Sbn march 2015 by Chinchilla Newspapers Pty Ltd

SURAT BASIN

NEWS

26 March 2015

INSIDE

$1.30 inc GST

SunWater reaches huge water milestone

Page 3

Export opportunities knocking at the door

Page 5

SURAT BASIN NEWS

THE NEWSPAPER

NOTE THE exciting future of the Surat Basin is no longer a secret. The region has been successfully exporting its agricultural produce for years — strengthening what has always been the largest contributor to its economy. But we are now entering a new age in export. In December we witnessed the world-first export of coal seam gas extracted from the Surat Basin by Queensland Curtis LNG. The Australia Pacific LNG and Santos GLNG projects will follow suit this year. Now, thanks to the vision of the Toowoomba-based Wagner family, this region could soon have a chance to export fresh produce like chilled beef via the Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport. It could literally be ending up on barbecues – or in woks – in Asia in a matter of hours. This would also require the start-up of new local industries, including meat processing and packaging plants — and we’re in the best location to make that happen. The region’s capability to ramp up exports through the Port of Brisbane would be increased exponentially with the completion of the ambitious Inland Rail project from Melbourne to Brisbane. As these major projects come to fruition it will be vital that all levels of government support the work of groups like Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise to ensure there is a market waiting at the other end of the export line. Story - Page 5.

The Surat Basin News publishes every Surat Basin News will allow local month and will be delivered via the four businesses to network and dominant newspapers of the region: the communicate with everyone in the 1200 Chinchilla News, Western Star, Dalby sq km basin, providing unprecedented Herald and The Chronicle. It will reach access to new clients and markets. It the homes and offices of almost 50,000 will give a revealing insight into major people living, working and playing in the industry while lifting the veil on current Surat Basin, connecting the business and and proposed developments. It will be mining communities throughout the there for each and every announcement booming region. Surat Basin News is a shaping the region's future while necessity. It was born out of a passion for profiling the colourful characters that Australia's fastest growing communities define our communities. — a passion for a region of unbridled potential and a future of vast economic growth and opportunities. The newspaper, professionally designed and regionally The Surast Basin News is inserted into topical, will be a must read for anyone the four dominant local newspapers for associated with the exciting Surat Basin. the region: the Chinchilla News and Murilla Advertiser, Western Star Roma, Dalby Herald and The Chronicle Toowoomba. Surat Basin News has gone online to ensure our readers in every corner of the country has the latest news sent directly to them. Newsagents in - Chinchilla, Roma, Dalby, Gladstone, Moura, Toowoomba, Calliope

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TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Erika Brayshaw Chinchilla 07 46729921 manager@suratbasin.com.au

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Greg Latta Chinchilla 07 4672 9927 greg.latta@chinchillanews.com.au Bobbie Gorring Chinchilla 07 4672 9930 advertise@suratbasin.com.au Karin-ane King Roma 07 4578 4103 karin-ane.king@suratbasin.com.au Nicole Boyd-Taylor Dalby 07 4672 5500 nicole.boyd-taylor@dalbyherald.com.au

EDITOR

Jim Campbell

PAGE DESIGN

UPDATES

Beth Walker

SURAT BASIN NEWS

Regular updates on www.suratbasin.com.au

12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413 PO Box 138 Chinchilla QLD 4413

PUBLISHED

THE

INDEX

Senator will fight CSG........................14 Walkers support Acland mine ..........15 New water laws could hurt farmers 16

IN THE NEWS Our new export opportunities ..............5

OPINIONS

Linc Energy vows to fight claims.........6

17-21

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

Surat Basin still to grow ........................7 Coal export slump won’t hurt us..........9

PLACES AND FACES

DOWN TO BUSINESS

TSBE heads to Roma ..........................22 Definium LWS opens up shop ...........23

New generation drill rig ......................11

Trades and Services ...........................24

Solar Boost still on the table ...............12

Workers clean up their act ................26

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EDITOR'S

THE VISION

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THIS WEEK

MAKING IT RAIN: SunWater civil engineer Angeline Salazar has been part of the massive project that will deliver treated coal seam gas water to the Dawson Valley Water Supply Scheme.

QGC ‘makes it rain’ into Dawson River Dawson Valley farmers set to receive treated coal seam gas water for irrigation

HE first treated water produced from QGC’s water treatment plant near Wandoan has been pumped to Glebe Weir, boosting overall water supply to the Dawson Valley Water Supply Scheme. SunWater Industrial Pipelines general manager Tim Donaghy said the milestone was great news for local customers, following completion of the 120km buried pipeline from Woleebee Creek to Glebe Weir in November. “This marks the beginning of beneficial use by irrigation and industrial customers from both the pipeline and the Dawson River,” Mr Donaghy said “Water is extracted as part of the coal seam gas production process. It is treated to a high standard at QGC’s Woleebee Creek Water Treatment Plant using ultra-filtration and reverse osmosis, and is monitored by both QGC and SunWater to ensure it meets strict compliance requirements before it is released.

“The beneficial use of the treated water has been approved by the Department of Environment, and is reflected in the revised Fitzroy Basin Resource Operations Plan. “The treated water, which is included as part of the scheme supply and announced allocations for the Upper Dawson sub-scheme, will be extracted by customers through their existing pumps and infrastructure, and measured through existing flow meters. “QGC advises the Woleebee Creek plant is now in the final stages of commissioning. “In these early stages, volumes will fluctuate but we expect regular supply and normal operation of the pipeline to occur by April. “We are committed to seeking innovative water supply solutions for our customers and are pleased to deliver this project, which follows on from our successful Kenya to Chinchilla Weir Pipeline in Southern Queensland.”

QGC’s northern water treatment plant, located at the Woleebee Creek site, about 30km south-west of Wandoan.

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IN THE NEWS

PAGE 4

Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 26 March 2015

IN THE NEWS

Export opportunities

From the Surat Basin to the world

well, and we want to build on that from a passenger and freight point of view,” Mr Wagner said. “Freight is a tough market and we are under no illusions that it’s going to be easy but, in saying that, we sit in the biggest agriculture producing area in the country.” Mr Wagner said he had been making regular visits to China where he and groups such as Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise were pushing the idea of Asia importing fresh produce from the wider Darling Downs region. Chilled beef and dairy will be the company’s two primary focuses, opening up new opportunities in the Western Downs. “I can certainly see new industries popping up in the area around meat processing, packaging, logistics and distribution in the next three to five years,” Mr Wagner said. Mr Wagner said he aimed to have small-scale freight leaving the new airport within 12 months.

Wagners chairman John Wagner has big plans for the Surat Basin.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES: The Port of Brisbane will be an integral part of exporting energy and produce from the Surat Basin.

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HE Surat Basin is poised to exponentially grow both its energy and agricultural exports with two major infrastructure projects knocking at its door. The development of the colossal Inland Rail project linking Melbourne to the Port of Brisbane, via Toowoomba, will present exciting new opportunities for western Queensland, according to Port of Brisbane’s senior manager strategic projects, Priscilla Radice. Ms Radice said about 50% of trade handled by the Port originated from, or travelled to, Toowoomba, South West Queensland, and Northern New South Wales. And she said the Port of Brisbane had been working on a dedicated freight rail corridor connecting the port to its major catchment areas in the west since 2011. “The state’s agricultural industry, particularly in the Western and Darling Downs regions, must have viable, efficient and competitive access to market to compete successfully in the future global marketplace,” she said. “(A dedicated freight rail corridor) will enhance export capacity and provide greater modal choice for agriculture and industry and as a result, will encourage new business and development opportunities in the region.” However, while the Inland Rail project might still be many years away from completion, there is a more immediate opportunity building just off the Warrego Highway. If John Wagner has his way, prime cuts of beef will be flying from Western Downs paddocks to woks and frying pans in Asia sooner than you might think. Mr Wagner, chairman of Wagner Global Services, visited Miles with Ms Radice this month to share his vision for new export opportunities for Western Queensland made possible through the construction of his family’s Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport. The new $100 million airport that opened in November and is servicing regular passenger flights, is yet to undertake its next ambitious step – international freight. Mr Wagner said the Western Downs agricultural industry was always central to plans for freight export from the new airport. “The airport is open for business, it’s going

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PAGE 5

IN THE NEWS

Santos GLNG project hits major milestone on Curtis

ROUGH PATCH: Linc Energy CEO and managing director Peter Bond has always shown full confidence in the underground coal gasification (UCG) process.

Linc plans to fight claims

BY Pamela Frost

INC Energy says it will refute all claims that it allowed toxic gas to leak uncontrollably from its Chinchilla plant into air, soil and water, causing workers to fall ill with bleeding noses, dizziness and vomiting. Linc Energy, which operated a coal gasification plant in Chinchilla until it was decommissioned in 2013, is locked in a legal battle with the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection over accusations the plant wilfully and unlawfully caused serious environmental harm. A Linc Energy spokesman said they were preparing their defence and that the company planned to fight the claims. He said there had been no gas leaks at the plant and that no staff members had reported medical conditions to the company. “The accusations that are being made are incorrect, are misleading, and they hurt us,” he said.

“We are still waiting for communication from the department as to what and where they have detected these gases.” Linc Energy is accused of releasing syngas and by-products including benzene, toluene and carbon monoxide into the atmosphere, soil and water between 2007 and 2013. Court documents allege the company operated gasifiers at high pressure levels, which caused gas to escape uncontrollably. There are also allegations of a fire within a gasifier in 2007 where an increase in pressure caused cracking, allowing gas to escape. It is alleged the company did not report this to the Government, as required by law. Documents also allege another incident occurred in 2010 where another gasifier had an increase in hydrostatic pressure, causing the well to fracture and water to pour out. There were also claims staff had complained of “offensive odours” from five dams and that

workers had also reported medical conditions of bleeding noses, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headaches and blurred vision. The Linc Energy spokesman said the exclusion zone the department had issued around Chinchilla encompassed 320sq km, while their site only made up 1 sq km. “Our biggest question is how could the department categorically say these gases hadn’t been from coal seam gas operations, when they are only preliminary results,” the spokesman said. He said they had been monitoring gas levels around the site and there had been no elevated levels. The spokesman said the company was still waiting for the department to send them the completed prosecution brief for the court case, which he said was due by the end of January 2015. It is likely the matter will be back before the courts about September.

ANTOS GLNG has introduced natural gas into its LNG plant on Queensland’s Curtis Island, marking a key step in plant commissioning. The gas brought into the two-train facility will fire the first gas turbine generator to be used for high voltage power generation. Santos vice president downstream GLNG Rod Duke said the company had completed almost all of the construction required for initial production, and LNG plant commissioning was progressing strongly. A number of plant subsystems have been commissioned so far, including emergency electric power generation, power distribution and switchboards, instrument air, nitrogen, diesel supply, water systems, inlet gas separation and filtration, and the main flare. “Commissioning will continue as Santos GLNG approaches first LNG in the second half of this year,” Mr Duke said. Santos GLNG is now more than 90% complete and on track for first LNG in the second half of 2015. When fully operational it will have the capacity to produce 7.8 million tonnes of LNG each year. The project is a pioneering joint venture between Santos, PETRONAS, Total and KOGAS to supply liquefied natural gas to global markets. “We will deliver LNG safely and reliably to our customers,” Mr Duke said. “We will deliver value to our shareholders over the long term. And we will deliver billions in taxes and royalties to Australia and Queensland over many years.”

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PAGE 6

Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 26 March 2015

IN THE NEWS

Apply here for cold, hard cash

MORE COMING: The Surat Basin is poised to pick up workers coming from other areas in the state where major projects are dwindling, according to the Major Projects report.

Lots more to come for Basin

HE Surat Basin is set to become one of the state’s biggest boom areas, with a report saying the region will scoop up workers from other areas of Queensland where projects are dwindling. The Major Projects report, released this month, lists developments forecast in the next five years worth more than $100 million. As a number of projects in Gladstone and the Bowen Basin are nearly fully constructed, the report states demand for skilled construction workers will move away from these regions and into the south-east Queensland region. The report, which Queensland Major Contractors Association and Construction Skills Queensland released, shows seven major projects in the Surat Basin which are under construction, worth a total $23.1 billion. These include the five LNG upstream field developments, Kogan Creek Solar Boost electricity project and water treatment facilities. But there are still more projects to come in the next five years. Another $3 billion LNG upstream field

Surat projects under way ■ Kogan Creek Solar Boost $105 million ■ Queensland Curtis LNG upstream field development $4.7 billion ■ Gladstone LNG upstream field development $4.5 billion ■ Australia Pacific LNG upstream field development $6.5 billion ■ Shell LNG upstream field development $2 billion ■ Queensland Gas Company water treatment facilities $1.8 billion ■ Origin water treatment facilities $1.5 billion development, a third train, is expected to be constructed between 2016 and 2023. A Queensland Curtis LNG brine concentrator, worth $150 million, is also expected to be built between 2016 and 2018, while a $150 million salt handing facility from Australia Pacific LNG is expected to go ahead in 2016-17. Construction is also expected to start on a

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$250 million Ironbark gas facility in 2015-16. The report’s author, senior economist Adrian Hart, said work for projects turning coal seam gas into liquefied natural gas was driving the Surat Basin’s activity. But he believes there are more possibilities. “Given the region’s significant thermal coal resources (which are expected to remain unrealised for now) there is substantial upside opportunities to the forecast,” he said. “For example, if economic conditions permit the Wandoan Coal Project to proceed, this could start a chain reaction of development as other mines are developed to piggyback on related infrastructure such as the Southern Missing Link rail project.” He said a number of CSG-fired electricity generators were proposed in the region, meaning further upside potential existed. “However, there is a low probability of this occurring in the next five years given the outlook for electricity demand.” The Major Projects Report also listed a 145km water pipeline from Woleebee Creek to Glebe Weir, worth $430 million. While funding was allocated for this between 2012 and 2015, the project is still listed as “expected”.

EASTERNWELL, Australia’s leading drilling and well servicing company and Transfield Services subsidiary, has opened up its latest round of Easternwell Community Grants (ECG) and is encouraging groups, clubs, schools and associations to apply for funding up to $2000. Established in 2011, the ECG program provides financial and social assistance in regions where Easternwell has key operations including the Pilbara, Surat Basin, Central Queensland and Toowoomba. “Last year our the grass-roots program provided funding for all sorts of initiatives including, purchasing CPR training apparatuses, tools and equipment for various Mens Sheds and resources for indigenous groups, as well as headstones for a local heritage association,” executive general manager Tim Phelan said. Since establishing the ECG program, Easternwell has awarded more than $64,000 to 37 organisations in the Surat Basin including Cultural Heritage Injune Preservation Society, Kogan & District Rural Fire Brigade, Maranoa Music Incorporated, Chinchilla Mens Shed and Wallumbilla Girl Guides. Applications for the ECG program are assessed twice a year. For more information about the program visit www.easternwell.com.au/ communitygrants.com.au

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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 26 March 2015

PAGE 7

IN THE NEWS

Huge mine still on the table

LOOKING FORWARD: Chinchilla Community Commerce and Industry (CCCI) president Rob Hart (left) and Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Ray Brown at the Year Ahead series at Chinchilla.

Keeping positive

Diversity will keep region strong T

HE Western Downs and Maranoa regions have topped a list of local government growth rankings in Queensland, outshining economic powerhouses such as the Sunshine Coast and Mackay. Researcher Lawrence Consulting was commissioned by Western Downs Regional Council to compile the Western Downs Economic Annual, which was presented to a group of more than 50 Chinchilla Community Commerce and Industry members at a Researcher Reuben Lawrence speaks at the Year Ahead business breakfast at the Club Hotel. series. The business leaders heard how the Western Downs and Maranoa had consistently experienced population and economic growth capitalise on a “once-in-a-lifetime” in the past five years. opportunity to increase infrastructure using Western Downs ranked at the top of the list revenue generated by the resources boom, with Maranoa Regional Council ranked third. saying the council was undergoing water and “In pure numbers, the growth in this region sewerage network upgrades worth tens of has been nothing short of astounding,” millions of dollars in towns across the region. researcher Reuben Lawrence said. “We are very fortunate to be one of the only Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Ray rural areas in regional Australia to have a Brown said the region had worked hard to positive growth rate,” Cr Brown said.

However, the bulk of the boom was limited to the end of the 2013–14 financial year. In the period since mid-last year to the present, business owners have noted a sharp downturn in activity. Chinchilla Motor Inn director Bernie McGovern aired his concerns for the accommodation sector, which was particularly hurting as occupancy rates dropped as a result of transient workers moving on from the Chinchilla region. CCCI president Rob Hart admitted it was a challenging time for Chinchilla, saying some businesses were experiencing revenue falls of 40–50%. “Some of our businesses are having some tough times because we’ve previously had some wonderful times,” Mr Hart said. But his message was one of positivity for 2015. “We’ve got a diverse economy with long-term prospects, good people and infrastructure that is improving out of sight, so we’ve got a bright future ahead of us.”

GLENCORE Xstrata says its planned massive coal mine near Wandoan is still in its “long-term plans” but economic conditions would need to improve before the project was back on the table. A large group of locals met with industry representatives at the Moving Forward in Fifteen dinner last month, where population struggles and resource sector uncertainty were flagged as the biggest issues facing the Wandoan community in 2015. Representatives from Glencore, SunWater, QGC, Thiess (Leighton Contractors) and Western Downs Regional Council gave brief presentations, before taking questions from dinner guests. Asked about the future of the Wandoan coal project, Glencore’s Helen D’Arcy was adamant the company still had plans for the region. “The development of the mine remains in our long-term plans, although economic conditions need to improve,” she said. But the drop in coal prices had a number of Wandoan residents worried about the town’s future. “Who knows what’s going to happen?” Wandoan Liaison Committee president Bill Blackley said. “It could be a few years before coal prices come up.” Some residents also voiced their concerns about mining workers not living in the region permanently.

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PAGE 8

Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 26 March 2015

IN THE NEWS

CUTBACKS: Queensland’s coal export industry should not be drastically affected by import cutbacks in China, according to QRC chief Michael Roche.

Local industry is strong

China cutbacks won’t affect us: Roche coal to China,” Mr Roche said. “The Australian coal industry will manage to adapt to any decrease in demand in China.” In the 12 months to September last year, Queensland exported about 12 million tonnes of coal to China, compared to 14 million to Japan. There have also been reports that China could cut back on using coal that is harmful to the environment in a bid to improve its air quality. Mr Roche supported China’s intention to use higher-quality coal that was not high in ash

and sulphur. But this coal came from Indonesia and other countries – not Australia, which was of high quality, Mr Roche said. With an aging population, China’s use of coal is expected to peak by about 2030, Mr Roche said. He said there was another country that will need an increasing demand in coal imports in the coming decades and that would keep up the demand for Australian coal. International energy agencies had predicted the coal demand in India would triple in the

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next few years. “There are 1.3 billion people in the world who don’t have access to electricity. And the cheapest most readily available source of fuel to generate that is coal. “About 300 million people in India don’t have access to electricity, which is why we have industry interest like Adani and GVK in the Galilee Basin.” He said India’s young population almost certainly meant its demand for coal would increase for some decades. – APN NEWSDESK

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HINA may be cutting coal imports but it is unlikely to drastically affect Queensland mining companies, Queensland Resources Council chief Michael Roche says. Reports that China was looking to cut back its imports to protect its domestic industry had not come to pass, Mr Roche said. But even if it did, it would not have huge impact on Queensland mines. When it comes to thermal coal, Japan is the biggest importer for Queensland coal. “About 6% of total coal exports was thermal

PAGE 9

DOWN TO BUSINESS

PAGE 10

Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 26 March 2015

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Next generation

Local company pioneers new technology Easternwell’s new rigs are leading the way in coal seam gas well servicing

HE next generation in well servicing technology has hit the road in the Surat Basin after being designed and built on the Darling Downs. Transfield Services’ subsidiary Easternwell commissioned two new Advantage Light rigs for a three-year, multi-million dollar contract with natural gas company QGC. Designed and built in Toowoomba by Easternwell the new workover rigs are used to service existing wells and install infrastructure in newly drilled wells. The revolutionary design enables the rigs to be transported as standard semi-trailer loads rather than over-sized thereby significantly reducing the time and cost required to move between locations. The first of two rigs commenced work in January with the second to follow this month in support of QGC’s operations in the Surat Basin. Member for Groom and Minister for Industry and Science Ian Macfarlane spoke at the launch event which was attended by key clients at Easternwell’s workshop in Toowoomba. “Easternwell demonstrates what can be achieved, by developing innovative equipment that is more efficient and productive,” Mr Macfarlane said. “This is especially important in an environment where costs efficiencies are

NEW TECHNOLOGY: Rig Manager Glen Johns (right) explains the well control equipment to Member for Groom Ian Macfarlane. Photo Contributed crucial.” Easternwell’s executive general manager Tim Phelan said the new rigs represented a significant step forward in current rig technology available in Australia. “We have been working with QGC for several years to apply learnings from rig operations

that improve efficiency and safety and provide us with a real advantage,” Mr Phelan said. “One example is the time required to set up and move the rigs, which has been reduced by about 40%. Over the course of a year that results in significant benefits for our clients.

“It is the capability and expertise of our team together with the collaborative relationships we have with our clients that enable us to design and build the most advanced workover rigs in the country, and position us as the leading provider of Well Servicing in Australia.”

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PAGE 11

DOWN TO BUSINESS

SOLAR POWER: An aerial impression of the where the solar boost project would be constructed at Kogan Creek Power Station.

Solar Boost project still on the table

S Energy is pushing to resolve “commercial and technical issues” surrounding a massive solar thermal project slated for the Western Downs. The future of the government-owned CS Energy’s Kogan Creek Power Station was up in the air earlier this year as a result of the Liberal National Party’s election promise to sell or lease government assets. But with the Labor party sweeping to power on a promise not to sell assets, that plan

would appear to be off the table. The Kogan Creek Solar Boost Project is a 44 megawatt solar thermal addition to the existing 750 megawatt power station. It would be the largest solar integration with a coal-fired power station in the world when operational and have the capacity to power an additional 5000 homes per year. CS Energy chief executive officer Martin Moore said the majority of equipment for the project, including solar reflectors, had

already been manufactured. “The project has experienced significant delays due to commercial and technical issues, which the company is seeking to resolve,” Mr Moore said. “On site, the first phase of mechanical construction has been completed.” Mr Moore said it was to be business as usual following the change in government. “The Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, has said that CS Energy and its assets, including

the Kogan Creek Power Station, will not be leased or sold,” he said. “The CS Energy management team is focused on running the business safely and efficiently to create value for all its stakeholders.” Mr Moore could not say when the project would be completed but the CS Energy website says it is “not expected to be completed and in full commercial use before late 2016”.

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Research tool

Pooling CSG research into one place New directory is the go-to guide for research into the onshore gas industry .

The directory makes it much easier for researchers to coordinate their efforts and maximise the value of their research. CCSG director Professor Andrew Garnett government agencies, resource companies and non-profit organisations. “Until now it has been hard to determine how much research is being done on any particular topic, location or resource. “The directory makes it much easier for researchers to coordinate their efforts and maximise the value of their research,” he said. “It also provides community members with a single source to find up-to-date information on topics that they are interested in.” Professor Garnett said the directory focused on research done in Australia, but also included research from overseas that is relevant to the Australian context. The directory was developed in consultation with the Commonwealth Government’s

NEW RESEARCH: GasFields Commissioner Professor Steven Raine says the new directory will be a valuable resource. Office of Water Science, the Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics, GasFields Commission Queensland, AgForce, and the Office of the Queensland Chief Scientist. To access the research directory or to add a new research project visit www.research.ccsg.uq.edu.au

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NEW online directory will track and share the wide range of research into the onshore gas industry that is currently being undertaken right around the country. Scientist and GasFields Commissioner, Professor Steven Raine, said the new directory by the University of Queensland would provide a valuable resource for researchers and the broader community seeking to understand the science and research effort behind the development of the onshore gas industry in Queensland. The directory was developed by UQ’s Centre for Coal Seam Gas (CCSG) and compiles recent, current or planned projects in all areas of the growing onshore gas industry including geology, water, coexistence and social and environmental impacts. CCSG director Professor Andrew Garnett said more than 400 research projects on coal seam and other unconventional gas developments were being conducted at more than 50 Australian institutions. “The pace of development means that keeping track of research has been a challenge,” Professor Garnett said. “Research has been conducted by a range of organisations including universities,

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DOWN TO BUSINESS

Shift workers most at risk of obesity

NEW ALLY: Senator Glenn Lazarus (right) met with Lock the Gate campaign founder Drew Hutton, Marianne Irvine, Jenn Greene-Galloway at a coal seam gas community forum in Chinchilla this month.

Senator stands strong

Lazarus rises to fight CSG Senator Glenn Lazarus has defected from the Palmer United Party after vowing to fight the development of CSG. “At a federal and state level we should be suggesting that all new approvals of wells be halted until we get a bipartisan royal commission.” Nearly 70 landholders and local residents attended the forum, which was co-hosted by newly formed advocacy group Landholders ASCERT and Bridging the Divide. Among the other guest speakers was Lock the Gate campaign founder Drew Hutton, who described the CSG industry as “a crock”. “The impacts of the industry will continue and people will go broke,” he said. “That’s what happens in mining towns.” Mr Hutton said it was possible to “say no”, and used the anti-CSG stance taken by farmers in Northern New South Wales as an

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example. “People kicked them out,” he said. “If you fight as an individual you’ll lose, you need the community with you.” Origin regional manager Rob Hart said he’d be happy to have a sit-down discussion with Senator Lazarus. “Overwhelmingly I’ve found that we have been able to work constructively to access to the resource on good terms,” he said. “We’d also be happy to sit down with the Senator and explain how we operate and contribute positively to the lives of many people and communities across the region.” It is not known whether Senator Lazarus will continue his hard line against the CSG industry as an Independent.

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ENATOR Glenn Lazarus has sent shockwaves through the Palmer United Party after walking away from the party to serve the remainder of his term as an Independent. Senator Lazarus said the move came about due to a “different view of teamwork”. The former rugby league great vowed to take a firm stance against Surat Basin coal seam gas operations, following a community forum in Chinchilla last month. Speaking at the forum on February 28, the Queensland Senator said he was appalled by the “lack of respect” and “bullying tactics” by mining companies towards landholders. “I guarantee I won’t take this lying down,” he said.

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SHIFT workers, those doing split shifts and those on casual hours needed extra work health regulations, a group of top health experts told a key government inquiry. The Australian National University academics gave the Productivity Commission inquiry on workplace relations a submission this week. It outlined the rising cost of obesity and other work-related diseases and illnesses; citing research showing 44% of the $8 billion national cost of obesity was due to lost productivity. Led by Associate Professor Jane Dixon, the group of 10 academics wrote there was “clearly a need for additional regulations to protect and promote the health of workers”. The group wrote casual workers, those on split and night shifts and those with “long work hours” were more prone to bad eating habits and poor sleep. “Working time (long, unpredictable, non-standard hours) is now acknowledged as a major impediment to time for healthy eating, physical activity and sufficient sleep,” the submission stated. The team from the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health urged the inquiry to consider the longer term consequences of “working time arrangements”.

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DOWN TO BUSINESS

SUPPORT WALK: Supporting the New Hope Group Acland mine expansion are Jaiden and Priscilla Barton. Photos Nev Madsen

Mining support

Walk backs mine growth HUNDREDS of New Hope Group workers and their families took to the streets for a protest with a difference this month. While it has become common enough to hear of groups protesting mine expansion projects, in Oakey it was the opposite when hundreds turned out in support of the New Acland Mine. A family fun walk organised by employees of the mine was held in Oakey on March 15 and it was standing room only at the finish as the group enjoyed a barbecue and heard speeches from an assortment of employees. The group donned bright orange New Acland shirts and walked from the railway station to Oakey State High School, raising money along the way for Oakey Hospital. New Hope Group managing director Shane Stephan said there had been a sense of desperation in the local community because of concerns the stage three expansion would not go ahead. He said hundreds of families stood to lose their homes and livelihoods if the approval was not granted. “The community is concerned about the delay in obtaining approval for the Acland stage three expansion. “We’ve undertaken two environmental impact studies and made significant compromises, but if this is not approved

many of the people here today will lose their jobs by 2017.” He said if the expansion went ahead, it would provide a $12 billion boost to the economy over its lifetime and provide for 435 full-time jobs as well as 260 construction jobs and 170 contractor positions. But anti-coal mining group Stop Brisbane Coal Trains spokesman John Gordon slammed the walk, in particular Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise’s motives in helping promote it. “We encourage all participants in this TSBE orchestrated walk to consider the good of the whole community and not just rely on the propaganda put about by the likes of TSBE,” Mr Gordon said. TSBE chief executive Shane Charles said he was satisfied the walk met all planning regulations and, after a request from a member, TSBE agreed to send the invitation out to other members. “We have come out publicly and supported the stage three expansion and we have no problem with our members supporting the walk,” he said. Tours are run to explain the mine’s operations, land rehabilitation and the agricultural operations. To book call 4694 8801.

Enjoying a day in support of the Acland 3 expansion are Luke Greathead (front) with (back from left) Michael and David Greathead and Jack McGovern.

Showing their support for the Acland coal mine expansion are (from left) Corey Mulheran with Georgia and Jed Christensen.

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PAGE 15

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Skytrans debt revealed in court

Water woes

New water laws could hurt An energy and resources lawyer has warned that landholders and the environment could lose out with new water laws

UEENSLAND government amendments to the regulation of underground water used or impacted by mining companies may disadvantage landholders and the environment, according to a specialised energy and resources lawyer. Creevey Russell lawyer Laura Hogarth said the Water Act 2000 was amended by State Parliament in November 2014 with the key provisions affecting resources activities expected to come into effect by proclamation. The explanatory notes to the Bill stated that the policy objectives of the amendments were to keep state legislation in line with current water management best practice and balance economic, social and environmental outcomes. However, Chinchilla-based Ms Hogarth said

the amended Act’s new purpose statement omits references to ecologically sustainable development which were previously included, belying the stated policy objective. “The amending Act creates certainty and consistency between the mining and petroleum industries, but not equality with other users, including landholders,” Ms Hogarth said. “Instead of regulating associated water from petroleum activities in line with mining legislation, the amending Act has deregulated associated water from mining activities in line with petroleum legislation. Mining companies will be entitled to take unlimited quantities of associated water without water licence application processes, as petroleum companies have been doing.”

Ms Hogarth said under the new provisions, mining companies may be required to enter into ‘Make Good Agreements’ with landholders in relation to underground water resources, if registered water bores have an ‘impaired capacity’ due to mining activities. “Previously, make good agreements were only required in relation to petroleum activities, not mining activities. “A resource company goes through a number of steps before deciding whether your bore has an impaired capacity, which in turn determines whether you are entitled to a make good agreement” she said. “It is a difficult process and there are high costs for landholders who want independent verification of the bore assessments by their own hydro geologist”.

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QUEENSLAND’S largest regional airline owes more than $108 million to creditors including various councils, businesses and corporations across the state after going bust earlier this year. Skytrans, a family-owned and operated business, was placed into administration in January citing increased competition, loss of a government contract and a falling Australian dollar. This resulted in 67 employees becoming redundant on top of the 120 who were laid off late last year. The airline, which was established in 1990, operated passenger services to 25 locations throughout Queensland including Toowoomba, Sunshine Coast, Boulia, Moranbah and various outback towns across the state. The extent of Skytrans’ woes have been laid bare in documents filed in the Brisbane Supreme Court. The documents reveal the number of creditors could exceed more than 170 individuals, businesses or organisations. They show administrators had identified 2593 individuals who had a Skytrans booking at the time the airline went bust. However, the court documents did reveal sole director Simon Wild is looking to be paid more than $28.6 million stemming from an inter-company loan after he submitted a proof of debt to administrators.

PAGE 16

Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 26 March 2015

OPINIONS

Working together

Big gas spending wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t slow down yet .

COMMENT JOHN COTTER GasFields Commission Chairman

EVERAGING long-term opportunities for local business with the onshore gas industry in the Surat Basin was the focus of a special forum hosted in Roma earlier this month by the GasFields Commission, Commerce Roma and Toowoomba Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE). The forum brought together about 80 local business people and senior executives from two of the region's onshore gas proponents including Santos vice president, Trevor Brown and Australia Pacific LNG Chief Executive Officer, Page Maxson. The proponents acknowledged there were challenges for the onshore gas industry as it transitioned from construction to production and the current impact of low oil prices, however they still expect to have significant discretionary capital spend over the long term. They indicated that having highly reliable infrastructure and operations was critical to the ongoing success of these gas projects and that will require dollars being spent in the region on operations and maintenance over the decades to come. They also reiterated that local content was even more relevant for the operations and maintenance phase because it will be those businesses who are on the ground, with the right skills that will have the ability to respond more quickly to service their needs locally. One proponent announced the establishment of a special team to assist with the interface between local business and their company's procurement to ensure a better focus on identifying and delivering local content opportunities. Both proponents also committed to posting the details of key contractors in their local shopfronts to enable local businesses and the community to more readily identify potential supply chain partners and opportunities. However, there were also a number of common frustrations raised by local businesses at the forum about doing business with the gas industry such as prequalification, induction and local content definitions.

WORKING TOGETHER: GasFields Commission chairman John Cotter says it will take a joint effort between private enterprise and government to build a more diverse regional economy in Queensland. That frustration extended to dealing with the major contractors or so-called tier one and two suppliers to the gas proponents who also have a responsibility to ensure effective ongoing engagement and communication with local firms that have supported them in the past and who are looking to do again in the future. The Commission is seeking to help facilitate that ongoing engagement and communication over coming months through additional forums involving major contractors and local firms. Local businesses themselves also recognise that this next phase of work will be very different to the previous intense construction

phase of recent years and will need to closely examine their own offerings to determine if they are still relevant and competitive. Already I have seen how some local businesses are positioning themselves and looking at ways to improve their offering through technology or increased cost efficiency to ensure they continue to be regarded as capable and valued supply chain partners. There is a strong groundswell from local communities to make the most of the long term opportunities from the onshore gas industry in Queensland. Recently, 12 councils and economic development groups in the Bowen, Galilee

Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 26 March 2015

and Surat Basins signed a Joint Statement of Commitment: Maximising Industry Local Content in Regional Queensland. The initiative is about taking a proactive, cohesive and collaborative approach to helping local businesses enter the supply chain. The reality is it will take all parties â&#x20AC;&#x201C; proponents, major contractors, local government, regional communities and local businesses themselves â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to work together to maximise the long term opportunities from the onshore gas industry and in doing so will help to build a more diverse and vibrant regional economy in Queensland.

PAGE 17

OPINIONS

Times changing

Innovate to survive market challenges .

COMMENT SHANE CHARLES CEO Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise

IMES ... they are a changin’. For businesses in the supply chain of the gas sector – what a difference 12 months makes. I am sure that everyone in our regional communities can sense and feel strain in the local economy at the moment. Times are tough, a few things have conspired all at once to make everyone tighten their belts. Firstly, we have the transition from the construction to the operations and maintenance phase in the coal seam gas industry. We all knew this was going to happen but the speed of it has certainly surprised a few. Secondly, very few could foresee the impact a low oil price would have on the gas industry. If you hadn’t worked it out already, the gas price is very closely linked to the oil price and as such, companies are quite simply not getting as much revenue for their gas as they have forecast. Lastly, and it is commonly spoken of, Australia operates in a high cost environment.

Firstly, if you haven’t done so already, look at your costs, make some tough decisions, clean up your balance sheet and generally get your house in order. If they haven’t already, I suspect your customers will be coming to you asking for price reductions and cuts. To survive, you need to innovate, work smarter and generally view the relationship with your customers as a partnership where you both work together to save costs and improve productivity. Finally, remember that it is not all doom and gloom. A major projects report released from the Queensland Major Contractors Association and Construction Skills Queensland shows seven major projects in the Surat Basin currently under construction that are worth a total of $23.1 billion. With this figure in mind, and due to the fact that a number of projects in the Gladstone and Bowen Basin regions are winding up, it is expected that demand for skilled construction workers will move again to south-east Queensland. At the end of the day, this industry will be MORE COMING: TSBE CEO Shane Charles says demand for skilled construction workers is shifting from the northern here for decades to come and they are keen coal regions to the south. for the operational workforce to live locally. I think it will be a tough next six to 12 So – this essentially has meant that, schedules have eased or stopped for the time months across the sector and you will really depending on the company, capital projects being, and the list goes on. need to work on your business, not just to have been delayed or scrapped, employees So - what does this mean for business? A few survive but to prosper. and contractors terminated, drilling things come to mind.

Teamwork needed to ease shift from construction phase .

BRUCE SCOTT MP Federal Member for Maranoa

T one time rapid population growth, infrastructure development and burgeoning employment opportunities were synonymous with the coal seam gas industry in the Surat Basin. Achieving symbiosis between industry growth and the grassroots community was one of the greatest challenges facing our region during this period.

What the Surat Basin experienced during its peak construction phase can be likened to the Gold Rush. During the construction phase, the coal seam gas industry initially instilled confidence in local housing markets, imposed pressure on local infrastructure and jolted local economies. Now, with thousands of jobs shifting out of the region and the declining international market for Australian resources, the gas industry has signalled the end of the construction phase and the sharp turn to maintenance and production. This has left many local authorities and

rural communities with immense challenges as to how they survive. An inevitable adjustment is occurring across the Surat Basin, allowing communities and industry to co-exist in a reduced capacity. Councils and communities need to play catch up and deal with regulations retrospectively to determine how to balance what we have with what we need. One of the gravest concerns from long term Surat Basin residents is the implication of the coal seam gas industry on the local housing market.

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I regularly receive calls from homeowners who are competing with an oversupply of housing and supply accommodation investors experiencing up to 80 per cent decline in occupancy rates. The Surat Basin is in my backyard and this issue needs to be urgently addressed. I believe a collaborative solution from across the Surat Basin will aid the inevitable adjustment between industry and community and return some of the focus to the primary industries that have long been the cornerstone of economic longevity and regional sustainability.

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COMMENT

OPINIONS

Resource workers at risk

Bring mental health out of the shadows .

COMMENT Cr RAY BROWN Mayor, Western Downs Regional Council

HE rise of the resource sector has led to increases in health issues in regional communities and the Western Downs and Surat Basin regions are just as vulnerable as any other region in Australia. In particular, workers in the resource sector face distinct health issues due their efforts to

cope with the often quite drastic changes to their lifestyle, such as having to re-locate themselves and/or their family, even if temporarily, to a new region or town, or the rhythm of ‘two-weeks-on and two-weeks-off’ and the associated travel to and from home associated with this pattern of work. So, as well as working with agricultural organisations in our region, Western Downs Regional Council is having discussions with energy and coal seam gas companies to investigate options to help raise awareness of good mental and physical wellbeing, so that everyone can enjoy working, living and playing in our Western Downs.

The aim of these discussions is to help employers in our region and our communities openly talk about healthy lifestyle choices, and in particular, to work together to help remove the stigma of mental illness, especially for men. An example of how these conversations could be encouraged is through events like the ‘It’s a Bloke Thing’ that were held around the region last year in the run-up to National Men’s Health Week. Such events provide a focal point to discuss men’s mental health, and I look forward to helping more of these events come to our

region. Meanwhile, on a separate issue, I’d like to reiterate that investigations into reports of soil contamination in the Hopeland area near Chinchilla are continuing. The Queensland Government is the lead agency and regulatory body for this investigation and council will continue to fully cooperate with the State Government and any requests they make of council to help respond to this issue. Through regular ongoing contact, we will help ensure that appropriate information is delivered to affected landholders.

LET’S TALK: Mayor Ray Brown, guest speaker Kerry Boustead and Cr Ian Rasmussen at the 'It's a Bloke Thing' men's health event in 2014.

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PAGE 19

OPINIONS

Too much debt

We’re living beyond our means: O’Sullivan .

COMMENT BARRY O’SULLIVAN Senator

HERE’S an old Slim Dusty song I’ve always enjoyed that I can’t help but recall when we speak about Australia finding itself at a major economic and demographic crossroads. In the song, Slim sings that the “road to destruction is paved with good intent.” He warns the listener that they shouldn’t “fool around or you might find a lifetime has been spent.” But most importantly, Slim warns that you should “never laugh in the face of father time.” No doubt these are wise words everyone

would agree you should live by. And I don’t pretend to know what spurred Slim Dusty to pick up his guitar and sing these words – it definitely wasn’t macro-economic public policy – but there’s a moral in this story for our nation. Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey recently released the latest Intergenerational Report, which projects what the Australian population, economy, and budget could look like in 40 years. It provides the information we need to prepare for the future and ensures we are well placed to address the demographic changes that Australia faces. The picture it paints of Australia in 2055 is a nation dependent on the action we take in 2015 and beyond. It will be a time where there will be a higher than ever number of elderly people across the Surat Basin, as well as, with correct planning, the necessary productivity

enhancing infrastructure to provide the nation with earnings to the support the population. It is clear the Australia of 40 years ago was forward thinking enough to provide the high living standards and economic security we have all since benefitted from. We only have to consider how far we’ve come in the past four decades - average incomes have doubled in real terms and this increased wealth has been broadly shared across the community. Today, Australians produce twice as much in goods and services for each hour they work compared with around 40 years ago. Australians are living longer and we have one of the longest life expectancies in the world – we rank equal first along with Iceland in terms of male life expectancy and fifth in longest life expectancy for women. Over the next 40 years the Australian

MONEY MAN: Senator Barry O’Sullivan agrees with Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey that Australia is ‘living beyond its means’.

No doubt these are wise words everyone would agree you should live by. Senator Barry O’Sullivan economy is projected grow at 2.8 per cent per annum, slightly less than the 3.1 per cent per annum we saw over the past 40 years, but still a level of growth that would see Australia’s prosperity rise significantly. It is therefore essential we continue to look at our national debt. We are currently living beyond our means. The Australian Government is spending over $100 million per day more than it collects and we are borrowing every day to pay for this shortfall, so we are living beyond our means. Continuing to work at keeping spending under control will ensure we can deliver the services the community needs and expects to improve Australia’s capacity to respond to future challenges and opportunities. It is essential we continue this task today, as we confront the declining rates of workforce participation in the coming decades. The Intergenerational Report explains that we are on the verge of an ageing population boom, which will require more money to be dedicated to health and social services. In 1975, there were 122 Australian centenarians. Today there are around 4000. And in 40 years’ time there will be around 40,000 people aged over 100. With social services spending currently about $150 billion per year, or about one-third of the national budget, there is a clear need for a debate about how we ensure this area is more sustainable in the long term. The Intergenerational Report predicts that more than one-in-five Australians will be aged 65 and over by 2054-55. It is with this backdrop that the gas industry ramps up across the Surat Basin and we look to finalise the related productivity enhancing infrastructure that will generate wealth for the nation. This is a conversation we need to have immediately and the Intergenerational Report is a good starting point. Because there is one thing I am certain about - if we don’t lay the foundations today, “Father Time” will be wiping the smile off our faces tomorrow.

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OPINIONS

Dredging breakthrough

Activists want coal industry shut down While stakeholders – including thousands of north Queenslanders – applauded the breakthrough, the response from activist groups revealed their underlying agenda to COMMENT shut down Queensland’s coal export industry. MICHAEL ROCHE The Great Barrier Reef is a means to an end CEO Queensland Resources with the bonus globally of being a lucrative Council focus for fundraising. Activists have a long history of moving the GREEN activists have shown their hand in goal posts, and now that concerns about the the wake of the Queensland Government’s placement of dredge material have been announcement of an onshore disposal solution for dredge material arising from the addressed, they need a new reason to keep tax-deductible donations flowing. proposed Abbot Point coal terminal The response to the Abbot Point solution expansion. mirrors their strategy document – Stopping The agreement with proponents Adani and the Australian Coal Export Boom – which GVK Hancock means sand and gravel dredged from in front of the existing terminal was leaked to media in 2012 revealing details of an orchestrated plan to shut down the coal (40km from the nearest reef) will be moved industry. to vacant industrial land on the complex. .

The plan is being rolled out with major funding from both US-based and local donors, capitalising on their tax-deductible gift status and emotional appeal of the Great Barrier Reef. The activists are now suggesting the Abbot Point coal terminal loading trestle should be extended kilometres into the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park itself, and are lining up under Greenpeace, AMCS, WWF and Greens’ banners to question the need for the expansion. QRC members support balancing industrial development and environmental protection, and our ports and shipping operate under the highest standards in the world. All Queenslanders stand to benefit from the Abbot Point decision as the Galilee Basin mine-rail-port projects will create jobs and

economic development. Coal provides more than 40 percent of the world's electricity and Australian thermal coal is of the highest quality in the world. Importantly, demand for coal will continue to grow, as confirmed by the International Energy Agency (IEA). Their view is based on estimates that 1.3 billion people, or 18 per cent of the world’s population, do not have access to electricity and more than 4.3 million people die a year from exposure to household air pollution created by using solid fuels for cooking and heating. Queensland is also the world’s leading exporter of seaborne metallurgical coal for which there is no replacement in blast furnace steel production.

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PAGE 21

PLACES & FACES

PLACES AND FACES Enterprise evening attracts almost 200

THE highs and lows of the gas industry were in the limelight at Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise's latest Enterprise Evening. The event, held at Roma’s Explorer’s Inn, saw more than 180 guests hear insights from Vice President for Santos’ Queensland operations Trevor Brown. Mr Brown also touched on the recent falling of global gas prices, assuring guests that having been through a number of oil price shocks in his time, the business fundamentals remained the same.

1. Cr Scott Wason and Cr Cam O'Neil talk with John Hamer. 2. Steven Keating and Rob Hart exchange ideas. 3. Russell Redenbach and Courtney McLellan chat at the Explorer's Inn. 4. Reagon Parle and Philip Clarris chat over some drinks. 5. Marcus Koolen, Bryan Mildon and Grant Love have a beer together.

6. Sam Hutison and Andrew Kibble enjoy the TSBE function.

7. Terry Smoothy and Noel Hancock exchange ideas. 8. Troy Martin chts with Colin and Julie Brosnan. 9. Rachel Stanford, Amanda Kenafake and Carmen Roberts network in Roma. 10. Rebecca Lomman, Nellie Brown and Sarah Holt discuss things. Photos Tom Gillespie / The Western Star

PAGE 22

10 Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 26 March 2015

PLACES & FACES

Company on sight with new building

SURVEYING firm Definium LWS cemented its Surat Basin footprint in style this month with the opening of its new office at Chinchilla. Since 2011, the company has completed seven major projects for QGC, SunWater, Arrow Energy and Powerlink Queensland. The company empoys more than 400 people in civil survey, field services and specialised design. 1. Western Downs Mayor Ray Brown (centre) cuts the ribbon at the opening of Definium LWS' Chinchilla office with Peter Hickey (left) and Neil Severns. 2. The crowd at the opening of Dedinium LWS' new Chinchilla office. 3. John Hurlstone, Keegan Becker and Tony Pike.

4. Chinchilla-based surveyor Heath Smith. 5. Surveyors Keith Brown, Kevin McNabb, and Peter Chaplin. 6. Definium LWS managing director Peter Hickey (left) and Chinchilla Community Commerce and Industry secretary manager Bill Blake. 7. Lisa Severns (left) and Ailsa Cass. 8. Simon Coker (left) and Luke Cass. Photos: Jim Campbell

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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 26 March 2015

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PLACES & FACES

Active kids

QGC helps new sports gear on its way Jimbour students take out competition while learning new skills along the way

IMBOUR State School has won $15,000 worth of sporting equipment from QGC. The school won the mining company’s RoadWize competition, part of a campaign to increase children’s road safety awareness. Principal of Jimbour State School Jasmine Malmborg-Moore said the sporting equipment would be a massive boost for the small school. “This new sporting equipment will help our students appreciate the importance of a fit, healthy and active lifestyle,” she said. QGC Road Aware driver trainer Gary Rigg said the company’s Road Aware – Stay Safe Take Care campaign taught primary and secondary students about safe driving behaviour and road use with interactive technology. “We have heeded the research, listened to community feedback and extended our commitment to target high-risk road users with purpose-built education that children and adults can relate to,” Mr Rigg said. “Highly engaging activities for primary students and emerging interactive technology for young drivers helps to create a holistic solution to safer road behaviour.”

GOOD SPORTS: Jimbour State School students (from left) Douglas White, Hayley Nugent, Evan McCormick, Macklan White and JC Piodos with their new sports gear. Photo Georgie Moore

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Workers pitch in to help clean highway C

OMMUNITY volunteers and gas industry workers have teamed up to tackle a large amount of roadside litter on the main roads into Miles as part of a bigger effort to tackle littering behaviour across the region. The Murilla Landcare Group and the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC) hosted a recent clean-up event which enlisted 14 volunteers and 52 Origin employees to address what has been identified as a problem for rural communities according to the organisers. QMDC Land Management technical officer Nigel Paragreen said QMDC was working with community groups on a series of roadside clean-up days as part of the South West Regional Roadside Litter Project - a joint initiative with the Queensland Government and local councils. “We gathered over ten cubic meters of litter from roughly 9km of highway roadside – split between stretches on the Warrego and Leichhardt,” Mr Paragreen said. “I’m certain the wider community would be appalled by the amount and variety of litter that is being dumped on our roadsides and we hope this project will get to the bottom of why motorists are choosing to litter our highways.” Mr Paragreen said the clean-up days were being held in conjunction with a series of

Litter not only impacts on the region’s natural environment, it detracts from its appeal as a tourist destination and a clean, green place to live. QMDC Land Management technical officer Nigel Paragreen scientific litter audits across South West Queensland to gather data on the type and amount of litter being thrown onto the region’s roadsides. “It’s invaluable to have the support of Murilla Landcare which organised the volunteers and to have Origin employees contributing to the amenity of the region. “Litter not only impacts on the region’s natural environment, it detracts from its appeal as a tourist destination and a clean, green place to live.” The clean-up day was held as part of the South West Regional Roadside Litter Project with support from the Queensland Government’s Department of Environment and Heritage. Visit www.qmdc.org.au or contact Murilla Landcare at murillalandcare1@bigpond.com

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Volunteer Amos Chew and Murilla Landcare’s Claire York get their hands dirty during the clean-up on the Warrego Highway, east of Miles. Photos Contributed

Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 26 March 2015

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PAGE 27

PLACES & FACES

Brave new world

Dad welcomes bub via vid New technology allowed an electrician working at Chinchilla to view live the birth of his son in Perth. FOR Jace and Alison Larke, the tyranny of distance that comes with the fly-in-fly-out lifestyle is a clear reality, one which meant the young father would miss the birth of his third son. Virtual reality, however, has bridged the 4000km gap between the happy couple. Mr Larke, who was working as an electrician near Chinchilla, was able to witness his son Steele’s birth in suburban Perth using the experimental Samsung VR headset on February 20. It was all made possible by Rapid VR technology, which taps

NEW DAY: Baby Steele delivered live on a 360 degree camera, with the father Jace Larke watching from Chinchilla using VR technology. Photo Contributed

into 360-degree cameras to allow people to look around using real head movements, simulating a real-life experience. The film crew used a 4G Wi-Fi link to stream live a total 360-degree 3D reconstruction of the room complete with Alison across the internet. Internet in Australia has not caught up to the bandwidth-hungry new technology, so BigAir installed a satellite dish on the top of the hospital to make the connection run smoothly. A Rapid VR spokeswoman said the search for a deserving couple to connect on their special day had been exhaustive. “We sifted through 200 applicants, Alison and Jason stood out as great people,” she said. The new technology is tipped to revolutionise the way people experience recorded live performances, sports events and even social meetings “Rapid VR has been working on this for about eight months,” the spokeswoman said. “You could be on the other side of the world and still experience a friend’s wedding. “It gives people that moment – it’s pretty mind blowing what can be done with it.” Rapid VR is a production company based in Sydney Australia that specialises in 360 degree immersive virtual reality video content. The content can currently be viewed using either Oculus Rift or Samsung VR technology. Opportunities in interactive films and gaming are currently being explored, and are already tipped to change the way viewers experience traditionally passive mediums.

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SURAT BASIN NEWS Published by Chinchilla Newspapers Pty Ltd, 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413 Printed by APN Print Toowoomba 50 Industrial Avenue Toowoomba Q4350 2013 General Manager - Erika Brayshaw 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413, PO Box 138 Chinchilla Q4413, Phone 07 4662 7368

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