Surat basin news march 2017

NEWS

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WELCOME

suratbasin.com.au Thursday, March 23, 2017

SNAP OF THE MONTH

From the editor

Gas ‘crisis’ may have silver lining for the Surat Basin HELLO, and welcome to the March edition of Surat Basin News.

The word ‘crisis’ gets bandied about a fair bit these days and probably a bit too much.

Of course, the media is as much to blame as anyone else for this state of affairs, because it tends to hone in on words that grab people’s attention.

Nothing quite sparks urgency like adding the word ‘crisis’ to the mix.

Malcolm Turnbull’s ‘crisis’ meeting with the east coast gas companies appears to have secured their agreement to supply more gas to the domestic market.

The upshot of all this is that outside of the CSG companies’ continual growth as they drill wells to supply their export contracts, we may see additional gasfields developed to supply the resource to our own homes and electricity grids.

The Queensland Government has already shown it is ready and willing to open up new CSG tenements for exploration, provided the gas produced is supplied to the domestic market.

QGC has already indicated it will consider bidding for the new tenement, and Origin / APLNG says it has the flexibility to “bid aggressively for new tenements when they are released”.

Exploiting these reserves for the domestic market will of course require the creation of a larger workforce than is currently on the ground in the Surat Basin, so it will be interesting to see how that pans out, if the companies do begin expanding their fields.

The other point to consider is that because these companies are so large, they may simply be able to provide a larger portion of the gas they produce to the domestic market and still fulfil their LNG contracts from other parts of their portfolios.

To read more, head to page 3.

Also in this month’s edition, we bring you a fascinating story about the World Science Festival, which is once again being held in Chinchilla.

If you’ve got some bright young minds at home, it would be well worth the trip to Chinchilla next weekend to check out the festival.

I was lucky enough to go last year and found it simply enthralling.

That story is on Page 4.

Now, have you ever wondered what it’s like inside a foundry?

Dalby’s business community got the chance to find out this month, at a Business After Hours event organised by the Dalby Chamber of Commerce.

Understandably, it was the biggest-ever Business After Hours event hosted, with everyone wanting to get a glimpse of the smelter in action.

That story, and photos, can be found on page 5.

So that’s all from me this month.

Until next time, — Matthew Newton

◗ SNAP: Gerkies Stormchasing, consisting of father and son team Pete and Seth Gerke, snapped this brilliant shot of a recent storm, south west of Chinchilla, the clouds illuminated by flaring from Origin's Orana Processing Flant.

PHOTO: GERKIES STORMCHASING

Contents

DOWN TO BUSINESS

IN THE NEWS

Gas supply ‘crisis’...........................................................................3 World Science Festival ...............................................................4 Tour of White Industries .............................................................6 FIFO numbers flatline .................................................................8 Land values tumble ....................................................................9 JUMP! into learning .................................................................20

The Wilkie family’s story ................................................................7

PLACES AND FACES

....................................................................................................10, 11

OPINION

....................................................................................................17-19

The newspaper The Surat Basin News publishes every month and will be delivered via the four dominant newspapers of the region: the Chinchilla News, Western Star, Dalby Herald and The Chronicle. It will reach the homes and offices of almost 50,000 people living, working and playing in the Surat Basin, connecting the business and mining communities thought the booming region. Surat Basin News is a necessity. It was born out of a passion for Australia’s fastest growing communities – a passion for a region of unbridled potential and a future of vast economic growth and opportunities. The newspaper, professionally designed and regionally topical, will be a must read for anyone associated with the exciting Surat Basin.

ONLINE: Surat Basin News has gone online to ensure our readers in every corner of the country has the latest news sent directly to them. Go to: www.suratbasin.com.au.

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

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

The team GENERAL MANAGER Erika Brayshaw, Chinchilla Phone 4672 9921, email manager@suratbasin.com.au ADVERTISING TEAM Bobbie Gorring, Chinchilla Phone 4672 9930, email advertise@suratbasin.com.au Greg Latta, Roma Phone 4672 9927, email Greg.latta@romawesternstarnews.com Nicole Boyd-Taylor, Dalby Phone 04672 5500, email nicole.boyd-taylor@dalbyherald.com.au EDITORIAL

Matthew Newton, Chinchilla

Phone 4672 9926, email matthew.newton@chinchillanews.com.au SURAT BASIN NEWS 12 Mayne Street, Chinchilla Q 4413 PO Box 138, Chinchilla Q 4413 The Surat Basin News is published by Chinchilla Newspapers Pty Ltd, 12 Mayne Street, Chinchilla Q 4413 The Surat Basin News is printed by News Corp Australia.

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3

IN THE NEWS

Looming gas ‘crisis’

LNG giants to produce more gas for Australia

◗ TALK TIME: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg attend a meeting with chief executives of the biggest gas companies in Australia to talk the future of gas supply and electricity reliability at Parliament House in Canberra, on Wednesday.

PHOTO: AAP IMAGE/LUKAS COCH

The Queensland government responded to the looming shortage and said it would facilitate opening up its gas reserves in the Surat Basin, with strict Australia-only sale conditions.

Meanwhile, Arrow Energy is currently working on its $100m+ expansion of compression facilities at their Daandine and Tipton fields, about 30km west of Dalby.

A spokeperson said the project would enable compression facilities to run at their maximum design limits, increasing the availability of gas for sale.

The majority of that gas will go to Arrow’s Braemar 2 Power Station, to generate electricity supply.

A report from the Australian Energy Market Operator found New South Wales and South Australia could face supply risks as early as summer 2018-19, Victoria in 2020-21 and Queensland between 2030-36.

It has been reported Mr Turnbull has also called on state governments to loosen restrictions on onshore gas exploration.

A domestic gas reservation policy is also being considered as

a possible solution.

The three Curtis Island sites have copped pressure from the ACCC and some politicians, calling for more gas to be reserved for domestic use.

“Our worst fears are being realised,” Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims said.

Mr Sims said Australia’s gas shortage was at a “crisis” level and was worse than the ACCC forecast in a market report last year.

It’s feared a nationwide shortage could lead to increased electricity costs and major power outages.

“If I was providing private advice to the LNG producers I would say they would be well advised to support the domestic market as much as they can at this critical time,” Mr Sims said.

APLNG chief executive Warwick King said limited access to gas fields, development restrictions and increased regulation were the reasons behind Australia’s energy crisis.

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THE three CSG/LNG giants active in the Surat Basin will supply more gas to the domestic market after a stern warning from Australia’s Prime Minister.

CEOs from Santos, APLNG and QCLNG met with Malcolm Turnbull to help find a solution to the nation’s looming gas shortage.

Domestic gas supply was one of the key topics during a crisis meeting between Mr Turnbull and gas leaders.

Mr Turbull said the gas producers had agreed to make more gas available to the domestic market “as soon as possible” in a bid to protect their social licence.

Shell Australia, part owner of QCLNG, chairman Andrew Smith said they understood the importance of the export industry needing to ensure Australia’s gas supply was efficient.

Smith said Shell’s project had signed a number of domestic gas contracts recently, including with AGL and Alinta.

He said the project had already reduced LNG export shipments to supply additional gas to the domestic market.

An APLNG spokesperson said APLNG was already one of Australia’s main suppliers of domestic gas and would remain strongly committed to the domestic gas market, with a contracted quantity of over 80 petajoulese per annum out to 2030.

“We have the flexibility to supply either the domestic market or the LNG spot market and bid aggressively for new tenements when they are released,” the spokesperson said.

The Prime Minister fired an opening shot ahead of the recent meeting, saying it was “not acceptable” for Australians to face a gas shortage.

“We are shortly to become the largest exporter of LNG in the world,” Mr Turnbull told reporters at Parliament House, where they met.

“It is not acceptable for Australians, families and businesses to be short on gas.

“We are entitled to expect that our families, our businesses, which employ thousands of Australians, are entitled to access gas and do so securely and affordably.”

The PM and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg urged gas companies to step up production after a report by the energy market regulator predicted a shortage of gas could lead to widespread power shortages as soon as next year.

Market experts, including the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, say Gladstone’s three LNG export sites are partly responsible for the domestic shortage by using more third party gas than expected to fulfill international export contracts.

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4

IN THE NEWS

suratbasin.com.au Thursday, March 23, 2017

◗ OLD BONES: Toby and Mark King looking for fossils at the 2016 World Science Festival Brisbane Chinchilla Regional Event.

PHOTO: MATTHEW NEWTON

World Science Festival

Prehistoric Chinchilla weird and wonderful Audiences will be treated to a unique collection of fossils and mega fauna found around the Chinchilla region, which until now has never left the Queensland Museum IF YOU’VE ever imagined what a prehistoric, giant meat-eating koala crossed with a wombat looks like, head to the World Science Festival when it lands in Chinchilla on March 31 and you might find out.

Audiences are being treated to a collection of unique fossils and mega fauna found in the Chinchilla region, which until now has never left the Queensland Museum.

Led by senior curator of geoscience Scott Hocknull, the Queensland Museum team is bringing five cases of original specimens that have been collected over the past 150 years.

The Prehistoric Chinchilla exhibit is interactive and designed to help visitors understand what it might have been like living in Chinchilla three to four million years ago.

“We’re bringing five cases full of original material, it’s not just a display that people walk around,” Mr Hocknull said.

“You will be able to touch material and touch stuff for real.

“The vast majority of the bones will be real and we will be using 3D technology as well, because some of them are too fragile to handle or they are one of a kind or they are just way too small to see with the human eye.”

Visitors will also learn the painstaking process of sorting, where they will experience looking through fossil site sediments

under a magnifying lamp.

Mr Hocknull, a vertebrate palaeontologist, said prehistoric Chinchilla was home to a wide range of “weird and wonderful species that beggar belief when you actually see them”.

“I can tell you that they are not dinosaurs, it happened well and truly after dinosaurs,” he said.

“Three to four million years ago Chinchilla was a very different place, imagine giant lizards and crocodiles, mega kangaroos and a wombat crossed with a koala eating meat like a lioness.”

Chinchilla’s fossil sites are considered to be scientifically significant among experts in Australia and internationally.

“We’re excited to come out for World Science Festival,” Mr Hocknull said.

“We were there last year and realised that people were really excited to hear about what was in their own backyard, people know about it but no one really ... understands the value of it.”

He said scientists continued to find wonderful animals in the Chinchilla area and that there was “still a lifetime of work to be done”.

“Chinchilla fills a massive gap to our understanding,” Mr Hocknull said.

◗ Dr Scott Hocknull talks fossils at the World Science Festival in 2016.

PHOTO: MATTHEW NEWTON

World Science Festival makes return trip CHINCHILLA is being spoilt for a second year in a row with the World Science Festival set to go off with a bang when it returns to town.

Originating in New York, World Science Festival was held for the first time in Brisbane in 2016.

Chinchilla is one of only four towns the festival visits.

The festival kicks off with a student day on March 31 followed by a community day on April 1, both of which are being held at Chinchilla Cultural Centre.

More than 200 local students will take part in the program while the community day is a free event open to everyone and will run all day from 9am–4pm.

Students will be given the opportunity to interact with artefacts and displays and take part in hands-on science demonstrations.

They will also be able to talk to experts from STEM-related fields and participate in “speed chat a scientist” and wind turbine workshops.

Professor Suzanne Miller, CEO of the Queensland Museum Network, said by bringing World Science Festival to Chinchilla, she hopes the community is excited and engaged by STEM subjects.

“It’s is an opportunity for students to be equally aware of the wonders of scientific discovery and to have access to the top people working in their STEM fields. The festival is full of lots of great fun conversations, so people get really excited about science,” she said.

Thursday, March 23, 2017 suratbasin.com.au

5

IN THE NEWS

◗ DEVELOPMENT: New Hope’s Naomi Tonscheck (far right) helping Cancer Council Queensland deliver the QUEST program at Mt Monica’s Primary School in Oakey.

PHOTO: NEW HOPE

New Hope research to shape investment

Research to help communities New Hope discovers six development themes to help empower communities during large projects like New Acland NEW research identifying the best ways to strengthen social development will be used by mining giant New Hope to build resilience in small communities.

The study, funded by New Hope and run by social planning company Elliott Whiteing, discovered six development themes

to empower communities during massive projects like New Acland.

Senior community advisor Helen Williams said the six themes would shape the company’s investment programs.

“Working with the community to complete this research means we can ensure our investment programs are targeted at what is important to the community, and therefore deliver better outcomes for the area,” Helen said.

“The strength of this research comes from the community’s participation so we’re really grateful to the people who took the time to participate in the survey, and the workshops and

interviews.”

The six themes identified included: ■ Local skill development access ■ Indigenous community and economic programs ■ Community infrastructure ■ Support for local business and entrepreneurship ■ Community health ■ Environmental health Community programs funded by New Hope included Cancer Council Queensland’s QUEST Program in Oakey and the Aussie Hoops initiative at Quinalow State School.

6

IN THE NEWS

suratbasin.com.au Thursday, March 23, 2017

Business After Hours

One white-hot evening at the foundry LOCALS in Dalby have been given a rare glimpse inside White Industries - one of Australia’s oldest and largest privately owned foundries still in operation.

Hosted by Dalby Chamber of Commerce, more than 230 people turned out for White Industries Business After Hours Event on March 1.

Second generation General Manager Craig White, who operates the business alongside brother Neil, said the event was a great opportunity for the public to gain an understanding of what it is the foundry does.

“It was an excellent event, we had great attendance and it was good to see that the town got involved and they are interested in what we do. It was also great to have some of our suppliers there and so many of our customers turn up,” he said.

White Industries was established by Mr White’s father, Bob, as a small jobbing repair shop in 1960 to serve the local farming community and since then has grown significantly.

The fabrication, moulding and smelting business now manufactures components for the mining, rail, engineering heavy transport and automotive industries among others.

Mr White said the company, which has 50 staff, has produced

◗ HOT WORK: The foundry in action at White Industries, Dalby.

components for Mack, Volvo & Leader trucks, and for Austoft cane harvesters as well as Australian and overseas sugar mills.

“People come to us with an idea or product and we take it through from concept to completion.”

“We used to do a lot for Mack Trucks in the early days and we used to do a lot for Haulmark trailers, today we’re doing turbo chargers for Honeywell Transportation - in Australia today there is really only big factories; we started in Dalby but now we go all over the world,” he said.

PHOTOS: MATTHEW NEWTON

◗ Local businessesmen and women received a tour of White Industries' foundry.

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7

DOWN TO BUSINESS

80 years and going strong

Wilkie family gets down to business FOR a family owned business to have not only survived but prospered in 80-plus years of trading - it goes without saying they’re doing something right.

Col Wilkie Body Works, a smash repairs and painting business in Toowoomba, is a force to be reckoned with. The secret to their success, it seems, has always been in the Wilkie family’s ability to stay ahead of the curve.

Fast forward 82 years and a few things have changed. Back in 1935, Ben Wilkie was a one-man band in his workshop until his son Col and wife Gail took over in 1968.

Col’s son, Steve, is the third generation of the Wilkies to take the reins, along with his sister Kerri Crisp, who has stepped in as office manager with Steve’s wife Hannah to make sure the administration side of the business runs seamlessly. The pair have also come on board to help maintain the business’ dedication to professional and exceptional service.

Steve said the business had evolved with changes in technology and advancements in repair methods and paint systems.

“We do smash repairs, all big and small jobs and everything in between,” he said.

“We deal directly with your insurance company to make sure

◗ ON THE JOB: Steve Wilkie, owner of Col Wilkie Body Works and Bert Webster, estimator.

making a claim is stress free and have you back on the road as quickly as possible. A lot of people do not know that you have a choice of repairer – your policy, your choice. We also offer a lifetime warranty on our repairs.”

With around 20 staff on the ground, Col Wilkie Body Works can take on just about any job, even light commercial work.

They offer a courtesy pick up in the Toowoomba region as well as cost effective rates for towing and freighting from Regional areas.

Bert Webster has joined the team to take on the role of estimator. Bert makes regular trips to Western Queensland and Regional areas for quotes and inspections and is available by appointment.

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The team can complete almost any job that comes their way and with the latest products and tools of the trade, the business works hard to be environmentally conscious and to stay green.

Steve said the business employs strict environmental control over its use of materials.

“We only use the best water-based paint now as well as low VOC primers,” he said.

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8

IN THE NEWS

suratbasin.com.au Thursday, March 23, 2017

Helicopter powerline patrols

◗ FIFO SLUMP: A couple of drill workers checking a drilling project for QGC near Chinchilla.

PHOTO: FILE

FIFO worker levels flatline AFTER coming down from a peak of 14,490 workers, the Surat Basin’s FIFO population is predicted to remain steady over the next six years, according to a new government report.

According to the Queensland Government Statistician Office’s latest Surat Basin non-resident population projection report, all three estimates for the next six years show the region’s FIFO worker population remaining between 3,140 and 4,110 persons as the focus of activity for the Coal Seam Gas industry shifts from construction to production and to ensuring continuity of CSG supply to Liquefied Natural Gas plants in Gladstone.

The first projection - built off only existing projects - shows the FIFO population will decrease from its 2016 level of 3,820 to 3,140 workers by 2019, where it will remain for the forseeable future.

The second projection - which includes projects that have not

yet reached their Final Investment Decision (FID) such as the Reedy Creek Wallumbilla Pipeline, the New Acland Coal Mine Stage 3 Project, the Santos GLNG Gas Field Development, Braemar 3 Power Station, Western Surat Gas project, and two major solar projects - shows the region’s population will increase slightly at first.

Numbers of FIFO workers will rise to 3,920 this year, before dropping to 3,290 in 2019 and 2020 and then increasing to 4,110 by 2023.

The third estimate - including workforces for the Coopers Gap Wind Farm and Nathan Dam projects - is very similar to the second.

The Western Downs local government area will account for the bulk of resource industry activity over the next six years, with a minimum of 2,030 FIFO workers throughout that period.

A HELICOPTER is taking to the skies across the Surat Basin to inspect high voltage power lines.

As part of their maintenance program Powerlink conducts aerial patrols of their transmission lines using low flying helicopters.

Patrols are expected to take place until early May and will include inspections throughout Chinchilla, Roma, Kogan, Warra and Yuleba North.

Powerlink chief executive Merryn York said the inspections were essential to Powerlink’s ongiong maintenance program, and completing the work with minimum disruption to local communities was their key focus.

“Our aim is to be as quick and non-disruptive as we can when completing these patrols,” she said.

“We want to minimise any potential disturbance to local residents near Powerlink’s transmissions lines while this essential work is carried out.”

Ms York said Powerlink was aware that low-flying helicopters had the potential to startle livestock but the pilot would endeavour to maintain the maximum distance practically possible from houses, livestock and crops.

She encouraged anyone with questions about the patrols to contact Powerlink for further information.

◗ MAINTENANCE PATROLS: Powerlink will be conducting aerial patrols of powerlines.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

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IN THE NEWS

Thursday, March 23, 2017 suratbasin.com.au

Annual Land Valuation Report

Values decrease across Basin

As land values drop dramatically across the Surat Basin, residents are feeling the pinch from increased rates

A CHINCHILLA resident wants answers from Western Downs Regional Council after receiving his latest half-yearly rates and land valuation notices.

Gordon Hodgson is feeling the sting of the increasing cost of rates while the land value of his property continues to plummet.

His rates have risen from $774.01 in February 2015 to $920.27 in February of this year, an increase of $146.26 in two years.

This year the value of Mr Hodgson’s land has plunged to $95,000 from $180,000 in 2015.

This month landowners across the Maranoa and Western Downs were issued with new land valuations.

According to The Valuer-General 2017 Property Market Movement Report, since the previous annual valuation, across the Maranoa local government area, residential land values have plummeted by 54.6% to 59, 000 on average, while on the Western Downs they’ve dropped by 52.4% to 39, 000.

In the same period, median rural residential land values have depreciated by 9.8% on the Western Downs and increased slightly by 1.7% across the Maranoa.

In both local government areas, commercial and industrial land values have all declined while primary production land values have risen.

Across the Maranoa commercial and industrial land values decreased by 16.2% and 33.3% respectively and by 18% and 20.6% respectively on the Western Downs.

Meanwhile, primary production land values rose by 24.3% and 14.8%.

Mr Hodgson, however, said his biggest gripe was not the decreased value of his land but that the council had reduced services.

“The council is meant to mow the footpath, it’s council property, but for the last three months the next door neighbour has been doing it for me on his ride-on,” he said.

Queensland Valuer General Neil Bray said land valuations are one of many factors which determine rates.

“Rates are set by local governments under the Local Government Act 2009...when they determine their annual budgets,” he said.

The 2016–17 Mayoral Budget Statement released in June 2016 said for the majority of residents, rates would increase by 2.9% on average and the average residential property general rate would increase by $23.68 a year or 46 cents a week.

Between 2016 and 2017, however, Mr Hodgson’s rates have risen from $801.39 to $902.27, an increase of $118.88 or 14.8%.

The council calculates rates using a rate in the dollar amount, which is multiplied by the unimproved value of a property.

In the past five years from 2012–17 the rate in the dollar

◗ HAD ENOUGH: Chinchilla resident Gordon Hodgson is not happy that council rates continue to rise, while land values and services decline.

PHOTO: JULIA BAKER

amount has risen from 0.004495 to 0.00574.

The pay-on-time discount applies to residents who pay their notice early but was halved in the council’s last budget from 10% to 5%.

Mr Hodgson is also eligible for a pension council rates rebate, a set amount that remains unchanged despite fluctuations in rate prices.

At the end of last financial year, WDRC also cut the pension council rates rebate by 5%.

“Two years ago my pension rebate was $209.32, this year it’s $209.96. My rebate has only gone up by 64 cents,” he said.

Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Paul McVeigh said

council had a “rates baseline” it needed to maintain, and also said he was disappointed to hear criticism of the WDRC Parks and Gardens team.

“Land values decrease but the costs for council of maintenance and the upkeep of our communities doesn’t ... we have a rates baseline we need to achieve to provide services.”

Cr McVeigh said while he understood people liked to “keep money in their pockets”, there was a monetary value the council needed to reach to run to budget.

“We want to be as efficient as we can, we are really focused on providing the best of service at the most economical cost to provide services to the community,” Cr McVeigh said.

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PLACES AND FACES

suratbasin.com.au Thursday, March 23, 2017

◗ Geoff Ormiston and Tania Marshall at the Dalby Chamber's Business After Hours event.

BUY PHOTOS

◗ HOT STUFF: Glenn Fryer, Justine Morrison, Craig White, Jason Manteit, Dalby Chamber president Rohan May and Bruce White at the Dalby Chamber's Business After Hours event at White Industries earlier this month.

PHOTOS: MATTHEW NEWTON AND MICK DOYLE

◗ John Hegarty and Cr Kaye Maguire at the Dalby Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours function.

www.suratbasin.com.au/photos/buy

◗ Greg Burton, Dalby Chamber Exceptional Service Award winner for the month of February Brianna Celledoni, mum Catherine Celledoni and Chamber president Rohan May at the Dalby Chamber's Business After Hours.

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PLACES AND FACES

Fourth TSBE golf day teed off in style IT WAS all smiles on the lush greens of the Dalby Golf Club late last month, with the fourth Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise Corporate Golf Day. Businesses from around gathered in Dalby for a day of fun and networking.

◗ Brent Kinnane, Sharon Ross, Geoff Ormiston and Jeff Bradbury at the TSBE Corporate Golf Day.

◗ Ed Thomas, Daniel Daley, and Brendan Goleby at the TSBE Corporate Golf Day in Dalby.

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◗ Carl Spruce (left) and Tyson Jennings can't wait to get out onto the green at the TSBE corporate golf day.

◗ The fourth TSBE corporate golf day event was held on Friday, February 24 at the Dalby Golf Club. Heading out to the green are (from left) Matt Borradale, Jed Bryers, Josh Ballinger and Steve Gillett.

◗ Spending the day at the Dalby Golf Club were (from left) Myke Cavanagh, Chris Anderson, Brett Collinson and Bill Karibalis.

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Thursday, March 23, 2017 suratbasin.com.au

Healthy FIFO & DIDO living

Base Camp in Chinchilla is a leading accommodation village, designed around creating a home away from home for FIFO/DIDO workers.

Catering and accommodation services are essential for mining operations and construction in remote areas.

As studies have shown, a happy workforce is a more productive workforce and mining companies are increasingly recognising that high quality food and accommodation are key to underpinning employee job satisfaction.

Research also indicates that well-being at work is not just about what happens in the workplace.

A resilient and healthy workforce working away from home can be developed by providing an environment with the necessary opportunities for developing and maintaining good mental health: good health, strong personal relationships, feelings of safety, a good standard of living, a sense of achievement and purpose, feeling part of the community and future security.

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Big shift in electorate redistribution

Embracing new technologies

PAT WEIR

CR PAUL MCVEIGH

Mayor, Western Downs Regional Council

WESTERN Downs Regional Council continues to be at the forefront of supporting and utilising emergent technology which helps drive our economy forward.

Which is why we were delighted to host the Australian Senate's Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee Inquiry into the safe use of drone technology in Dalby recently. The one day public hearings heard submissions from 13 of Australia's leading proponents and early adopters of drone technology, including QGC, Telstra and the National Farmer's Federation. The public hearings in the afternoon had a specific focus on the use of drone technology in agriculture.

We have a proud association with drone technology after successfully hosting the Dalby Drone Forum last year and we will continue to play a key role in events such as these, as the Western Downs rapidly becomes the drone capital of Queensland. As a Council, we recognised early on the value of drone technology to our region. Drones could prove to be more important and play a greater role in regional Australia than they do in metropolitan areas.

The fact they can cover huge areas and provide detailed reconnaissance and vision is a wonderful asset to a region the size of Switzerland, like the Western Downs, which covers 38,000 square kilometres.

Drones will play an increasingly important role in the Western Downs in road monitoring and maintenance, severe weather and emergency management as well as disaster recovery. In the two commercial areas which are the lifeblood of our regional economy, mining and agriculture, they also play a critical role.

In hosting the Senate Inquiry recently, we continue to play a critical role as a forward-thinking Council which appreciates the almost unlimited potential of drone technology; not just for the Council, but most importantly our communities and our commercial enterprises which underpins them.

SINCE my last contribution to the Surat Basin News the proposal for the Redistribution of the State’s Electoral Districts has been announced by the Queensland Redistribution Committee. The LNP introduced legislation into the Queensland parliament in 2016 changing the current eighty-nine seats to ninety-three without this change the rural and regional seats would have been even larger than currently proposed. There have been considerable proposed changes to the boundaries of many seats in rural and regional Queensland. One can only imagine the difficulties that would have been experienced by the local members who represent these seats if the number of electorates had remained at eighty-nine. The proposal for the seat of Condamine includes losing the large town of Dalby and the surrounding communities. This is a significant change to the Condamine electorate with Dalby being the largest centre in the western Darling Downs area and a major provider of services to the wider community. The seat is proposed to be pushed north to the communities of Quinalow, Djuan and Crows Nest, and will encompass the areas north of the western rail line including Bowenville, Brymaroo, Goombungee and Meringandan. The Southern boundary with Southern Downs remains the same with the eastern boundary proposed to lose Darling Heights a suburb of Toowoomba where the University of Southern Queensland is located. It is proposed that the neighbouring seat of Warrego will have Dalby within its boundary, whilst the towns of Bell, Miles and Chinchilla will become part of the seat of Callide which will extend from Westwood in the north located not far west of Rockhampton, to Macalister in the south a fifteen minute drive west of Dalby. The boundary shifts will mean big changes in local government entities within each electorate. Submissions with objections or comments to the proposal for the Redistribution of the State’s Electoral Districts need to be finalised by 5pm on Monday, March 27. If you wish to make an objection or comment on the proposal, head to https://boundariesecq.qld.gov.au/

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THE Commission’s goals over the next three years are based on the recommendations from former Land Court member Mr Bob Scott following his independent review of the Commission’s activities since 2013.

The state government has already given strong in-principle support for the review’s major recommendations, which will see the Commission sharpen its focus on providing objective assistance to landholders, regional communities, the onshore gas industry and governments.

Following a recent strategic planning session, the Commission’s vision is to work towards informed and self-reliant communities, based on respectful and balanced relationships between landholders, communities and the onshore gas industry in Queensland. This must now be seen in a state-wide context extending from the remote south-west to the Surat, Bowen and Galilee Basins.

In relation to the resolution of disputes before and after Conduct and Compensation Agreements (CCA) are reached, two important factors emerged from the review.

The government has signalled its intention to introduce an arbitration process to hear and determine disputes between parties entering into a CCA. It will also establish an office of Land Access Ombudsman (also covering coal and minerals) to assist parties deal with disputes over alleged breaches of Conduct and Compensation Agreements. The aim is to give landholders a trusted and independent decision maker, to help resolve matters before they escalate into full blown legal disputes.

In the meantime, the CSG Compliance Unit (CSGCU) will retain jurisdiction over disputes arising between parties negotiating a Conduct and Compensation Agreement until new legislation is introduced.

Other Commission initiatives under way following the review include the enhanced dissemination of health services information and the convening of a health stakeholder reference group.

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Member for Condamine

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OPINION

Thursday, March 23, 2017 suratbasin.com.au

For all editorial enquiries phone 4672 9901 or email editorial@chinchillanews.com.au

18

OPINION

TSBE gets traction at recent Transport and Logistics Symposium

Massive CSG de-watering recognised as unsustainable in GABORA draft plan

suratbasin.com.au Thursday, March 23, 2017

Fair work decision will have a wider impact than hospitality

LEE MC NICHOLL SHANE CHARLES

TSBE Executive Chairman

RECENTLY TSBE hosted the 2017 edition of the Transport and Logistics Symposium.

The reason might be obvious – we are a region that boasts brand new world class infrastructure. We have the Second Range Crossing and Warrego Highway upgrades which will bring enormous productivity benefits to the transport sector, we have the jet capable Wellcamp Airport, and touch wood – shortly we will have Inland Rail.

Inland Rail from Melbourne to Brisbane has been spoken about for decades and yet we still have this ludicrous situation where we cannot get a train through inland Australia. This project does have bi-partisan support and is gathering momentum. However, we really need to see it happen sooner rather than later to truly cement our region as the Inland Port for eastern Australia.

At the conclusion of the summit, local leaders including Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio called for the following: We call on the Federal Government to provide funding for Inland Rail in the 2017/18 budget and forward estimates.

We call on the Queensland Government to prioritise the application for approval to submit an Environmental Impact Statement and thereafter call on government of all levels to proceed with the design and construct of the tunnel/s through the range immediately.

The federal government need to assess and determine the optimal route from Port of Melbourne to the Port of Brisbane but particularly in respect of our region for the route from Kagaru to the Port of Brisbane. The Queensland Government must also preserve and gazette that corridor as a matter of urgency.

The assembled leaders were strongly of the view that as the tunnel/s through the Toowoomba range were the most expensive of the project, to start this section as a matter of priority was a great boost of confidence in the project and meant that future governments could not back out of the project.

The group also recognised the untapped potential and importance of regional Australia and recommended to the government that we all must collectively ensure connectivity of the most productive regions to Inland Rail.

Our region is increasingly being touted both nationally and internationally as the go to region in terms of transport infrastructure and our ability to add more value to agricultural, and other produce. We live in a pretty darn good region. Let’s make the rest of Australian even more envious of what we can do.

Basin Sustainability Alliance Chairman

LAST week The Dept. of Natural Resources and Mines {DNRM} commenced their Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers {GABORA} consultation meetings. To date Basin Sustainability Alliance members have attended five meetings across the Surat Basin.

We are greatly encouraged that to spite the absurd situation where DNRM cannot limit GAB water take by the Petroleum and Gas proponents {the responsibility of DEHP}, sustainability minded planers in the Dept. of Natural Resources and Mines {DNRM} are finally attempting to account for the unsustainable consequences of an annual 60,000 Megalitre plus take over the next 50 years from the Surat and Bowen Basins by the CSG and coal mining corporations. This “unlimited” take will total 3000 Gigalitres or 6 Sydney Harbour volumes.

Commendably the new plan is based on identifying the vertical and horizontal boundaries of associated aquifer groupings and managing them as a Groundwater Unit with sub-units, across their entire extent within the GAB. Of particular relevance to ground water dependent landholders in the GAB’s Surat Sub-Basin is the defining of new Hutton, Springbok-Walloon and Precipice Groundwater Units. Departmental consultants have developed a discharge-recharge water flow model across sub-unit boundaries showing that all groundwater units are currently sustainable except for the Springbok-Walloons and Hutton aquifers within the Surat sub-Basin, where CSG and coal mining is trashing future water security for landholders and towns . The people’s GAB water bank is being recklessly robbed by the resources sector’s “dewatering” of 60,000 Megalitre plus annually.

Consequently the only “new” water available between Roma and Toowoomba for increased intensive agricultural production and associated industries is 840 Megalitres/annum from the deepest GAB aquifer viz the Precipice, a paltry 2% increase. Some 5900 Megs supposedly remaining under the old plan have mysteriously disappeared. An equipped Precipice bore may cost $600K plus, depending on depth. Previously allocated Precipice water has recently been bought by SANTOS for “irrigation” purposes at a record $4K/Meg. These costs will eliminate family farmers right out of the water market.

Santos’s purchase also values the water wasted from the people’s water bank by the CSG companies at $240M/annum for which Queenslanders got a pathetic $35M in royalties in 2015-16.It is clear that future agricultural production cannot “co-exist” with the mining sector where they are in generational competition for increasingly scarce water resources.

DAN MCGAW

ETU South West Queensland State Organiser

THE recent Fair Work decision to cut weekend penalty rates for hospitality and retail workers will have a wider impact than just those working in these industries. While businesses will be rejoicing, these workers rely on penalty rates and it will see the most vulnerable in the workforce suffer. The less money they earn, the less they will spend.

That means other businesses suffer.

People working weekends do so because they need to.

They are students, mums and dads who cannot work Monday-Friday because they are studying or the other parent is working. They aren’t working Saturday night and Sunday because they want to. Is the Chamber of Commerce and TSBE open Saturday and Sunday? Of course not. They are enjoying their weekends.

Commentators say that if they don’t like it then quit. If they do what does that do to our social welfare system?

It is called a penalty rate because they are working

‘‘

The less money they earn, the less they will spend. That means other businesses suffer.

undesirable hours. They give up their weekends so that others can enjoy time with our families and friends.

There is absolutely no evidence that cutting penalty rates will create any jobs, even the Fair Work Commission acknowledged this, it will simply increase company profits.

Do not believe the fallacy spread by the corporate world that this will boost the economy.

Ultimately businesses do not have to pass on the cuts. A happy worker is a productive worker.

Make no mistake. This is a test case for the rest of Australian workers. If they get away with this, eventually it will be rolled out for all industries. Some CSG contractors have already removed all reference of penalty rates by introducing "all up" or "flat rates" with their employees.

While a lot of industries don’t work weekends, all penalty rates are in the sights of big business. If we do not stand up against this attack now, the next generation of Australian workers will not receive any penalty rates.

What will you do for your kids working future?

Living Local in Miles and Chinchilla ground breaking achievements ANN LEAHY

Member for Warrego

HAVING travelled to many parts of Queensland hearing submissions from communities on the Strong Sustainable Resources Bill, I can say that the work and direct engagement occurring in Miles and Chinchilla is ground breaking.

The transitioning of workforces to live local, buy local and think local is something that other communities are crying out for across the State. The partnership between, Local Government, Local Member, Origin Energy and the Chamber of Commerce is making it happen for Miles and Chinchilla.

Significant progress has been made with the meetings that I have been facilitating between Origin Energy, the Western Downs Regional Council and the Miles Chamber of Commerce.

Achievements with the short term stays - the booking system has been adjusted to redirect bookings to local hotels and motels. I am keen to hear feedback from hotels and motels if they are receiving these bookings as it is estimated that more than 100 bookings have been redirected since January 2017.

Seven local apprentices have been recruited and commenced training and Origin Energy staff being approved the Living Local allowances to live locally.

The Condabri and Talinga permanent workforce staff are in the process of transitioning into Chinchilla and Miles. The Condabri camp transition of 80 permanent staff will hopefully be completed by September 2017.

I welcome the announcement that the Talinga Camp will be closed by January 2018 and congratulate Origin Energy on this announcement.

It is hearting to be advised that the housing vacancy rate in Miles is now around 10 percent, however there is more work needed and I will continue to facilitate the direct engagement and seek more good outcomes for all involved in the partnership.

CORRECTING THE RECORD ON CSG COMPLIANCE FUNDING

Recently, there has been some misinformation surrounding the LNP Government’s track record when it comes to funding for coal seam gas (CSG) compliance - specifically that the former LNP Government cut funding to CSG compliance, which is blatantly incorrect.

Budget documents show that in the 2012-13 financial year, in addition to covering a $9 million funding shortfall left by Labor, the former LNP Government provided an additional $3.6 million

in funding for CSG compliance activities.

In the 2013-14 financial year, the former LNP Government provided an additional $11 million for coal seam gas compliance across the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, Department of Energy and Water Supply and the Department of Natural Resources and Mines.

This represents the largest state budget allocation made by any government in Queensland for CSG industry, oversight, supervision, compliance and regulation – something the LNP did in recognition of community concerns about the issue.

In the 2014-15 financial year, the former LNP Government allocated $23.4 million over four years – the first substantial long-term funding commitment by any Queensland Government for ongoing CSG compliance.

The same budget documents reveal that in the 2011-12 financial year, which was the last year of the Bligh Labor Government, no funding was allocated for CSG compliance activities.

Recent reports of the Palaszczuk Government sacking staff at the Gasfields Commission and rumours of the Commission being relocated from Toowoomba to Brisbane is further evidence of Labor Governments lack of commitment to good CSG management and compliance.

19

OPINION

Thursday, March 23, 2017 suratbasin.com.au

Surat gas to go from strength to strength APPEA Queensland Director

RECENT news shows that the gas industry still has plenty to offer the Surat Basin.

The Queensland Government has released new natural gas exploration blocks in the region.

And Senex Energy has confirmed it will fast-track its Western Surat Gas Project in the Maranoa region. APPEA understands that this project will generate up to 100 jobs, of which 80 will be local roles in drilling and construction.

Energy policy has been in the news a lot lately – for all the wrong reasons.

Activist fear campaigns have muddied the waters and spooked some politicians, particularly in the southern states.

Rising electricity and gas prices show that Australia needs more gas.

Producing more gas from Queensland fields is essential for local customers, as well

as the LNG export industry.

The Surat Basin has been one of Australia’s biggest recent economic success stories, and it plays a key role in Queensland’s $70 billion gas industry.

Over the last decade, the Surat has shown that gas operations and agriculture can co-exist for the benefit of both industries, and that together these sectors can drive significant regional development.

Australia has huge undeveloped gas resources – more than enough for domestic and export markets.

Gas users across eastern Australia need new supply to be brought into the market.

The Surat has a key role to play in developing these resources.

Queensland’s newly released exploration blocks and Senex’s Western Surat Gas Project are good news for energy security and for the Surat economy.

For more information on APPEA visit www.APPEA.com.au

Decentralisation gathering momentum DAVID LITTLEPROUD

Federal Member for Maranoa

OVER the past few weeks, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, my other Nationals colleagues and I, have been calling on our regional and rural communities to have their say on our decentralisation policy following moves by the Federal Labor Opposition to scrutinise the relocation of Commonwealth agencies through a Senate Committee.

I welcome the discussion about driving jobs and growth opportunities in the regions and encourage people living in the Surat Basin and Western Downs areas to have their say on the benefits of having closer access and liaison with Commonwealth agencies.

In the midst of continuing discussions about housing affordability in the cities, attracting people to affordable housing in regions brimming with opportunity must be a priority, and I don’t think there’s been a better time to advocate for the decentralisation of Government agencies and services to our part of the world than now.

Last week, our growing agricultural exports for the December Quarter revealed an increase of $1 billion, now up to $11.4 billion from the previous September Quarter.

The Coalition Government has revitalised

its energy policy to ensure energy affordability and security are the primary focus as we look to balancing clean coal-fired energy, our gas supply and renewables, like solar, which tend to do well here on the Western Downs with the plains and ample sunshine.

The Coalition is also investing record amounts into bolstering communications in the bush with our Mobile Phone Blackspot Programme.

I have also been very public in my support for re-visiting zonal taxation as a tax incentive for people to come and live in regional and rural Australia.

There may be an opportunity for this to be complemented by the State Government by having a zonal payroll tax policy to support existing and incentivise new businesses to set up in electorates like Maranoa.

The idea of decentralisation is not new or novel, it exists now.

The Nationals policy is about increasing the mere 14.3% of public sector jobs that exist outside of Canberra and the State capitals to drive social and economic development in our part of the world. I’d love to hear from anyone who’d like to have their say on decentralisation at David.Littleproud.MP@aph.gov.au.

Landholders dealing with CSG DALE STILLER Property Rights Australia Chairman

HOW just a society is, can be seen by how it treats the most vulnerable. This is an old adage that although phrased variously, has held true across different civilisations for thousands of years. It was one forgotten with the unleashing of the CSG industry over a decade ago in the Surat Basin. It is government, who determines the boundaries that large multinational CSG companies can operate within, on the property of the individual and much more vulnerable landowner. These legislative boundaries have improved incrementally, but it appears for every three reluctant tiny steps forward to provide a greater balance of power, there is also a big step backwards. Governments of both major parties have been at fault.

Currently protection for the property owner

and the best use of a land type is provided across a handful of Acts, but between them, and even within, there are gaps. Much depends on the individual skill of the landowner to be aware of what rights they do have; insightfulness of company bluffs and tactics; ability to negotiate; a deep pocket to pay various consultants; tenacity ; and the ability for all the farming family unit to handle stress. Not all landowners have these personal attributes, nor should they be expected to when their primary role is the provision of food for our society.

As it is, those with a larger land area and a farming business with greater cash flow are better able to cope in these circumstances; especially when it comes to amenity of life. If gas infrastructure and access can be kept well away from the farm house, it is more tolerable. Smaller farms and rural residential properties are more vulnerable to concerns about privacy, noise and dust.

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IN THE NEWS PLAC

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suratbasin.com.au Thursday, March 23, 2017

Surat Basin News Published by Chinchilla Newspapers Pty Ltd 12 Mayne Street, Chinchilla, Q 4413 Printed by APN Print Warwick General manager: Erika Brayshaw

Jump! Program leaps into new year

Miles students JUMP! into nursing MILES State High School students can get a jump-start on a career in health as part of a new school-based trainee program.

Students Emma Bidgood, Harriet Brown and Ethan Vagg have signed up to become school based trainees through the new JUMP! Program, completing their Certificate III in Individual Support as part of their Year 11 and 12 studies.

A collaboration between Miles State High School, Miles Health Service, Busy at Work and the Royal College of Healthcare, the JUMP! Program will allow school-based trainees early access to health career pathways.

School-based trainees who maintain a ‘B’ grade average can apply for the Headstart Program at the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba, allowing them to apply for university entry in the course of their choice halfway through Year 12, six months before other applicants.

Miles Health Service Director of Nursing and Facility Manager Aschleigh Perring said he was excited to launch the JUMP! Program which was established after a year of planning.

“The JUMP! Program provides exciting opportunities for our local students while investing in the health sector’s future workforce,” Mr Perring said.

“This is the first year of the program and we were very pleased to offer places to three school-based trainees, who will be doing their work placement component as trainee Assistants in Nursing at Milton House Residential Aged Care Facility,” he said.

“We are now exploring ways to grow the JUMP! Program and provide more opportunities for more students by potentially adding other health service-related streams such as administration, hospitality and food services, and grounds and maintenance.

“Later this year we will seek expressions of interest in next year’s program from Miles State High School Year 10 students who do work experience at the hospital, followed by a process of students applying for a position.”

For more information about the JUMP! Program contact the Head of Department Senior at Miles State High School on 4628 5111 or the Miles Health Service Nursing Unit Manager on 4628 5600.

◗ MILES AHEAD: Dan Vagg (parent), Carol Tribe (Miles State High School), Ethan Vagg (school based trainee), Lynell Bidgood (parent), Aschleigh Perring (Miles Health Service Director of Nursing Facility Manager), Emma Bidgood (school based trainee), Harriet Brown (school based trainee) and Toni Brown (parent).

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

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