Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011
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SBNEWS
inside this edition
The Newspaper The Surat Basin News will publish every second 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.
The Vision 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.
View Online 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
down tobusiness
in theNews
The Team
David Richardson General Manager Laurell Ison Advertising Beth Walker Graphic Design Tegan Plant Editorial
pages 4-11
Our breaking news this edition is the announcement of a new solar thermal gas hybrid power plant expected to generate $570 "The RSPT (Resource Super Profits Tax) has created significant uncertainty for the future of mining investment million in economic activity in the region and create 300 jobs on into Australia and would impair the value of previously approved projects and exploration to the point that average during construction.We also cover another innovative continued investment can no longer be justified," Xstrata Plc chief executive Mick Davis said after Xstrata upcoming project with important implications for the Surat Basin announced earlier this month suspending $586 million of expenditure. involving GE Power and Penrice.
pages 16-23 The community have been their own best advocate over the last few months, and we cover the various ways they've been doing it for themselves. The Surat Basin Corporation have also been getting out there to help with their workshops and upcoming conference.
building theBasin
Placesandfaces
pages 24-33 pages 34-40 Our major focus in this edition is the rising dilemma of having enough infrastructure and services to cater for the increasing population in the basin.The Strategic Cropping Land policy means that the way projects have been moving forward may undergo some changes in the future.
Chinchilla plays host to business networking, and the networking continues as we hit the shelves at the Surat Basin Energy and Mining Expo.The upcoming property rights conference will continue to provide advice to those overwhelmed by current industry activities.
advertisers index Agmates ............................................................26 BHD Oilfield Services ....................................33 Black Cat Queensland....................................19 Brandon & Associates ..................................30 Budden Contractors ......................................14 Bundaberg Sandblasting..................................28 Calibre Aviation................................................40 Chinchilla Crane Hire....................15, 31 & 36 Chinchilla First National Real Estate ..........20 Chinchilla Fluid Power....................................26 Chesterfield ........................................................9 CFMEU ................................................................7 Cressbrook Accommodation........................23 Dalby First National Real Estate ....................1 Dalby Real Estate and Rentals......................32 Daley Furniture Traders ..................................1 DDM Liquid Waste ........................................31 Downlands College ........................................22 Enerflex..............................................................36 F K Gardner & Sons Pty Ltd ........................19
Surat Basin NEWS Key Contacts Advertising Laurell Ison - 07 4662 7368 E: advertise@suratbasin.com.au Editorial Tegan Plant - 07 4662 7368 E: editorial@suratbasin.com.au
Fleming's Welding Service..............................30 Fonezone ..........................................................11 Fyfe......................................................................33 GW Training Plus Pty Ltd ..............................32 HEQ Services ....................................................5 IOR Petroleum ................................................22 JJ Richards & Sons Pty Ltd ............................23 Liam Shields ......................................................40 Loughlin Crane Hire ......................................26 M & P Services (Qld) Pty Ltd ........................1 Maguire Coaches and Travel............................8 MI Helicopters ................................................18 Migas ................................................................10 Murilla Community Centre ..........................25 Murray Purves Betta Electrical ....................25 Onsite Rental Group......................................21 Pirtek Chinchilla ..............................................19 Ray White Rural Chinchilla ..........................17 Robbie Taylor & Sons Heavy Haulage ........21 Russell Heale Screw Piling ............................28
Satin Touch ..........................................................8 Savanna Energy Services Corp ......................3 Southern Cross Ford......................................27 Speciality Services QLD ................................18 Spitwater ..........................................................35 SQIT ..................................................................32 Steps Disability Services ........................8 & 14 Sunlinc ..............................................................40 Surat Basin Property Group ........................29 The Glennie School ........................................36 The Rental Warehouse ..................................15 Thrifty ................................................................12 Tilly's Crawler Parts..........................................6 Trades and Services ..............................38 & 39 WDS ..................................................................10 Westbrook Trailers..........................................31 Why Not Kates ..............................................13
12 Mayne Street Chinchilla — Phone 07 4662 7368 — Fax 07 4662 8474 email: advertise@suratbasin.com.au www.issuu.com/suratbasinnews
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The Surat Basin News is published by Chinchilla Newspapers Pty Ltd, 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla. Printed by Toowoomba Newspapers Pty Ltd, 618 Ruthven Street Toowoomba
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Santos ..................................................................9
Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011
See us at the Surat Basin Energy & Mining Expo Foyer 1 Founders Pavilion
breaking NEWS
Chinchilla chosen for one of world's largest Solar Thermal Gas Hybrid Power Projects The world's eye will be on Chinchilla as the seat of solar technology, with Saturday's announcement that the Australian government had selected a site near Kogan Creek Power Station for 'Solar Dawn', a 250 megawatt solar thermal gas hybrid power plant. The project was chosen as the preferred solar thermal power project in south west Queensland in round one of the Australian government's Solar Flagships Program. Consortium members include AREVA Solar, CS Energy and Wind Prospect CWP. The Solar Flagships Program aims to provide the foundation for largescale, grid-connected solar power and accelerate the commercialisation of solar power in Australia. It is a key component of the Australian Government's $5 billion Clean Energy Initiative. The Federal government's announcement of its funding commitment follows the completion of feasibility and design studies by Solar Dawn consortium members AREVA Solar, CS Energy and Wind Prospect CWP over the past eighteen months. This funding commitment will now allow for project development and contractual processes to be finalised by the end of 2011. AREVA Renewables Chief Executive Officer Anil Srivastava, speaking on behalf of the consortium,
commended the Australian Government on its vision for a low carbon economy and its investment in developing utility-scale solar power generation. “The Solar Flagships Program demonstrates the Australian government's support for renewable energy," Mr Srivastava said. "This announcement represents another significant milestone in the creation of a world-class clean energy industry in Australia. "Solar Dawn will be an international showcase for the nation, using Australia's abundant solar resource and AREVA Solar's Australianpioneered Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector (CLFR) technology to combine zero-carbon solar energy with a low-emission, gas boiler backup system to efficiently produce clean, reliable power to meet growing energy demand." Mr Srivastava said once completed, the proposed project will be the largest of its kind and one of the most environmentally responsible power production plants in the world. "Its innovative, yet simple hybrid design will deliver energy as needed, even when the sun isn't shining," Mr Srivastava said.
Premier of Queensland Anna Bligh, CEO AREVA Renewables Anil Srivastava and Prime Minister Julia Gillard at Saturday's announcement.
As the preferred bidder, the Solar Dawn Consortium will now finish detailed designs, securing all relevant approvals and major contractors for EPC (Engineer, Procure and Construct) and Operations and Maintenance. The Solar Dawn consortium will work closely with key government, commercial and community stakeholders to finalise all relevant approvals and financing arrangements as well as engineering, procurement, construction, operations, and maintenance contracts. It is anticipated that CS Energy will operate and maintain the plant once it is constructed.
This announcement represents another significant milestone in the creation of a world-class clean energy industry in Australia.
e-mail enquiries and resumes to: creid@savannaenergy.com p. 61 7 4633 6700 www.savannaenergy.com Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011
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in the page 4 page 5 page 6 page 7
Xstrata helps rebuild
Working on salt solutions
Arrow talks to the community
Powerlink release draft EIS
Chinchilla Kindergarten during the floods in December/January.
Xstrata helps to rebuild the Surat Basin Community groups in the Surat Basin now have the resources to rebuild after the summer floods, thanks to Xstrata. Almost 30 community groups and organisations from Taroom to Dalby have benefited from Xstrata Coal's $300,000 Flood Relief and Rebuilding Fund. Chinchilla C and K Kindergarten assistant Emma Lindenberg completed the application
else they needed after submitting their initial application. Xstrata Coal's Wandoan Coal Project executive general manager Steve Bridger said the company was pleased to be helping local communities recover from January's floods.
"Within a month we should have everything we need, and without this funding we would only have been able to replace the damaged items and not even consider the storage containers. for funding, and said the availability of the funding meant they were able to not just replace goods damaged in the floods but also think about prevention for next time. "We have so many resources but everything got wet, so the containers we are getting will go on higher ground and will be used for the more important things that can't get wet," she said. "Within a month we should have everything we need, and without this funding we would only have been able to replace the damaged items and not even consider the storage containers. "We might have been able to replace the electrical items within a year, but it would have required a lot more fundraising which puts more pressure on our parents." Ms Lindenberg said the generous support was unbelievable, and Xstrata had even contacted her to see if there was anything PAGE 4
"Community groups in towns such as Taroom, Dalby, Condamine and Chinchilla do a great job providing critical services for local people," he said. “Unfortunately, the floods caused significant damage to many facilities, interrupting their ability to continue to meet the needs of their community. "While some groups received financial assistance from government sources, a number of facilities and infrastructure still need repair or replacement." Mr Bridger said to try and help address these needs, Xstrata Coal established the Wandoan Project's Flood Relief and Rebuilding Fund to help flood-affected community groups. The Flood Relief and Rebuilding Fund was part of Xstrata Coal's overarching $5 million contribution to flood recovery and rebuilding projects across Queensland.
The Condamine State School had its playground sand washed away during the floods.
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The successful applicants and their projects include Chinchilla Kindergarten - replacement of electronic equipment and provision of a new flood-proof container Condamine Clay Target - provision of a new flood-proof container Condamine-Arubial QWCA - replacement of flood-damaged whitegoods Condamine State School P&C - replacement of sand for playground Condamine Progress Association - supply and installation of new fencing as part of Pioneer Park repair and upgrade works Taroom Kindergarten - replacement of educational toys Taroom Golf Club - repair and rebuild fairways Taroom & District Development Association - repair and upgrade of River Walk Taroom State School - repair oval and assist with upgrade of drainage Dalby Tennis Association - pressure cleaning of nine courts Dalby Croquet Club - repair playing greens Dalby Go-Karting Club - repairs for Wolski Corner Jandowae Ski Club - dam erosion prevention works
Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011
News page 8 page 9 page 10 page11
Boral buy out - Wagners
Braemar continues expansion
ERM purchase
Solving CSG's saltwater problem
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enrice Soda announced on Tuesday an agreement with GE Power and Water to provide the local CSG industry with a brine removal mechanism and to build demonstration plants to make the waters' by-products commercially sellable. Penrice Soda, the nation's only manufacturer of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, has been conducting a three year research plan and has developed new technology to make chemicals from the brine. The company has lodged a patent on the technology. Penrice believes it can convert dissolved brine in CSG water into soda ash and common salt, in a commercially cost
effective manner. Soda ash in a vital ingredient in products ranging from glass containers (especially wine bottles) to washing powder, and sodium bicarbonate can be used in applications as diverse as animal feed, food and pharmaceuticals. Penrice managing director and CEO Guy Roberts said the plan would solve a major environmental issue for the industry and create yet more jobs for the region. "It is envisaged that the companies will join forces to create an attractive solution to one of the major issues confronting the CSG industry - how to successfully deal with the water that accompanies the gas extraction process," he said. "There is considerable interest from the industry and from the relevant
Operators Trades People Managers
South Australian soda company Penrice Soda believes it can not only solve the coal seam gas industry's salt water problems, but inject a huge boost into the local community. regulators. "We believe the CSG producers will be convinced to be the principal funding source for these projects. "The Penrice/GE Consortium is already progressing several opportunities, initially to build a demonstration plant, which will build confidence for commercial scale plant in due course. "Penrice and GE are hopeful that the union between the companies will result in a demonstration plant being built in the near future for one of the CSG companies." Australia and New Zealand GE Energy CEO Tim Rourke said GE and Penrice are working together to develop a solution for the saline water produced as part of the coal seam methane extraction process. "What we're looking to do is treat the
Breakdown Repair Maintenance
water to remove the salts so it can be used in places like industry or agriculture and then, on top of that, separate the salts for industrial use," he said. "The benefits are huge. Water will not be left in evaporation ponds, instead it will be used by companies that would otherwise be relying on other fresh water sources. "Similarly, we expect that the salt byproducts will not be sent to landfill but will instead be turned into usable products like sodium bicarbonate, soda ash and sodium chloride. "Mr Rourke said the company saw this as a very exciting development for its customers and the environment." GE and Penrice will be in a consortium and looking to build a pilot plant with the intention to follow with a commercial scale plant," he said.
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in the NEWS
Arrow water workshops well attended Surat Basin residents were given the chance to speak up during May when Arrow Energy held community consultations in Dalby, Wandoan, Miles, Cecil Plains, Millmerran, Goondiwindi and Chinchilla. BY Graham Osborne editorial @suratbasin.com.au
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ach consultation was well attended, with 317 people attending overall. A series of water workshops were also held in Chinchilla, Dalby and Cecil Plains. The water workshops were conducted by independent groundwater expert, Lloyd Townley, who is affiliated with Curtin University in WA and were attended by 144 people. The consultations and water workshops outlined Arrow's coal seam gas plans for the region and addressed community concerns with their various projects. Arrow Energy gave an overview of their domestic projects across the Western Downs as well as the Environmental Impact Study surrounding the Surat Gas Project. Arrow is currently in the exploration and appraisal phase of their projects with the Financial Investment Decision not expected until 2013. Chinchilla community members raised questions about water, how to get rid of salt produced from the water, closing of fences
on properties, washing of trucks coming onto properties and the recent gas leak in Kogan among others. One community concern was allayed by Arrow when they committed to no fraccing in the area. Arrow Energy asset manager for the Surat Basin Darren Stevenson said it is good to come to these sessions. "You get to talk to people face to face and you get to understand people's individual issues and the bigger picture concerns people have," he said. "People were talking about issues they might have and we were happy to try and answer their questions the best we could. Mr Stevenson said the Arrow Surat Pipeline will being going south of Chinchilla through Hopeland and east of Gulugaba then round Wandoan and north east to Gladstone. "The Arrow Surat Pipeline has been permitted but we won't build it until we've reached the FID for the whole project," he said. Arrow's vice president for exploration Tony Knight said people were getting more comfortable with the timeframes. "We're getting some good questions now," he said. "People are getting to a point where some of their concerns have been alleviated and rather than the broader questions we're getting more specific ones."
Chinchilla community members raised questions about water, how to get rid of salt produced from the water, closing of fences on properties, washing of trucks coming onto properties and the recent gas leak in Kogan among others.
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Caption: Arrow Energy addressed community concerns at a consultation held in Chinchilla in May. Photo Graham Osborne/Chinchilla News.
Cockatoo drilling comences at Taroom project Cockatoo Coal has entered into an agreement with Macquarie Bank to facilitate $50 million for its coal operations. Drilling has commenced at Cockatoo Coal's Taroom Project. The initial drilling will aim to confirm historical drilling, verifying seam correlations and thicknesses. Cockatoo said results are expected to confirm 36.4 million tonne measured, 89 million tonne indicated and 72.8 million tonne inferred JORC resources. Drilling at the Taroom project has cumulative down hole coal intercepts up to 14 metres, with an average thickness of 9.3 metres, with the near surface position of the coal seams confirmed with average depth of optimal strip ratio occuring at 40 metres from the surface. Cockatoo has more than 4000 square kilometres of projects in the Surat Basin with 574 holes drilled for projects. Meanwhile Cockatoo Coal has entered into an agreement with Macquarie Bank to facilitate $50 million for its coal operations.
Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011
in the NEWS
Powerlink plan for new transmission line Submissions regarding the draft EIS of the proposed Columboola and Western Downs transmission line must be in before Friday.
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he line would travel between the Kogan Creek Power Station and the proposed Columboola substation near Miles. The Columboola to Western Downs transmission line and Columboola Substation Project is the second stage of a broader plan to reinforce electricity supply in the region. Powerlink CEO Simon Bartlett said joint planning with Ergon Energy identified the need for the existing network to be extended due to growth in the region. "Forecasts indicate electricity demand in the region will grow strongly in future years," he said. "As the owner and operator of Queensland's high voltage electricity transmission network, it is Powerlink's responsibility to ensure that a reliable and secure supply of electricity is maintained." Mr Bartlett said that Powerlink is proposing to build a new 275kV transmission line between the Western Downs substation near Kogan Creek Power Station, and a proposed new substation adjacent to the Columboola
Switching Station about nine kilometres east of Miles on the Warrego Highway. "New easements will be required to accommodate the proposed transmission line," Mr Bartlett said. "It is expected the easements will be 100m wide to cater for both this proposed line, which will meet the region's more immediate forecast electricity demands, with additional space for a second line that may be needed at some point in the future to meet longerterm electricity needs in the region. "No decision will be made regarding the final alignment of the proposed transmission line or the location of the proposed substation until a full environmental impact assessment and consultation with landowners and the broader community has been completed." A copy of the draft EIS can be downloaded from the Powerlink and PB websites (www.powerlink.com.au or www.pb.com.au/columboolawesterndown) or copies can be obtained by phoning 1800 635 369 during business hours.
The draft EIS is also available for review at Council libraries in Chinchilla and Miles, and copies of the report have been provided to directly-affected landowners, government agencies and other key stakeholders for their comment.
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long term benefit of the state. Queensland's best cropping land is currently subject to a range of competing land uses from agriculture, mining and urban development. The SCL policy aims to find a balance between agricultural, resource and development industries and minimise land use conflicts by assessing potential impacts of development on strategic cropping land. Stanmore Coal has been actively working with relevant government departments and technical experts during the formulation of the draft SCL policy. The company said it will continue to actively engage with the government and seek further clarification on SCL maps and regulations as further details of the proposed legislation are released.
CFMEU Mining and Energy Union Servicing the mining and energy workers throughout the Surat Basin with workplace, industrial & health and safety issues www.cfmeuqld.asn.au
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he Queensland Government's recently released draft strategic land cropping (SCL) policy will have no affect on Stanmore Coal's projects in the Surat Basin. A review by the company of the draft policy, protection area zones and indicative SC trigger maps and found that only two of its granted tenements, Mackenzie near Blackwater and Tennyson near Emerald, fell within the proposed SCL protection areas. The Range project near Wandoan, where the company has identified a 219 million tonne JORC Inferred Resource, completely falls outside of the SCL protection area boundaries. The Queensland Government has recognised that strategic cropping land is a finite resource and must be conserved and managed for the
in the NEWS Local companies are continuing to show their worth as high-end players in the Surat Basin resource industry.
Wagners cement their worth in Surat Basin agners in April announced a massive sale of assets to Boral, passing over $173 million worth of a network of fixed concrete and quarry operations, concrete pumping, and bulk transport. Wagners managing director Denis Wagner said the sale did not include the Wagners name and brand and the family will continue to operate the company under the Wagners name. "We see the sale of these selected assets as a positive step and it positions the business for the future, including a potential share market listing for which we have retained Wilson HTM as advisors," he said. Wagners has major concrete plants at Wacol, Everton Park, Murarrie and Burleigh Heads in South East Queensland as well as Toowoomba and Townsville, and a network of smaller regional plants. The group
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retain its cement grinding plant at Pinkenba in Brisbane, and has signed a long term supply contract with Boral to underpin that operation. Wagner's major quarries are at Wellcamp Downs putside Toowoomba, near Jondaryan, at Keperra in Brisbane and near Goondiwindi while it quarries sand at Grantham in the Lockyer Valley. Established in 1989 as a family owned company with three business lines,Wagners is now one of Queensland's largest privately-owned construction materials and mining services companies, and employs about1000 staff.With the $175 million sale to Boral, 275 of these workers have the opportunity to transfer. Wagners, which entered a joint venture last year with Scotland's big oil and gas industry services business,Wood Group, is actively pursuing opportunities to increase services to the resources sector, including the coal seam gas industry, and to the infrastructure sector.
will
Easternwell secures $80m deal with QGC Transfield Services Ltd is already reaping the benefits of their recent purchase of local company Easternwell. QGC awarded Easternwell a three year contract in April, worth $80 million. The contract will see Easternwell provide well completion and well servicing activities to QGC's coal seam gas operations in Queensland. Commencing in October of this year, the contract includes two one-year extension options. Easternwell will acquire two new rigs, adding to an existing rig from current QGC operations. Transfield Services managing director and CEO Peter Goode said it was a significant win in one of Australia's key oil and gas growth markets. "This contract together with previously announced contracts associated with the Silver City Drilling acquisition secures a significant proportion of Easternwell's $30 million of EBITDA growth targets as identified at the time we acquired the business," Mr Goode said.
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Editorial — Tegan Plant - 07 4662 7368 E: editorial@suratbasin.com.au View on line — www.issuu.com/suratbasinnews 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla — Phone 07 4662 7368 — Fax 07 4662 8474 PO Box 138 Chinchilla Q4413 PAGE 8
Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011
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in the NEWS
ERM purchase brings greater presence in Basin RM Power continues to increase their stakes in the Surat Basin, with the announcement in June of an agreement to purchase an additional 50 per cent interest in Oakey Power Station. The company purchased the additional interests from Redbank Energy Ltd in a deal worth $61.7 million.The acquisition will take ERM Power's interest in the Oakey Power Station from 12.5 per cent to 62.5 per cent.The company already
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operates the Braemar Power Station. Oakey Power Station is a two unit peaking power station with dual fuel capability in close proximity to fuel supplies, gas and electricity transmission infrastructure. ERM Power will utilise existing cash and has put in place a $15.6 million corporate debt facility to fund the acquisition. Managing director and CEO Philip St Baker said the acquisition provides immediate value for shareholders and will provide capacity and energy into the National Electricity Market.
THE WORLD’S MOST VERSATILE AGRICULTURAL MACHINE IS A TRACTOR AND TELEHANDLER COMBINED
"The purchase price is less than 50 per cent of the estimated replacement cost and the asset is in near new condition due to the fact that it is a peaking power station that has operated less than five per cent of the time over its 11 years of operation," Mr St Baker said. "Ultimately, the asset is a peaking power station and is built to operate only in extreme peak electricity load demand times, such as when we have a heat wave in Queensland during summer. "In addition to these obvious benefits, ERM Power has
the skills, experience and complementary businesses to exploit substantial upside from this asset over the short, medium and long term." St Baker said the asset will be highly valuable to the company both financially and strategically. "It will not only boost our earnings and profits, but also provide for full vertical integration of our business in Queensland in the future," Mr St Baker said.
Over $2 billion added to Queensland’s economy.
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Our actions speak for us. Phone: 07 466627368 Fax: 07 4662 7368 email: adverise@suratbasin.com.au
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Our GLNG project has already added over $2 billion to Queensland’s economy. Over the next 25 years, the project will contribute over $6 billion to State revenue, generate $9 billion a year in exports and see the creation of 6,000 jobs. That’s just one part of over $40 billion worth of investments and tens of thousands of new jobs the coal seam gas industry is bringing to the State. Santos has been part of Queensland’s economic growth for nearly 50 years and we look forward to an even brighter future. Because we’re not just an energy company. We’re a company with energy. Go to santos.com/csg
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011
PAGE 9
in the NEWS
Braemar expansion to generate employment opportunities Braemar power station continues to expand, with developmental approval for Braemar 3 reached in May 2010 and a proposal for a 204km pipeline in the works.
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he 520MW open-cycle gasfired power station at Braemar 3 and high-pressure gas pipeline will be situated at the current Braemar power complex, 40km south west of Dalby. With financial close expected at the end of 2011 and commissioning for 2013, the project is expected to generate approximately 360 construction jobs and seven operations jobs. ERM Power plan to maintain 50 per cent ownership of the plant while its prospective partner Siemens Project Ventures would own the other 50 per cent. ERM Power managing director and CEO Philip St Baker said the Braemar 3 power station pipeline, which obtained environmental approval in March 2011, will connect to the Roma Brisbane Pipeline (RBP) near the RBP Kogan compressor site. "It is 80km long, which is sufficient to store enough gas to enable the power station to operate effectively as a mid-
order peaking station," Mr St Baker said.
Government in the second half of 2011.
ERM Power is also considering the 204km underground Kenya to Goondiwindi pipeline.
Mr St Baker said construction of the pipeline, if approved, is not expected to commence before the second half of the 2012/13 financial year.
Mr St Baker said ERM Power is considering building this pipeline as a secondary alternative to the Braemar 3 pipeline and potentially also for future power projects.
"The purpose of the Kenya to Goondiwindi pipeline is to supply natural gas, including coal seam gas (CSG), from the proposed Icon CSG fields into the Queensland gas market and provide gas storage capacity," Mr St Baker said. Gas from the pipeline may also enter the Braemar 3 pipeline at Tara. ERM have undertaken a preliminary environmental evaluation of this pipeline and plan to submit an environmental application to the Queensland P: +61 7 3292 0800
"ERM Power expects to connect to the RBP near ERM Power-owned land on which the Braemar 2 gas pipeline connects to the QGC/Origin gas processing facility at Kenya East," Mr St Baker said. "ERM Power could also connect into the Kenya East facility to receive gas." During the preliminary evaluation ERM met with the relevant councils and landowners were sent letters, of which more than half were then met to discuss the pipeline. Mr St Baker said during the next phase in 2011/2012 we will schedule meetings with most of the landholders to discuss the project, however ERM Power does not expect to have to acquire properties as the gas pipelines are buried and the impact on property is minimal.
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011
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in the NEWS
Focus on Phil P
hil', otherwise known as Philotheca Sporadica, is a rare Australian shrub, found only in 11 populations in south-east Queensland, with an estimated 64,000 plants remaining. One of these populations is located in the Braemar State Forest, a few hundred metres from ERM Power's Braemar 2 Power Station. ERM Power, with the assistance of Greening Australia, the University of Queensland and the local botanical garden, have cultivated and planted approximately 40 'Phils' around Braemar 2 power station as part of their environmental commitments. Cuttings were propagated by the UQ Gatton campus and grown to a stage where they were suitable for planting. ERM Power managing director and CEO Philip St Baker said the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 has listed the "Phil" as a vulnerable species because of the risk posed by loss of habitat, particularly through fire, invasive weeds, and grazing.
"More populations have been found towards Miles and other populations may not have been recorded," Mr St Baker said. "The locations chosen to plant 'Phil' are areas where the plant can thrive
When workers at Braemar talk about 'Phil', be warned, they may not be referring to a workmate.
and be protected from potential threats." Mr St Baker said Braemar 2 operations staff maintains the plants. "They enjoy visiting the forest and
seeing first-hand how ERM Power is helping to protect and preserve the planet," Mr St Baker said.
ERM Power's Tammy Rigby, Phil MacMahon and managing director Philip St Baker take a closer look at their friend Phil.
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011
PAGE 11
opinions
SBNEWS 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla, QLD 4413 PO Box 138, Chinchilla, 4413
Michael Roche, QRC
Positive Growth
Legislation
Ray Brown, Mayor
Bruce Scott, Federal Member Maranoa
A time for action Firstly I would like to thank the LNP who have again endorsed me to be the LNP candidate for the seat of Warrego at the forthcoming State Election.
Phone: 4662 7368 General Manager: David Richardson Advertising: Laurell Ison Editorial: Tegan Plant
Editorial With the announcement of another energy project in the Surat basin region, this time solar the region is becoming Australias energy hub.The Surat Basin boasts power generation from coal, coal seam gas and now solar.The faith of major energy and resource companies in our region is a tick for our ability to absorb more energy infrastructure. It would be a welcome relief if our three levels of Government would now start to focus on investing in the Surat Basin. For those people who are unlucky enough to have to continually drive on the major arterial, the Warrego highway, they must be wondering how much more traffic our region can cope with. Unfortunately it appears that our leaders are deaf to the concerns to the residents of our local communities, hopefully these communities will not have to endure the loss of loved ones on these roads before the highway is upgraded. The question that now has to be asked now is what are our elected officials doing about the housing crisis that is being experienced in Chinchilla. "No residential land available for sale" has been the cry for some months, and the affect is being felt right through from our residents to business. Local residents are now facing rising rents that will soon exceed their weekly income, builders cannot build, realtors cannot sell.The local Councils answer is to blame previous town plans and to call on the state and federal government to supply affordable housing however blind Freddy can see the reason for the spiralling rents is a lack of supply. Maybe this is a simple fix but surely increasing supply will drive down the price?. Lets hope that the local workers who are not earning above average income are not driven out of our communities. It would be unfortunate to lose so much just because a few have lacked the vision that will drive our region into the future.
I
am humbled and honored by the overwhelming support I have received from the LNP members from across the Electorate. I sincerely thank the members and non members who have expressed their support for my candidacy. We are coming into an exciting time in state politics in Queensland. Campbell Newman's entry to state politics has reinvigorated conservative forces around the state, and I am personally excited about this. The LNP is in a good position to win Government in this state. I think all of us have had enough of ALP Governments, their philosophy, the debt and knee jerk irresponsible decisions like the live cattle export ban that will be very costly to the Australian beef industry. We have seen the state go from the one with the least debt to the most debt. The price of electricity, gas, water, fuel, vehicle registration, and the cost of living, rising higher and higher in Queensland. We have gone from the low tax state to the high tax state. The LNP can change this, we can make the public service more efficient, we have to control the bureaucracy, stop the delays, start the projects. We can make a bigger effort to fix our roads that will improve safety and save on ongoing maintenance. We need to adequately resource the regions, I have already put a comprehensive plan together, one for the last election and another for this coming one, I propose a $255m per annum package in a three part program to address the issues confronting local governments in and adjacent to resource regions, flood mitigation and natural disaster works not already covered by NDRRA and returning subsidy programs to support local governments where the removal has impacted on increased rates and charges to consumers. Natural disasters are frequently occurring in the same place with the same result
with the same cleanup and same heartache. This plan will give priority to works that will mitigate the impacts of future natural disaster events such as upgrading regional airports, flood mitigation and levy banks, flood height measuring stations, raising houses out of flood height, community cyclone shelters, securing electricity supply. This is not talk this is about action. The LNP can improve health services. We can introduce genuine hospital boards to be the eyes and ears of the community, to have a genuine say in the running of your health services. We can protect prime agricultural land from mining and coal seam gas (CSG ) development. I have been very proactive, to ensure we have a credible position that provides fairness and equity to land access, water management, administration and enforcement. We will not allow mining on prime agricultural land and CSG wells will also not be allowed if they are incompatible with the use of the land. Under the plan, CSG companies must predict the affect of identified water extraction to show that there is no adverse impact on existing bores and aquifers. I want to make it clear there is no comprise to protecting our underground water. We support the CSG industry in Queensland, and we want the development, we want the jobs, and want to provide certainty to those companies who are providing significant capital investment. I condemn the ALP State government for not providing the leadership and legislation to this important emerging industry. The LNP and I support property rights. The LNP has announced it will entrench in law a charter of property rights that will legally guarantee the rights of private property owners, it will enshrine compensation for landholders whose pre-
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011
COMMENT Howard Hobbs MP Member for Warrego Shadow Minister for Local Government and ATSI Partnerships
existing rights are diminished as a result of Government policy. Further to this, I propose, that minimum compensation arrangements must be mandated by Government for landholders affected by mining, CSG and other resource developments. Landholders whose land is required for mining purposes should be paid a minimum 150 per cent of the genuine total asset value and CSG companies should pay a minimum annual $10,000 per production well. Exploration wells should be paid on a pro-rata basis depending on impact and use of the land. There are many other policy changes needed to make Queensland strong again. For example commonsense workplace health and safety regulations, shifting freight from road to rail, reducing Government red tape, protecting the cypress pine industry from closure, and boosting country racing. Small business is struggling in Queensland and we are losing businesses to the southern states. We need to grow our economy, and to do that, we need to be competitive again, reduce the bureaucracy and financial burden on business, stop the Government waste, make the public service more efficient and make Queensland an attractive place to invest once again.
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opinions
Bonanza of business opportunities on show in Queensland’s energy capital COMMENT Cr Ray Brown Mayor, Western Downs Regional Council
onanza of business opportunities on show in Queensland's Energy Capital Massive expenditure of over $140 billion, unprecedented growth in resource related industrial activity and with over 47 major projects scheduled for commissioning by 2013, creating up to 12,500 jobs, mean there has never been a better time for business houses to take advantage of an array of business investment opportunities in the Western Downs region.This positive growth supported by active government and ongoing opportunities for industry investment indicates the best is yet to come for our thriving regional economy. Western Downs
Ray Brown says
B
Regional Council will be hosting a major Business Investment Tour this month that will pave
the way for a wide range of businesses to share in the region's riches.The two day event is being targeted at specific industries identified by Western Downs Regional Council as essential to the region's expansion and offering support to existing businesses.The Tour will smooth the way for an injection of new business enterprises in the Western Downs that will complement existing businesses and contribute to the explosion of growth in the area. Turning attention to a number of issues that have encountered state-wide media coverage over the past month, one that captured headlines was the enormous concern voiced by our residents and communities after a gas leakage that occurred on a landholder's property near Dalby.This unfortunate event has sparked renewed debate about the protection of our landholders and their prime farming land.Also this has led to increased pressure to oversee that the State Government's rules and regulations are being complied with in relation to policing this type of energy development.The key message I believe to arise from this event is it is critically important that the rules and regulations put in place by the State Government are adhered to by energy companies. Other issues on the agenda of Council have been the proposed windfarm development at Coopers Gap and the implementation of a new State waste levy. I have had several discussions recently with those farmers who actually want the windfarm and those farmers who are opposed to it. Obviously, this will continue to be a highly divisive issue within the local community. The recent announcement of the State Government plans to implement a new waste levy throughout Queensland has been met with a chorus of criticism from local government.The Western Downs Regional Council area will be captured in this roll out and the levy is set to place an additional burden not only on our ratepayers but all users of waste in our council area. Its implementation will impose a significant impost on the development of the energy sector and will affect both our urban and rural areas. In response to this announcement, Council has done a significant amount of work attempting to alleviate the full impacts of this new tax so it doesn't actually stifle development and add additional cost to all operations within the urban, rural and energy sectors.
Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Ray Brown and Member for Condamine Ray Hopper met with State Opposition Leader Campbell Newman during a visit to the Western Downs in May as part of a state-wide tour.
On the Coal Seam Gas front, there have been productive discussions about landholder engagement and water issues at recent meetings of the CSG Engagement Group chaired by John Cotter.These meetings are ongoing and will continue to provide a direct conduit between the CSG Industry and the State Government. The Western Downs last month had welcomed a visit to the region by State Opposition Leader Campbell Newman.This visit shows Mr Newman is obviously taking a keen interest in our region, particularly the coal seam gas industry and its coexistence with our agricultural industry.With Mr Newman actually having worked in the region, in the grain industry, he has a huge wealth of knowledge of rural and regional Queensland. I welcomed his point of views and he also not only availed himself to listen to the concerns of Western Downs Regional Council, but also what our concerned residents had to say on energy developments. The lack of resources for the development of infrastructure in regional Queensland and the Western Downs region in the recent Federal Budget has been particularly disappointing. There have been no funds allocated towards upgrades so desperately needed to the Warrego Highway. On top of this, an overall transport vision has not been addressed by neither State nor Federal Government which to say the least is alarming. Meanwhile,Western Downs Regional Council
has been working very closely with energy sector proponents to formulate a housing strategy in response to growing concerns in the community about housing and rental affordability in the region. Council has formed a Housing Strategy Advisory Committee to develop a strategy to benefit the Western Downs by looking at the issues of affordable housing, social and community housing and staff accommodations in our towns and temporary accommodations across the region. Council is concerned particularly with temporary accommodation and is currently investigating if local government has a say on where these accommodations will be located. We are obviously moving towards the financial close of a lot of the energy proponents and there has certainly been a massive surge in activity across the Western Downs and in the Surat Basin Energy Province over the past 12 months.This has to be managed wisely by all tiers of government and all activity that is undertaken must continue with full disclosure to ensure it meshes with our communities. Complementing the burgeoning growth of the region's energy industry,Western Downs Regional Council's inaugural Business Investment Tour is a boon to promote the wealth of business opportunities at our doorstep in what is hoped will further cement the Western Downs as the Energy Capital of Queensland.
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011
PAGE 13
opinions
Farmers and miners forging closer links There have been many centimetres of newspaper space devoted to the differences between the farming community and explorers and miners who wish to develop the mineral wealth that belongs to all Queenslanders.
COMMENT Michael Roche Chief Executive Queensland Resources Council
tranche of which was released by the Minister for Environment and Resource Management Kate Jones on 31 May. QRC is looking to organise a workshop where the science can be openly discussed to ensure that the new policy meets its intent of preserving the best of the best cropping land. To this end, the QRC has commissioned consulting firm Palaris to conduct a scientific review of the criteria set out by the government to identify SCL and we hope to release this in June. Their preliminary results show that the criteria do not reliably discern the 'best' cropping land from 'general' cropping country. The QRC also maintains that the SCL policy should be applied as part of the existing rigorous environmental impact statement (EIS) process, rather than when applying for tenure. Strategic cropping land needs to be one consideration as part of an overall environmental impact statement, rather than a pre-eminent consideration made under narrow technical grounds at the time of
granting tenure. In addition, the policy needs to judge a minerals project on its merits rather than, for example, incorrectly assuming that underground mining will alienate cropping land. While we applaud the Queensland Government for quarantining projects that were in advanced stages prior to the SCL policy, we will continue to advocate the need for a transition mechanism for many other projects where proponents have already spent tens of millions of dollars. The proposed transitional arrangements go some way to giving effect to that principle but there are many projects that have not been recognised. The policy can best be described as still a work in progress. We need to ensure that SCL policy is correctly framed. A flawed policy has the potential to significantly reduce future royalties that flow to the
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people of Queensland in the form of government spending on infrastructure and services such as roads, schools, hospitals, police, teachers and nurses. What my travels around Queensland have revealed to me is that genuine and quality dialogue can result in a win for everyone. It is a pity that very often the genuine voices of Queensland's true blue farmers are drowned out by the noisy rabble of green activists who have little understanding of the complete set of social economic and environmental issues in play. It's about balance-a balance between providing the mineral and energy resources to meet global needs through optimum development of our rich mineral endowment, and the environmental and social needs of communities, including our farmers.
Michael Roche says
H
owever, I'm happy to report that the perception that farmers and miners can't work together is fading, at least amongst those at the front line. Recently I visited farmland in Central Queensland on the invitation of the agricultural lobby group Future Food Queensland. It was my second foray into farmland this year, the first being a visit to the Darling Downs. The QRC's Director of Industry Policy Andrew Barger and I met with a range of landholders in the area and there were two resounding messages: • the impact on farm planning of the uncertainty caused by the prospect of resource developments and; • actions speak louder than wordswhether in the context of compensation, sharing roads or access to farming country. These are messages QRC members hear loud and clear. I found both these trips extremely informative on the issues faced by the farming community, and they have helped in the consideration of responses to issues such as the Queensland Government's new strategic cropping land (SCL) policy. An unexpected point of agreement during my central Queensland tour was that, like QRC, many agronomists in Central Queensland have raised questions about the science underpinning SCL, the latest
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opinions
Training focuses on coal seam gas needs Every week in the Surat Basin there are people starting new jobs created directly or indirectly by the LNG industry. But the jobs being generated now are nothing compared to what will happen in the years ahead. Getting a whole new industry off the ground in Queensland means training workers in a whole new set of skills. When it comes to skills training we want Surat Basin locals to be front and centre, ready to take advantage of the incredible opportunities that accompany a multibillion dollar industry. So we were delighted to announce in the budget that we are investing $4.5 million in a trade training centre at Miles State High School. This new centre will be part of a regional skills hub to service the area's mining, engineering and coal
COMMENT Anna Bligh Premier of Queensland
Students will have access to the latest equipment as they acquire skills in mining operations including extraction of coal seam gas and pipeline construction. Certificate-level qualifications in identified areas of skills shortages will also be offered, including hospitality training to service the resource sectors' demand for catering. The Centre is expected to open in mid-2012 to provide secondary and TAFE students with high quality training specialising in coal seam gas
We want Surat Basin locals to be front and centre seam gas industries. The industrial workshops at Wandoan and Taroom State Schools will also be upgraded as part of the project. We will be training local students for local jobs. Students at the Centre will undertake courses developed in consultation with industry partners Xstrata Coal and coal seam gas companies Origin, QGC and Santos. Planning and design are complete for the new centre, with construction likely to be underway later this year.
Bruce Scott says Legislation must be effective COMMENT
Bruce Scott MP Federal Member for Maranoa
Reports of gas leakages from coal seam gas wells in the Maranoa electorate have sparked serious concerns for the future health of our environment and the Murray Darling Basin. Now is the time to make sure we strike the right balance between mining and the environment. A recent audit conducted by the Petroleum and Gas Inspectorate of Queensland's coal seam gas wells found that two per cent of wells were leaking and were a fire risk.The inspection report showed that five wells, owned and operated by the Queensland Gas Company and located near Condamine,Tara and Taroom, yielded signs of gas leakages. The leaks were 99 per cent methane with small amounts of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and ethane, normally found in natural gas, as well as a non-toxic amount of hydrogen sulphide, commonly found in coal seams. According to the report, the levels of gas detected were within public health standards.The report came just weeks after a major gas leak was found at an Arrow Energy-owned coal seam gas well at Daandine, near Dalby. It is believed the blow-out was triggered when workers tried to install a pump and created a pressurised spout of water and gas which spewed for more than 24 hours until it was plugged. Although QGC moved quickly to have the leaking wells fixed, these incidents are a timely reminder of how
important it is to ensure the legislation relating to the CSG industry and the environment is well-informed and effective.We must be certain that the benefits the CSG industry will bring to the Surat Basin region will not outweigh the potentially harmful environmental impacts on prime agricultural land and the Murray Darling Basin.The Senate's Rural Affairs and Transport Reference Committee, as part of its inquiry into the management of the Murray Darling Basin, is examining the impact of mining coal seam gas on the management of the basin. Led by Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan, the committee will travel to the Maranoa electorate in July for public hearings. The inquiry is examining a number of aspects relating to the economic, social and environmental impacts of mining coal seam gas including the sustainability of water aquifers and future water licensing arrangements; the sustainability of prime agricultural land and the effective management of relationships between mining and other interests. I will be presenting evidence at the inquiry when it visits the Maranoa electorate. I sincerely hope that many of my constituents will also be in attendance at the hearings to put forward their opinions and ideas about the impact of CSG mining on the basin to the committee.
production skills. The funding has been provided as part of my Government's $100 million commitment to help build liveable and sustainable communities in resource-rich areas of Queensland. This project will complement the federally funded trade training centres at Charleville, Dalby, Oakey and Toowoomba. Giving young people this sort of skills training can set them up for a life of well paid work and is one of the benefits of this exciting new industry.
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down tobusiness page16 page17 page18 page19
Origin and community
Agforce and landholder rights
Surat Basin Corporation
Fourth Regional Conference plans
Origin consults with community
This is a positive step for the communities that neighbour CSG and LNG operations in the region
Haydn Counsell from Origin, Helen Thomas from WDRC, Scott Maclean from Calabah Constructions and CCCI, Ken Horton from Origin, and Kel Gaske, landholder from near Chinchilla, at the first meeting of the Western Downs Community Consultative Committee in Miles.
The Committee will enable us to work collaboratively and cooperatively with these communities Branches of communication are growing, with Origin jumping on the engagement bandwagon. Origin last week met for the first time with the newly developed Western Downs Community Consultative Committee, aiming to keep the western downs communities up-to-date on the Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) project and to act as a conduit for community feedback. The Western Downs Community Consultative Committee will oversee APLNG's social impact management plans for the coal seam gas (CSG) fields and gas PAGE 16
transmission pipeline constructions in the Western Downs region. An interim independent facilitator will chair the committee until a permanent local chairperson is appointed and membership of the committee will be drawn from a diverse cross section of the community. Chinchilla businessman and board member Scott MacLean said he was thrilled to be part of a committee which had the potential to deliver significant social benefits to western downs communities. "This is a positive step for the communities
that neighbour CSG and LNG operations in the region and sets a good example for community engagement," said Mr MacLean. The Western Downs Community Consultative Committee will meet quarterly, with the first meeting to be held on June15 in Miles. Origin Group Manager Corporate Affairs Upstream Qld Ken Horton said Origin was pleased to provide a more efficient and effective communication channel for dialogue with the Western Downs. "While we have community liaison officers and shop front staff in place across the
Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011
region as access points for the community this allows more in-depth reviews and dialogue," Mr Horton said. "The Committee will enable us to work collaboratively and cooperatively with these communities to identify challenges related to our industry in the Western Downs and to implement real solutions. "We see this as an opportunity to more directly involve the community particularly, in how we implement our social impact management plan, including the direction of funding for community investment projects."
down tobusiness page20 page21 page22 page23 AgForce call for moratorium on CSG industry
Fracking bans
Stakeholders communication
AS COAL seam gas exploration continues to creep over the countryside, many farmers still feel unsure of what to do should the big companies come knocking on their door. AgForce are attempting to change this, with a series of sessions until the end of June to inform landowners of their rights and strategies to undertake successful negotiation. The sessions cover current and proposed CSG activities in the Surat Basin; landholder rights and responsibilities under the current legislative framework; conduct and compensation agreement negotiations; analysing physical, social, financial and other impacts resulting from CSG activities; seeking legal and other professional advice and tips on property planning, mapping, recording on-property impacts and keeping quality environmental baseline records. While AgForce continued to call for a moratorium on the CSG industry until comprehensive research into its collective impact on the environment was conducted, AgForce projects officer Daniel Phipps said the reality was gas company tenures in the region were expanding. "Some of the possible impacts on groundwater resulting
from CSG extraction are changes in bore water pressure, volume and or a reduction in water quality," he said. "It is essential landholders consider having their bores independently assessed before CSG activities begin on their properties in order to provide evidence should impacts on groundwater occur in the future."
Dan Phipps, Annabelle Grieve, James Elder and Rae Webster at the CSG session in Goondiwindi.
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Lynelle Urquhart and Roxy Borchardt at a CSG session in Moonie. Roma grazier Helen Wilkin was one of 40 attendees at the free AgForce Projects landholder CSG information session held in Roma on May5. With one gas drill already on the family's7280 acre property, Helen said the information session provided vital information to help them take action to mitigate the risks of CSG activities on their property. "I thoroughly enjoyed the session and now feel better prepared," she said. "After they put down the well we haven't heard anything from the resource company for 12 months and we can't get any information from them. "After attending the session we now know that we have rights and we understand that we need to seek legal advice to find out what our boundaries are and to seek compensation.
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PAGE 17
down to BUSINESS Corporation delivers their first free workshop Businesses hit by flood setbacks received some valuable advice through the recent Surat Basin Corporation's free workshops. The 20 free workshops across the Surat Basin region were organised to assist businesses in their flood recovery, and alternatively focused on managing staff and managing cash flow in difficult times. The workshops were funded by the Queensland Government's Regional Development Initiative through Regional Development Australia. Surat Basin Corporation general manager David Breese said the workshop attendance exceeded their expectations, with over 100 in total attending the cash flow workshops, and in the case of the Toowoomba managing
staff workshop 33 attended and it was difficult to fit them all in the room. "We're actually going to film one of the workshops and replay it as a podcast online which means we can reach out to those who couldn't attend," Mr Breese said. "We've received a lot of feedback on what businesses are wanting in the future, and are arranging follow on workshops at the moment based on this feedback. We are also preparing a report on lessons captured and will continue to work to help those businesses." Mr Breese said one of the problems highlighted was the attraction and retention of staff. "The resource industry is pulling staff away but there's no help for small businesses to replace them," Mr Breese said. "People are also looking for easier to
understand information on awards and legislation in the workplace." Mr Breese said businesses were starting to think outside the square for ways to retain and attract staff, including businesses banding together to share costs for bonuses for their workers such as providing a house cleaner. A new look Surat Basin Corporation website will also go live on July 1, aiming to attract investment and workers to the region. A DVD will also be released on this date, which features success stories from local businesses throughout the region.
Businesses were starting to think outside the square for ways to retain and attract staff
Western Downs Regional Council mayor, Ray Brown spoke at the last Surat Basin Conference, one of many events the Surat Basin Corporation has organised for local businesses.
Resources explained
FOR people who don't work in the energy industry, terms like LNG and CSG and the processes they are involved in can get a little confusing. As the gas industry continues to grow in the Surat Basin knowing what - they are and what they mean for the economy and the environment is becoming more important.
Coal, oil and gas are all fossil fuels, formed as ancient organic material such as ferns and trees died and were buried by sediment. Rather than decomposing from an interaction with oxygen, the material disintegrated from increases in temperature and pressure as time produced more and more layers of
sediment on top of the decomposing layer, called peat. The various forms of coal take shape as it increases in value over time. It starts out as lignite, or brown coal, changes to bituminous coal, and finally becomes the higher quality form of anthracite, or black coal. Another form of coal exists as graphite however this is not often used as a fuel source but more as pencils or lubricant. Coal can also be mixed with other substances to create syngas or liquid fuel in various forms. Oil and gas form as part of the decomposing of the plant material that makes up coal, and are made up of hydrocarbons mixing with other chemicals such as sulphur. Natural gas and CSG end up as the same product, LNG. The difference lies in how they form and therefore how they are collected from underground. Liquefied Natural gas, or LNG, often occurs in sandstone deposits and fills in the pores between individual grains of sand. Coal seam gas, or CSG, joins itself to coal molecules in underground coal seams.
These coal seams are often filled with water and ground and water pressure act as a barrier to keep gas as a thin layer on top of the coal.This process is known as adsorption. The gas and water layers store themselves in fractures or cleats within the coal seam and this is why alternative processes are used to remove CSG. To release CSG, the water must first be removed to decrease the water pressure. Fracturing, or fracking, of the coal seams sometimes occurs by pumping in excess water or sand if the seam appears to have low permeability, or a low ability for the gas to pass through the rock or coal, to increase the rate of gas release. Underground coal gasification (UCG) and gas to liquids (GTL) are becoming increasingly popular forms of energy technology, where coal is converted to gas underground and then the gas is converted to liquid, as in the case of Linc Energy's syngas. Gas is seen as a more environmentally friendly option to coal as it produces lower emissions, but all of these supplies come from the finite supplies of ancient organic decomposition.
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011
down to BUSINESS
Engage Local to deliver global Leaders of all Surat Basin industries together with regional Councils and Government will converge at the fourth regional Surat Basin Conference to progress their business plans and engage in regional strategies. Following significant interest in the economic drivers, opportunities and challenges faced by regional industries the 2011 conference will provide the only regional stage to understand global demands, build alliances, address industry needs and foster sustainable regional growth. Surat Basin Corporation General Manager David Breese said the event is titled Engage Local Deliver Global and will run from September 7 to 9. "This is a business engagement event for all regional industries. We want to provide a platform that engages locally for the region to deliver globally, realising prosperity from new investment, interest and opportunities of the region," Mr Breese said. "With such a positive economic future
assured for the Surat Basin it is important to advocate sustainable communities as well as promote our local businesses." Planning is already underway with major regional stakeholders helping organisers to put together a quality program of presentations, workshops and activities. This year the event will be hosted by Maranoa Regional Council in Roma original home to Australia's energy sector, a major driver of recent economic developments. "Roma has a long history with the energy and agricultural industries and is a perfect choice given the ease of access by air, rail or road with daily passengers services direct from Brisbane," says Mr Breese. Representatives from government and industry including the agricultural sector, the food processing sector and the energy sector as well as academia, regional commerce groups and the community are all expected to attend.
Event Director, Rebecca Gleeson said that a significant percentage of the profits will go on to support a nominated regional community environment, education or health specific project. The conference program will include a trade display to showcase capability of suppliers, confidential meeting space to facilitate engagement activities, guided industry bus tours, a full social program and the inaugural Surat Basin Community Engagement Awards. Conference participants will be encouraged to stay on for Roma's biannual Food & Fire Festival - an explosion of flavour and entertainment on Saturday, September 10. Detailed information on the conference and registration information will be available from the dedicated conference website www.suratbasinconference.com which will be launched into the marketplace in the coming weeks.
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CSG 'fracking' suspended in some UK and US operations The international debate on fracking practices continues, with companies in both the UK and US putting a suspension on the practice until more information is obtained. In England, it's feared 'fracking' could be the cause of recent minor earth tremor activity. After two fracking operations in the country's west, the region felt two small earthquakes. The area affected in the west of England is a major crop growing area for fruit and vegetables, and in addition to the earth movement being felt, there is a fear of contamination of their food. In the US, fracking operations were suspended by Chesapeake Energy in Pennsylvania, after a well blowout. Chesapeake Energy halted
The international debate on fracking practices continues, with companies in both the UK and US putting a suspension on the practice until more information is obtained.
hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in the state on April 21 after drilling fluid used in the fracking process was spilled into local waterways when workers lost control of a well. As of May 9 the company still had no date for resumption of fracking. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is where water and chemicals are injected underground to force coal seams apart to extract the gas trapped inside. Federal LNP Member for Maranoa Bruce Scott questioned the Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke recently on the decision by the British government to suspend the practice, however felt his response was inadequate. Mr Scott said the Minister's response to this suspension was critical, given that hydraulic fracking was used to extract coal seam gas in the Surat Basin. "The decision was made after measurement equipment installed by officials from the British Geological Survey near a drill site recorded a magnitude 2.3 earthquake on April 1. A small earthquake was also recorded on May 27," Mr Scott said. "These were small earthquakes, but it led to the British Department of Energy and
Climate Change to firstly suspend the practice of fracking and they are now investigating the possible link between fracking and the earthquakes.” Mr Scott said Minister Burke admitted he did not know the detail of the events in the UK and Europe, and was noncommittal when asked if he would consider suspending the practice in Australia until the UK
had completed their investigation. "The Minister's response is very concerning and provides no peace of mind for the people living in the Surat Basin region," Mr Scott said. DERM’s general manager for coal and coal seam gas operations Andrew Brier said the UK has a very limited environmental process in comparison to
Australia’s, and uses a different method of hydraulic fracturing. “The UK are fracking in shale gas, which requires higher pressure and deeper horizontal wells, and the fracking occurs vertically,” Mr Brier said. “In Australia they frack for CSG gas, with vertical wells and horizontal fracking.” Mr Brier said because of this it was hard to make comparisons.
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011
See us at the Surat Basin Energy and Mining Expo
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Communication building between stakeholders The dawning of autumn brought change to the Surat Basin. A range of networks of communication between landholders, community members and resource companies were established, providing concerned residents with new ways to voice their issues. The CSG Engagement Committee first met in Dalby in March, and has continued with regular subgroup meetings in Roma and Toowoomba. With John Cotter as chairman, the group in particular is focusing on getting communication lines open, particularly with regards to the water debate. The group will provide a voice throughout the region. Following in their footsteps, the Taroom District Development Association worked with the power of the people in June. Feeling there was a lack of information coming into the town, the group organised an Industry Information Day on June 8. TDDA member Doug Adam said he felt the day had been a success with about 140 people attending. "The purpose of the day was to get information out to the people on proposed developments in our area," Mr Adam said. "All the mining companies had displays on the day. "People were able to sit down, have a look at a map and speak to a representative of the company and
find out where the pipelines are going." Mr Adam said the companies seemed quite happy to provide the information, and he hoped both businesses and general community members could see the opportunities available to them. "People need to think about what could happen," Mr Adam said. "It's not going to last forever, and if you don't put your hand up and have a go you will miss out." The day also featured speakers from Banana Shire Council, the Queensland Local Government Association, CSG Engagement Committee, Queensland Resources Council, Central Region DEEDI, and the Department of Communities. AgForce president Brent Finlay and Wildlife Preservation Council's Des Boyland gave afternoon presentations and the day finished with a talk from Central Queensland Campaign Advocate Jim Pearce on the impacts of fly in/fly out on local communities. All speakers had a 10 minute question time period to allow community members to voice their concerns. Mr Adam said a survey on the day saw 65% of the surveys returned stating they would like to see another information day. "We are considering holding future similar events," Mr Adam said. "I would like to see it as an annual event." Members of the Cameby
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Concerned Citizen's group however continue to have difficulty obtaining answers to their questions from operators of Cameby Coal. Cameby Concerned Citizen's vice chairman David Emery said they group has major concerns for the people living in the area, as well as for the workers. "Not only are our own communities at risk, but our natural fauna," Mr Emery said. "We have invited representatives from McMahon's and Syntech, as well as DERM, to our meetings but as yet no-one has taken up the opportunity. "Some members are still having noise issues from mine operations." Mr Emery said the group has concerns about health issues as well, based on information gained from operations in the Hunter Valley and Singleton areas. "Invariably when bureaucracies are asked a question that has an impact on the dollars made for government we don't get an answer," Mr Emery said. "They're here for the money, and with coal mines it's the same deal. "The difficulty lies in getting people on the eastern side of the range to understand where their tucker comes from."
Anthony Ellerman and Judy Green from APLNG Pipelines at the Taroom Industry Day.
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Mr Adam said the companies seemed quite happy to provide the information, and he hoped both businesses and general community members could see the opportunities available to them.
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PAGE 21
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New policies on landholders side WITH the growth of CSG exploration and production in Queensland comes escalating anxiety from landholders, who either currently have CSG companies on their property or worry they might be next. In late 2010, a move was made by the government to alleviate these concerns and increase the balance of flow of information between the agricultural and energy industries, with the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation releasing a set of new land access laws for the energy sector. These new laws implemented in October and December require that all resource authorities must to comply with a single Land Access Code and provide an entry notice for any minor impact preliminary activities, undertake negotiation of a Conduct and Compensation Agreement before entering a property for any advanced activities that are likely to have a
significant impact on the land or its use, and employ a graduated negotiation and dispute resolution process. This last measure must ensure that disputes only reach the Land Court as a last resort process. The new laws are accompanied by new information for landholders to ensure they have all the information required in negotiations with CSG companies. Failure to adhere to the new regulations could see legal and monetary penalties for the company involved. The release of the State Government's Strategic Cropping Land Policy in early June is a step forward for the agricultural industry but still has a long way to go according AgForce. Covering the Southern Queensland Protection Area, the policy looks at agricultural resources in the Darling Downs, Granite Belt, Lockyer Valley and Fassifern Valley, as well as the Emerald-
Springsure region. It will apply fully to any current mining and coal seam gas projects that are only partly through their approvals process. Despite heading in the right direction, work remains to be done on the policy to ensure all activities by the resource industry are regulated, not just those affecting valuable cropping resources. AgForce policy director Drew Wagner said local farmers have been waiting on the policy for more than a year, which has allowed mining companies to accelerate projects to avoid the scrutiny of this legislation. "AgForce is disappointed to see the government has sat on their hands for more than a year and allowed resource companies to push projects past tipping point, permanently alienating our best farming land," Mr Wagner said. "The identification of 4.78 million hectares of Queensland cropping land as Strategic
Cropping Protection Areas is a welcome measure to exclude projects that will permanently impact key farm land, but (today's) announcement was scant in detail." These latest government measures come after a rise in debate over CSG practices and environmental risks and landowner rights have been seen tostarted to impact company operations. Protesters, such as the Shut the Gate Alliance, have even made taken a physical undertaking to stop companies entering properties in a bid to get their protest message across. While the new laws are a positive step towards increased communication between the industries - and seem to encourage greater dialogue between CSG companies and landholders - some still ask if it is enough to keep companies accountable, to do the right thing first and not go in and cop the punishment later.
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The Department of Mines and Energy believes the Surat Basin holds an estimated 20,261 billion cubic feet of natural gas which translates to about 21,488 petajoules of energy. That's the same amount as 513.2 million tonnes of oil. While Australia does hold great potential for the use of renewable energy sources, these are not fully utilised. While use of these technologies would help to mitigate Australia's greenhouse gas emissions, often the cost of large-scale projects makes it difficult to get the fuels into the market to a viable amount. Use of renewable energy in Australia currently represents 5.2% of energy consumption but only 1.7% of total production. The Federal Government has recently introduced a scheme giving power stations a Large-Scale Generation Target of 41000 gigawatt-hours of renewable generation along with a smaller scheme to ensure companies start to utilise cleaner resources.
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011
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Surat Basin Energy and Mining Expo launches today The Surat Basin News comes hot off the press to you at the Surat Basin Energy and Mining Expo, which launches today in Toowoomba. With two helipads and three helicopter services on show featuring some of the most sophisticated camera gear on board the Expo is truly taking off from the Toowoomba Showgrounds. All of this activity in the centre arena will only add to the excitement of the marquee area and the well servicing rig that Easternwell have on display. Surat Basin Energy and Mining Expo marketing manager Paul Niehus said that added to this are over 350 businesses with displays across 400 sites ranging from video production services through to industrial tools, equipment servicing, camp site building systems, protection gear, mobile medical services, high tech software and analytical systems. "All of the Energy and Mining Companies agree on one thing, and that is, that a shortage of qualified employees will be the only thing limiting their growth over the next 20 years," Mr Niehus said.
"It's your chance to get in on the ground floor and talk to businesses that would not normally be easily accessible," Mr Niehus said.
"So, now is the time to train up and get a great career for yourself. "USQ and SQIT will be on hand with great advice on which courses to take to achieve your goals, and a number of recruitment companies will be on site to help with advice and opportunities for all ages and qualification levels." Mr Niehus said the expo was set to become an annual occurrence. "It's your chance to get in on the ground floor and talk to businesses that would not normally be easily accessible," Mr Niehus said. "The most frustrating thing is being unable to present your product or service to the right people in a very large organisation, however this opportunity does exist at the Surat Basin Energy and Mining Expo." The Surat Basin Energy and Mining Expo will run today and Thursday with an entry fee of $10 for those who have not preregistered online.
Tara businesses fight negative perceptions T A R A
I S
That's the message Tara businesses gathered to discuss recently, in a bid to fight an increased perception of Tara as demonstration central. Around 35 people representing 25 businesses in Tara gathered together to come up with a strategy to shine a more positive light on their community and home. Tara Futures Group chairman Richard Thornbury said recent media attention on Tara had placed all the protest activity as having been in their town, which wasn't the case. "Our meeting wasn't for or against companies from the coal seam gas industry, and we're not anti-protestors either, that's not what it was about," Mr Thornbury said. "There's a reputation that we've got
A
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P L A C E
people demonstrating with placards up and down our streets, and it's not like that, we're just a nice quiet little country town.
T O
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A N D
"There's definitely benefits coming out of the industry for us, that's quite obvious, but the rural residential estates are just
I N V E S T as important to us as industry." Mr Thornbury said relatives of residents had been contacting them after the media attention, and in some cases the attention had affected financing, and local businesses wanted to get the message out there that not all the protest action was happening in Tara. "We've sent a letter to all the local media outlets," Mr Thornbury said. "We're also going to be a part of the Surat Basin Corporation's new website and have become a member of their group. "We're also looking at doing a good news story through TV media about what Tara has to offer." Mr Thornbury said in recent weeks the negative focus on Tara seemed to have decreased.
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011
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building theBasin page23 page 24 page25 page26 Skills program cuts unemployment
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Government failing on affordable housing "Our greatest challenge is encouraging people outside of mining to come to our towns," Mayor Brown said. The resources boom in the Surat Basin has provided an economic boost to an area which has recently suffered from the well known extremes of droughts and flooding rains. But it hasn't been without its challenges, and the problem is only becoming more apparent with time, as stress builds on accommodation needs, rental prices, provision of services, and maintenance and construction of infrastructure.
Job vacancies for lower income positions hard to fill due to an inability to afford rising rent Sustainable and affordable accommodation in Chinchilla continues to be a rising issue, and Miles and Wandoan are now also caught in the whirlwind spiral of rental hikes. In Miles, the rate of available vacancies including houses for sale as well as rental accommodation - is 1.7%. According to WDRC a sustainable rate of accommodation with a healthy combination of house sales and rentals is normally 3%. Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Ray Brown said mayors from most of the mining communities in Queensland had met with Minister for Agriculture, Food and Regional Economies Tim Mulherin last week to discuss the effect the resource industry was having on their local economies. "Affordable housing and infrastructure were heavily discussed," Mayor Brown said. "We are extremely fortunate to be in an area of growth, but we have to be mindful of our provision of services as well. "Not only do we have to look at affordable housing but community and social accommodation must be addressed," Mayor Brown said. Mayor Brown said the government must be made well aware of the situation and the challenges facing regional communities in resource areas. PAGE 24
"Our greatest challenge is encouraging people outside of mining to come to our towns," Mayor Brown said. "The focus has been on skilling for the resource industry but now we're losing skills in the agricultural industry. "Some cotton crops haven't been picked not only because of the weather but because farmers are struggling to find people to operate the equipment." The agricultural industry is not the only one to suffer, with recent reports in media showing it is increasingly harder to encourage teachers, dentists, nurses and even cafĂŠ staff to take up job vacancies for lower income positions due to the inability to pay the rent asked for in the region on a lower wage, even in areas that have long been key resource areas. Surat Basin Real Estate principal licencee Pam Moloney said while there had been a lull in rental requests six to twelve months ago, seeing some houses stay empty, it had just been a reaction to several factors.
Miles and Wandoan are now also caught in the whirlwind spiral of rental hikes. "The indicators were there, with an oversupply of property due to the slow start for companies from flood effects, the mining tax, and government changes," Ms Moloney said. Ms Moloney said this had a flow through effect for builders who had expectations of dates their buildings would be needed based on final approval dates for projects which were then held back. The market has recovered to the extreme however, and Ms Moloney said she personally hasn't had a vacancy in quite a while. "I am putting people on a list for vacancies six to eight weeks ahead of getting the keys," Ms Moloney said.
Not only do we have to look at affordable housing but community and social accommodation must be addressed
Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011
building theBasin page23 page 24 page25 page26 Skills program cuts unemployment
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The State Government has promised more than $200 million towards the local area in Tuesday's State budget with much of it going towards fixing up infrastructure. $213,912,000 in total will go towards upgrading the local energy industry as well as schools and roads. The local energy sector is the region's biggest winner from the State budget with more than $150 million allocated towards the expansion of the industry. $62.8 million alone has been allocated to establish two new substations, in the Western Downs and Halys, as well as a transmission line between the substations, and the reconfiguration of the Kogan Creek to Braemar transmission line. New substations will also be built near Wandoan and at Columboola, with $45m and $5m being allocated respectively, while $32m will be allocated to improving the Kogan Creek power station. The existing solar array at Kogan Creek will be augmented costing $14.73m. However, the energy industry is far from the only beneficiary, with roads and education also receiving money from the State Government. The Miles State High School will receive $4.43 million allocated towards the construction of the Surat Basin Resources Trade Infrastructure
Project, while the Miles State School and Condamine State School will both receive $19,000. The Wiembilla Creek Bridge will at long last be repaired, with the State Government allocating $4m to its construction, with a further $4.2m going towards upgrades on the KoganCondamine road. $2.93m will go towards sections of the RomaTaroom road being paved and sealed, with $2.5m going towards shoulder sealing of the Warrego highway east of Warra. The 2.5 million allocated to the Warrego Highway for the Western Downs area comes on the back of the RACQ naming the stretch of the Warrego highway between Toowoomba and Miles as the second worst highway in the State.
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CALIBRE AVIATION here to stay The crew at Calibre Aviation aren't just fly by nighters, they're here to stay. Established in Emerald in 1984, Calibre Aviation have set up shop in Chinchilla. The company has experience that extends beyond this, and with over 30 years in the helicopter industry through local, interstate, remote and overseas operations, they're ready to extend this expertise further into the Surat Basin. Calibre Aviation operations manager Nigel Coleman said Calibre's operations ranges from people and freight charter, fire fighting and fire lighting, geophysical surveys, power line patrols and maintenance, gas pipeline and environmental surveys, assisting the mining and gas industries; land regeneration operations, photography and filming, feral animal management, aerial spraying, and helicopter emergency medical assistance. "Calibre can provide helicopters with a wide range of lifting capacities of up to 4500 kilograms
comprising of large twin turbine engine to medium single turbine engine through to the smaller single piston engine aircraft, "Mr Coleman said. "Calibre Aviation offers highly experienced and qualified staff to support their extensive operations from operational and office administration to highly skilled engineers and pilots with professionalism and confidence. "We offer a 24/7 day a week client contact capability to help meet the needs of commercial business and enjoy a great working relationship with a long list of clients." Mr Coleman said at Calibre Aviation, they place safety, health and the environment, ethical behaviour and valuing people as high priorities. "Safety is a core business and personal value, and a source of our competitive
"We offer a 24/7 day a week client contact capability to help meet the needs of commercial business and enjoy a great working relationship with a long list of clients." advantage," Mr Coleman said. "We believe that all accidents and incidents are preventable, and we will strengthen our business by making safety excellence an integral part of all flight and ground activities . "All levels of line
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011
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Warrego not funding priority Despite the Federal Government's budget investment of $3.7 billion in regional transport infrastructure, the Warrego highway west of Toowoomba, has again been left off the list. While the Federal Government announced a record level of investment into regional roads, rail and air transport on Tuesday night repairs to southern Queensland's major east-west highway were not funded. The flood stricken Bruce highway was a major beneficiary of the budget receiving $210 million dollars for upgrades, while the Warrego highway will receive a $54 million upgrade at the Blacksoil intersection between Brisbane and Toowoomba. Despite the lack of funding the calls for work to be done on the highway have intensified with the Chinchilla Community Commerce and Industry and Miles Chamber of Commerce, along with the Dalby Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Commerce Roma and the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce and Industry, calling on the Federal Government to increase funding. In a letter to the Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese the chambers called the state of the highway "disgraceful". "The current state of the Warrego Highway is disgraceful and the businesses we are chartered to represent are feeling the ever increasing negative impact of a mediocre road network connecting
western Queensland east to our capital and north to the port of Darwin," the letter said. "The flooding events that have affected south western Queensland, dating back to March 2010, have caused considerable damage to an already failing, yet essential road network. It is now time for your Government to undertake a major rebuild of this network rather than continuing band-aid patch-up jobs. "Your Government has indicated that Regional Australia is a priority and now is the time to act.We implore you to fund the necessary works needed to make this essential road service to eastern Australia the high level it should be. Together, we must ensure there is a future for our region both economically and socially." The call from the various chambers echoes public dissatisfaction with the Warrego Highway with respondents to the RACQ's 'Unroadworthy Roads Survey' naming it one of the worst stretches of road in Queensland. The Bruce Highway and the Warrego dominated the survey registering nine of the 10 worst spots. Respondents to the survey stated that from Miles to Toowoomba section of the Warrego highway suffered from "A rough surface with poor road shoulders, a lack of overtaking opportunities, is flood prone and has poor drainage."
Comments made by respondents to the survey stated that the "road is too narrow, pot holed, sunken road in parts - has been a terrible road for many, many years now. Increases in traffic from gas industry has caused most of the damage due to large vehicles using the road, overtaking opportunities need to be increased." The survey also listed driver's opinions on what must be done to repair the road. Survey respondents stated that the road required "more regular maintenance, rebuild road and widen road with adequate overtaking opportunities. "It needs to be duplicated in long sections. This would stop drivers having to take risks when passing. "Needs funding urgently for safety works after being neglected for many years by the (Federal) Government." RACQ Senior Traffic and Safety engineer Greg Miskowycz said the respondent's comments echoed RACQ's observations. "The (respondent's comments) typically have mimicked some of the observations we made on the Warrego," he said. "Now is the time to bring the road up to the standard that is required of it." Mr Miskowycz said the RACQ believed a significant upgrade was needed along the highway. "We've recommended the road have at least a nine metre width. "That means two three and a half metre lanes and one metre shoulder.
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"That's what is needed for the mining and agricultural traffic that travels along the road." A spokesperson for the Department of Infrastructure and Transport said while work was being done on the Warrego; little was currently scheduled for the Darling Downs stretch. "This coming financial year, the Government will invest $37 million to start the Blacksoil Interchange upgrade, build a new breakdown area near Roma, erect a new bridge over the Maranoa River at Mitchell, construct additional rest stops and carry out routine maintenance," the spokesperson said. "Significant funding is also expected to be directed towards major remediation works on the Highway over the next 24 months as the Government contributes funding to repair sections of the road damaged by floods."
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PAGE 27
building the BASIN
Tilly’s Crawler Parts - Offering the best possible service Tilly's Crawler Parts have built a reputation on the back of supplying quality parts at the right price in an ever-competitive market. General manager Don Frost said because Tilly's imported direct from manufacturers, the best possible price could be secured for the end user. "Caterpillar and Komatsu continue to be the main line of non-genuine parts held with more than 25,000 line items now in stock," Mr Frost said. "It is Tilly's intention to be the largest stockist of non-genuine parts for Caterpillar and Komatsu in Australia. "So for the genuine advantage on parts and price, Tilly's are the one-stop shop for your parts needs." Mr Frost said the second-hand parts system allows customers to reap the advantages of parts in "as is" condition to Tilly's reconditioned specifications. "The aim is to give customers the best possible value for money part
to suit their needs," Mr Frost said. "Undercarriage has also become a very important part of Tilly's services. "A full track press service is now offered to customers." Mr Frost said these jobs can often be turned around in one day where enough notice is provided when booking. "Stock arrives from overseas manufacturers regularly, giving customers a good selection of quality tyres," Mr Frost said. "Tilly's also carry an extensive range of ground engaging tools (GET) to suit most models of excavators, front-end loaders, bulldozers, graders and skid steers. "Experienced people, quality stock at a fair price and freight services throughout Australia -- why not talk to Tilly's about your parts requirements."
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Rental Group Onsite Rental aim to provide real cost saving opportunities for powering your site. Because the largest suppliers of generators for both sale and rental are either engine manufacturers or strategically aligned to engine manufacturers, very little attention is paid to the fact that over 90% of the cost of operating a generator is the cost of fuel. Onsite's Surat Basin area sale manager Scott Burke said there are three important elements in selecting the right generator or generator system for your application; "Correct sizing; this is a crucial part of the generator selection process," Mr Burke said. "Over sizing is the most common mistake in generator selection and not only leads to unnecessary fuel consumption and carbon emissions but can also cause irreparable engine damage due to glazing. "Ensuring an experienced generator technician assists in the sizing process is critical in ensuring maximum cost savings." Mr Burke said another important consideration is establishing the nature of your load. "Throughout the course of a day or work cycle, the load you require from your generator will either be relatively fixed or variable," Mr Burke said. "A fixed load means that the power required by your application remains relatively constant throughout the day. "Once this is established, a generator should be chosen that can provide this amount of power at about 75% of it's maximum output."
Mr Burke said a generator operates at it's most efficient around 75% loaded. "If you have a variable load such as an accommodation camp for example, the load required will vary significantly throughout the day," Mr Burke said. "Using the accommodation camp as an example, the load will be significantly higher when the residents are eating meals and showering than it is when they vacate the camp for extended periods during the day to work. "This kind of load can present dramatic fuel and carbon saving opportunities via the use of paralleling control systems.This is when multiple smaller generators are used in parallel, running together to provide the peak load and then automatically dropping off when the load is low to save fuel and carbon emissions." Finally, Mr Burke said selecting the most efficient engine also merits consideration. "Once the generator sizing and nature of load has been determined, the third vital step in ensuring the most cost-effective generator package is selected in reviewing the available generator engines in the size range required," Mr Burke said. "Even incremental fuel efficiency advantages can translate into major cost savings over the course of a project so picking the most efficient engine available in the size required is of paramount importance. "By following these steps, dramatic fuel and carbon emissions can be made even on small or single generator applications."
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PAGE 29
building the BASIN
MISSING link due to start The construction of the missing link finally has a date. The building of the Surat Basin Rail from Wandoan to Banana will commence early 2012 if
everything goes to plan for the Surat Basin Rail Joint Venture. The rail project is expected to reach financial close in the first quarter of next year with building
of the rail line to commence soon after. Surat Basin Rail is currently working on three key areas of the project involving due diligence with mining companies,
negotiations with the Queensland government and integration with other rail systems. Surat Basin Rail project director Warren McReight said the target is financial close by the first quarter of next year. "It's been a long journey but the focus is getting financial closure by the first quarter of next year," he said. "Technically you should be able to build the day after you reach financial close but if we get a bad wet season or other factors it could influence when we start building," he said. "All we can do is control the factors that we can. "We have to get the technical and commercial factors lined up and the weather will look after itself." Mr McReight said the most rigorous element of the project at present involves customer due diligence with mining companies. "All the known mining companies in the Surat Basin are talking to us," he said. "We go through a due diligence process and that has a lot to do with where companies are with the progress of their mines.
"The miners are aware of what we are up to and we're dealing with a lot of confidential information." Mr McReight said negotiations with the State government are progressing and cover three key areas, the land acquisition process, the Development Agreement that operates while the railway is constructed and the Operating Agreement that covers the period when the railway is operational. "The government started State Development Area consultations in May 2010 and they've concluded all their consultations," he said. "We're just dealing with some technical matters at the moment. "We've got a timeline that we are working too and the land process has got to start very soon." Mr McReight said the State government's release of their Strategic Cropping Land Policy shouldn't affect the rail project. "With the customers that we are talking to it appears that they are all exempt," he said.” You have to keep your eye on a lot of issues and all we can do is control the things we can control."
New miners' vehicle puts safety first in Surat Basin Southern Cross Ford has gotten serious about workplace safety and marketplace opportunities. They've turned a Ford Ranger into a prototype mine evaluation vehicle set to give the resources sector a ready-to-go ute that meets the toughest requirements. Southern Cross Ford sales manager Phil McKenna said the evaluation vehicle is in
Ranger has been in the Bowen Basin, we saw the development of our own evaluation vehicle as an ideal opportunity to show our
current and prospective clients throughout the Surat Basin just how good the Ford Ranger is."
We meet the highest standards with this vehicle demand with companies looking to take advantage of the offer to trial the Ford Ranger well into the second half of this year. "With a one tonne payload and a proven history on mine sites around Australia the Ranger was pinpointed as the ideal vehicle to kit out for the resources sector as a specialist mining vehicle," Mr McKenna said. "Based on how well accepted the Ford
Southern Cross Automotive Group general manager Steve Streidl said when Southern Cross decided to develop the mine evaluation vehicle it was done to the toughest standards around. "When it comes to vehicles working on site, each organization involved in mining and resources has different safety standards and what we've done is made sure we meet the highest standards with this vehicle," Mr Streidl said. "The process of buying a vehicle with every requirement for the mining industry already fitted will save fleet managers the hassle of taking the vehicle around to a range of service providers, therefore saving companies time and money. "With the mine evaluation vehicle comes internal rollover protection bars, safety flares, hi-vis decals, first aid kits, warning lights, a UHF radio and other features that purchasers would otherwise have to organise putting on the base vehicle themselves."
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Group provides expertise across all property The Surat Basin Property Group in Chinchilla has taken a unique approach of catering for all your residential and industrial real estate needs from the one easy to access base organisation. With three branches of expertise enclosed in the branches of the group - Surat Basin Developments, Surat Basin Homes and Surat Basin Real Estate, the group provides unrivalled experience and knowledge of the Surat Basin region. Surat Basin Property Group Director Greg West said the group was established to provide a comprehensive and complete service for all industrial, commercial and residential property requirements in the region. "The group encompasses three phases of property," Mr West said. "The purpose of Surat Basin Developments is to source, gain approvals and develop land for residential and industrial developments. "It also develops industrial, retail and commercial property."
Mr West said the Homes sector uses their expertise and a wealth of experience in home design and construction, providing house and land packages or constructing new homes on the land developed by Surat Basin Developments. "Surat Basin Homes also provide a custom design and construct service on other land developments and has the capacity to build medium density and other forms of accommodation," Mr West said. "The role that Surat Basin Real Estate plays within the Group is to property manage homes constructed by Surat Basin Homes and to sell residential and industrial property on behalf of Surat Basin Developments. "Surat Basin Real Estate is a full service agency and also sells existing homes, land, rural property and has a commercial and industrial division to undertake sales and leasing along with the property management of homes." Mr West said that while working in unison with each other, each company in the group is self sufficient and independent allowing them to forge strong relationships
Greg West - Director with key stakeholders in the region and ensures their customers receive exactly what they require. "The combination of a superior level of expertise and independence in each of the three essential components of residential and commercial property, together with the strength, leadership and unity provided by the Group, means a convenient, comprehensive and all-inclusive service for their clients," Mr West said.
The group encompasses three phases of property
Real Estate Commercial & Residential
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Land Developments Commercial & Residential The team from Surat Basin Real Estate - Sandy Hall, Bruce Holmes, Kathy Strongman,Warren Barker and Vicki Kern.
T H R I F T Y C A R R E N TA L T O O P E N I N R O M A Officially opening on June 20th Thrifty Car Rentals is now catering to the local market with a site based at the Roma Airport and ably supported by Peter Flynn and his staff at Maranoa Travel as the local agent. "With the growth in the Coal Seam Gas market and the support in the region of companies who are already Thrifty customers the connection to Roma completes our presence into the Surat Basin area" explains Thrifty's MD Keith Alexander. He adds "this now gives us complete coverage from Toowoomba
which includes the Dalby region, in Chinchilla and now Roma." With the acquisition of the Southern Downs Regional Franchise just over 12 months ago Thrifty is committed to becoming a significant partner within the region supporting local business initiatives.
Thanks to the Maranoa Council we have a dedicated allotment of space in the terminal parking area and the soon to be completed facility upgrade will mean a fully operational branch where we will be able to cater for all our customer needs. With the provision of fully equipped 4WD vehicles for use on pipeline, mine and
exploration sites plus AWD vehicles, Tippers and Flatbed Trucks Thrifty have the whole range of vehicles available. When you visit the Surat Energy and Mining Expo in Toowoomba on June 22 & 23 drop into our stand No.235 to discuss your current and future project plans.
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PAGE 31
building the BASIN
Murphy's just the guys next door Murphy Pipe and Civil are not just here to do the job. With a workforce of over 100 located in Chinchilla, the crew from Murphy's are doing their best to become a part of the community as well. The company's main purpose by day is to install upstream gathering pipelines right across the coal seam gas fields, using their purpose built spider
ploughs. But Murphy Pipe and Civil have also been getting involved across the community, with their sponsorship of the Open Bronc and Bareback Bronc events at the Chinchilla Show rodeo. Now they're revving up again for the Chinchilla State Primary School P&C Association trail ride fundraiser in July. Motorbike riders from right
across the Darling Downs are gearing up for the fundraiser, and Chinchilla State Primary School P&C Association Event CoOrdinator Katrina McDonald said the dirt bike event was already shaping up to be a huge success with more than 200 riders expected to sign up for the 50km challenge. Mrs McDonald said the trail ride, to be run on the weekend of July
Motorbike riders from right across the Darling Downs are gearing up for the Chinchilla State Primary School P&C Association trail ride fundraiser in July 16-17, was expected to attract riders from novice levels right through to experienced, and would take in a range of challenging terrains throughout the 50km course. "The trail ride is our school's biggest fundraiser and it is great to see so many people from across the region come out to support it in such a big way," Mrs McDonald said.
if required. "Without the help of Murphy Pipe and Civil and our other major sponsors, events like this one could never take place and we really appreciate their support for the school and also the wider community," she said. Murphy Pipe and Civil Project Manager John Sharman said the company viewed safety as its highest priority so supporting
Murphy Pipe and Civil has a strong commitment to supporting community events Mrs McDonald said while the event was sure to provide riders with plenty of high powered thrills, organisers had also planned for any spills. "We want this to be an enjoyable event but also a safe one and thanks to support from the team at Murphy Pipe and Civil, we have been able to provide all the on-
such a worthwhile community fundraiser and ensuring the safety of all competitors was a good match. "Murphy Pipe and Civil has a strong commitment to supporting community events, like the recent Chinchilla Show Rodeo and this upcoming trail ride, and we are always looking at
Murphy Pipe and Civil have sponsored the Open Bronc and Bareback Bronc events at the Chinchilla Show rodeo.
Ready to ride - Chinchilla P&C Association Trail Ride Event Co-ordinator Katrina McDonald, Murphy Pipe and Civil Project Manager John Sharman, first aid provider (TBA) and competitors (TBA) and (TBA) are looking forward to a successful trail ride fundraiser in July.
course medical aid required for an event of this size and duration," Mrs McDonald said. "We were conscious of not impacting on the services of our local ambulance station during the two day event and Murphy Pipe and Civil were more than happy to fund a team of trained first aid providers to be on hand
opportunities that align with our business and allow us to contribute to our host communities," Mr Sharman said. Mrs McDonald said funds raised through the event would be used to purchase much-needed resources and equipment for the children at Chinchilla State School.
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Locals do it best Elite companies right here in the Surat Basin While the Surat Basin is having some teething problems with infrastructure, services and skills shortages, the area is still home to innovative local companies in the resource industry. Companies like White Industries provide local expertise with the latest technology. White Industries were established in Dalby in 1960, and cover all your needs from castings in steel, iron, bronze and aluminium, custom machining of component parts, custom metal fabrications and agricultural equipment. All this is done with in-house manufacturing of all foundry and machine shop tooling, and quality control procedures at all levels of production. Casts and moulds are made on site, and can create cost saving opportunities for customers. White Industries managing director Bruce White said the positioning of their business in Dalby means they are halfway between Cairns and Melbourne, allowing them to readily service the eastern seaboard. "Our staff are also able to lead a great lifestyle, working for a city type company while enjoying the benefits of a small town/rural lifestyle," Mr White said. "We've had to diversify from an agricultural base to a multifaceted focus across rail, mining, aftermarket automotive, general engineering and petroleum. "We have castings in Malaysia and the north west shelf, and some of our castings can be found in race cars in the US." Another cutting edge company catering for resource industry needs in the Surat Basin is Satintouch.
Established in 1989 to provide a professional industrial blasting and protective coating service to the mining, construction and agricultural industries throughout Queensland, the company is led by Scott Blair who has over 25 years experience in the industry. Having grown to over 70 employees in Mount Isa, Dalby and Brisbane, the experienced personnel at Satintouch complete their jobs with state of the art equipment for both local and international clients. Dalby branch manager Allen Cooper said their main specialties are in protective coatings, powdercoating, abrasive blasting, and high pressure water blasting. "Most of our work is done in situ, we have plenty of mobile equipment as well as our in house equipment," Mr Cooper said. "Satintouch was established in Dalby, and over the 12 years I've been with the company I've seen new coatings and advances in equipment. "The name of the game is to be there to service your client, if you turn a big customer away it's very hard to get them to come back." In Roma, Fiedler Industries started out as a humble small business but continues to grow, thanks to the economic advantages brought to the area by the resource industry. Specialising in tanks for water, diesel, oil and
“It’s no effort to do it safely” Locally-owned and operated BHD Oilfield Services has more than 20 years of experience in supplying services to the oil and gas industry. Services include transportation of drilling and completions across all sectors. It provides liquid handling, of regulated waste, drilling fluids and potable water, drill rig and completion rig transportation; and transport of relocatable camps, well equipment and surface production equipment. Equipment available through BHD Oilfield Services, including: a 25,000 litre vacuum tanker; a 28,000l potable water tanker; water tankers of various volumes; flat-top trailers, in either single or road train combinations; 40 tonne float services; loader and forklift hire; winch truck services; and 4x4 hotshot vehicles. All BHD vehicles are fitted with the Navman Inter Vehicle Monitoring System and safety equipment. BHD Oilfield Services is proud to support its regional oil and gas clients and believes in all of work it undertakes.
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"We are handling all aspects of the prototyping - including research and development, design and drafting and manufacturing. Mr Fiedler said all designing for prototyping was being performed inhouse, which meant his team could they can work closely with the client to make sure their equipment exceeded their expectations. He said the business is now able to handle the more complicated jobs. "Previously, these jobs would have been awarded to companies in the city," Mr Fiedler said. While Fiedler Industries also supplies the agricultural industry, it's the resource industry where they are able to break new ground and work on these innovations. With local companies expanding and new businesses moving into the area, the Surat Basin region is becoming a hub of industrial expertise.
)<)(37</7' &LJĨĞ ŝƐ Ă ŶĂƟŽŶĂů ƐƵƌǀĞLJŝŶŐ͕ ƉůĂŶŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĞŶŐŝŶĞĞƌŝŶŐ ĐŽŶƐƵůƚĂŶĐLJ ƐĞƌǀŝĐŝŶŐ ƵƐƚƌĂůŝĂ͛Ɛ ůĂŶĚ͕ ŝŶĨƌĂƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ ĂŶĚ Žŝů Θ ŐĂƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ͘ ͻ ͻ ͻ ͻ ͻ
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drilling fluid, the team at Fiedler Industries also offers many other engineering services. Having now operated in Roma for five years - as well as being from the region himself business owner Dean Fiedler has witnessed dramatic changes within the local industry. "Our jobs are getting larger and larger and we are now predominantly manufacturing metal products for the resource sector," Mr Fiedler said. "We have diversified the businesses to include rental equipment, such as diesel, frac and mud tanks. "Recently we have also acquired equipment that enables us to carry out mobile sand blasting and surface treatments." Mr Fiedler said he had they have already found this to be popular with the oil and gas industry - with four mud tanks being coated in the first month of operation. "We are currently in the process of prototyping some new products for one of our clients at the moment," Mr Fiedler said. "These new products will include a mobile mud tank and a solids separation tank.
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> / ͮ >/ ^WZ/E'^ ͮ Z/^ E ͮ ,/E ,/>> ͮ KK>hD ͮ > z ͮ Zt/E ͮ DKKD ͮ ZKD Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011
PAGE 33
Placesandfaces page34 page35 page 36 page 37 Business investment tour
Origin road safety training
QGC Drama at the Gasfileds
4Girls careers
Businesses network with investors Chinchilla was on show to national and international delegates this week for the Western Downs Regional Council Business Investment tour, dinner and breakfast. As part of the Council's Business Investment Attraction program, the Council in partnership with the Regional Chambers of Commerce hosted the event, which saw businesses from Australia and the United States tour the region and discuss opportunities for investment and living in the area. Delegates from a wide range of industries such as waste and water management, logistics, procurement, HR, agribusiness and mining product and service suppliers, investment companies, business services and state government representatives were in attendance. The dinner on Monday night featured structured networking via a progressive dinner. This allowed investors participating on the tour and local business leaders the opportunity to meet with each other and highlight their various areas of expertise. The dinner was open to anyone wishing to attend, and tickets were sold out. CCCI president Wally Gleeson said a cross
section of businesses from the region was then invited to a networking breakfast on Tuesday morning. "The purpose of the event is to bring to the fore the region not only nationally but internationally, it gives people here an opportunity to see how the bigger end of town can work to make this region unique in terms of the energy industry," Mr Gleeson said. "We're still waiting I guess to see the full positive effect that could come out of this for local businesses, but it gives them the chance to ready themselves for competition from bigger companies. "Small local businesses shouldn't consider this as a threat, it's an opportunity." Mr Gleeson said that local businesses could help themselves get a foot in the door by having a business plan and getting out there and networking to find opportunities. "Business owners need to think outside the square or they might miss out," Mr Gleeson said.
"We're still waiting I guess to see the full positive effect that could come out of this for local businesses, but it gives them the chance to ready themselves for competition from bigger companies.
Greg West and Greg Courts
PAGE 34
Terry Smith, Jay Killeen, Christine Standfield and Dean Squire.
Lance McKay, Dwayne Finch, Liam Lynch and Matt Bell.
. d Emma White Strongman an Jim k, ac m or John McC
Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011
Western Downs Regional Councillor, Andrew Smith.
Placesandfaces page38 page39 page40 Kara makes her mark
NFF wants farmer rights
QGC funds local business
Handing over the keys to safety Engines were revving responsibly in Miles on Tuesday as Origin kicked off their CARS program for 2011. The Caring About Road Safety program is a driver training program to educate students about the important aspects of handling a car safely. Over 900 people have already been through the program and this year's program will see their 1000th student graduate. The program is also expanding, with more schools within the Surat and Bowen basins to take part. Origin Project Manager Training and Skills Ken Horton said the company had responded to local communities' request for affordable driver education
for students, given the high number of road tragedies in the region. "Young drivers' skills and safety we re a major concern for communities and a priority for Origin," Mr Horton said. "Since we started the program four years ago, we've been touched by some of the feedback from students who've completed the program, then told us the skills they had acquired had saved them from serious accidents. "The Origin CARS program was designed to ensure students have the kind of driving skills and positive driving attitudes that could save lives." The program offers accredited instruction in regional
schools at heavily subsidised costs and aims to equip them with driving skills and to refine their judgement in a range of driving situations. Mr Horton said this year will feature the inaugural Origin CARS Cup Challenge which will encourage schools to compete against each other in the practical component of the training for the chance to win $1,000 and the Origin CARS Cup. Origin and Western Downs Regional Council representatives were in attendance on the day and were joined by local police, ambulance and fire and rescue officers.
Dalby State High School Students who went through the course last year celebrate their graduation from the CARS program.
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places and FACES
DRAMA takes centre stage The Spirit of the Land was written by Sean Mee, former artistic director of La Boite, for last year's Drama at the Gasfields before the event was washed out. DRAMA took centre stage in May as hundreds made their way to the Chinchilla Showgrounds for Drama at the Gasfields, organised by QGC. Headlined by the La Boite Theatre Company production The Spirit of the Land, the first Drama at the Gasfields away from the gasfields was declared a huge success. Despite the unseasonable heat, families came from Chinchilla, Miles,Tara and further afield for the performance in which Chinchilla State High School Year 11 and 12 students joined performers on stage from La Boite. The crowds also enjoyed songs from this year's Chinchilla Melon Idol winner Jordi Oberle and a children's indigenous dance group from Cherbourg State School. The musical told an outback story through poetry, theatre and country
music from some of Australia's most popular artists including Lee Kernaghan, Hank Williams and Kasey Chambers. Mr Mee paid tribute to the 16 Chinchilla State High School students who joined the La Boite cast in dancing, singing and acting, and to drama teacher Michelle Radunz. Offstage, children enjoyed a range of free rides, face painting and the opportunity to cuddle rescued wallabies at a display by the Tara-based Woop Woop Wildlife Service. Local artists Trudy and Amanda Tronc displayed indigenous art and helped children to paint boomerangs. The Chinchilla Lions, Rotary and Apex clubs, Chinchilla Ladies Auxiliary, Miles Chaplaincy and the Chinchilla Christian School P&C helped out with a popular range of stalls.
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011
places and FACES
4Girls2 career forums Conducting soil tests, removing substances from water, controlling hydraulics from a remote access lab, and operating a GPS - not something students, let along girls, get to do every day.
B
ut with the resource industry crying out for more and more workers, the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy and Queensland Resources Council have set out to prove that girls can do it too. The 4Girls2 career forums were held in Miles and Toowoomba on Tuesday and Wednesday May 3 and 4, and was attended by girls from Roma, Chinchilla, Miles,Tara, Dalby,Toowoomba, Oakey \ and Pittsworth. The forums included female speakers from resource organisations QGC, Santos and Origin, as well as hands on activities to show the students possible tasks they might have to perform if they chose the career paths on show. QMEA Field Implementation Officer Kris Stead said the forum only ran in Toowoomba last year, and this year had expanded to include the one at Miles. "The forums will host more than 150 young women from nine schools in the
Darling Downs/Surat Basin region," Ms Stead said. "The schools are all members of the QMEA." Chinchilla State High School Biological Science teacher Miss Stacey Cooper said the forum opened her students minds a bit more to the opportunities out there, and showed them they don't necessarily have to go to university. "The forum last year focused more on professionals, this year it included more trades based work as well," Miss Cooper said. "It's an opportunity we didn't have when we were at school, even only seven or eight years ago," she said. "It certainly opened up the minds of some of my students a bit more last year, and I think this year even more so because it will show them they don't necessarily have to go to university to be involved in the industry." The students were open to exploring the new options and taking part in the
hands on activities to see what being in some of the occupations involved in the industry might be like." Miles State High School student Shannon Kiesekel said she had come to learn more about the gas industry."It's interesting to see what other jobs are out there," Shannon said. Classmate Carrie Roberts agreed, and said the forum helped to keep her career options open. "It shows me the different options available," Carrie said. Chinchilla State High School Molly Cook also said it was great to see what job opportunities are available. "It will help me to choose my subjects for years 11 and 12," Molly said. Her classmate Courtney Drabsch said that she was seeing careers she would not have considered before. "Engineering seems interesting, I like the idea of the lifestyle," Courtney said. Tara State High School student Stephanie O'Toole is already on her way in the industry, and said she was all set to start a traineeship in Business Administration with QGC in the next school holidays. "It gives me the chance to try different things that we wouldn't normally get to do at school," Stephanie said. The hands on activities were facilitated by the University of Southern Queensland, and included water testing, hydraulics remote access, GPS mapping, soil testing and process control sessions. The QMEA works with 30 state and independent schools throughout Queensland to guide young people into highly rewarding and long-term careers in the resources sector. 4Girls2 is an initiative of the QRC, QMEA and is sponsored by QGC, Origin and Santos.
Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011
PAGE 37
places and FACES
Boost for local business QGC recently announced $200,000 of funding towards a new pilot program for local businesses.
T
hree local companies - Bruhl Roadworks from Tara, Mike Jones Earthmoving based in Wandoan, and CRC Electrical from Condamine have been targeted in the program.
"The program will start this week with someone coming out to talk to us," Mr Cusack said.
Companies from Gladstone have also been selected for the program. The program aims to boost efficiency, productivity and capability in businesses from regions affected by the QCLNG project. CRC Electrical owner Clayton Cusack said the program was available to businesses with a certain amount of turnover and number of employees.
Jim Walker of QMI Solutions (seated left) and Greg Courts, QCLNG sign the QGC-QMI Solutions Business Capability pilot program agreement while Gary Christian of QMI Solutions (standing left) and Brett Smith, QGC look on.
"They will help us to come up with a business plan, looking at suppliers, the way the business is run, and how we should be structured to meet the demands of the gas industry." Mr Cusack said having started out as a small local business it had taken them a lot of hard work to get where they are today. "You really have to get out there in front of the companies," Mr Cusack said.
The program aims to boost efficiency, productivity and capability in businesses from regions affected by the QCLNG project.
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places and FACES
NFF fights for farmers rights
A
ll roads lead to Roma later this month, when land rights advocates from throughout Queensland and southern states meet to discuss burning issues such as the coal seam gas industry, environmental laws and Wild Rivers legislation. The Western Downs agricultural centre now also in the expanding methane gas heartland will host the annual conference of Property Rights Australia on June 24 - 25. Chairman of coal seam gas group the Basin Sustainability Alliance Mr Ian Hayllor will outline property owners' "line in the sand" position on strategic cropping land and the Great Artesian Basin, which could be placed at risk by mining activities.
As principal speaker, Mr Hayllor will be supported by several landowners recounting their experiences with the gas companies, including Neville Stiller of Guluguba, who has a 600-man gas workers' camp just across the road from his house. Another speaker, Mr Graham Clapham, is among a group of landholders who obtained backing from the National Farmers Federation (NFF) Fighting Fund for a Land Court challenge to the gas company's environmental impact statement on their prime Brookstead agricultural land. Property Rights Australia chairman Ron Bahnisch said yesterday the conference theme of Rights Undermined would focus on problems landowners were experiencing with coal seam gas mining and exploration.
Mr Bahnisch said PRA also backed a new call by a peak Queensland farm organisation and a conservation group for the State Government to "take the foot off the gas" to protect the environment and future food production. "It is imperative that landowner's rights, productive agricultural land and the environment, particularly the Artesian Basin, are adequately protected," Mr Bahnisch said. "At our Roma conference we will also report on our latest court appearances and spend some time on the Wild Rivers and Barrier Reef Environmental Risk Management Plan's regulations, " Mr Bahnisch said. "Landowners' rights in these areas will be offered up for Green preferences to get a victory in the Ashgrove electorate at the next election, where
Labor Minister, Kate Jones, is challenged by LNP leader Campbell Newman," he said. "Burke Shire Mayor, Mrs Annie Clarke, will give an insight into administration of the Wild Rivers Act in the Gulf and Cape York Peninsula, supported by Stuart Mackenzie from Plevna Downs in the south western Channel Country, a proposed Wild Rivers area. "A speaker in the first session will be John Darley, an Independent Member of the South Australian Legislative Council, who believes the taking of landowners' rights by all tiers of government should be fully compensated," Mr Bahnisch said. Mr Darley was a Valuer General in the 1980's when SA landowners were fully compensated for vegetation retention, he said.
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011
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www.wilddesert.com.au PAGE 39
Determination and persistence If determination and persistence are what is needed to make it in the male dominated mining industry, 29 year old Kara Dukes was made for her career at Wilkie Creek Open Cut Mine. he former bar attendant from Burrum Heads near Hervey Bay made a career decision to leave hospitality and join the booming mining industry five years ago. It took her nine months of sending her resume to every coal mine in Australia once a week, as well as obtaining a truck licence to give her the edge she needed to land a job with the Peabody owned coal mine near Dalby. She is now with the Mines Rescue Team, after also working as an operator, purchase officer, officer trainer and crew training co-ordinator. Ms Dukes said she sent out her resume to every mine once a week until she finally landed an interview at Wilkie Creek. "I had run out of white paper, so I sent my resume in on blue paper, and the manager said that the colour of the application is what made me stand out," Ms Dukes said. "I knew this is where I wanted to work, and I never gave up until I had landed my first job as a truck operator. "It is still a male dominated industry, but you don't have to give up your femininity to work in a coal mine." She said that her strong work ethic and
T
the fact she worked for her previous employer for ten years helped land her the job at the mine. The open-cut operation at Wilkie Creek
utilises excavators, loaders, dozers and trucks to mine overburden and coal and produced 2.7 million tonnes of raw coal in 2010. Ms Dukes said she loves every aspect of the work involved with coal mining. The mine directly employs 190 people, with around 30 full time contractors. Activities at the mine provide indirect employment for about 500 people. "There was only about 40 people working here when I started, and it is growing every week," she said. "I walked in here with no expectations what so ever. It is hard work, but I love every minute of my job. "This is a job that I see myself doing for a very long time." Wilkie Creek General Manager, Blair Jackson said across the company they strongly supported a balanced and diversified workforce. "We are keen to attract more women in operational, engineering and graduate roles," Mr Jackson said. "We are active supporters of the Queensland Resources Councils' "Women in mining" initiative and have established family friendly policies, such as paid parental leave to further encourage participation by women in the workforce."
Next time in the Surat Basin News
places and FACES ISSN 1835-6400
Updates on projects A comprehensive look at where the major projects are based within their projected timelines
What is produced A snapshot of the projects that are currently operational and quick facts on their sites.
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 23 June 2011