hopper adresses the Save Cecil from CSG rally to oppose the Arrow Energy projects in the region, Saturday, April 27, 2013. Photo: Kevin Farmer
Alluvium, which he wanted to keep intact for "our children and our grandchildren". But such a crackdown would still be incredibly costly to the government, according to the state bureaucrats. Department of State Development executive director Dennis Bird said even at this embryonic stage for the gas industry, Mr Hopper's intentions would destroy 496 gas wells. Given there was no history of a government ever dumping a resources lease after approval, it would certainly be subject of a legal challenge," Mr Bird said. "The impact would do immeasurable damage to investment reputation and sovereign risk," he said. "(Gas companies) could launch a constitutional challenge if it took away their rights when they have done nothing wrong. "It would be quite costly to the state". Fellow executive director Kylie Williams told the committee the government's own protocols meant key agricultural land would be protected. By Owen Jacques
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IN THE NEWS
THE INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE Sunshine State to speed up permit waiting times
PILES OF TROUBLE: This is what Jondaryan residents claim is causing the town's dusty problems.
COAL-Y HELL: Richard Nothdurft and Doris Lander say they are fed up with coal dust from New Acland's loading facility filling their house.
JONDARYAN RESIDENTS ARE FED UP WITH COAL DUST FROM ACLAND MINE
COAL DUST WORRIES By Lyndon Keane
F
urious Jondaryan locals are claiming the New Acland Coal Mine loading facility has "stolen their lifestyle". The allegation comes following an announcement from New Hope Group - which owns the mine - earlier this month that "economic circumstances" had forced it to withdraw an application to expand rail infrastructure and move the facility further from the town.The decision to shelve the relocation has angered residents Richard Nothdurft and Doris Lander, who said they believed the mountains of coal and the people of Jondaryan could no longer coexist. "It will never be moved," Mr Nothdurft said angrily. "They're not interested in the people of Jondaryan." The interiors and exteriors of the pair's houses - which are less than one kilometre from the loading facility - are caked thick with coal dust and cleaning curtains, walls and benches is now a
daily ritual, according to Ms Lander. "They've stolen my son's inheritance because the properties aren't worth anything as long as that mine is there," she said. "The homes out here are black with dust," Mr Nothdurft added. "Nobody is looking after their homes (because) you can't sell them." The pair said that, despite Toowoomba Regional Council mayor Paul Antonio telling media in June that Jondaryan had an "obvious" dust issue, nothing was getting done. At the time, Councillor Antonio promised an independent study into the scattering of coal particles, a report frustrated residents are still waiting for. Mr Nothdurft said she believed New Hope Group was only carrying out air testing when wind conditions were blowing favourably away from Jondaryan, a claim refuted by the company. "Our‌dust-monitoring equipment is some of the most highly sensitive... in the country," a New Hope Group spokesperson said.
"Two of these continuous monitors are located at Jondaryan." When asked about if and when Jondaryan residents could expect to see the loading facility relocated, the spokesperson was unable to provide a timeframe. "Like any business, we can't make a large capital outlay on a project until we have certainty about the future," they said. "The relocation of the rail loading facility near Jondaryan is part of the revised New Acland Coal Mine stage three project plan and is set to cost the company over $62 million. "Separately, the company was also looking at some modifications to railing arrangements at the Jondaryan facility, but this is no longer appropriate due to the current economic circumstances." The explanation is little consolation for Mr Nothdurft, who said residents were sick and tired of fighting just to live normally. "We want to be able to live normal," he said as he ran his hand along a fencepost blackened by coal dust. "Whether that means we need to be relocated, one of us has to go."
COAL and mineral exploration in Queensland is set to be sped up after the State Government announced an overhaul of the approvals process earlier this month. Natural Resources and Mines Minister Andrew Cripps said the aim of the overhaul was to halve exploration permit waiting times. "We have listened to requests from the resources sector for faster, more efficient approval timeframes and we are delivering," he said.
Mining magnate digs deep for education ANDREW "Twiggy" Forrest has made Australian philanthropic history by opening his wallet to the tune of $65 million. The Fortescue Metals Group chairman and his wife, Nicola, announced earlier this month they were donating the eye-watering figure to further higher education in Western Australia. The donation comprises a $50m scholarship foundation for five of the state's universities and $15m towards the construction of a new residential college at the University of Western Australia.
IN THE NEWS
INDUSTRY GATHERS FOR CONFERENCE THE future of the resources sector will take centre stage when delegates gather in Brisbane for the 2013 Energy Skills Queensland Conference on November 4. The theme for the event will be "Skilling for our Future" and will cover many of the challenges the energy and resources sectors are expected to face now and in years to come.
OIL ON THE CARDS
BLUE ENERGY DRILLS FOR OIL A BRISBANE COMPANY HAS PUT OIL BACK ON THE AGENDA IN THE SURAT BASIN AFTER DRILLING FOR THE “BLACK GOLD” NEAR ROMA
I
t is not yet known whether oil is poised to make a comeback in the coal seam gas-rich Surat Basin after Blue Energy began exploratory drilling earlier this month. The Brisbane-based company is currently drilling for oil reserves on its Marburg 1 well, 120 kilometres northwest of Roma, to a planned depth of 720 metres. The operation has been funded through a $5 million farm-out to KIB Energy, a subsidiary of a Singaporean oil trading company. The two-stage deal includes both exploration of the well and works through to the grant of a production licence. Blue Energy chief executive officer John
GOVERNMENT FAST-TRACKS APPROVALS IN JUST seven days, the Queensland Government has approved 1400 exploration permits in an effort to grow the state's mining industry. Mines Minister Andrew Cripps told a Brisbane convention the swift action on applications makes mining "simpler and more profitable". "It has only been a week since this government announced reforms to expedite the granting of exploration permits," Mr Cripps said. "To have 1400 exploration permits granted in that time is great news for the industry."
TOSS OF THE COIN: Blue Energy boss John Phillips admits Marburg 1 is "a risky venture".
‘
Phillips said he believed the Surat Basin had been overlooked as a potential oil production site. "Definitely in the early days, they were looking for oil," he said. "They were looking for the big elephants if you will. "They didn't get enough encouragement with the initial well. "We think there's a reasonable chance that there's something that's missed”. The first stage of the project is slated to take several weeks and Mr Phillips admitted it could go either way in terms of success. "Obviously, if it's a dry hole we walk away, but if we do get some encouragement, we will follow up with some work," he said. "It's a risky venture in terms of chance of success." The publicly-listed Blue Energy is providing weekly operations updates via the Australian Securities Exchange.
It's a risky venture in terms of chance of success. Blue Energy chief executive officer John Phillips
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IN THE NEWS
FUNDING IN DOUBT
B
illions of dollars in regional infrastructure funds remain uncertain under the Coalition's legislation to repeal the mining tax. But despite Labor promising the funds would be delivered, Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss has labelled the pledge a "cruel con". He said the former government knew the money, including a $2 billion Regional Infrastructure Fund that the Coalition has removed, did not exist. "It is astonishing that, even now, Labor continues to spruik its hollow projects when, in government, it failed to fund them," he said. "Hundreds of projects were announced that had not even received cursory
departmental assessments, yet Labor was promising anyone who would listen that these were somehow a done deal." While Labor had originally allocated the funds to come from mining tax revenue, it has guaranteed the money would still be delivered despite the massive shortfall in revenue. Details of which specific projects could lose out under the new government's decision not to fund mining taxassociated projects have not yet been released. However, Mr Truss said he would still deliver funds for all contracts that have already been signed, leaving all those without official contracts in place unlikely to be funded.
│Coal seam gas │ Water law │ │Property development & subdivision│ │Planning and Environment Court appeals│ │Resumption claims │Local Government │
"Labor was unable to deliver RDAF and RIF projects it already had on its books because those projects depended on a mining tax that, as we all now know, raised virtually no money," he said. Mr Truss reiterated the new government had set aside $1 billion in secured funds for a new Stronger Regions Fund, but said the government was still working out which RDAF projects would miss out. The laws to repeal the mining tax will also remove Labor's Schoolkids Bonus and low-income superannuation bonus, and will delay Labor's planned superannuation rise to 12% for at least two years.
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IN THE NEWS
BARGAIN BUY: Linc Energy has snapped up Blair Athol mine for just $1.
Linc Energy snaps up mine at bargain price
MINE SELLS FOR $1 I
t would not be enough to buy you a burger, but for $1, Linc Energy now owns a coal mine. Through its subsidiary New Emerald Coal, Linc will resuscitate Blair Athol in Central Queensland - creating 100 jobs in the process - after Rio Tinto turned off the mine's lights in November 2012. The figure is fewer than the 170 the site had when under the control of Rio Tinto, but New Emerald expects the number to grow as the operation shudders back to life. Rio Tinto shut the 29-year-old mine after describing it as "largely mined out". Blair Athol is to restart operations within six months, but Linc is eager and wants to commence mining by early
next year. Rumours swirled in April that Rio Tinto was trying to offload its Blair Athol and Clermont mines, but the company refused to comment. Linc chief executive officer Peter Bond said he expected New Emerald to pull up to three million tonnes of coal from the site annually, for potentially the next decade. "We've done a very good deal," Mr Bond said. "It would have been worth a lot more money a few years ago." So how is New Emerald to succeed where one of the world's largest multinational miners failed? "The cost base of a big company is very different to a smaller operation," Mr
Bond said. "It was the fact that Rio could not run the (mine) at a profit. "We have up to 10 years of coal available if we're clever. "Ten years at three million tonnes a year is good money." Linc will take over the mining tenure, some on-site assets, infrastructure and environmental obligations. These obligations include the $84 million in bond held by the Queensland Government to guarantee the site would be rehabilitated. Rio Tinto has already confirmed it would pay Linc to help with the cost of repairs but it is unclear how much. The deal is set to be finalised within six months. By Owen Jacques
THE LIVES OF BLAIR ATHOL • 1864: C oal d iscovered a t site. • 1981: F irst c ontract s igned to m ine. • 1984: S ite o pened b y Q ld Premier. • 1990s: B lair A thol i s expanded. • 2009: B lair A thol h its p eak, exporting 1 1.3?million tonnes o f c oal. • 2012: S hut d own b y R io Tinto. • 2013: B ought b y L inc Energy. • 2014: T o r eopen w ith 1 00 workers.
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IN THE NEWS
PLAN RELEASED
FAST FACTS ON THE DDRP • The r egion c omprises s ix local g overnment a reas, including W estern D owns Regional C ouncil, M aranoa Regional C ouncil, B alonne Shire C ouncil a nd Toowoomba R egional Council • The d raft p lan w as r eleased for p ublic c onsultation between J une 2 8 a nd September 2 0, 2 013 • 57 i ndividual s ubmissions were r eceived f rom l ocal government, p eak b odies, agricultural a nd r esource enterprises, c ommunity a nd professional o rganisations, academic b odies, b usiness and i ndividuals • Another 9 17 s ubmissions based o n a s tandard f ormat letter - w ere a lso r eceived
AG LAND PROTECTED DARLING DOWNS REGIONAL PLAN FALLS SHORT, ACCORDING TO AGFORCE PRIORITY agricultural land in the Surat Basin will be protected from "incompatible resource activities" as part of the State Government's Darling Downs Regional Plan. The plan, which was released last week following a two-month public consultation period, has been paired up with the Newman government's Review of the Strategic Cropping Land Framework. New legislation will be needed to implement the plan and a Regional Planning and Development Act is scheduled to be introduced into Parliament later this year. In addition to protecting the region's topshelf primary production land, area required to ensure the growth of towns will also be safeguarded.
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The DDRP will identify and map Priority Agricultural Areas, which will be spared from resource exploration and development deemed incompatible under the approval process. Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said he believed the plan would protect key agricultural assets in the region. "Any resource development seeking to operate in a PAA will need to meet coexistence criteria which will ensure no material loss of land, no threat to continued agricultural use and no material impact on irrigation aquifers or overland flow," Mr Seeney said. The issue of co-existence - and what it actually means to specific stakeholders -
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remains the most controversial aspect of the DDRP and has divided politicians, resources sector organisations and farmers. Despite an assurance from the Deputy Premier that the plan will have a "strong focus on resolving land-use conflicts between the agricultural and resource sectors", AgForce general president Ian Burnett remains unconvinced. Mr Burnett said the strategic cropping land framework fell well short of what was required to protect prime agricultural land."As AgForce pointed out in our submission to government, the regional plan Priority Agricultural Areas cover less than half of the current cropping area within the Darling Downs," he said.
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IN THE NEWS
MONEY FLOWS TO REGIONS W Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney announced the funding today. Maranoa Regional Council will receive $12.4 million for three projects while Western Downs Regional Council will spend $6.95 million on seven projects. "Through Royalties for the Regions, the Queensland Government is giving back to the communities that support resource projects - reinvesting a share of royalties to help build new and improved community, road and floodplain security infrastructure," Mr Seeney said. "This is about supporting projects that increase liveability and offer a long term attractive lifestyle in resource regions for generations of Queenslanders to come." Member for Warrego Howard Hobbs said he had championed the Royalties for the Regions program for many years and he was delighted to see the program in action. "To have local and the state government prioritising road projects is welcome progress for local residents who experience on a day-to- day basis the impacts of resource industry growth on their roads and community," Mr Hobbs said. The biggest single funding allocation of $7 million is for the Injune-Taroom Road upgrade and will help provide almost 25 kilometres of sealed roadway, improving safety for all road users.
Servicing all areas of the Western Downs • 24hr CSG Rig support • Dust Suppression • Sidetippers & Water Trucks available • Bulk Gravel Cartage • Domestic Water
Projects receiving Royalties for the Regions funding in Maranoa are: • $7 million for the $23.2 million Injune-Taroom Road upgrade • $5 million for the $27.9 million Fairview Road upgrade • $400,000 for the $600,000 Roma Sewerage Treatment Plant to increase capacity for current and future demand Projects receiving Royalties for the Regions funding in Western Downs are: • $1.45 million for the $2.5 million Miles Waste and Recycling Centre (transfer station • $1.31 million for the $2.5 million Old Cameby Road upgrade • $1.25 million for the $2.5 million Ducklo-Gulera Road upgrade • $1.2 million for the $2 million Avenue Road rehabilitation • $910,000 for the $1.85 million Brownlies Road upgrade • $470,000 for the $700,000 Condamine Waste and Recycling Centre (transfer station) • $360,000 for the $750,000 Upper Humbug Road upgrade Both councils will now have to submit a detailed business case for each project to have the funding confirmed by the end of the year. Royalties for the Regions will invest $495 million in regional projects over the four years to 2015-16.
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Mobile: 0417 710 125
PO Box 74 Miles Qld 4415 email: cmthaulage@bigpond.com www.cmthaulage.com.au
e
4662 7368 We will help you find the right solution
AT A GLANCE More of central Queensland opened up for coal ALMOST 1,300 square kilometres of land in the Bowen Basin have been opened up for coal mining by the Queensland Government. In total, seven parcels of land - around Middlemount, Nebo, Moranbah and Glenden - have been made available. Natural Resources and Mines Minister Andrew Cripps said new tendering processes should expedite the approval process and give smaller explorers the opportunity to make their marks. A group spokesman slammed the damage as "the ultimate sign of disrespect". Santos said in a statement "there is no evidence to support the claim".
For interested companies or individuals Dynamic Drilling are currently offering the following for hire or lease – • Training Room for hire • Sharing yard and shed space with road frontage on Cooper street • Water truck hire Fully equipped truck paint booth for hire or lease (Meets council requirements) For more information and enquires please phone 46729400 or email admin@dynamicdrilling.com.au
5339279aa
estern Downs and Maranoa Councils will share almost $20 million in funding from the State Government's Royalties for the Regions program. The funding will pay for road upgrades, new waste transfer stations and increased capacity at a wastewater plant. Deputy Premier and Minister for State
OPINIONS
CSG GLOBE
WELL INFORMATION
COMMENT Bruce Scott MP Federal Member for Maranoa
CHECK THE LABEL AND FILL YOUR TROLLEY WITH AUSSIE PRODUCE
“NO OTHER JURISDICTION IS PROVIDING AS MUCH INFORMATION ON CSG”
S
COMMENT Campbell Newman Queensland Premier
A
new online tool is giving Queenslanders easy access to information about the water used in coal seam gas operations. Coal Seam Gas Globe (CSG Globe) is based on Google Earth and contains useful information for landholders, industries and local communities about wells and water bores across Queensland. It also gives details about the location of CSG wells, petroleum wells and other tenure information about current petroleum exploration permits in Queensland. No other jurisdiction is providing as much information on CSG in a simple Google Earth format, accessible to everyone. I encourage landholders particularly to go online and access the CSG Globe and provide their feedback and comments of this initial version of the tool. CSG Globe is available at http://www.dnrm.qld.gov.au/mapping-
data/maps and you can provide feedback through the Lands Queensland Facebook page. Hundreds of organisations around the state will be able to get on with the job of fixing weed, pest and erosion problems after receiving funds under the Everyone's Environment Grants program. Around $3.4 million has been invested under this round, including projects across the region which will focus on grassroots action. For example, the Condamine Catchment Management Association will use its $63,290 in funding to boost knowledge of water quality across the catchment, the Mungallala Central Collaborative Area Management Cluster will use its $36,100 grant on a weed eradication program and $40,000 will go toward improving land management at the Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary. In coming weeks, an extension of the grants will be announced to include heritage projects across Queensland, which will help eligible owners and community groups carry out projects that support conservation, heritage
interpretation, education and tourism opportunities for our state heritage places. More information about the Everyone's Environment program is available at www.ehp.qld.gov.au You may have heard the great news that Queensland's economy is starting to get back on track, and that we are outperforming the rest of the nation on several fronts. The latest CommSec State of the States report found that Queensland leads the nation in business investment, with spending in the June quarter 37 per cent above the decade average. Our Gross State Product also grew by 1.3 per cent in the June quarter, compared to just 0.3 per cent in the rest of Australia, and our export growth of 1.7 per cent is almost double that of the rest of the nation. Overall, we can safely say business is growing in confidence and is now prepared to invest in Queensland, creating new jobs and prosperity for all who live here. You can be assured my team will continue working hard to make sure our economy keeps growing into the future.
imilar to a special agent on a mission, there is only one thing I hone in on when completing a grocery shop and that is the "product of Australia" label. There's nothing better than turning over a red apple and seeing a "grown in the Granite Belt" label or purchasing a cut of Darling Downs beef. I think the Maranoa producers some of Australia's best food products so I'm pushing for more local famer support and encourage the buy Aussie-made campaign. Last week Woolworths announced it will stop importing all frozen vegetables sold as its own-brand products from May next year, a move I have welcomed. This is a small step in the right direction by a major supermarket but I call on them to extend their commitment into other fresh Australian farm food products. In May this year, Woolworths switched from overseas imports to have Goulburn Valley peaches in its own-branded tinned fruit which saw sales jump 40% nationally. Australian consumers want great Aussie-grown produce whether it's fruit, vegetables, dairy, meat or cereals. Buying Australian-grown produce should always be the first step not only because you can trust the source but also you are supporting Aussie farmers.
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OPINIONS
MICHAEL ROCHE
COEXISTENCE CAN WORK QUEENSLAND RESOURCES COUNCIL CEO MICHAEL ROCHE ARGUES THERE SHOULD BE A REFOCUS WHEN IT COMES TO REGIONAL PLANNING
Head ofďŹ ce Roma
the regional obstacles to realising the government's vision of doubling agricultural production by 2040. The next stage is to analyse resource prospects in the region. What is known about the region's mineral and energy endowment? Are there prospects of economic projects in the near future? What areas might need further exploration before we understand their potential? Regional planning should be about maximising the opportunity from both engines of economic growth and identifying how resources and agriculture could be mutually supportive. How much more cotton would a region grow with a more reliable water supply? Resource projects have historically built
infrastructure like dams and water pipelines with spin-off benefits for agriculture. A perennial bugbear for agriculture is access to markets through better roads, rail links and connections to ports and airports. Again, these are investments made by resource projects that bear fruit for a region's whole economy. So how do you go about weighing up the merits of a resource project? How can you understand what a project contributes to a regional economy and how it makes a contribution to diversifying that economy? To inform good regional planning, there needs to be a fully resourced, public and transparent process of information gathering to identify land qualities and
Michael Roche Chief Executive Queensland Resources Council
COMMENT
A
s seasoned public servants attest, if both sides of a debate don't like an idea, it's probably on solid ground. Offend everyone a little, and you have the makings of a reasonable policy compromise. Unfortunately, there's little reassurance in this homily if both sides of a debate think it is a bad idea. The state government's commendable policy objective of productive coexistence between agriculture and resources risks being undone by the bad idea of trying to deliver it through a system of exclusion zones drawn up to protect agriculture, protect towns, protect scenic amenity and protect environmental values. The risk is in zoning Queensland regions out of the contest for economic growth through planning that serves to enshrine economic stagnation. There is an alternative to make regional plans work as the government intends with a clear focus on sustainable economic growth. The Queensland Resources Council believes the answer lies in designing a genuine planning process FOR the region rather than trying to impose planning outcomes ON the region. The first step is defining which parts of Queensland are the most agriculturally productive. Understanding what makes them productive today lays the foundation for making them more productive in the future. In that context, we also need to identify
contribute to a case-by-case basis assessment of project prospects. Queensland's rigorous environmental impact statement (EIS) process is the perfect vehicle for such evaluations. With an agreed source of baseline data on what a region sees as important about the existing agricultural production chain, a resource project's EIS can present an assessment of how that production chain might be affected, where it might be compromised and most importantly, how it can be augmented, improved and sustained. Queensland's current draft regional plan focus is on the cost to agriculture and not the benefits. Yet consistently, public opinion polling in the Surat Basin shows that even around land-use hot spots, residents expect agriculture and resources to co-exist as the primary drivers of regional economic activity. These regional communities see coexistence as an important force for balancing activity cycles that affect both industry sectors. Queensland's statutory regional plans could deliver on this promise, by refocusing on how to deliver growth in both agriculture and resources.
OPINIONS
HOWARD HOBBS
SCHOLARSHIP TIME
COMMENT Howard Hobbs MP Member for Warrego
STUDENTS SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SCHOLARSHIPS TO GET A HEAD START IN LIFE
W
elcome to the Surat Basin News and it is that time of year again when the Howard Hobbs Scholarships Guide 13/14 is updated and out for distribution. The Guide is distributed to Year 12 students in the Warrego Electorate. It is a summary of contact numbers and website address for scholarships at major universities, agricultural colleges, training and apprenticeship information, and a listing of scholarships in a range of areas such as rural industry, veterinary, medicine, pharmacy, teaching, sport, engineering and the arts. Examples of some of the scholarships include the Australian Beef Industry Foundation Scholarship, Marcus Oldham College, Aged Care Nursing Scholarships Undergraduate, the Bid O'Sullivan Teaching Scholarship, the Roma Zonta Club Encouragement Bursary to name a few. Anyone who wishes to receive a free copy of the 2013/14 Scholarship Guide should call my Electorate Offices Ph 1800 814 479 or Ph 1800 625 430 and a copy will be sent to them. Congratulations to the Everyone's Environment Program grant recipients who have been successful in obtaining funding from latest funding round. Applications for round three of the State Governments Everyone's Environment grants will be called in 2014. Drought Assistance Update - Primary Producers who have reached the $20 000 cap of assistance through Drought Recovery Assistance Scheme (DRAS) in the first year can now access up to $30 000 by completing a drought
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management plan. Local Drought Committees will assess on a case by case basis the need to lift the DRAS ceiling for individual producers, depending on information provided in the Drought Management Plan. Drought Management Plan templates are available at www.daff.qlg.gov.au. A further measure is the extension of the water freight subsidy to producers with stock on the road. So far the subsidy was only available to cart water to individual
properties. This is now extended to help those producers with cattle on stock routes in sections were watering facilities are non existent of have not been maintained. Further information is available on the Drought Hotline freecall Ph 1800 025 656. As a matter of interest. I recently asked a Question in State Parliament in relation to the financial assurances currently held by the State Government for resource and industrial activities. As
at September 2013 the State Government holds a total of over $5.2 billion of financial assurance under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 for companies involved in resource and industrial activities. Of the $5.2 billion, $729.4 million is held for CSG companies which covers 239 CSG permits (for 70 different companies or their subsidiaries) and this includes CSG exploration, production, pipelines and facilities.
Organisation
Project
Amount
Condamine Catchment Management Association Charleville Rotary Club
Improving knowledge of water quality across Condamine Catchment Ward River Waterhole enhancement
$63,290 $39,625
Myall Park Botanic Garden
Eradication of the weed Mother of Millions
Cuttaburra Syndicate Group Mungallala Central Collaborative Area Management Cluster
Reducing feral pig populations in the Cuttaburra catchment. Invasive pest and weed awareness, education and control.
Brigalow-Jimbour Floodplains Group
Those Worrisome Weeds
$40,000
Bidjara Indigenous Group
Mt Tabor biodiversity conservation
$16,588
Australian Wildlife Conservancy
Pest control, improved land management and restoration for threatened species on Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, south-west Queensland
$40,000
Queensland Murray Darling Committee
Comale Lagoon - Connecting Camp and Culture
$36,470
Kooma Traditional Owners Association
Nebine Creek Koala Conservation and Protection Project
$69,700
Revegetate, Restore, Regenerate and Revitalise the riparian landscape at Nindigully.
$12,100
Cunnamulla Best Prac Group
Halting the degradation of the Warrego River by feral pigs.
$25,500
Ward River Users Group
Improvement of Warrego River Water quality and fish populations in popular fishing spots
$40,000
Nindigully Landcare Group
$9,999 $27,900 $36,100
Required skills for the resource sector
SANTOS DRIVER ACCREDITATION COURSE
Civil Construction Supervision, Cert IV advised
C
Ph: 07 4694 1600 sqit.enquiries@tafe.qld.edu.au www.sqit.tafe.qld.gov.au
. 17/ 7/10/ 10//201 2013 3
Southern Queensland
Institute of TAFE
surat basin news 07 4662 7368
OPINIONS
NEW QGC OFFICE A WELCOME BOOST
I
t was a pleasure this month to officially open QGC’s new state-ofthe-art Administration Office in Chinchilla that will be the nerve centre of its field operations housing up to 150 personnel. It is the first of a number of new offices the company plans to establish in the region. As a show of confidence in the region, QGC is setting the pace for other energy proponents to follow suit in value adding to the industry and positively creating jobs in our local communities. At the official opening I enjoyed the chance to talk to some QGC employees to see how they got their kids off to school that morning to be able to attend work. I offer a warm welcome to the families of the QGC staff who have moved to the local area and wish them well. This new development is good news for the local schools, businesses and for employment in the district. Earlier this month it was a great privilege to join State Government ministers and members of parliament at the Queensland Plan Summit held in Brisbane where the Premier outlined
the 30 year visions for Queensland. Premier Newman addressed the government's focus on a four pillar economy capitalising on the state's strengths in agriculture, resources, tourism and construction and importantly, where our region needs to be heading in the future. I would like to mention two important focuses of the Queensland Plan, the water grid and how the future water supply situation could eventuate and transport infrastructure. A major focus of the transport and infrastructure vision is the significant upgrade to the state's rail network which is essential for the future prosperity of all sectors of the economy and will shape Queensland's public transportation into the future. The Plan recognises Queensland as an 'Energy State' and reaffirms the Western Downs as the 'Energy Capital' of Australia. I applaud the State Government for the direction taken with the Queensland Plan.
COMMENT Cr Ray Brown Mayor, Western Downs Regional Council
Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise Chief Executive Officer Shane Charles, Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Ray Brown, QGC Operations Director Walter Simpson, Western Downs Councillor Carolyn Tillman and Chinchilla Family Support Centre Manager Doreen Goldsmid at the QGC Chinchilla office opening.
WATER WOES
SUPPLY IN NO DANGER, SAYS MAYOR
R
OMA residents experienced a unique occurrence this month when three of our six highvolume water bores malfunctioned in quick succession. Our staff quickly identified the problem and implemented strategies to manage usage from the affected reservoirs. As part of this, residents were asked to refrain from using sprinklers, hoses and irrigation systems for a 24 hour period. The event initiated plenty of comment. One correct observation was that the commercial water clients were able to access water from the standpipe facility while restrictions were still in place for town residents and yes, that situation is not a good look. The reasoning for this was the standpipe water in Station Street is supplied from a different set of bores, none of which were affected by the breakdowns on the western side of town. The decreased pressures reported in the western side of town were in the vicinity of the malfunctions and were actually caused by our staff manually adjusting the pressures to preserve water in the main reservoir. We have invested heavily in our water networks and we know that we do have enough bores at present and our water supply is not in any danger of running out. The downside is that we do not yet have enough aboveground infrastructure: water storage, treatment plants and reservoirs. There are not too many opportunities out there for funding this sort of work at any time so we welcome the commercial sales, which equate to almost 10 percent of Roma's total water consumption and the revenue it generates. Being able to sustainably sell that water is one important way for our community to obtain some advantage from the
COMMENT Cr Robert Loughnan Mayor of Maranoa Regional Council
resource sector activities in the region. If we lose that, our only other option is to revert to our traditional reliance on grant funding and rates. My council recently ceased all water standpoint sales in Injune, due to the negative impact on that town's residential water pressures. We would have no problem repeating it in Roma or anywhere else if it were needed, however, at this point, it most definitely is not. So, yes, the gas companies do buy water from our town water supply, as do road reconstruction crews and many other entities, all with my support. Sadly, our agricultural enterprises and households have also become regular clients due to the acute shortage of surface water underpinning what has become a heartbreaking drought for so many. I thank the people of Roma for their patience and understanding last month, and for all those enduring the severe drought conditions, our thoughts are with you.
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DOWN TO BUSINESS
DOWN TO BUSINESS ORIGIN ENERGY SHOWS OFF NEW SURAT BASIN FACILITIES
J
ournalists were given a first-hand look at the Surat Basin's booming coal seam gas industry when Origin conducted a media tour of its Talinga and Condabri facilities on October 18. The Talinga site is home to 111 wells, 104 of which have the capacity to produce gas, and the journalists’ visit appeared to be perfectly timed as they witnessed a flare-off at the processing plant. Origin representatives then walked the journalists through the site's water treatment facility as they fielded questions about the process involved with
turning the by-product of the gas extraction process - salty water - into water safe for human consumption. The Condabri development, which is still under construction, covers an area of almost 46,000 hectares from north of Miles to the south-east of Condamine and is slated to become the company's largest and most productive gas field when it reaches peak operation. From the tour bus, the journalists watched the site's new gas processing plant and water treatment facility take shape.
DOWN TO BUSINESS
5
1 6
1. Condabri’s new dining room 2. The media room at Condabri brings the comforts of home
3. Origin’s Scott Bird explains the process
2
4. The tour included a visit to the water treatment plant at Talinga
7
5. The processing facility 6. Workers at Condabri undergo a blood alcohol test every morning 7. The dining room at the brand new Condabri facility
3
8. Workers at Condabri can keep fit on the job
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DOWN TO BUSINESS
‘NERVE CENTRE’ OPENING
QGC CENTRE OPENS IN TOWN QGC’S OPENS NEW $15 MILLION SURAT BASIN HEADQUARTERS IN CHINCHILLA
Q
GC'S new state-of-the-art "nerve centre" in Chinchilla has been lauded as a major achievement for the region by the company's operations director. The $15 million complex, which was officially unveiled on October 8 in front of about 200 people - including staff and representatives from Western Downs Regional Council, community groups and the media - cements the gas giant firmly in the middle of its Surat Basin operation. After reflecting on the company's "modest" beginnings in Chinchilla in 2005, operations director Walter Simpson told the crowd the facility was something he believed the entire community should be proud of. "The office is the nerve centre of our Surat Basin operations," Mr Simpson said.
‘
QGC is the first company to put their money where their mouth is.
We’re helping young people stay and work in country towns. But we’re not an employment agency.
We are Natural Gas.
Together we’re doing good things for Queensland. weareqgc.com.au Making the most of Queensland’s Natural Advantage Authorised by: R. Millhouse, QGC, Level 30, 275 George St, Brisbane, QLD, Australia 4000
Western Downs Mayor Ray Brown
"This is QGC's permanent home in Chinchilla. "It's an achievement Chinchilla, the Western Downs and indeed Australia can be proud of." In total, 130 staff are based in the new facility. The complex was built by Hutchinson Builders and incorporates a state-of-the-art 24-hour control room, which allows operators to monitor and regulate the operation of wells, processing facilities and the pipeline that will supply gas to Gladstone for export. WDRC mayor Ray Brown said the investment represented QGC's "commitment to the community". "This office is a wonderful step in showing QGC is committed to supporting our overall communities," he told Surat Basin News. "To me, putting your admin staff and control staff where your activity is value adding." During his address, councillor Brown spoke about coexistence between agriculture and the energy sector, before adding he believed the new QGC facility set a precedent to other mining companies in the Surat Basin. "QGC is the first company to put their money where their mouth is," he said.
DOWN TO BUSINESS HUTCHINSON BUILDERS WINS MAJOR INDUSTRY AWARD FOR QGC BUILDING
REWARD FOR HARD WORK I
t may not have been instantly visible during the official opening but the technical expertise and toil that went in to constructing QGC's Chinchilla office has been recognised as one of the year's best construction projects. Hutchinson Builders won the coveted $15.5 million contract to build the stateof-the-art facility and created what is arguably the most eye-catching commercial premises in the south-west Queensland town. Once the project team had gone tools down, the building captured immediate attention by claiming the award for the best commercial building/office accommodation (over $15m) at the Downs and Western Master Builders Housing and Constructions Awards. In a gala event at Toowoomba's City Golf Club in late July, the Hutchinson Builders team got its hands on the silverware and received public recognition that the facility truly is one of the Surat
Basin's best. In addition, the company's electrical and data contractor, Perigon, won a National Electrical Contractors Association Queensland state award for the its role in the project. The Chinchilla office represents the latest chapter in a long-standing relationship between Hutchinson Builders and the gas giant. The company previously constructed a $57 million supply and modular accommodation facility for QGC in the Surat Basin and its Toowoomba construction manager, Peter Lee, said the Chinchilla project was "another step in furthering the relationship" "It was an important project for us," he said. "It's (QGC's) premier building and office (so) right from the get-go, we were keen to get the job. "A lot of time and effort went into it and to win the award was pretty good."
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DOWN TO BUSINESS
TOOWOOMBA MOVE SIGNALS BOOMING BUSINESS
RETRACOM SETS UP SHOP W
hile it is no secret business is booming in the resource-rich Surat Basin, one Toowoombabased company is also experiencing soaring demand for its products. The Retracom Group is a local leader in transportable building manufacturing, insulated panel building systems and transportable building hire. In operation for almost four decades, the family-owned business is based in Brisbane and recently opened the doors to its new office - called Retracom Hire
- in Charlton, just outside Toowoomba. With a new location close to the bustling Warrego Highway, the business services the Surat Basin by supplying transportable site offices for hire to major infrastructure and mining projects. The company's general manager, Shannon Porter, said he believed the move would prove successful as projects in the region aimed to source locally. Retracom Hire recently secured a contract with QGC and Mr Porter
admitted business was keeping his team on its toes. "At the moment, we have more demand than supply," he said. "Retracom has responded to the demand for quality accommodation and in just the last three months, invested over $1 million in new fleet for the region. "We were very serious on expanding and looked at a number of places but Toowoomba is the place to grow."
Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprises chief executive officer Shane Charles praised Retracom Group's decision to set up camp in the Garden City and said he hoped other businesses would follow suit. "This is a great example of how we can help facilitate new businesses moving to Toowoomba that are looking to take advantage of the many opportunities available in the Surat Basin," Mr Charles said.
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DOWN TO BUSINESS
INDUSTRY REPORT
BASIN HAS BIG FUTURE GROWTH SET TO CONTINUE FOR 20 YEARS, ACCORDING TO DELOITTE REPORT
I
f consultancy firm Deloitte is on the money with its latest report, the Surat Basin appears perfectly positioned to continue its growth explosion over the next two decades. According to the report - called Catching the Next Wave - five new "super-growth" sectors are tipped to drive an additional $250 billion into the Australian economy between now and 2033. The report was released earlier this month and identifies agribusiness, gas, tourism, wealth management and international education as the country's next boom sectors. Despite a predicted downturn in mining exports and tough times for Queensland's coal industry in coming years, the Surat Basin looks set to go from strength to strength on the back of coal seam gas, agriculture and a burgeoning tourism market. Report co-author Chris Richarsdon, a partner with Deloitte Access
EYE ON AGRICULTURE: Agribusiness has been tipped as one of the country's five "super-growth" sectors, according to consultancy firm Deloitte. Photo Katie Cameron Economics, said that while mining will continue to drive prosperity during the next 20 years, be believed the sectors identified could provide growth from different directions. "These sectors hold out not only the promise of new wave of growth," he said. "They offer us a way to diversify beyond mining's boom and bust. "It's all about catching the next wave. "Mining will continue as a major
driver of our prosperity, but that boom is slowing and our competitive advantage is being challenged." Agribusiness, gas and tourism are expected to grow at more than 10 percent annually for the next 20 years - three times faster than the expected average global growth rate but overregulation and a shortage of younger primary producers have been identified as possible stumbling blocks.
Santos GLNG drivers Speed limit changes As part of our continued efforts to improve road safety, Santos GLNG and our contractors must now adhere to speciďŹ c speed zones. These changes may impact you on your travels so please be aware of the following:
50 Forestry roads our maximum speed limit is 50km/h unless a lower speed limit is signed.
60 Unsealed roads our maximum speed limit is 60km/h unless a lower speed limit is signed.
80 Sealed council controlled roads our maximum speed limit is 80km/h unless a lower speed limit is signed.
State controlled roads and highways as per signed speed limit. As we will be travelling at lower speed limits at times, we will do our best to pull over and let local traf½c pass 7antos +02+ and contractor driver behaviour will be recorded by our -n :ehicle 1onitoring 7ystem -:17
If you have any issues concerning our new speed zones or driver behaviour, please call 1800 761 113 or email Santos.Drive.GLNG@santos.com
santosglng.com
Santos GLNG
@SantosGLNG
DOWN TO BUSINESS Origin - ASX Code: ORG
Santos - ASX Code: STO
Transfield Services - ASX Code: TSE
New Hope - ASX Code: NHC
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14.60
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15.10
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13.80
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Share price listed was accurate at close of business on the days listed in 2013
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4.00
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Share price listed was accurate at close of business on the days listed in 2013
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Share price listed was accurate at close of business on the days listed in 2013
LOCAL BUSINESS SUCCESS STORY
OZCON GRABS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND IN BASIN
O
zcon Industries boss Kieran Chiverton has some simple advice for local businesses aiming to expand: there are still plenty of opportunities left in the Surat Basin. Mr Chiverton launched the Dalby-based business in 2005 and, with his wife, Rhiannon, has transformed it from a two-person operation into a thriving entity that now employs about 125 full-time staff and has branches in Brisbane, Toowoomba and Miles. Ozcon Industries offers pipe processing and general metal engineering services, in addition to a local, highquality machining shop and, while the company is now Australia's largest local threader for pipe, Mr Chiverton said he had no plans to relocate.
"Dalby's my home town and it's going to stay my home town," he said passionately as he showed Surat Basin News around the site. "I think it would be disrespectful to build a business here and then move it to Brisbane." One of Ozcon Industries' key strategic directives is sustainability and Mr Chiverton said he and his wife were committed to ensuring the business remained viable post-resource rush. "It's okay to gear up while the boom is on but we intend to still be here when it's gone and other companies have moved out," he explained. Ozcon Industries currently exports its products to South America, Africa, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand,
and is in the process of increasing production in China, a move Mr Chiverton says "should create more jobs here". The company injects more than $5 million into the community annually through salaries and Mr Chiverton said he believed the numbers proved small businesses involved in the resources and energy sectors could still prosper in the ever-present shadow of the industry giants. "There's a lot of opportunity here," he said. "We've currently got about 5000 tonnes of stock on site and I think we're in a prime position. "We were a very little, two-person operation but we saw an opportunity and took it."
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DOWN TO BUSINESS Cockatoo Coal - ASX Code: COK
Blue Energy - ASX Code: BUL
Linc Energy - ASX Code: LNC
Senex - ASX Code: SXY
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0.78
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0.76
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0.06
1.20
0.74
0.45
0.04
1.10
0.72
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Share price listed was accurate at close of business on the days listed in 2013 - *trading suspended between Oct-16-Oct 23
3 Oct
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Share price listed was accurate at close of business on the days listed in 2013
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Share price listed was accurate at close of business on the days listed in 2013
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Share price listed was accurate at close of business on the days listed in 2013
SURAT BASIN PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY
EZYQUIP BOSS LOVES ROMA LIFE E
zyquip Hire Roma branch manager Mathew McClure is enjoying life in Roma with his family after moving from Mildura in August last year. Mathew said Roma Ezyquip is an equipment hire company and their forte is heavy earthmoving equipment but they also have much smaller equipment. "We deal with a lot of oil and gas companies, roadwork companies, right down to local tradesmen," he said. "Our branch deals with customers from Chinchilla all the way through to the
South Australian border and north to Injune and Arcadia Valley. "We've also worked with a lot of shires out west like Murweh, Blackall/Tambo, Quilpie and Paroo." Matthew said Roma is a pretty little town and his family love the bush and country lifestyle. "I love the weather and I find it quite moderate after coming from Mildura where it ranges from -1 in winter to 50 degrees in summer," he said. Mathew is married to wife Sasha have
two children Mitch and Charlie aged six and three respectively. Mathew said the family loves to get away on weekends. "With work so busy we've had to capitalise on weekends away so we've bought a campervan," he said. "We've been to a lot of local spots like Mitchell and Surat and we're planning on going to Carnarvon Gorge in the future. "It's good to get away with family and away from the television and work."
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24 Oct
DOWN TO BUSINESS
JOBS BOOM
TREASURER SAYS MINING STILL STRONG IN QLD THE mining boom in Queensland is far from death's door, according to Treasurer Tim Nicholls. Speaking at the Queensland Property Council lunch last week, Mr Nicholls said he believed, despite strong media coverage in the past few months about the downturn in the industry, things still looked promising for the state. "In the months of July and August the total volume of seaborne coal shipped out of Queensland ports was a record," he said. "We shipped over 34 million tonnes over those two months."
SPOTLIGHT ON FORTESCUE SAFETY SAFETY at Fortescue Metals Group's Christmas Creek mine under scrutiny after a second worker was seriously injured in as many months. On October 22, a 42-year-old man was seriously injured on the Pilbara mine site when a dump truck ran into the back of another. The incident follows another in August, in which a 26-year-old man was killed at the same site.
DATA SHOWS BUSINESS IS BOOMING T
he latest statistical data released by REMPLAN shows the Toowoomba and Surat Basin regions continue to remain a front runner for the Queensland economy in terms of jobs and economic activity. Unemployment in the Toowoomba region has fallen from 4.9% in March this year to 4.8% whilst the Surat Basin region is marginally lower at 4.5%. By comparison, unemployment for Queensland has dropped from 6.5% in March to sit at 6.2% which is nearly 1 ½ % higher than Toowoomba and 1.7% higher than the Surat Basin region. The Health Care and Social Assistance sector is the biggest employer for Toowoomba providing 8918 jobs, followed by Retail Trade at 7026, Education and Training at 6490. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries also remains strong employing 3642 people. TSBE CEO Mr Shane Charles welcomed the news as a positive result for Toowoomba and the Surat Basin and a good omen for economic sustainability into the future. "Anecdotally business and industry have been feeling the continuation of economic activity throughout the region, however, it is great to have the figures to substantiate this perception" Mr Charles said. "Growth in residential and non-residential building approvals is also encouraging up
significantly from last year in both Toowoomba and the Surat Basin region and an indication of sustained growth to come." Residential approvals in Toowoomba have reached $235.2 M for the 2012/13 period which is up 14.8% on last year and $395.4 M for the Surat Basin region showing an increase of 30% on 2011/12. Non Residential approvals in Toowoomba are at $138.9 M for the 2012/13 period up 66.75% since 2011/12 and $321.5 M for the Surat Basin region up a whopping 111.5% for the year. "Whilst it is great to see some of the significant growth across the region, it is even more pleasing to see recent data indicate sustained economic activity moving forward" Mr Charles said.
PROTESTERS CHARGED THREE men have been charged with a total of 15 offences following a violent confrontation between gas workers and protesters near Tara. Despite claims that protesters had suffered injuries from being run down by gas company vehicles on October 5, Dalby Police said no charges had been laid against the company or its workers. After viewing video footage of the incident recorded from within the vehicles, police said there was no evidence to suggest the men were run down by the company vehicles. No complaints were made to police about those workers. Instead, police charged a 19-yearold Wiembilla man with wilful damage and public nuisance and a 38-year-old man, also from Wiembilla, with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and public nuisance. A 39-year-old man from Chinchilla was charged with three counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, five counts of threatening violence, two counts of wilful damage and one count of public nuisance. The men will appear in Chinchilla Magistrates Court on December 11.
DOWN TO BUSINESS
SANTOS OPENING
NEW OFFICE OPENS VIRTUAL WORLD MARANOA RESIDENTS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A NEW SANTOS SHOPFRONT THAT CAN TAKE THEM ON A VIRTUAL TOUR
Maranoa councillor Ree Price tested out the Santos GLNG interactive table at the Virtual Field Explorer launch in Roma.
M
aranoa residents and people interested in the operations of Santos GLNG's Coal Seam Gas operations in the region can now explore the gas fields using their hands not their feet. Visitors to Santos GLNG's Roma Shopfront on McDowall Street can use the newly opened Virtual Field Explorer which is a state of the art mega touch screen and interactive table displaying the company’s CSG operations. Santos GLNG Maranoa regional manager Sam Klaas said the Virtual Explorer is a valuable tool to raise the visibility of what Santos is doing in the field. "It gives accurate information about those activities currently being conducted in the field at any one time and is an adjunct to the tours program that we run," he said. "The tours occasionally can't go ahead because of inclement weather or other reasons so this is another option for people to see what is going on." Mr Klass said users can geographically locate areas of interest and experience fly overs and virtual tours. "People can just drop into the shop and see exactly what is going on as if they are in the field," he said. "We are encouraging anyone to come in and it
is open to the general public." Maranoa residents who want information about Santos operations or have issues or concerns can drop into the shop and see exactly what is going on. "We've got all our major stakeholders who are really looking for information all the time and responding to constituents and now that information is at their fingertips," Mr Klaas said. "They've just got to come in to that interactive table and pull up all the relevant data that they need to see. "If they've got a problem they can come in here with the person who has the question and they can pull it up on the screen and see it for themselves."
TOYOTA T OYOTA ACCESS A SMARTER WAY TO BUY
Page30 SEE STORY
Partnership announcement
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Advertisement
Allan Jones
Creating Indigenous Employment Opportunities Experienced bulldozer driver Allan Jones (pictured) works for RBY Projects Pty Ltd, one of many companies benefiting from the resource sector development in Queensland. RBY Projects Pty Ltd, an Indigenous owned and managed resources contractor, works closely with Origin to ensure local Indigenous people and businesses benefit from the Australia Pacific LNG Project work occurring on their traditional land through education, training and employment. RBY Projects’ work for Australia Pacific LNG involves construction of lease pads for drill rigs and associated civil works including rehabilitation, labour hire and water management. Allan, who has been with RBY Projects for eight months, said the company created welcome local employment opportunities. “RBY Projects has equipped me with training and skills to work in the resources sector as well as the opportunity to mentor young Indigenous trainees and share my skills,” Mr Jones said. Managing Director Derek Flucker said RBY Projects created community sustainability while ensuring construction contracts were delivered on time and within budget and to the highest level of safety and environmental standards. RBY recently received a safety award from Origin and Australia Pacific LNG in recognition of high safety standards. “Creating sustainable work is one of our key focuses – we need to have contracts that are long-term which allows us to meet our training goals and provide a career path for our employees,” Mr Flucker said. “More than one-third of our workforce is Indigenous but we want to see this figure grow as our contracts with Origin and Australia Pacific LNG develop.” “If Indigenous people have security, they can buy houses and develop better lives for their families. Jobs in this sector provide a great opportunity for Indigenous people to remain in their communities while receiving meaningful training and wages.” “We provide training and support for all our employees to ensure they develop the skills to progress to more senior roles. Our retention rate is higher than the industry average as we have strong support structures and mentoring programs in place within our contracts.” Mr Flucker is also the Chairperson of Aboriginal Enterprises in Mining, Exploration in Mining, Exploration and Energy (AEMEE), the peak national Indigenous mining and resource sector network and association.
Every effort is made to engage and support local businesses and suppliers, with A$9 billion spent on contracts and suppliers in Australia and of that, A$7.25 billion spent in Queensland to 30 June 2013.
fOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL 1800 526 369 OR VISIT WWW.APLNG.COM.AU
BUILDING THE BASIN
BUILDING THE BASIN NEW PARTNERSHIP
SANTOS AND APLNG JOIN FORCES SANTOS AND APLNG PARTNERSHIP SAVES HUNDREDS OF KILOMETRES OF GAS PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION
A
new agreement between two of Australia's biggest liquefied natural gas players will result in an increase in the efficiency with which Surat Basin gas is transported. Santos GLNG and Australia Pacific LNG announced in a joint statement that a gas swap and infrastructure connection agreement had been reached. While the companies said the agreement would "provide flexibility" and allow both to "realise capital and operational efficiencies", the biggest beneficiary is the environment. The agreement means both companies'
Surat Basin projects will not require any further pipeline infrastructure to transport. Without the agreement, both projects would need a total of 140 kilometres of additional pipelines and multiple connection points at compressor stations to each deliver its gas to Curtis Island. Santos Queensland vice president Trevor Brown said the agreement demonstrated the "real efforts" both companies are making to deliver long-lasting efficiencies. "It's a win-win for both projects and puts us in a strong position as we work
towards the delivery of first LNG in 2015," he said. David Baldwin, Origin's LNG chief executive officer, agreed with Mr Brown and said the agreement reduced the footprint of the industry. Two pipeline connection points will be built between Santos GLNG and Australia Pacific LNG infrastructure. The first pipeline connection located on the Santos-operated Fairview gas field, north of Roma, while the second will the Santos GLNG Scotia gas field, east of Roma, to Australia Pacific LNG's main gas transmission pipeline.
BUILDING THE BASIN
BRIDGE PROJECT RECOGNITION
JELLICOE BRIDGE ATTRACTS AWARD
MRRT SUBMISSIONS OPEN
FK GARDNER AND SONS PICKS UP AWARD FOR SPECIALISED PROJECT
THE Coalition has released draft legislation set to repeal the controversial Minerals Resource Rent Tax. As part of its election promise, the Minerals Resource Rent Tax Repeal and Other Measures Bill 2013 will scrap the mining tax from July 1 next year. The legislation is set to be introduced soon after parliament resumes on November 12. Submissions on the draft legislation are open until October 31.
W
hile FK Gardner and Sons Group has an undeniably strong presence in the Surat Basin, Toowoomba residents are more grateful for its ubiety in the Garden City following the devastating 2011 flood. Raging floodwater severely damaged the Jellicoe Street bridge during the event, which had a major impact on local businesses and the community, and it was FKG Group that was tasked with facilitating repairs on behalf of Toowoomba Regional Council. Replacing the bridge was a challenging task, with design and construction being undertaken to ensure the structure could withstand a similar event in the future,
while allowing easy movement for its vehicular and pedestrian users. With all eyes in the city on the bridge reconstruction, the FKG Group team, led by project manager Brendan McGillion, undertook the $2 million job with gusto and the team's work was rewarded in July when it won the coveted civil contractor of the year category at the Queensland Master Builders Awards. Mr McGillion admitted the project had been made even more difficult because of the effects of the floodwater. "A significant challenge for our team was ensuring the successful translation of a design into a physical location where
debris and creek bed damage was so evident," he said. "Even tasks including identifying services such as electrical conduits and gas lines required an additional degree of care from site teams where maximum waterflow had dislodged the position of them." FKG Group community engagement officer Debbie Zajacek said the award was a fitting reward for the project team. "FKG is proud to receive this award, which recognises the team's proactive and sustained community engagement effort, which was effective from project planning through to project completion," she said.
ction onstru C l ia c er Comm
t & Design Developmen
MORE MINES OPEN IN CENTRAL QUEENSLAND ALMOST 1300 square kilometres of land in the Bowen Basin have been opened up for coal mining by the Queensland Government. In total, seven parcels of land around Middlemount, Nebo, Moranbah and Glenden - have been made available. Natural Resources and Mines Minister Andrew Cripps said new tendering processes should expedite the approval process and give smaller explorers the opportunity to make their marks.
Civvil Construc tion
Camps & Aviation
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Solutio
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ARE YOU AN ASBESTOS REMOVAL WORKER?
Any worker removing more than 10m² of non-friable asbestos must complete new training before 31 December 2013. Don’t leave it until it’s too late. Register for the Master Builders Asbestos Worker Program today! Call 1300 13 60 02, visit www.masterbuilders.asn.au/asbestos or email training@masterbuilders.asn.au.
BUILDING THE BASIN
ASBESTOS REMOVAL
D
TRAINING COURSE ROLLED OUT IN REGION
owns and Western builders are getting up to speed on asbestos removal, thanks to a new Master Builders training course. Regional manager Tony Ryder said the course in the removal of non-friable asbestos was being rolled out across the region. "The course will be delivered in Downs & Western each month with courses filling quickly" Mr Ryder said. "All workers involved in B Class asbestos removal are required to undertake this
training to be able to continue to do this work after 31 December 2013. "Anyone who deals with non-friable asbestos should be undertaking the course to make themselves aware of the dangers in handling asbestos and the requirements of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. "You need to ensure that when you leave the job you have not contaminated yourself, your client's premises, your vehicle, your workmates, your home and family.
CUP RACE DAY @ MILES Saturday 23rd November 2013 Gates open at 11am - First Race 1:30pm Features:
5 Race Program Fashions of the Field Free Kids Entertainment Licensed Bar • Betting Ring Live Band after Last Race BBQ & Tea Booth • Courtesy Bus Come & Kick Start the Festive Season & Experience country racing at its best!
Table Bookings
Audrey Cadzow 4627 1228 Free Camping Admission - Adult - $15 Student/Concession -$10 Children up to 12 - FREE
GOLD Sponsors: Boodles Concrete, Trakida Rose City Concrete, Queensland Hotel, SBLMS/Murra MEC Electrical Silver Sponsors: HWS Lawyers, Tapscott Homes, Ray White Miles, Volvo Trucks Brisbane Bronze Sponsors: Western Fleet Services (Craig Black Group), JJ Richards
"In this course we give you the tools to make that a reality." Participants gain knowledge in the hazards posed by the removal of nonfriable asbestos and the safe removal processes. As part of the course, participants complete a General Safety Induction refresher to ensure that workers are safe and compliant with current regulations. Contact Master Builders Downs & Western on 4699 4100 for further information on course registration.
BUILDING THE BASIN
AIRPORT ADVANCES
WAGNERS AIRPORT TO OPEN DOORS
COMMUNITY GETS CHANCE TO CATCH AN INSIDE GLIMPSE OF ONE OF TOOWOOMBA’S BIGGEST PROJECTS
M
ore than 10,000 visitors are expected to get their first glimpse of Wellcamp Airport when its gates are opened to the public next month. The red-dirt construction site will display the bare bones of an airport-inthe-making - a vast project laying the building blocks for the region's airborne future. A 3D fly-over video released by Wagners has demonstrated the ultimate vision for the site in more clarity. It depicts an integrated business and industrial precinct complete with palmlined avenues, fountains, and a wetlands boardwalk. The 2.87km runway - only 300m shorter than Brisbane Airport's - is due for completion by April 2014. Construction of the terminal will follow, with FK Gardner and Sons engaged to finish the project by August. Wagners chairman John Wagner said the first commercial flights should be welland-truly running by this time next year. He said Wellcamp would be cheaper to run than Brisbane Airport. "It will be a low-cost airport and, as such, we'd like to have those lower costs passed on to the travelling public," he
said. "All the major airlines have expressed serious interest in operating from Wellcamp." Direct runs to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and regional centres including Roma will begin straight away, with further flight paths to follow. The runway will be capable of accommodating 747 jets, though Wagners has stated it "would only be for intermittent charter cargo flights" - most likely exporting goods to Asia. Mr Wagner said rail consortiums were beginning to seriously look at building a railway line from Melbourne to the Port of Brisbane, connecting with the Charlton Wellcamp industrial estate. Work on the rail line could potentially begin next year. "That project is starting to get a lot of legs," he said. Wellcamp Airport will host a community open day on Sunday, November 24. The 3D fly-over video can be viewed at www.suratbasin.com.au Photo: Wagners Wellcamp Airport Project Manager Phil Gregory on site.
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24 Railway St (Bottom of overhead bridge), Chinchilla REAL ESTATE SPECIALISTS
Phone 07 4662 7050 Margaret J Whip
Real Estate Lic 3007037
Leanne Clark 0427 816 774 Tony Mitchell 0421 195 610
www.chinchillapropertysalesrentals.com.au
BUILDING THE BASIN
KNOW YOUR WORKERS
SUPERANNUATION CHANGES W
ith the deadline for paying employees' last quarter superannuation looming, Surat Basin businesses need to double-check they are paying the correct amount for the right people, according to Dalbybased accountancy firm BMO. From the start of the 2013-14 financial year, the Superannuation Guarantee for employees increased to 9.25 percent of gross wages and employers only have until this week - October 28 - to finalise payments for the July-September quarter. Adrian Rasmussen, a partner at the BMO Business Centre, said the Superannuation Guarantee deadline was a "good prompt" for all businesses to ensure they were paying the right amount of superannuation to all the right people. "We know there are a number of small
businesses out there who engage workers as independent contractors when they are really employees," Mr Rasmussen said. "Some business owners might think they are avoiding extra paperwork if they do this, however, what they may not know is they can face serious consequences and hefty fines. "People mistakenly think that being classified as a contractor was as simple as providing a tax invoice with your ABN and supplying your own tools (but) the rules for classifying who is a worker and who is a contractor are much more complex than that." Mr Rasmussen said it was critical that business owners recognised that, while a worker can supply an ABN and offer to work as a contractor, the law may take a different view altogether. "You may still have an obligation to meet
award standards including leave entitlements, deduct PAYG tax, remit payroll tax to the (Australian Taxation Office), pay 9.25% superannuation and declare their payment under your WorkCover policy," he explained. Mr Rasmussen said various arms of government - from FairWork to the ATO - were cracking down on the distinction, so it's important to get it right. "This has been an issue for many years, but we are seeing increased scrutiny, so we are strongly recommending that if you are unsure of how you should be engaging your workers, then seek professional advice," he said. "We know it can be really tough as a small business owner trying to keep up with all of your legal obligations, but we don't want to see businesses facing unexpected consequences. It really isn't worth the risk."
COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE AGRICULTURE & MINING INDUSTRIES - LAND ACCESS GUIDE
J
ohn Cotter, Queensland Chairman GasFields Commission, recently stressed the need for mining companies to show respect for the plight of the agricultural industry during the current drought conditions. "Showing Respect" is a consideration that is easier carried out when the issues have been clarified. In many instances it isn't "lack of respect" that is missing, but simply the understanding of how, why and what matters on an agricultural property. C&R Consulting have experienced the problems these innocent misunderstandings can cause and have devised a course specifically to introduce mining personnel to the unwritten rules of the agricultural industry. In 2010 the Queensland Government introduced the Land Access Code (the 'Code'), which stipulated the conditions of entry to the resource sectors when
accessing private properties. The 'Code' was developed to enable a coherent working relationship between the Landowner and Resource Sector, including contractors and consultants. It states best practice guidelines for communication between the holders of authorities (Resource Sector), and owners and occupiers of private land (Landholder). The 'Code' states that any person required to access a property MUST be trained in the guidelines of the Land Access Code (2010). However, the Land Access Code (2010) stipulated the rights and responsibilities of the different parties involved with overlapping land use. Generic rules and regulations can be put in place for the benefit of the multitude. They cannot, however, explain the intricacies of the unwritten rules that hold a community together. The resource sector with rights to access a property does not
necessarily understand the subtleties of the agricultural industry and the possible effects on the rural community. For example, the importance of closing a gate, maintaining the fences, road use, back burning, weed control and the respect of property boundaries. Communications between the sectors is essential. It is important that the landholder knows when mining personnel will be on the property and with what equipment. In turn, the landowner needs to advise the mining company of their property programme (e.g. back burning, crop harvesting or spraying, and cattle movement) to avoid injury or harm to all involved. The resources exploration and development companies have obligations to act fairly and justly to the agricultural businesses they impact. In turn, farmers and graziers have an obligation to enter into discussions and
Land Access Induction
C&R Consulting offers a new Land Access Induction - a team with experience from both sides of the fence. Delivered by Lennon Training. Courses: Generic Land Access Induction Land Access Coordinator Induction Group and On-site Bookings
1/2 day course $365.00GST inclusive 1 day course $522.00GST inclusive POA
Includes: Policy, procedures and methods; Communication Etiquette; Access Points; Stock Handling; Weeds and Erosion; Party Obligations and Compensation; Risk Assessment; Dispute Resolution; and more. In Compliance with: Land Access Code Queensland Novemebr 2010 and Queensland Land Access Laws 2010. For course schedules and bookings contact LENNON TRAINING Ph: (07) 4982 0188 Em: admin@lennontraining.com
C&R Consulting PTY LTD (07) 4725 3751 www.candrconsulting.com.au TOWNSVILLE
EMERALD
PERTH
LONDON
to allow approved activity to be undertaken. Mandatory land access conditions apply to all resource permits issued in Queensland: • Providing notice of entry • Induction training • Access points, roads and tracks • Livestock and property • Obligation to prevent spread of declared pests • Camps • Items brought onto land • Gates, grids and fences In conjunction with the need for training as stipulated in the 'Code' enforced by the Queensland Government, C&R Consulting has spent the past two years developing Land Access Induction Courses (LAIC) to enable consistency of procedures between the Resources sectors, their employees, contractors and consultants and Landowners. It is moulded around the 'Code' and Guide to Queensland's New Land Access Laws (2010), in recognition of the statement "A holder must ensure each person acting for the holder, receives information and training specific to the obligations of the holder". The LAIC provides relevant information and facts on accessing properties, ensuring the safety of all concerned, protecting the production methods of the landholder (including crops, stock, horses and wildlife), and increasing the potential for coexistence between the industries. The intention is to increase respect and knowledge of correct conduct in the workplace when the workplace is privately owned agricultural land. Practical components have been included to reinforce actions, including practical tools developed for the 'paper to paddock' scenarios. The LAIC has been through multiple reviews and is conducted by respected and trained Registered Training Organisation (RTO) qualified trainers with practical knowledge and first hand experienced of living on the land and working with the resource sector.
PLACES AND FACES
QGC
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CHINCHILLA OFFICE OPENING 1. CAUSE TO CELEBRATE: Enjoying the atmosphere at the opening are Shireen Bradford, Lucy Fletcher, Jemima Parish, Hayley Wolski and Ambre Bunch.
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3. OPENING THE DOORS: QGC staff Ian Ferguson and Daniel Bradford
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wait for the official unveiling to begin.
2. ALL SMILES: Robert Grant soaks
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up the sun before the opening.
4. COMMUNITY BOOST: QGC vicepresident of community, land and environment Tracey Winters shows Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprises chief executive officer Shane Charles around the Chinchilla office.
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5. QGC CREW: Enjoying the opening ceremony are Arnold Politch, Steven Daly and Robert Doyle. 6. COMMUNITY CELEBRATION: QGC communications manager Paul Larter and operations director Walter Simpson chat before the doors to the company's Chinchilla office are officially opened.
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7. BIG EVENT: Katie Taylor and Adam Daly were part of the strong contingent of staff at the QGC opening in Chinchilla.
LARGE INDUSTRIAL, TRUCK & HEAVY EARTH-MOVING RADIATORS, INTERCOOLERS, HEAT EXCHANGERS AND OIL COOLERS
6
PLACES AND FACES
Santos GLNG
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Caulfield Cup
M
3 2
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ore than 400 people donned their racing best and converged on Roma's Bassett Park to celebrate the Santos GLNG Caulfield Cup on October 19. In a show of community generosity, Santos GLNG provided free entry to the race meeting, a decision that proved popular as the carnival-like atmosphere grew. Before the barriers flew open, the gas giant hosted a luncheon for local landholders and proved it had touch of trackside couture by sponsoring the Fashions on the Field competition. Event judge Bronwyn Sheehan had her work cut out for her as fashionable fillies and dapper gents strutted their stuff on the main stage but when the dust settled, it was Serena Gane and Tamblyn Neithe who were crowned as the female and male winners respectively. On the track, the feature race was the fourth, the Santos GLNG Open Handicap and it was Jack'n'Me, piloted by jockey Lyall Appo, that claimed the $6500 winner's purse. The Mark Goodwin-trained gelding jumped from barrier two as the $2.50 race favourite and managed to secure a thrilling victory by a nose ahead of the in-form Shakes, trained by St George favourite Pat Webster and ridden by experienced hoop Gary Geran.
1. Ros Arthur, Penelope Arthur and
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Rachel Bell (Santos GLNG)
2.. Bronwyn Sheehan (Judge Fashions
on the Field) and Winner Best Dressed Lady Serena Gane
3. Katrina Marsh (Maranoa Regional
Council) and Kirsten York
4. Two of the Finalists for Best Dressed Man
5. Best Dressed Male Winner,Tamblyn Neithe, Sam Klaas (Santos GLNG) and Winner Best Dressed Lady, Serena Gane 6. David Lobb (Santos GLNG) and John and Trish Rowbotham
Seasonal Allocation Wanted
SURAT BASIN NEWS
Waterfind is looking for seller(s) in the Chinchilla Weir Water Supply Scheme to fill the following seasonal allocation buy order:
LAURELL ISON CHINCHILLA 07 4662 7368
Seasonal allocation water in the Chinchilla Weir WSS Up to 250ML All reasonable offers will be considered
Contact Waterfind to discuss water market opportunities in the Chinchilla Weir Water Supply Scheme
admin@waterfind.com.au www.waterfind.com.au
Blaze023800
Free call 1800 890 285
Hydraulic and Industrial Hose and Fittings
NICOLE BOYDTAYLOR DALBY 07 4672 5500
Plus a full range of associated products
KARIN-A ANE KING ROMA 4622 1411
8 Malduf Street CHINCHILLA
24 HOURS - 7 DAYS BREAKDOWN SERVICE
Phone 4669 1400
DALBY STORE OPENING LATE NOVEMBER
PLACES AND FACES
QGC AND BUSY AT WORK PARTNERSHIP
BUSY AT WORK & QGC PROGRAM
GRADUATES CELEBRATE W
Kelsie Barber enjoys a typical day at work at Elders Real Estate, Chinchilla
hen Kelsie Barber commenced her traineeship with Elders Real Estate Chinchilla in May last year she was a quiet and shy young girl with no real understanding for where her future career path would be taking her. Fast forward 17 months and today Ms Barber stands tall as a young and confident woman with clear career ambitions to go all the way to the top. Ms Barber is one of the first graduates from 200 trainees and apprentices expected to come through the QGC Strengthening Local Workforces Program. The three year partnership between QGC and BUSY At Work was formulated to attract apprentices and trainees into careers outside the Coal Seam Gas (CSG) industry. Principle and part owner of Elders Real Estate, Chinchilla Ms Tess Bourke said that the program has provided support both to Kelsie and to her as the employer. "The program has given Kelsie the leg up any young person needs to start out in the workforce," Ms Bourke said. "Kelsie is a breath of fresh air. She was so quiet when she first started and we now know she has a fantastic sense of humour and she is a little louder now. So much so her new title is The Director of First
Impressions," Ms Bourke added with a smile. BUSY At Work CEO, Mr Paul Miles said that BUSY At Work played an integral role to the success of the program. "Our function at BUSY is aimed at improving completion and retention rates through matching local businesses with the right apprentice or trainee. "To achieve this we provide a structured and continuous mentoring, skill development and care program throughout the life of the apprenticeship helping to safeguard our participants and keep them on the right track and focussed on their career goals. "Further to this we provide important life skills training such as budgeting, communication and teamwork skills to compliment the technical aspects of the formal training," Mr Miles said. QGC Vice President of Sustainability, Mr Brett Smith, said QGC was delighted to partner with BUSY at Work on this important community initiative. "QGC's $3.5 million investment in the Strengthening Local Workforces Program has helped generate 200 new jobs in nonresources industries spanning sectors from health to hospitality, administration to automotive services," said Mr Smith. "In addition to providing participants
with learning opportunities and job skills, the Program is ensuring that people across the Western Downs, Gladstone, North Burnett and Banana regions have diverse employment options outside the resources sector." Ms Barber said that the traineeship provided many more options for her future. "The skills I have gained have been a huge stepping stone helping me decide my path," she said. "When I started this job in Administration I just wanted to develop basic admin skills, not thinking I wanted to go any further into Real Estate. "I have since decided that I love it and want to stick with it. It has also allowed me to step out of my shell and given me so much more confidence. "I now know I want to keep moving forward in the real estate industry, get my Real Estate Licence and move up to a sales agent," Ms Barber said. Ms Barber now holds a Certificate III in Business. She was one of thirteen trainees and apprentices who celebrated with over 50 guests including family members and employers from across the Western Downs at the Chinchilla Palms Motor Inn last week. The second graduation from the program will take place in Gladstone.
TRADES & SERVICES
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Are you interested in making your mark in the Surat Basin? then contact Laurell on
4662 7368 or advertise@suratbasinnews.com.au
PLACES AND FACES
LARA BRUNNER
FACE TO FACE
LAING O’ROUKE ENVIROMENTAL CO-ORDINATOR LARA Brunner is a Surat Basin-based environmental co-ordinator with Laing O'Rourke. In a constantly-changing professional environment, she says she enjoys changing people's perception about what women bring to the industry. What company do you work for? Laing O'Rourke
personally. But the thing I love most is the people. Since joining the industry, I have been completely taken aback by the generosity of the workers towards causes or people in need within the community, or if one of their workmates is in trouble. There is a camaraderie and sense of community that you don't find in other industries.
Where is your site located? Our project office is about 15 minutes south of Miles.
What does it mean to you to be a women achieving in the construction industry? It's a pretty tough industry to get by and succeed in for anyone, let alone for a woman. It's been more of a challenge being taken seriously and earning respect as an environmental professional to be honest. That said, it definitely is an intimidating environment for women, I think probably less so these days with growing numbers of women out in the field. I've found that by getting out there and talking to people, being interested in and learning about their trade, the barriers come down pretty quickly. The best part is that I have the opportunity to change mindsets by just doing my job without the gender thing being an issue.
What suburb do you live in when you aren't on site at home? Currumbin on the Gold Coast. What is your official job title? Environmental co-ordinator How many years have you been working in the construction industry? A year-and-a-half. What do you love about the construction industry? I love the diversity of the job and the constantly-changing environment. It certainly keeps me on my toes and constantly challenged, which means I'm always growing both professionally and
TRADES & SERVICES
SURAT BASIN NEWS - SURAT BASIN NEWS - SURAT BASIN NEWS - SURAT BASIN NEWS - SURAT BASIN NEWS - SURAT BASIN NEWS
hydraulic hoses & fittings
tilt tray
real estate
towing
Surat Basin Tilt Tray Hire Pty Ltd
SURAT BASIN www.enzed.com.au
Chinchilla
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HOSE AND FITTING SPECIALISTS • Mining • Logging • Agricultural • Industrial • Automotive • Earthmoving • Transport
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Towing service to all areas 24/7 Phone (07) 4665 3000 Mobile 0428 184 055 Email: info@hiretilttray.com.au Website: www.hiretilttray.com.au ttention getter
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3 Trucks Available Prop: Chris Apsey
“If it needs shifting give us a call”
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Ph: 4669 1143 – Mob: 0429 701 684
water cartage
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13 13 62 4662 7038
Phone 07 4669 1966
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ENZED Surat Basin Malduf Street, Chinchilla suratbasin@enzed.com.au
office@chinchillafn.com.au
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• 9, 12 and 24,000 Litre Tanks available • Body Truck to Semi Loads • Using Chinchilla Town Water
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real estate transportable buildings
water cartage
elderschinchilla.com.au
Rob Davidson Water Carting
Elders Real Estate Chinchilla •Property Management •Sales •Livestock Tess
Kev
Owner/Principal
Ph 4662 8555
0409 466 233
114 Heeney St
Livestock
0409 033 988
• Dongas • Transportable buildings • Site huts • Demountables These are a vital, cost effective solution to any industry. If you need more room you can hire it or buy it, custom made for your business Phone 4955 4444 or 4933 3833 generalmanager@mpservices.net.au
Phone Laurell Ison 46627368 Surat Basin News • 12,000 or 24,000 litre water • Can carry 20ft containers (pins)
FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS SERVICING CHINCHILLA FOR 15 YEARS
Phone 0427 627 084 or 0437 249 096
PLACES AND FACES
COMMUNITY IMPACT
WORKERS ON THE MOVE WITH DONATION
ISSN 1835-6400
VIEW THE BACK EDITIONS ONLINE Read all of our back issues www.issuu.com/ suratbasinnews
THE LATEST NEWS ONLINE Keep in touch with the latest news with just a mouse click
www.suratbasin.com.au
SURAT BASIN NEWS Published by Chinchilla Newspapers Pty Ltd, 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413 Toll Energy's Senior Operation Manager Steven Booth and Site Operation Manager David Cusick present Chinchilla Aquatic Centre manager Riaz Jannif with a new treadmill for the facility.
T
oll Energy has put up the funds for a new treadmill at a Chinchilla gym as their employees flock to the facility. When the company moved to support QGC's LNG project this year, it was a race between Miles and Chinchilla to provide the accommodation. Kym and Rob Walters were the first to put together 45 Chinchilla villas for Toll Energy's crew at the Cypress Tourist Park.
Being based just across the road from Chinchilla's Aquatic and Fitness Centre means 30 city gym junkies now frequent the facility every week. This prompted management to give the machine, valued at more than $7000, to the Centre. Senior Operations Manager Steven Booth said keeping the team active was important, given how well they eat in the Western Downs. "We spend $10,000 a week at Miles
IGA on food alone," he said. "I'd say about 60% of our workforce out here are gym junkies; I'll be back this afternoon for a swim. "I know that here in Chinchilla 36 of the guys play touch footy, which is great to see." Toll Energy currently has four rooms in Wandoan, three in Dalby and a three-bedroom house in Miles, allowing their employees to follow the project as required.
DELIVERING A BETTER DEAL TO COMMERCIAL FUEL CUSTOMERS IN REGIONAL AND REMOTE AUSTRALIA: 100% Australian Owned & operated Supplying regional customers: • Transport contractors • Civil contractors • Mining and oil industry contractors • Farmers & graziers • Shire Councils etc With • National 24/7 refuelling network • Competitive price and delivery • On call service • Self bunded Diesel tanks - Rent or Buy • Frac tanks -For Rent Refuelling Depots BRISBANE 07 3895 4444 HEAD OFFICE CHINCHILLA 07 4662 7551 DEPOT INJUNE 07 4626 1244 DEPOT ROMA 07 4622 8333 DEPOT
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Your Contact: Geoff West-McInnes PO Box 565 Roma Qld 4455
Printed by APN Print Toowoomba 50 Industrial Avenue Toowoomba Q4350 2013 General Manager David Richardson, 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413, PO Box 138 Chinchilla Q4413, Phone 07 4662 7368
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