SBN Feb 2013

Surat BasinNEWS THURSDAY 28 JANUARY 2013

28 PAGES $1.10 inc GST

inside Our ghosts who mine Page 5 Raisin’ the roof Page 14

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SBNEWS The Team David Richardson General Manager Laurell Ison Media Sales Manager Beth Walker Graphic Design Jillian Poulsen Editor The Surat Basin News will publish every month and will be delivered via the three dominant newspapers of the region: the Chinchilla News,Western Star and Dalby Herald.

It will reach the homes and offices of almost 20,000 living, working and playing in the Surat Basin, connecting the business and mining communities throughout the booming region.

Plans are to make the newspaper more frequent as the development increases.

Surat Basin News is not 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.

Surat Basin News will allow local businesses to network and communicate with everyone in the 300 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.

With the Surat Basin region receiving national attention, Surat Basin News has gone online to ensure our readers in every corner of the country has the latest news sent directly to them.

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

inside this edition in theNews

pages 4-9

The construction industry has been going from strength to strength but is the boom all but over? Details page.

Towns in the Surat Basin have topped the list as some of the best places to invest in Australia. Read the full story of page 6.

"The RSPT (Resource Super Profits Tax) has created significant uncertainty for the future of mining investment into Australia and would impair the value of previously approved projects and exploration to the point that continued investment can no longer be justified," Xstrata Plc chief executive Mick Davis said after Xstrata announced earlier this month suspending $586 million of expenditure.

down tobusiness

pages 14-17 Injune talks UCG with Liberty Resources. Find out what happened on page 16.

Origin stands by its decision to pull funding for Roma’s Easter in the Country. Read why on page 17.

building theBasin

Placesandfaces

pages 18-23 pages 24-28 Santos worker is rewarded for his outstanding contribution.

Read the full story on page 20.

Thiess gets ready for their golf day. Page 22.

Titan Resources goes gangbusters. Page 23.

February’s Face to Face with MPC’S Amanda Dowd on page 24.

Out and about at the TSBE’s networking function in Dalby. Find out if you were snapped on page 25.

Read all about Chinchilla’s melon madness on page 28.

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www.suratbasin.com.au

Surat Basin NEWS

Published by Chinchilla Newspapers Pty Ltd, 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413, Printed by APN Print Toowoomba, 50 Industrial Avenue Toowoomba Q4350 (2012) General Manager - David Richardson, 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413, PO Box 138 Chinchilla Q4413

Our unique position within the major centres of the Surat Basin allows this newspaper to supply relevant and required information to our local communities.

This newspapers is staffed and driven by passionate locals who have an investment not only in their communities but also the people that reside in them. To gain a foothold in the Surat Basin talk to the people who will work as hard for your business as you do.

Next Issue will be available

28 March 2013 Double your profile and build your exposure in the unique Surat Basin

Utilise our local knowledge to help you succeed in the Surat Basin Start now phone Laurell or David 4662 7368

Phone Laurell 07 4662 7368 and start building your business www.issuu.com/suratbasinnews PAGE 2

Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 28 FEBRUARY 2013

this WEEK Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise Evening

Rynne says outlook is a sunny one uest speaker David Rynne had the audience's undivided attention at this month's Surat Basin Enterprise evening.

A good crowd turned up to the Dalby Bowls Club to mingle and share a drink for what has become a popular industry event.

Queensland Resources Council director of economics and infrastructure David Rynne deliverd an informative presentation to guests.

"The wages are unsustainable," he told the crowd.

"I know we're all enjoying them at the moment but they are now sustainable."

Speaking about what has been a tumultuous couple of years for the energy sector, Mr Rynne said the industry had experienced two booms and two busts within two years - a climate bound to make investors nervous.

Despite the challenges, the outlook is still a sunny one, with big investment dollars set to drop in from India as soon as it 'takes off'.

"India will be a huge growth market, much like China," Mr Rynne said.

"It is what we describe as 'still on the tarmac,' but when it takes off‌ hold onto your seats.

"The demand isn't going to go away.The demand for what we have in this part of the world in insatiable."

Industry representatives, service providers and workers were all present for the evening, which was hosted by Dalby civil construction company Ostwald brothers, and MC'd by executive general manager Matthew Ostwald.

In attendance were Dalby Chamber of Commerce president Nick Koenig, and Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio.

Mr Rynne identified the QRC's two

G

priorities for 2013 as tackling the State Government's "blunt" approach to Statutory Regional Planning, in which prime agricultural farmland is blocked from mining, as well as putting together a code of practice for QRC's members.

It is hoped the code of practice will help cut through red tape by ensuring all QRC members abide by "full, fair and reasonable access" within their operations.

In describing Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney's Statutory Regional Planning Mr Rynne said

"Why lock up resources that we know we'll get to one day market?"

it was "a bit blunt and arbitrary for our liking."

"Why lock up resources that we know we'll get to one day market?" he said.

"We are saying to the government 'it's too blunt.'"

He also cited the recent move in New South Wales by Premier Barry O'Farrell to

block Cascade Coal's mine.

"They are pulling the rug from under the feet of the CSG companies," Mr Rynne said.

"There is too much political heat in it, and I'm sure the Queensland Government will be watching it very closely."

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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 28 FEBRUARY 2013

PAGE 3

in theNews page 5 page 6 page 7 page 8

Ghosts who mine

Hutton takes it to the top

Surat Basin a sound investment

CONSTRUCTION BOOM READY FOR BUST? he Queensland construction boom has less than four months to run, before investment and workload begins a slide into a steady decline.

That is the word from the Major Projects Report released by the Queensland Major Contractors Association.

The figures - put together by research firm BIS Shrapnel - only covers projects that eclipse $100 million, without including flood repairs.

By the end of the 2012/13 financial year, construction investment would have tipped $18 billion, up from 17.6 billion the year before.

This is driven by the massive LNG refineries being developed in Gladstone and mining projects in the Bowen Galilee and Surat basins.

But by 2016/17 - just four years away - that figure is projected to fall to just $10.9 billion, a fall of 40%.To put in perspective, this is still much higher than the 2010/11 financial year that was less than $8 billion but was

T

considered a boom-time for workers.What it does mean is that with 26,000 workers needed at peak construction levels right now, 40% of those workers may not be able to find more work on projects of a similar scale.

QMCA president and BGC Contracting civil manager Tony Hackett said that was a massive number of people needing to find new jobs or face unemployment.

"That has an impact on Queensland and Australia as a whole," he said.

Mr Hackett said projects needed to be planned to ensure a smoothing of the decline, warding off a sharp fall.

The solution, he said, was to ensure workers were highly skilled so they were more productive.

Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney remained optimistic despite some of the projections. He said while there was little surprise that engineering work was slowing down, demand for minerals would again require major projects to be built.

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Strength in numbers A GROUP of seven mines have been told they may work together to negotiate on deal to be take water from the yet-to-be-built Nathan Dam in Central Queensland.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ruled this month that Cockatoo Coal, Cuesta Coal, MetroCoal, Peabody Energy, Australia PCI, QC Resource Investments and Whitehaven Coal could deal as one when hammering out an agreement with dam owner SunWater.

If built, the Nathan Dam will from 70km downstream of Taroom, supply water to mining, power, residential and agricultural customers, according to the SunWater website. ACCC gave interim approval to the deal in December despite Cotton Australia making a submission that it would create a "cartel" of mine companies involved in a water deal which made few allowances for irrigators.The Queensland Farmers Federation too asked for the dam not to be built until all potential impacts on growers in the region were examined.

In its decision on Wednesday, the ACCC found all mining firms negotiating together would allow all parties to save money and help coal miners access the water sooner.

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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 28 FEBRUARY 2013

in the NEWS

Results are in

BY Owen Jacques

T

hey are the ghosts who mine.

More than 30,000 of them wearing high-visibility orange in place of the chalk-white you might imagine for a crowd

of spectres.

These are the shift workers flying or driving in from across Queensland whether from the Sunshine or Gold coasts,Toowoomba Mackay or Rockhampton.

Whether statewide or interstate, they are brought in to do a job as fly-in, fly-out workers, often treated as outsiders before disappearing almost without a trace after a final shift change.

From the sprawling expanses of inland Central Queensland centres of Moranbah, Alpha and Wandoan to George St in Brisbane and down to Federal Parliament, these workers are kicked around as multinational mining giants, unions, councils, businesses and academics wrestle with ideas on what to do with them.

In the provocatively titled, "Cancer of the bush or salvation for our cities?", the result of a Parliamentary Inquiry spanning 26 public meetings over almost 18 months found tens of thousands of workers may be controversial in communities but were almost ignored in statistics.

It was put together by a committee headed by Independent MP Tony Windsor,

the "cancer of the bush" line quoted from a West Australian mayor worried what commuting workers were doing to regional Australia Statistics may be misleading, but research shows the influx of workers is bloating areas not ready for them.

The arrival of fly-in, fly-out staff can foster an atmosphere of contempt, suspicion and occasionally fear.

Working shifts in coal basins for most of the year, they usually list home as somewhere along the coastline.

Council levies, state charges and federal taxes are all paid to councils at "home", even as workers themselves overwhelm the resources of outlying townships.

As Mr Windsor puts it, "The FIFO workforce is, in effect, a shadow population," he said.

The workforce, he said, uses the community but because they live elsewhere, they take their council rates with them and leave these mining communities struggling to keep up.

In Central Queensland's Moranbah, 20,000 "non-resident" or FIFO workers match the 22,650 who live in the township. But in spite of sharp objections from the mining industry's Queensland Resource Council and Minerals Council Australia to the inquiry's findings, it is not the mining giants copping the blame.

That honour is reserved for the federal and state governments.

The report found successive governments had failed regional Australia by not planning or considering what such an enormous mining boom would do to these small centres.

"Within this historical context, the continuance of the current governance model will only serve to fail to address the needs of regional Australia.

"FIFO is symptomatic of this ongoing failure." The Federal Government must now consider the 21 recommendations spelled out in the report.

Until something changes, these orangeclad ghosts and the regions where they work and live will grow more and more haunted by the consequences stemming from these long-distance commuters.

AT WHAT COST?

• •

FIFO workers often choose their lifestyle to avoid having to uproot their families for work, for the better education options for their or a way-of-life not

• • •

easily available in a mining area.

This option also has its risks, with the inquiry finding FIFO workers more vulnerable to: • The use of alcohol and other drugs; Poor diet and physical inactivity; Increased sexually transmitted and blood borne infections; Mental health issues; Fatigue related injury; An increase in injury related to highrisk behaviour

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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 28 FEBRUARY 2013

PAGE 5

in the NEWS

Surat Basin tops the list for investors

he Surat Basin's Chinchilla, Miles and Roma have this month been listed as three of Australia's top rental hotspots by national independent magazine Your Investment Property (YIP).

The list of Australia's top 30 rental markets hotspots showed that Western Australia and Queensland are still leading the way in terms of investment opportunity, with the Surat Basin's main towns picked as star performers for the Sunshine State. Chinchilla stood out with its record low vacancy rate of just 0.45%, underpinned by strong underlying demand and solid population growth.

The town was also given the thumbs up for its affordability

T

and solid returns, with a median home price of $365,000 and average yields of six per cent.

Miles astounded researchers with a 141 per cent leap in rental prices in the past 12 months alone, offering an average yield of 8.03 per cent for investors.

The median value of homes (currently $317,000) has also trended upwards by an average 25 per cent per annum or 64 per cent over five year, which demonstrates the market's stability. Roma made the grade with one of the highest cash flow positive returns at $178 per week, backed by 38 per cent growth in rental prices and a 7.25 per cent average yield.

Property prices were also considered affordable, with the median value currently sitting at

$345,500. Surat Basin Property Group (SBPG) CEO Jason van Hooft said the results are not surprising and anticipates that there is still room for further growth in all three suburbs.

"SBPG is a locally owned and operated company, so we recognised the region's potential long before it was put on the map as investor hotspot, and we can see that it still has a lot of untapped potential," Mr van Hooft said.

"What Chinchilla, Miles and Roma all have in common is a relatively low median house price compared to property in other resource rich regions, combined with high rents due to explosion of employment opportunity, which is putting pressure on existing supply.

"Statistics show that between 30 and 38 per cent of the population in all areas rent a property, so the underlying demand is certainly there. five years - which is phenomenal - yet property is still affordably priced fro the average family, which is a huge drawcard."

The YIP report also gave an insight into the demographics of Chinchilla, Miles and Roma, which further bolstered the region's reputation as a centre for growth in all areas. "Some investors from the city or interstate may not think that these towns have the infrastructure or amenity to support a growing population or retain workers, but that couldn't be further from the truth," Mr van Hooft said.

"Local government has been very

strategic when it comes to investing in community development, and this is reflected in the great score card given to both areas in terms of essential facilities and services.

"Chinchilla was given an 'A' grade for restaurants and cafes, and a B+ for grocery stores, while Miles received a B ratings for schools and public transport.

These rankings are well above average for these regional towns.

"Roma also faired well, with a B+ restaurants and cafes, and an A for grocery stores and a C for schooling.

The report found that 60 per cent of households in Roma had children and the population had reached almost 7,000 - so it's really an area on the move."

Farmers want to keep it under wraps

Q

ueensland farmers are resisting a proposal to reveal how much compensation mining companies cough up to operate wells on their land as it could be broadcast in the

public arena.

Industry groups have warned that publicly disclosing the information to the Gasfields Commission could lead to unfair comparisons between farmer compensation pay-outs.

According to LNP policy championed prior to its election win, the Government aims to make it mandatory for landholders to provide their property plans to mining companies.

Mining companies are also required to provide a proposed works plan to landholders.

The arrangement could also apply to information provided to the Gasfields Commission.

The policy is targeted at keeping stakeholders informed but many landholders feel otherwise.

Agforce policy manager Sue Dillon told a State Development, Infrastructure and Industry Committee hearing a balance should be struck about what is released.

"I think it is the David and Goliath issue of resource companies providing information at a larger scale on the impact on communities and the impact on whole areas is fairly different to Bill Bloggs providing information on how much compensation he got," she said.

"I think it is about public information and about a LNG project on a big scale compared to an

individual's private stuff."

Ms Dylan said compensation information needed to be treated carefully as no two properties were the same.

"Having ideas about what is acceptable and not certainly helps but there is no one size fits all," she said.

"Having individual per well figures is quite misleading. " The Committee was hearing submissions on the Gasfields Commission Bill, which outlines the independent group's objectives in managing the coexistence of landholders and coal seam gas industry.

Cotton Australia's Queensland policy manager Michael Murray suggested landholders still submit their information to the Gasfields Commission but provide approval before it was released publicly.

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Surat Basin NEWS PAGE 6

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The voice for the Surat Basin Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 28 FEBRUARY 2013

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Surat Basin News

in the NEWS ate last year talk of finding a marketable solution for salt and brine produced as a bi-product of the CSG industry was dominating country media.

It is an issue which remains very much on the cards, and one which Western Downs Regional Council mayor Ray Brown has voiced his support for.

Currently the GasFields

Salt L of the earth

Commission is preparing a formal request to gas companies in the Western Downs to supply data on the amount of salt they produce, their projected estimates for the amount they will produce, and their management plans for the salt.The formal request will be sent to all companies involved in gas extraction in the Surat Basin region and the Commission hopes to have all information gleaned from the request collated by the

first half of this year.

The move comes just as the State Government has released its new water management policy.The DNRM Coal Seam Gas Engagement and Compliance Plan 2013 promises "better community engagement, more field inspections and audits and a firm approach to industry noncompliance". A CSG Compliance Unit has been formed to replace the former LNG Enforcement

Unit with a "renewed focus to implement the plan."

General manager of the GasFields Commission Andrew Brier, which works closely with the State Government's Department of Mines and Resources, said the Commission would be pushing for a solution to the salt produced in CSG mining. "We are very much pushing for beneficial use of this bi-product," Mr Brier said.

Hutton takes it to the top ock The Gate president Drew Hutton has called on the Crime and Misconduct Commission to investigate the approval process for two of Queensland's largest gas projects. Claims have surfaced that QGC and Santos' CSG-to-LNG (liquefied natural gas) projects were approved by public servants under pressure by the then Bligh Government.

They were approved despite lacking vital information and containing a long list of environmental issues that had not been fully analysed, Mr Hutton

L

said. "This process was so lacking in integrity it is much worse than anything seen in the Bjelke-Petersen days," Mr Hutton said.

"It is the worst public policy process I have seen in my 40 years of public life and it is hardly surprising that we are beginning to see the results on the western Darling Downs with alarming levels of methane and other gases and people getting sick.

"If such basic information about the projects was so lacking, then it makes environmental disasters so much more likely." Mr Hutton has referred the matter to the CMC, a move supported

by Premier Campbell Newman.

"There are also serious questions to be asked about the political pressure placed on public servants assigned the task of assessing the projects and the degree of access and influence over the process the companies had.

"The New South Wales ICAC is hearing evidence about serious corruption in the granting of coal export licences. "We need another such inquiry here in Queensland."

The $18 billion Santos GLNG project was approved in May, 2010, and the $16 billion QGC project a month later.

Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 28 FEBRUARY 2013

PAGE 7

in the NEWS

Helping hands C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T AT I T S B E S T

s mining companies and emergency services personnel dodged floodwaters and blocked essential roads, crews from QGC, Origin and Murphy Pipe and Civil were kept busy during the floods.

While gas companies and their contractors were unable to access certain sites their man power was put to good use.

With pipeline project work on hold Murphy Pipe and Civil crews in Chinchilla rolled their sleeves up by assisting the SES in their sandbagging effort to minimise the effects of the deluge.

MPC director Tony O'Sullivan said all available crews were directed to assist the SES during the crisis and also to help local businesses and homeowners affected by flooding.

"While some crews formed a sandbag army for the SES, other crews helped local businesses and homeowners move items of value to higher ground," Mr O'Sullivan said.

"I am really pleased our lads could be a part of the huge community effort during the flood, and I think it's this type of unified action during times likes this that really highlights the sense of community everyone has in the Western Downs.”

Mr O'Sullivan said MCP continued to make crews and equipment available during the post flood clean up.

A

AS mining companies and emergency services personnel dodged floodwaters and blocked essential roads, crews from QGC, Origin and Murphy Pipe and Civil were kept busy busy during the floods.

While gas companies and their contractors were unable to access certain sites their man power was put to good use.

With pipeline project work on hold due to the floods, Murphy Pipe and Civil crews in Chinchilla putclean-up their downtime to good by assisting the SES in their sandbagging effort to PULL TOGETHER: A team from Origin help the on Mayne St inuse Chinchilla. minimise the effects of the deluge.

MPC Director Tony O'Sullivan said all available crews were directed to assist the SES during the crisis and also to help local businesses and homeowners affected by flooding.

"While some crews formed a sandbag army for the SES, other crews helped local businesses and homeowners move items of value to higher ground," Mr O'Sullivan said.

"I am really pleased our lads could be a part of the huge community effort during the flood, and I think it's this type of unified action during times likes this that really highlights the sense of community everyone has in the Western Downs," he said.

Mr O'Sullivan said MCP continued to make crews and equipment available during the post flood clean up.

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The voice for the Surat Basin Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 28 FEBRUARY 2013

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PAGE 9

opinions

12 Mayne Street Chinchilla, QLD 4413 PO Box 138, Chinchilla, 4413 Phone: 4662 7368 General Manager: David Richardson Advertising: Laurell Ison Editorial: Jill Poulsen Design: Beth Walker

Editorial THE mining companies may squeal but Independent MP Tony Windsor is right: fly in fly out is a cancer of the bush.

"Cancer of the Bush or salvation for our cities?" is the title of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia publication released recently on FIFO and DIDO (Drive in Drive Out).

As the document's foreword says, many communities are concerned about the negative impacts on their towns and feel that although they may be the site of the resource activity, they not a major beneficiary.

People across the strained towns of our region know only too well the consequences of having a major industry in their midst without having the flow-on benefits of families and their spending power.

The committee rightly blasted the subsidisation of FIFO/DIDO work practices through taxation concessions to mining corporations as an encouragement to live on the coast while working in resource areas.

It also found state and federal governments as well as many companies were oblivious to the damage FIFO caused.

It is indeed a cancer and should be discouraged for all but the most remote operations - certainly nothing in the Surat Basin qualifies in this category and the resource companies put profits ahead of people if they pretend otherwise.

As the report says, resource companies are capable of operating profitably while building regional communities abroad.

Like the report, the Surat Basin News challenges them to extend this approach to their Australian operations.

What do you think? Drop us a line at editorial@suratbasinnews.com.au

Editorial details Jillian Poulsen 4662 7368 editorial@suratbasin.com.au

Surat BasinNEWS Advertising details Laurell Ison 4662 7368 advertise@suratbasin.com.au PAGE 10

Community welfare

Ray Brown, Western Downs Regional Council Mayor

Robert Loughnan Maranoa Regional Council Mayor

Industry compliance under scrutiny esources sector companies are acutely aware that earning a 'social licence' to operate is fundamental to long-term success.

The confidence of surrounding communities in their ability to operate their businesses safely and with high regard for any resulting impacts is paramount.

In this context, the state government's recent announcements surrounding the CSG Compliance Unit and GasFields Commission Queensland are welcome.

Formerly known as the LNG Enforcement Unit, the CSG Compliance Unit monitors operators to ensure they comply with current laws and policies as well as providing a centrepiece for managing complaints.

The unit includes environmental and groundwater scientists, petroleum and gas safety specialists and staff specialising in land access issues.

The unit works alongside GasFields Commission Queensland, which is working with rural landholders, regional communities and the CSG industry to improve coexistence.

According to QRC research, the vast majority of Darling Downs and Surat Basin residents want to see a productive coexistence between resource and rural industries, based on their own view that agriculture alone cannot sustain regional communities long-term.

The GasFields Commission is undertaking extensive consultations throughout the state's developing resource regions as a show of its determination to see coexistence between Queensland's most exciting export sectors grow and prosper.

Their work deserves our encouragement and support.

R

What about the workers?

The most disappointing aspect of the House of Representatives Standing Committee report into workforce practices in regional Australia was the virtual exclusion of the views of resource sector workers.

Inquiry chairman Tony Windsor MP's lament about a lack of 'empirical evidence' overlooked the results from a survey of almost 2,300 minerals and energy company workers in Queensland - including those in the Surat Basin.

The overwhelming majority of resident and non-resident workers reported that they were happy with their current accommodation arrangements, and would not change them.

With no material difference in satisfaction with accommodation between residential and non-residential workers, it is clearly important for resources sector companies to be able to offer accommodation options.

A demographic study by KPMG for the Minerals Council of Australia shows that incomes and educational attainments are higher, unemployment is lower and there are more families and working-aged residents in Australia's mining and resources regions than in regional Australia more generally.

The findings - using publicly available data debunk claims that FIFO/DIDO is hollowing out the regions where it operates, when in

fact it is boosting incomes, attracting families and reducing unemployment.

The QRC will join with other industry bodies in strongly opposing any changes to the tax treatment of FIFO that adds to the cost of doing business and denies workers a choice of where they live.

Cash bidding opposed The Queensland Resources Council has long opposed cash bidding for exploration tenures, first proposed by the Bligh government and now being promoted by the Newman government.

There are two key reasons for our position.

First, it disadvantages smaller junior resource companies - the lifeblood of the exploration sector - and favours the big end of town.

T h e re a l i t i e s of global coal supply and d e m a n d a re persistently and conveniently i g n o re d b y activists Secondly, we believe it undermines community confidence in the government's role as the steward of the state's resources.

These issues were raised by the QRC with the Newman government shortly after the March 2012 election. They were the same points made when cash bidding was first announced by the Bligh government.

One has to ask if cash bidding for exploration tenures is such a fabulous reform, why has the NSW Coalition Government abandoned the policy?

The NSW Minister for Resources and Energy Chris Hartcher said in a statement on 13 July 2011: 'Under the former Labor government, the community rightly felt that fair process was at risk with hundreds of millions of dollars demanded at the exploration stage.'

The QRC has grave concerns about the implications for community confidence.We have spoken of the implied 'moral hazard' of governments accepting large payments from a proponent at the exploration stage and then being expected to adjudicate objectively on a subsequent application from that same proponent for production tenure.

Neither the ALP nor LNP government in Queensland has been prepared to allow a debate around this policy.

No policy consultation paper has ever been released.The only opportunity open to the QRC and other interested stakeholders has been to make a submission to the Parliamentary Committee examining the Bill that authorises cash bidding for coal, coalseam gas and minerals tenures.

Coal in context An important debate has resumed over the relationship between Australia's coal exports

Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 28 FEBRUARY 2013

COMMENT

SBNEWS

Astounding growth

Michael Roche Chief Executive Queensland Resources Council

and climate change.

Environmental activists claim that Australian coal represents a potential tipping point for global climate change and they're mounting an all-out assault in the lead-up to the federal election to shut the industry down.

Such a move is futile if the aim is to reduce emissions.The realities of global coal supply and demand are persistently and conveniently ignored by activists.

Australia's suggested act of 'moral leadership' would be entirely symbolic when measured against the economic impacts of shutting down a $48 billion a year export industry and a continuing upward trend in global emissions as our coal would be simply replaced in the export market by the coal from our competitors in Indonesia, Mongolia and Mozambique.

China satisfies around 90 percent of its needs with domestic supply of around 3.5 billion tonnes or the equivalent of 45 percent of global production.

Global trade represents just 15 percent of total world coal consumption. Even as the world's second-largest coal exporter by volume (after Indonesia), Australia accounts for just 5 percent of total world coal production.

Whether by providing access to electricity (a key factor in poverty alleviation) or for steel to build modern infrastructure that people in the developed world take for granted, coal is an essential ingredient to economic development.

On the assumption that most people in the developed world are not prepared to compromise their standard of living by reverting to consumption levels of the preindustrial age, and assuming that most people who live in poverty would rather not, there is only one answer to reducing greenhouse emissions.

The development and application of low emission technologies, capable of being deployed economically and at scale, is the only realistic answer.

These technologies must cover a broad spectrum from advanced renewables to carbon capture and storage (CCS) applied to coal, oil and gas and major industrial applications like steel and cement production and LNG processing.

Some oppose investment in CCS, dismissing it as an exercise in public relations.

Yet in December 2012, the Callide Oxyfuel project was opened at Biloela.

The plant in the old Callide A power station ushers in on behalf of its Australian and Japanese investors, the prospect of a 90 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired boilers retrofitted with new technology to capture and store gases as a liquid.

This first-of-a-kind demonstration plant was supported with contributions from governments and the coal industry's COAL21 Fund - the only one of its type in the world.

opinions COMMENT Cr Robert Loughnan Mayor of Maranoa Regional Council

t is February already and I trust readers have enjoyed an active and safe break and are settling back into a bright and productive new year.

This year has already thrown us a few challenges, with not all of them resource related. My own area thankfully escaped the worst of the flood and cyclone action (to date anyway) this year. I am none the less aware that many people throughout the Surat Basin area are again suffering hardship and damage, with the dry conditions in the west contrasting so vividly to the wet in the east.

Our thoughts are with you all regardless of your circumstance.

With Easter coming up quickly, I draw my attention to the recent matters surrounding Maranoa's iconic 'Easter in the Country' event.

The new committee organising the event this year have made a courageous step to drop the goat races in favour of other entertainment with less risk and potential stigma attached to them.

Regardless of our affection for these races, I support the committee in their decision and back them one hundred percent.

I do have a few words today about Origin Energy, the company behind the APLNG project which has been the major sponsor of 'Easter in the Country' for the past five years. With just six weeks to go, Origin has suddenly turned

I

What about our community’s welfare? its back on the event citing 'animal welfare concerns'.

Origins 'animal welfare concerns' had nothing to do with the goat races, but were aimed at ridding the weekend of the night rodeos and Easter horse races as well. They have made it extremely clear to me that they will not be returning to 'Easter in the Country' for

as long as these events are part of the program; however they would like to work with the committee to seize the opportunity to market the event to the growing animal activist market.

My response to Origin was to organise its own event along these lines, but to not impose on an existing voluntary

committee to turn our welfare extremists community event into a demonstrates a double reflection of Origin's corporate standard. ethics.

As it stands, the late Yes, Origin does need to pay withdrawal of the company's heed to its customers and support has left the committee stakeholders who are without a major sponsor. increasingly demanding a I feel it was a wasted corporate conscience from the opportunity for Origin, who companies they deal with. could have advocated its animal Origin is one of the nation's welfare concerns in a far more biggest power and gas retailers intelligent and reasonable way. and as such, it does listen to Without walking away from its the opinions of its customers advocacy for genuine and it has a lot of them, largely improvement, Origin could in our capital cities. have demonstrated to its urban Regardless of how much consumers the really positive wealth is generated in the things happening in the Surat Basin, we form only a country. small fraction of the Origin Imagine using Darren Lockyer client base which is heavily to promote and highlight the balanced toward urban best of animal care at our interests and ideals. shows, rodeos, race meetings, I believe Origin now needs to campdrafts or even in our balance its actions with the cattle saleyards which I am ethical treatment of the sure are the next target of communities they hope to be extremists. part of and to play a more restrained role in changing those things in our community that might not fit neatly WIT with its image.

HO 'EAS UT A D After all, Origin is very O T COU ER IN T UBT quick to condemn HE REC NTRY' extremist views in the OVE WIL R L A Q ND coal seam gas and I HA UICKL C Y V ONF fracking debates so IDEN E FULL E VE C supporting animal GRE NT WI E THE LL B AT S ENJO E U YED CCESS A A BY N ATT ALL W D END HO .

The new committee organising the event this year have made a courageous step to drop the goat races in favour of other entertainment with less risk and potential stigma attached to them

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PAGE 11

opinions

Scott hopes the deal will be sealed cott supports Toowoomba Range bypass and will continue to fight for Maranoa highway funding Federal LNP Member for Maranoa Bruce Scott said while he supports the Toowoomba Range bypass he is not going to allow the Warrego Highway to be overshadowed in the bid for funding.

Mr Scott attended the ‘Seal the Deal’ bypass forum in Toowoomba earlier this month which clearly displayed the Coalition’s support for transport infrastructure.

“Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and Nationals leader Warren Truss reconfirmed the Coalition will commit $700 million for the bypass project if we return to Government this year,” Mr Scott said.

“The current bypass plans include a four-lane duel carriageway from Helidon until the tunnel entrance where it will turn into two lanes.The proposed 41km new bypass will be tolled.”

However Mr Scott said the Warrego Highway, which snakes its way through the electorate, and Cunningham’s Gap, near Warwick, will not be forgotten.

“The Warrego Highway was never meant to take the volume of traffic now travelling on it as a result of the expanding mining industry in the Surat Basin,” Mr Scott said.

“If the Coalition is elected to Government, we are

S

COMMENT Bruce Scott MP Federal Member for Maranoa

committed to a comprehensive review of the transport options in the Maranoa electorate.

“Mr Truss said he couldn’t talk about transport infrastructure and not talk about the Warrego Highway with me in the room and he reconfirmed the Coalition will make a Warrego Highway pledge closer to the election.”

In the south of the electorate, landslides caused by weather associated with ex-tropical cyclone Oswald closed Cunningham’s Gap. It remained closed for two days.

“Cunningham’s Gap is a major transport link from the Port of Brisbane through to Sydney and the Murray-Darling Basin food bowl – for it to be closed for an extended period of time is devastating,” Mr Scott said.

“While the proposed second Toowoomba Range crossing is important, the Gap only has two lanes and in urgent need of further assessment.We can’t afford to have this link closed for days.”

Help is on its way Welcome back to the Surat Basin News for 2013. Sadly Chinchilla and surrounding communities did not escape Ex TC Oswald and have again experienced another flood through their communities, businesses and homes.

The State Government has acted to declare the Western Downs Regional Council receive Category A and B assistance which provided the following assistance measures Category A - Counter Disaster Operations, Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme.

Category B - Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme, Freight Subsidies for Primary Producers, Natural Disaster Assistance (Concessional Loans) for Primary Producers and Small Businesses, Restoration of Essential Public Assets.

Key contacts for these assistance measures are the Department of Communities Community Recovery Hotline Ph 1800 173 349 and QRAA Ph 1800 623 946 for Primary Producers and Small Businesses. Information on Primary Producer Freight Subsidies contact the DAFF Customer Service Centre Ph 13 25 23.

This link also has important information, forms and other links http://www.business.qld.gov.au/bus iness/running/disaster-resilenceand-recovery/natural-disasterassistance in relation to disaster assistance.

The Sport and Recreation Disaster Recovery Program has also been activated for clubs to apply for grants of up to $25 000 to replace much replace equipment and operational items (including office and canteen equipment); and/or repair/restore damage to sport and recreation infrastructure; and /or mitigate the effect of future damage due to a similar natural disaster event, to damaged sport and recreation

COMMENT Howard Hobbs MP Member for Warrego Shadow Minister for Local Government and ATSI Partnerships

infrastructure. (For further information contact Sport and Recreation Service Centres, at www.nprsr.qld.gov.au or calling 1300 656 191) At the time of writing this edition I am unable to advise if the hardest impacted area of the Western Downs Regional Council (WDRC) will be extended to Category C assistance. I can report to you that there has been considerable work and data collection undertaken by both Local and State Government to make an application to the Federal Government for this level of assistance which provides Special Diaster (Clean-Up and Recovery Grants) for Non-Profit Organisations, Primary Producers, and Small Businesses of $25 000.

I have raised the need for this level of declaration in the Parliament on the first sitting day of 2013 and with my relevant Ministerial Colleagues. I am hopeful that the Federal Government extend the Category C assistance measures to an area of the WDRC. On a lighter note I attended the Chinchilla Melon Festival and wish to congratulate the organisers on a fantastic event. With over 10 000 visitors, this signature event that is a great way to showcase the wonderful communities of the Western Downs. Well done!!

I look forward to attending the Tara Show on 9th March 2013 and am delighted to be opening the Show on this occasion. I hope to be able to catch up with as many people as possible at this event and am looking forward to attending.

Best Wishes until next edition

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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 28 FEBRUARY 2013

opinions

Government report reveals extent of population growth While resource sector investment in the region is welcome, it has created problems around housing affordability, the fly-in, flyout workforce and resulted in the need to address the issue of infrastructure not keeping up with population growth. Figures in a new report released by the State Government show the enormous population explosion happening in the Surat Basin.The Queensland Treasury and Trade Government Report revealed that nearly 6,500 non-resident workers have come in to the region via the Surat Basin, with twothirds of them in the Western Downs.

The report indicates that the full time equivalent population for the Surat Basin has increased to over 5,500 personnel this year and non-residents by an 80% increase from previous years.This included a 108% increase in the Western Downs just in the nonresident workforce alone.

This is creating enormous pressure particularly on affordable housing and now the focus is on how governments and major energy proponents can address the concerns for all residents and personnel.

The report also shows the massive growth expected in towns across the Western Downs and adjoining local government regions of Maranoa and Toowoomba in the next few years.The extent of this forecasted population growth will continue to exert a massive impact on road, water and wastewater infrastructure, and affordable housing in the region.

Western Downs is the

'Energy Capital of Australia'.The region continues to experience a phenomenal rate of economic growth and the challenges that come with that is making sure we manage our environment and infrastructure. It's a balancing act trying to achieve sustainability for our local communities. Of our region's 23 towns and 99 communities, residents are experiencing impacts due to the mining boom. As a result of the population explosion, our towns are particularly struggling with housing and job shortages.

It is important that mining royalty money is invested back into the region.This is important with the

increasing movements of rents.We need affordable housing now to cope with the rapidly growing demand across our townships as a result of the proliferation of resource sector developments.

It has become even more imperative for major stakeholders in the region to forge stronger partnerships in order to address the situation — so this year the rubber will hit the road in relation to Royalties for Regions.This is a crucial State Government funding program that needs to be continued for the region's economic resilience.

An alarming concern is the growing number of job

vacancies across the region which is impacting on existing service providers in the agricultural and business sectors, as there is a significant shortfall of qualified and suitable personnel for these jobs.

Many businesses have indicated in a recent Affordable Housing Needs Survey they are already finding it difficult to retain and recruit staff mainly due to the shortage of affordable housing.Western Downs Regional Council endeavours to work with companies to find a sustainable outcome that will positively impact on their operations and the local community.

Another challenge we all

WESTERN DOWNS REGIONAL COUNCIL URBAN CENTRES AND LOCALITIES FULL TIME EQUIVALENT (FTE) POPULATION ESTIMATES Town Chinchilla Dalby Miles Tara Wandoan Other towns

SMK

Estimated Resident Population 5,180 11,270 1,230 895 350 1,055

Non-resident workers on shift 970 700 195 45 170 20

FTE population estimate 6,150 11,970 1,425 935 520 1,075

COMMENT Cr Ray Brown Mayor, Western Downs Regional Council

face is the rollout of the National Broadband Network.The backbone of the fibre optic cable is in place but hooking up will not occur until 2015.This will stifle development in industrial areas and new residential estates. It is paramount that all issues in relation to hooking up to the network are brought to the attention of both State and Federal Governments as the broadband infrastructure is needed to support the region's economic growth. It begs the question — surely the Surat Basin and Western Downs region as the nation's emerging economic powerhouse should be entitled to similar services that are available in major capital cities? Keeping pace with development and population growth in the region will continue to be a big challenge for Western Downs Regional Council, businesses and local industry in the future.

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PAGE 13

down tobusiness page15 page16 page17 page18

Nothing but the best for Nektar

Injune talks UCG

The green machine

Origin pulls sponsorship

QGC BUSY RAISIN’ A THE ROOF

900-tonne steel dome has been raised to the top of a liquefied natural gas tank in Queensland for the first time, marking a milestone for the state's gas industry.

The roof was elevated inside the Queensland Curtis LNG project's 38-metre-high tank on Curtis Island near Gladstone, which is on track to be the first to be completed in the state.

Mechanical fans placed under the dome, which at 79 metres wide is broader than a rugby league pitch, raised the steel roof by increasing air pressure only enough to inflate a party balloon.

The slow and steady process of the three-hour lift was monitored by a team of engineers to ensure an even rise.

At the end of the operation welders attached the roof to a steel ring embedded in the concrete tank walls.

The roof will now be covered with concrete.

The interior of the tank will be insulated and lined with nickel steel to keep the gas liquefied at minus 162 degrees Celsius.

Four pumps will be installed to transfer LNG to a jetty, where the gas will be loaded on to a specially built vessel for transport to Asia-Pacific markets from 2014.

QCLNG project director Mitch Ingram said a second tank was at an advanced stage of construction.

"The roof lift is not only a remarkable engineering feat, requiring precision and exceptional teamwork, but signals that our project is well on the way to producing first LNG in 2014," Mr Ingram said.

"First gas is expected to be delivered to the LNG plant around the end of the year to enable the start of commissioning."

Bechtel Oil, Gas and Chemicals, Inc., the construction contractor for the QCLNG plant, began building the first tank 15 months ago.

Progress elsewhere on the LNG plant continues, with 49 of 80 modules initially required having now left Thailand, 24 of which have been delivered to Curtis Island.

www.suratbasin.com.au The only online information service that keeps our readers informed across the west Fed by your local newspapers

Western Times, Balonne Beacon, Western Star, Chinchilla News and Murilla Advertiser, Surat Basin News, Dalby Herald, Northern Downs News and Thirsty Work BUILDING OUR AUDIENCE ACROSS MULTIPLE PLATFORMS

PAGE 14

Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 28 FEBRUARY 2013

down to BUSINESS

Nektar’s kitchen rules ive-star chefs and a suckling pig sounds like the perfect recipe for Christmas lunch but put the destination on the edge of the desert in dining rooms made out of shipping containers and the challenges become obvious.

For coal seam gas services company Titan Energy Services, the chance to get everybody talking about Christmas at their remote camps was a business opportunity too good to miss.

In the past seven months, the company's catering and hospitality division, Nektar Remote Hospitality, has hired an extra 60 staff to work on its remote camps outside Roma on the back of word-of-mouth recommendations from CSG workers who have tasted their style of service.

"At a lot of these camps, there are three main topics of conversation: cars, women and food,” Nektar's general manager Lee Buckingham said.

“So if you don't get the food right, you may as well be out of business.

"These guests are educated and quite high earners, many are well travelled and have an educated palate, so serving a poorquality meal is just not an option.

"Using such qualified professionals is very out of the box but it's something that really has paid off for us.''

Netkar's chefs have worked on five star resorts around the world and in Australia and include Rohan Dowdy, ex-executive chef of Queensland Rugby Club, and Chloe Dent, chef de Partie of Emirates luxury Blue Mountains resort,Wolgan Estate.

Christmas lunch or dinner was served in a number of dining rooms made from shipping containers literally loaded onto the back of tracks and slid off onto graded pads at the camps.

"Breezeways made of other shipping containers connect the pieces together, like a giant Lego set,'' Titan Energy Services managing director Jim Sturgess said.

A camp for 50 men can be assembled in four hours, and includes water storage, electricity generation, laundry, and sewage collection, and can be quickly disassembled and removed, leaving no trace. As well as providing camps and their catering and management services, which includes freshly laundered work and personal clothes for guests each day, the diversified CSG business also has drilling contracts with three of the four major CSG producers (BG Group, Arrow Energy and APLNG).

Mr Sturgess said he expects growth to continue.

After listing just over 12 months ago, the company has recently upgraded their profit guidance.

"For the half year we expect an EBIT of $3.5 to $4 million, an increase of 370 per cent on last year's $0.7 million,'' Mr Sturgess said.

"For the full year, we're expecting EBIT of $8 to $9 million compared to $3.9 million last year, a $1million increase its previous market guidance.''

F

"Using such qualified professionals is very out of the box but it's something that really has paid off for us.''

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PAGE 15

down to BUSINESS Liberty Resources visits Injune to talk UCG

NOT SUCH A DIRTY WORD? nderground Coal Gasification (UCG) has had its fair share of controversies in recent times, but if Andrew Haythorpe has his way it will become one of Injune's most important industries.

Mr Haythorpe is the chairman and managing director of Liberty Resources, a company that wants to turn the coal in areas north of Injune into urea for the fertiliser export market in the next five years.

He was in Injune this month to discuss the company’s plans and almost 100 locals were there to hear him.

Mr Haythorpe said the process involved adding salty water to the coal as well as a hydrogen product called Syngas to turn the coal into pipeline methane gas.

From there the gas would travel by conventional pipeline to an ammonia plant in Gladstone for the export market.

U

M R H AY T H O R P E S A I D T H E Y H O P E D T O S TA R T B U I L D I N G INFRASTRUCTURE BY 2015 BEFORE COMMISSIONING THE PLANTS IN 2018.

"It would turn Australia from a net importer of fertiliser to a major exporter," Mr Haythorpe said.

He acknowledged there would be major hurdles to cross not least that UCG remains off limits in Queensland, after the Cougar-Kingaroy debacle.

"Kingaroy was first and foremost a PR disaster," he said.

"There was no community consultation and in the end the background gas levels were in the acceptable range. " Mr Haythorpe said their sites would be well away from town

and would be in established "gas traps'' to avoid leakage but the town would need good infrastructure to support the project.

"This is a 50 to 100 year project and this has a profound impact on our approach," he said.

"We don't want it to be Fly In Fly Out - we want a community that is attractive for our workers to live in."

Mr Haythorpe said they hoped to starting building infrastructure by 2015 before commissioning the plants in 2018.

"That is, of course, if everything falls in our favour," he said.

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down to BUSINESS

Origin stands by decision rigin Energy has stood by its shock decision to abandon their support for Roma’s Easter in the Country festival.

Origin pulled thousands of dollars in support for the event earlier this month leaving a $10,000 hole in the committee's funds.

An Origin spokesperson confirmed their withdrawal was due to animal welfare issues.

"If it involves animals, such as livestock, and it contravenes RSPCA treatment of animal policies, the sponsorship cannot proceed," the spokesperson said.

Origin were vague on the question of whether they would no longer support other races or rodeos.

"Origin will generally not support activities which risk the welfare of animals," Origin told the Western Star.

Last year Origin was a major sponsor of Easter in the Country and the races and rodeo were a part of the program.

The Western Star asked Origin why they had decided to pull out this year, given the events had not changed.

"We've made the decision to take a different approach this year and assist the committee to review and plan for future events, as demonstrated by our letter of support," the spokesperson said.

The letter of support was cold comfort for the committee and president Jenny Flynn said they were "disappointed" with Origin's decision to pull out of supporting Easter in the Country.

O

"Origin will generally not support activities which risk the welfare of animals." Origin spokesperson.

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PAGE 17

down to BUSINESS "These unique machines are only new to the Australian construction industry and follow the same positive environmental advances that Toyota achieved with its Prius car.”

CLEAN AND GREEN: MPC general superintendant John Carolan is pleased with the positive balance between productivity and responsible environmental management that can be achieved using the new hybrid excavators.

Murphy Pipe and Civil embrace the ‘Green Machine’

A new dawn with excavators going green

hey are known around the Western Downs as the `Green Team' due to their strong Australian-Irish heritage, but pipeline construction company Murphy Pipe and Civil are also making good on their environmental commitment by using `Green Machines'.

The company, which is currently working on a 160km pipeline project in Dalby, this week, put

T

into action 12 hybrid excavators that are designed to leave a far greener footprint than conventional excavators.

According to MPC general superintendant John Carolan the 20 tonne hybrid Komatsu HB215LC1 machines use 25% less diesel fuel than conventional excavators and are also able to generate their own internal kinetic power to further reduce their NOx and CO2 greenhouse emissions.

"These unique machines are only new to the Australian construction industry and follow the same positive environmental advances that Toyota achieved with its Prius car," Mr Carolan said.

"The Komatsu HB215LC1 is able to produce electricity to power key areas of the machine's operating system while in use and also during downtime.

"When MPC heard about these

new environmentally friendly excavators we were originally sceptical about their ability to carry out the heavy work load required on large-scale pipeline projects.

"However, we tested them rigorously in the field and were able to achieve the same outcomes with less impact on the environment - it was a very clear win-win situation for us.

"On the back of those

successful trials we have engaged Brookes Hire to supply MPC with 12 of the hybrid machines with the intention of phasing in more machines as our project ramps up.

"Brookes Hire is one of only a few companies in Australia to supply this type of hybrid machine and we engaged them because they share the same positive environmental philosophy as MPC."

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New era in health care amilies in the Western downs will get better access to medical specialists in Toowoomba and Brisbane following an investment of 1.3million from QGC. The investment will establish a telehealth service and fund running costs for the first two years, enabling families in Dalby, Chinchilla and Miles to get specialist medical consultations online.

The Health e-REGIONS service will be run by The University of Queensland's Centre for Online Health, with assistance from the university's main research commercialisation company, UniQuest Pty Limited.

Patients will have access to the broadest online network of specialist paediatric, geriatric and aged-care services in Australia at participating hospitals, general practitioners and aged-care facilities. Under this system patients can have specialist appointments by video conference, reducing the need for longdistance travel for face-to-face consultations.

The service will start at Dalby Hospital by the middle of 2013.

F

QGC’s $1.3million investment will establish a telehealth service enabling families in Dalby, Chinchilla and Miles to get specialist medical consultations online

QGC Sustainability vice president Brett Smith said the project reflected QGC's commitment to rural health services.

"Community health is a key focus of our A$150 million social contribution through which we manage social impacts and maximise benefits from our Queensland Curtis LNG project," Mr Smith said.

"As part of this work, we funded a study of health services in the region in 2012 which highlighted the need for greater access to specialist medical care.

"We're delighted to help fulfill this need by supporting the innovation of The University of Queensland."

The University's Centre for Online Health Deputy Director, Associate Professor Anthony Smith, said the service would immediately benefit the Western Downs.

"Telehealth will improve access to specialist services which otherwise would not be readily available, saving patients the stress and cost of time away from home," Dr Smith said. The chief executive of the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service, Dr Peter Bristow, said he was delighted that these innovative services would be provided in the Western Downs.

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PAGE 19

building theBasin page21 page 22 page23 page24 Miles ahead in Miles

Thiess tees of for BUSHkids

Titan’s meteoric rise

Wilkie Creek rehabilitation

Santos worker Clem Faulkner puts his community first

Years of service honoured S

antos worker Clem Faulkner can be up at 2am in the morning and then at work the next day.

But if he is awake, the 62-year-old is not living it up in the local pub- he's out leading the Injune fire service.

Clem is the captain of the Injune fire service and has been working with the service since 1977.

"My main concern is the community," Clem said.

"We look after all sorts of things from road crash rescue as well as fires, and we also do a lot of ambulance assistance because there's only one driver out here."

Last month Clem's years of service were acknowledged when he won an achievement medallion at the Department of Community Safety Australia Day Awards.

He was one of just nine people from the South West Region to win the prestigious award.

Clem said he is currently trying to raise the retirement age at the fire service so he can keep volunteering for a few more years.

"That’s the reason it it's very hard to find fire volunteers especially here in a small town like Injune," he said.

Clem and his wife Dawn are familiar faces around the town of Injune and she has worked as a nurse at the local hospital for many years.

Clem has worked for Santos for 15 years.

"We look after all sorts of things from road crash rescue as well as fires, and we also do a lot of ambulance assistance because there's only one driver out here."

PAGE 20

LOCAL HEROES: Clemence Faulkner (right) shows off his Australia Day Achievement Medallion with fellow award winner Peter McKenzie.The Santos worker was one of just six people from the south west region to receive the award.

Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 28 FEBRUARY 2013

building the BASIN "So much of Miles is built on personal connection... it was a rural town, but maybe times have changed, and Miles c a n ' t a ff o r d these generous businesses."

BUSINESS SAVVY: Jacki Sutton, Kevin Rynne, Kathleen Moffatt, Carol Tribe, Roger Green and Helen Black.

Miles is ahead of the pack T he sedate rural business strategy is going out the window in Miles.

In a drive to improve business relations between big business and local stores Origin’s Miles Ahead project has provided free consultants from the state government.

Entrepreneur, lecturer and consultant Helen Black will continue to work in Miles to evaluate problems and

opportunities with small businesses.

Her assistance was wellrecieved at a meeting with 14 prominent Miles business owners last week.

Miles businessman John Mullins said a business consultant was worth paying thousands for to take the guesswork out of big contracts and health and safety in his plumbing business.

"I think every business should at least try a few

Miles businesses embrace exciting new program

sessions...over 18 months we saw a massive reduction in our debtors," he said.

"Health and safety is huge, and having them organise the documentation for health and safety is important.

"A lot of contracts need you to show complete safety manuals just to get your foot in the door."

John's wife Kelly said the delay on payments had been fixed thanks to some choice advice on managing bureaucracy.

"We'd be waiting up to six months for payment - now QGC pays in seven days, and Origin in thirty," she said.

Also visitng Miles, representing the Department of State

Development Infrastructure and Planning , Roger Green said traditional businesses were being stretched for time and needed to adapt to industrial change.

"So much of Miles is built on personal connection...it was a rural town, but maybe times have changed, and Miles can't afford these generous businesses," he said.

He claimed $15bn is currently owed to the ATO

due to failures to properly declare transactions.

Motel manager Chris Erwin said times were good now but expressed doubts about the continuation of the boom in Miles.

"What I'd love to know is exactly how long these companies are actually going to stay," he said.

"Still, I really would love to speak to her (Helen Black) about efficiencies in my existing business."

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Thiess tipped to tee off he green is beckoning, and what a shade of green it is after such good rain.

The Thiess BUSHkids Dalby Golf Day is fast approaching, and is tipped to be a big one.

The event will be held on Saturday March 16 at the Dalby Golf Club with all proceeds going to BUSHkids.

BUSHkids is a not-for-proft charity aimed at helping regional children with allied healthcare.

You can enter as an individual or as a team, with family, friends and workmates welcome to register.

Trophies for first, second and third lowest scores over the 18 holes for each session will be given, including prizes for the longest drive, accuracy

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" T h e r e 's p l e n t y o f a c t i o n p l a n n e d for the day and all proceeds will be used to support BUSHkids in our l o c a l c o m m u n i t y. " drive and nearest the pin.

Thiess community and stakeholder relations manager Kyle Roggenkamp said Thiess and BUSHkids have been working on community fundraising ideas.

"A charity golf day seemed like the perfect idea," Mr Roggenkamp said.

"There's plenty of action planned for the day and all proceeds will be used to support BUSHkids in our local community."

Tickets are $40 each, which includes 18 holes of golf, lunch and a free gift pack.

The day will consist of 18 holes of three ball Ambrose (three people per team), with two teams playing on each hole.

Registration is 6.30am for a 7am shotgun start, to finish at 12 noon.

During the day raffle tickets will be on sale for a chance to win some fantastic prizes.

Mr Rogegenkamp said Thiess had an overwhelming response from local businesses sponsoring and supporting the event.

Club and buggy hire can be arranged through the Pro Shop.

To register phone the Dalby Golf Club Pro Shop on 07 4662 4622 or email dalbygolfclub@bigpond.com.

Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 28 FEBRUARY 2013

building the BASIN

The only way is up for Titan Roma-based mining supply company's expansion in the Surat Basin is not only going to boost local employment.

Working conditions within Titan Energy Services would also be good for the region because of the company's use of long-term teams who know the area well, the company's managing director Jim Sturgess said.

Titan recently announced the acquisition of leading drill and down-hole rental company

A

Titan Energy Services CEO Jim Sturgess believes there is more than 20 years of opportunity ahead Hofco Oilfield Services.

This came after a series of profit upgrade announcements, during which the company's share price tripled.

With operations based in Roma, Titan Energy Services supplies and operates drilling rigs, provides portable camps as well as the hospitality for those camps. Its catering

division, Nektar Remote Hospitality, has quadrupled in size in the past 12 months and Mr Sturgess expects that current rate of expansion to continue.

Mr Sturgess said the company's growth would undoubtedly benefit the region, primarily because it was a locally based company.

"Our crews tend to have been

together for a long time, they're strong on local knowledge, they know the area and it's geology and with that comes strong safety standards,'' he said.

Mr Sturgess said construction of the three $20 billion coal seam gas plants would drive up the number of wells operating in western Queensland.

"We expect the number of wells being dug each year will increase from around 800 now to around 2000 by 2015,” he said.

“That is going to create a lot of opportunities.

"The bottom line is that we will be employing a lot of people.

“We use a lot of local suppliers and spend locally on maintenance of our camps and rigs and construction of the camps.

"This isn't going to be something that's a flash in the pan. “We see 20 years of opportunity in front of us.''

M r S t u r g e s s s a i d t h e c o m p a n y 's g r o w t h would undoubtedly benefit the region, primarily because it was a locally based c o m p a n y.

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Mobile: 0429 345 354 Email: roma@ior.com.au Phone: 07 4622 8333 Fax: 07 4622 8300

PAGE 23

Placesandfaces page25 page26page 27 page28 Out and about with TSBE

Executive influences

facetoface

Amanda Dowd

In an industry often dominated by males, Irish-born Amanda Dowd proves that women can mix it with the best of them.

We caught-up with Aamanda to learn more about what she loves about working in the construction industry. them and MPC has a good career development program that enables me to work at the coal face and out in the field so I can gain hands-on experience.

Where are you from?

I was born in County Sligo, Ireland.

How did you first get involved in this industry?

My father was a builder so from a young age I was involved in the construction industry and often helped him out on the weekends.

Do you have a family/did you bring them with you?

No, my family is still in Ireland! But they are planning to visit soon!

What do you love most about your job?

I like working in a team environment and there's a great feeling seeing a project on paper become the real thing on site! We have a great bunch of very experienced and also very friendly people in our team, so working alongside them makes the job very easy.

How did you get where you are today?

After five years at university I gained my engineering degree. I worked in Ireland on a number of small residential construction projects, but I was keen to gain experience on larger scale construction projects. I was very interested in getting involved with the many pipeline projects that are currently being developed in Australia.

What do you see as the biggest challenges in your role?

Working on big projects always has its challenges - whether it be changes in design, the weather, project timelines these often occur and you need to work hard to ensure you are able to overcome

What made you relocate to Wandoan?

Murphy Pipe and Civil are working on a number of big pipeline projects right across the Surat Basin, including Wandoan. I was keen to get involved in

What do you think of Wandoan as a town to live in?

I think Wandoan is a very friendly town the local people have made us feel right at home.

Coming from a small town in Ireland, it's been an easy transition to now living in a small Australian country town. There are a lot of similarities with the people and what the town has to offer.

What are you looking forward to doing while living here?

Making sure I make the most of my time off by visiting some of the great places Australia has.Top of the list is the beaches and the reef - but I also want to take in other landmarks like Uluru and the Snowy Mountains and visit places like Sydney and Birdsville - you guys have got the lot over here!

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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 28 FEBRUARY 2013

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Out and about in Dalby Matthew Ostwald of Ostwald Brothers and Ken Fox of GHD Engineering at the TSBE netwroking function in Dalby last week.

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Mandy Jackson of Waminda Disability Services and Gavin Walton of TSBE Dalby.

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places and FACES

The Basin’s biggest wigs ore than 130 high level executives from key Surat Basin businesses gathered at TSBE Executive Influences event in Brisbane this month to hear Arrow CEO,Andrew Faulkner, give an overview of the Arrow Energy LNG Project and opportunities for the region.

Mr Faulkner outlined relevant Arrow operations and its commitment to community and industry engagement.

He spoke passionately about safety within the company and sector as a whole.

"It is my aim that we focus on achieving 100% safety on every job,” he said.“This can and has been achieved on many jobs to date and must continue to be our number one priority.”

This was TSBE's second Executive Influences event and TSBE CEO Shane Charles said he was pleased with how the functions are developing.

"There is strong interest in this event from industry and with so much opportunity available to local capable companies in the Toowoomba and wider Surat Basin, it is valuable for CEO's and decision makers to be able to work together, business match and ensure maximum levels of engagement for local business" Mr Charles said.

"It is interesting to remember that Arrow actually kicked off in Drayton and worthwhile noting the growth and success of what was a local company."

The next TSBE Executive Influences will be held in Toowoomba on May 16.

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places and FACES

Roma State College tucks in to a healthy feed

R

oma State College students will be eating healthier food after winning funds to help their

Easternwell, one of Australia's leading drilling and well servicing providers, has provided more than $60,000 to groups, clubs and associations in the areas in which they operate

tuckshop.

The school's P&C Association was among several local groups to share in $5800 through Easternwell's community grants program, with much needed funds also going to Dunkeld Pony Club and Cultural Heritage Injune Preservation Society (CHIPS). RSC P&C president Meryl Eddie said their share of the funds would be used to purchase kitchen equipment for the school's tuckshop to help prepare the school's Healthy Eating Program meals and other catering opportunities.

"Being the largest school in the Maranoa region, our school is a

hub of community activity and we often host various regional events," Meryl said.

"The tuckshop and its volunteers provide an invaluable service to students, parents, teachers and the community through the supply of food on school days and catering at sports days and

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regional activities."

Easternwell, one of Australia's leading drilling and well servicing providers, has provided more than $60,000 to groups, clubs and associations in the areas in which they operate.

Applicants are assessed on criteria across a number of

"There are countless community groups, clubs and associations in our operating areas who provide important services to their communities," Mr Campbell said.

The Easternwell Community Grants awards $40,000 spread across two rounds, the next round opened on February 22.

different areas including education, health, indigenous, safety, training and youth.

Easternwell CEO Troy Campbell said the Community Grants program was launched in August 2011 to provide financial and social assistance to smaller, lesser known organisations.

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HOSE AND FITTING SPECIALISTS • Mining • Logging • Agricultural • Industrial • Automotive • Earthmoving • Transport

Kev

Tess Owner/Principal

Ph 4662 8555

0409 466 233

114 Heeney St

Livestock

0409 033 988

4662 7038 ALL HOURS

Jo i n t Ve n tu re s • Sovereign Park Estate • Bottle Tree Estate • Surat Basin Industrial Park • The Pines Estate Miles C o n t a c t u s fo r a l l y o u r I n d u s t r i a l , Commercial, Retail & Residential needs Warrego Hwy Chinchilla P. 4669 1066 F. 4669 1460 Warren Daniells 0427 468 591 Jim Strongman 0418 734 256

sales@suratbasindevelopments.com.au www.suratbasindevelopments.com.au

Joy Byrnes - Principal & Sales 0428 223 380 joy.byrnes@raywhite.com Kerri Collins - Sales & Marketing 0428 153 720 kerri.collins@raywhite.com Desley Oates - Finance/Office Manager Jessica Stansbie - Senior Property Manager Sarah Hancock - Property Manager Maree Mitchell - Reception Sam Schefe - Real Estate Trainee

1300 TOWING Servicing the Gasfields

3 Trucks Available - 7T, 11T and 12.5T

“If it needs shifting give us a call” • Farm Machinery • Vehicles • Insurance Work • Containers • 24 Hours/7 Days • All Areas

Phone 4669 1143 Chris Apsey 0429 701 684

water cartage

Rob Davidson Water Carting

www.raywhite.com 07 4622 2688

ENZED Surat Basin Malduf Street, Chinchilla suratbasin@enzed.com.au

Buying - Selling

Chinchilla

With the district thriving, the Roma office has been exhibiting success across all fronts of the property business. For an office that specialises in residential and small acreage sales, commercial and business sales, industrial sales and property management, contact Joy and her team at Ray White Roma .

real estate

13 13 62

investment opportunities

towing

Roma

Chinchilla

FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS SERVICING CHINCHILLA FOR 15 YEARS

real estate

Sales

Phone 0427 627 084 or 0437 249 096

Rentals

Commercial Industrial Residential Phone 07 4669 1966 www.chinchillafn.com.au

office@chinchillafn.com.au 106 Glasson Street Chinchilla Q4413

• 12,000 or 24,000 litre water • Can carry 20ft containers (pins)

Phone 4669 1790

Shop 2, 1 Warrego Hwy, Chinchilla www.suratbasinrealestate.com.au

RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL

PAM

VICKI

WARREN

Our team of experienced BRUCE SUE professionals have over 58 years of combined real estate experience.

P: 07 4669 1790 Shop 2, 1 Warrego Hwy F: 07 4662 7250

Chinchilla Q 4413

www.suratbasinrealestate.com.au

Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 28 FEBRUARY 2013

• 9, 12 and 24,000 Litre Tanks available • Body Truck to Semi Loads • Using Chinchilla Town Water

Dan Cross 0429 691 309 PO Box 322 Chinchilla • dncross@bigpond.net.au

PAGE 27

SPONSORSHIP IS KEY TO THE BEST FEST IN THE WEST hinchilla's grand community celebration was once again made possible by significant corporate sponsorship from the resource sector.

Once again heavy hitters in the Surat Basin opened their wallets in support of the Chinchilla Melon Festival, which drew a record crowd of 12,000 people. $150,000 came from sponsorship, equating to about three quarters of the total cost of the festival, a level of support that was on par with the last event in 2011.

The Western Downs Regional Council

C

was the biggest contributor, forking out about $30,00 in sponsorship for the festivities, while many industry businesses supplemented the growing cost of the event.

Melon Festival Committee treasurer Kerri Stuart without the generosity of sponsors an event that is growing at the rate of the Chinchilla Melon Festival would not survive.

"We're always trying to make the festival bigger and better every year but as the running costs go up, sponsorship become more and more important," Ms Stuart said.

She said organisers were equally as thankful for the in-kind support from mining companies.

"It's not just the monetary sponsorship but it's the help they give to you," Kerri said. "QGC were out in force on Saturday, they brought a busload of people out from Brisbane to help out and it takes a lot of pressure off the committee who are already busy."

Dozens of QGC staff slipped, squished and slopped into action on the main festival Saturday, marshalling the melon madness taking place in the Melon Games arena.

the news online

Melon mayhem

www.suratbasinnews.com.au www.issuu.com/suratbasinnews

places and FACES ISSN 1835-6400

View the back editions on line Read all of our back issues on the internet at: www.issuu.com/ suratbasinnews

The latest news on line Keep in touch with the latest news with a just a mouse click

www.suratbasinnews.com.au

Surat Basin News Published by Chinchilla Newspapers Pty Ltd, 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413 Printed by APN Print Toowoomba 50 Industrial Avenue Toowoomba Q4350 2012 General Manager - David Richardson, 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413, PO Box 138 Chinchilla Q4413, Phone 07 4662 7368

SURAT BASIN

ENERGY & MINING EXPO

19th & 20th June 2013

PLATINUM SPONSOR

Qu

TOOWOOMBA SHOWGROUNDS, TOOWOOMBA, QLD

e

LARensland’s Ene GE S Min rgy an T in d

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW BUSINESS

The Surat Basin is the largest and most exciting resource find in Australia’s history.

Toowoomba is the gateway to Surat and this event is the meeting place for those involved in the Surat Basin or for those wanting to better understand the unique opportunities that exist here. Do not miss this event. Hundreds of companies have already booked sites and delegates are already registering.

Go to our web site today for more information.

GOLD SPONSORS

gE

ven

www.suratbasinexpo.com.au po co om au

SILVER SPONSOR

EVENT PARTNER

Established 1912

PAGE 28

t

Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 28 FEBRUARY 2013

Surat Basin

NEWS