TSU April Surat 2016

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A failed experiment Linc Energy goes into voluntary administration, UCG banned across Queensland. Story Page 3.

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Surat Basin INSIDE: Jam packed with all the latest news from across the Surat Basin!

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2

Welcome

suratbasin.com.au Thursday, April 28, 2016

SNAP OF THE MONTH

From the editor

New look Surat Basin News keeps up with the times HELLO everyone and welcome back to another jam-packed edition of the Surat Basin News.

The first thing the more observant among you will notice is the new layout of the paper.

This is because we have moved from our old layout program to a new one - Newsgate.

You may remember the other papers around the Surat Basin (Chinchilla News, The Western Star, etc) moved over the Newsgate several months ago. Well, now we’ve caught up.

While the templates might be a little different to what you’re used, there’s no denying they look good.

So that’s the preliminaries out of the way - down to business!

In this month’s edition we kick off proceedings with the State Government’s blanket ban of Underground Coal Gasification, and their recently passed ‘Chain of Responsibility’ laws which prevent companies from shirking their environmental responsibilities.

You will find the story on page 3.

Towards the back end of the paper we’ve provided a council wrap-up of all the local government elections across the Surat Basin.

There were plenty of upsets around the traps, perhaps the most notable was former mayor Robert Loughnan in Maranoa losing out to Tyson Golder.

Whichever way the votes fell, the electorates have spoken and the next four years will hopefully provide new direction and new ideas right across the basin.

You’ll find the council spread from pages 16-19.

Reliable access to water has always been one, if not the most important issue for people living on the land, so the recent release of the draft Surat Basin Underground Water Impact Report and the forums held across Toowoomba, Roma, Chinchilla, Dalby and Wandoan drew lots of attention.

You’ll find our coverage of the issue, as well as the Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment general manager Randall Cox’s interesting comments on an upcoming DEHP review, on page 10.

Our ‘Life in the Basin’ spread in last month’s edition generated some good feedback, so we’ve decided to make it a permanent feature of the Surat Basin News.

This month we chatted to Dalby’s Eleanor Bellgrove and St George’s Jeff Moon, both very interesting characters. Their profiles are found on pages 6-7.

Until next time,

Matthew Newton

◗ A nice sunset over the Western Downs.

PHOTO: MATTHEW NEWTON

Contents IN THE NEWS

.......................................................................................................P14

TSBE visit to China.................................................................... P4 Oakey Beef Abattoir to expand ................................................ P5 Water Act review mooted .........................................................P10 Council round-up ..................................................................P16-19

RURAL NEWS

DOWN TO BUSINESS

UPT receives NATA accreditation ...........................................P8 Geothermal drilling on display ...............................................P11 BM & MJ Davies Welding .......................................................P12

OPINION

Cattle numbers low

...............................................................................................P20-21

The newspaper

The team

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.

Bern and Matt have vast knowledge and experience with designing and manufacturing all P and op in see welding requirements Bern and ie

GENERAL MANAGER

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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 APN Print Warwick

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IN THE NEWS

Thursday, April 28, 2016 suratbasin.com.au

◗ GONE UNDER: Linc Energy has gone into voluntary administration, just one month after it was committed to stand trial on five charges of wilfully causing serious environmental harm at its Hopeland Underground Coal Gasification trial site.

PHOTO: JIM CAMPBELL

Beattie-era experiment ends in failure

UCG banned in Queensland State Parliament clamps down with new environmental clean-up laws THE Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) experiment in Queensland has failed.

Linc Energy, the operator of a UCG trial site in Hopeland, near Chinchilla, went into voluntary administration on April 15.

Three days later, the State Labor Government announced an immediate ban on UCG in Queensland, with legislation to follow later in the year.

The UCG trials were introduced by the Beattie government, with the Linc site producing its first gas in 1999.

State Development Minister and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham said after looking at

the evidence from pilot UCG trials, the potential risks to Queensland’s environment and valuable agricultural industries far outweighed any economic benefit.

He aimed to introduce to Parliament legislation banning UCG later in the year.

Linc Energy has been committed to stand trial in the District Court on five counts of wilfully and unlawfully causing serious environmental harm at its Hopeland site between 2007 and 2013.

Some have accused the company of appointing administrators as a way of avoiding any potential fines arising out of proven criminal charges.

But in the early hours of the morning of Friday, April 22, after a mammoth sitting, the State Parliament passed Labor’s Chain

of Responsibility laws with bi-partisan support, ensuring companies - whether they are in administration or not - have to pay their own environmental clean-up bills.

“Up until now, our regulators have only dealt with the person or the business which directly holds an environmental authority,” Minister Miles said.

“These new laws create a legal chain of responsibility for environmental harm. The people hiding behind a business which is doing the wrong thing will now be expected to take action.

He said the government had been careful to ensure the “chain of responsibility” did not impact “mum and dad investors, contractors or employees, as well as native title holders or farmers who own the land under resource tenure”.

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IN THE NEWS

suratbasin.com.au Thursday, April 28, 2016

◗ NEW IDEAS: TSBE’s Business Development Manager - China and CEO Dr Ben Lyons visit with Eleme! - one of China’s largest online food ordering platforms.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

China trade mission success TSBE investigating opportunities for growth in country with projected population of 600 million WEEKLY freight flights from Toowoomba’s Wellcamp Airport to Asia are closer than ever, according to Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise CEO Ben Lyons.

Mr Lyons has recently returned from a federal government-led trade mission to China – where he was once stationed himself – and says the local beef and horticultural industry will be "positive over the next few years" as far as China trade opportunities are concerned.

The mission follows a similar one in 2014.

"I was based in China for the last one; this time I saw things from a participant’s perspective," Mr Lyons said.

"Things have progressed now and there are more SME’s (Australian small-to-medium enterprises) than before."

But he warns the wheels do not turn quickly – and it’s easy to mistake the signals.

"It takes a long time to get things going [there]," Mr Lyons said.

"It comes down to selection of a business partner."

Even then, the proposed prospects of trade with a middle-class population estimated to grow to 600 million by 2030 can be easily misconstrued.

"It’s hard to say ‘no’ in Asian cultures – if it’s too good to be true, it isn’t [true]."

Mr Lyons also gave Australian media a serve, saying they often reported on China’s economy with little research, often focusing on economic negatives out of perspective.

"China’s data is relatively solid," Mr Lyons said.

"If the Chinese economy improves by even one per cent, it would be good for Australia.

"It’s evolving from a resources-led economy – services are in vogue now.

"But the level of [Australian] media understanding is low."

Mr Lyons was accompanied by representatives from two Surat Basin horticultural firms and a flour miller – and Wellcamp’s John Wagner.

"We are tying down leads – it’s about keeping momentum.

◗ Visiting a cold chain storage facility in Hangzhou: Could this be the solution to the last mile of home delivery for perishables like chilled beef?

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED.

"And we are getting close to a Cathay Pacific launch date, where weekly flights will begin.

"It’s very exciting to work with them; Cathay Pacific have been excellent.

"The (local) market makes common sense for them."

Mr Lyons said prospects following the Cathay Pacific flights will strongly benefit some local enterprise.

"Locally, if you are growing beef – or any meats, and milk is interesting – and horticulture, things will be positive in the next few years ahead."

CHINESE TAKEAWAY: ■ Surat Basin beef and horticultural opportunities will grow over coming years.

■ Selection of business partner is key to success in overseas markets.

■ China estimated to grow to a population of 600 million by 2030.

■ Even small increases in the Chinese economy mean good things for producers back home.

■ Weekly freight flights ‘closer than ever’ says TSBE’s Ben Lyons.

5

IN THE NEWS

Thursday, April 28, 2016 suratbasin.com.au

Range crossing finally gets underway YET another sod-turning event has been held to herald the start of the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing.

Politicians from both sides of governments at all levels joined the event this month, that was also marked the first bulldozer brought on site.

Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts said the start of the $1.6 billion, 41km project was a great moment, but "if we have any more sod turnings we won't need any bulldozers".

Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester opened the event saying the infrastructure would change lives and save lives as well as reducing congestion on the roads.

Construction will start with vegetation clearing in the 41km bypass corridor, and continue until September.

The first major works will start next month with construction of an 800m long viaduct bridge to the east of Mt Kynoch.

About 1800 jobs are expected to be created during more than two years of construction.

Information sessions have been held across key areas in

‘‘

If we have any more sod turnings we won't need any bulldozers.

◗ FULL STEAM AHEAD: A rail corridor will supply Oakey Beef Exports with cattle direct from the west, thanks to $2.5 million in State Government Funding announced this month.

PHOTO: TOM GILLESPIE

$2.5 million funding for rail upgrade

Oakey Beef abattoir set to expand MONTHS of red tape have finally been cut, with the State Government agreeing to fund a major upgrade of rail facilities through to Western Queensland.

The $2.5 million project will support a massive expansion of Oakey Abattoir through new rail freights hubs in Morven and Mitchell.

At the moment, cattle can only be loaded at Quilpie. Treasurer Curtis Pitt estimated that the deal supported more than 4300 jobs and would deliver about $1.3 billion in economic activity within the region.

Mr Pitt said the announcement would mean a $60 million plant expansion, a doubling of the abattoir’s output.

The project has been halted since October last year over a

dispute about who should pay for the siding upgrades.

Oakey Beef Exports did not want to spend their money upgrading pay to upgrade the state asset.

It is understood some in that elements within the State Government were leery of subsidising a private entity. Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said he wanted the department to start planning immediately and begin upgrades within six months.

“The project will include upgrading two sidings and reopening part of the old Cecil Plains branch line which was closed in 1994; it runs directly adjacent to the Oakey Beef facility,” he said.

Oakey Abattoir general manager Pat Gleeson said he wanted the first train of cattle into Oakey before Christmas.

Toowoomba for residents to find out how the construction will affect them.

Offices and huts have been set up at Hermitage Rd for staff ahead of vegetation clearing and tree removal to begin this month.

Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio is waiting in anticipation for the flow-on effects of the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing to hit the region.

He said the community should be delighted to follow the journey of construction and watch on as it shapes the region.

"Our role now is to make sure we get the bypass built but a fair bit of benefit flows to the community, there's real opportunity for the local people," he said.

"It will be competitive."

Nexus Infrastructure's chief executive officer John Hagan this month reaffirmed the commitment to have 75 per cent of their workforce sourced locally.

The project is expected to be finished by December 2018.

The last sod turning for the Second Range Crossing was held in December, attended by Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss as well as local, state and federal representatives.

◗ DIG IN: Pollies of all persuasions turn another sod to mark the start of the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing.

PHOTO: NEV MADSEN

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6

LIFE IN THE BASIN

suratbasin.com.au Thursday, April 28, 2016

The Surat Basin is full of characters. Do you know someone who deserves to have their story told? Get in touch with us at editorial@chinchilla news.com.au and dob someone in!

People profiles: Eleanor Bellgrove

Eleanor’s at home amongst her horses SOME people are content with one job, while others are only happy when juggling much more.

In Eleanor Bellgrove’s case, five or six vocations is more like it.

“I breed horses, I breed rottweilers, run my interior design business, design my own fabrics, and am troop commander for the 11th Light Horse Jandowae Troop,” the Dalby resident and owner of 16 horses said. “ ... I also hire my house, Rosebank Homestead, out as through Air BnB – and dogs are welcome.”

Ms Bellgrove used to be a school dental therapist until early last year, entailing practising dentistry on school-kids from a train out of Brisbane.

“I left Brisbane as an 18-year-old on an old train to do the work. There wasn’t even air-conditioning,” she said.. “[But] Queensland Health is not for me any more.

“How did I ever do it?”

Interior design is more her style these days, as evidenced in her own home, a lovingly respected 110-year-old Queenslander on two garden-cultivated acres.

“I’m good at [interior design]; I supply window dressings, blinds, curtains, shutters and quality gifts.

“Dalby is home to me now. I wanted good country because I also have a horse stud.

“The Darling Downs has some of the best horse country in the world – second only to Kentucky.”

The equine involvement – and the Light Horse involvement – is no accident, as Ms Bellgrove’s grandfather, Harry Tiddy, was a member of the 2nd Light Horse based our of Enoggera in his time.

Harry went to Gallipoli sans horse, and later became aide-de-camp to then-Queensland Governor, Sir John Goodwin.

And while the 1917 Beersheba Light Brigade charge was the most famous, there’s another piece of WW1 history Dalby and surrounds can be proud of, Ms Bellgrove said.

“The 11th Troop was the only brigade recorded to have mounted a charge in the dark - at Semachk on the shores of the Sea of Galilee in September 1918,” she said.

The 11th Troop recruits from areas including Dalby, Chinchilla, Miles, Wandoan, Kingaroy, Warwick and Stanthorpe.

Ms Bellgrove travelled to Israel – via Gallipoli – in 2007, to participate in the centennial re-enactment of the famous Beersheba charge.

“We re-enacted the charge across the Negev Desert,” she said.

“It was authentic in every way, except we had water – and beer.

◗ KEEPING BUSY: Eleanor Bellgrove has five or six vocations, among them being troop commander for the 11th Light Horse Jandowae Troop.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

“It was a brilliant experience.”

It’s a busy life for Ms Bellgrove, but “I love my job”.

“And here are nice people in happy circumstances.”

But she said the resources downturn had “hit so many businesses” in the Dalby area.

“There’s so much uncertainty; a lot of people have moved away and there are lots of empty houses.

“One good thing is we have a good backbone in farming and rural industries here; we can stand up for ourselves.

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Ms Bellgrove’s daughter Jessica has picked up the family dental trait and is now a dental practitioner in Brisbane, while her son Sam joined the army.

And she is happy as a clam.

“I’ll stay here forever – you won’t get me out of here with a barge-pole.”

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7

LIFE IN THE BASIN

Thursday, April 28, 2016 suratbasin.com.au

◗ WESTERN LIFE: Jeff Moon said when he moved to the Balonne region over 30 years ago, water was the biggest issue - and it still is to this day.

PHOTO: LAURA TELFORD

People profiles: Jeff Moon

Life on the land out west Retired onion farmer Jeff Moon on what drives the Balonne region, and what challenges it faces in the years ahead

Jeff has seen plenty of change in and around St George, but it’s still "pretty".

"There’s been a lot of development – some successful, some not.

"But we all hope mining never comes to our area.

"It used to be mainly sheep here; now there’s cattle. It has changed – and water is the big issue.”

"There has been native land-clearing – now (farmers) can’t do what they want on their own properties. Some people have been put off their land for that.

"But St George will go on for a long time; it’s a lovely little town, with a river running through it."

As for former prime ministers and their vegetable of choice, Jeff would rather see Abbott back in the Canberra hot seat.

"Tony Abbott’s been there and eaten onions on the farm. I feel sad he’s not (PM) anymore – he was better than what we’ve got now."

5942152ac

JEFF Moon knows his onions.

Having farmed them for many years in the St George region he should, and he’s pretty well-known for them.

Even former prime minister Tony Abbott has eaten one of Jeff’s produce. Jeff’s retired now, but his sons David and Andrew still run the 2000-acre operation.

"We’re the only onion farmers around here," Jeff said.

"We supply one of the major supermarkets, and some of the year we’re supplying large parts of Australia."

The Moon family moved from the Lockyer Valley back in 1979.

"We saw a good future in the west. Water was a big issue

then – it still is," Jeff recalls.

The family started out growing native flowers, then moved into melons.

"We were one of the largest growers in Queensland, but because of floods and other things we lost a lot of money – and bad prices didn’t help.

"But now we’re supplying the supermarkets direct."

They’ve expanded into garlic "in a big way now".

The St George/Balonne region of the Surat Basin has not seen the intensity and huge changes the CSG industry has brought to other parts. "There has been no effect at this stage," Jeff said "But mining seems to have more rights than anyone else."

He identifies with the Basin region and its people, but for agriculture, not mining.

"We have fantastic-quality cotton – some of the best in the world," Jeff said.

"It’s a wonderful area for agriculture."

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8

DOWN TO BUSINESS

suratbasin.com.au Thursday, April 28, 2016

UPT now provides NATA accredited pressure calibration, torque calibration, pressure relief valve setting, hose and vessel pressure testing, pipe and pipeline testing.

UPT upgrades NATA accreditation

Pressure testing for Surat Basin

◗ GAUGING INTEREST: Increased NATA accreditation is leading to increased industry interest. Pictured is UPT Calibration Laboratory’s Phil Spann (right) and Paul Ridden.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

THE Surat Basin’s resources sector now has access to enhanced and increased levels of calibration services, with UPT this week announcing its Chinchilla-based laboratory had achieved additional NATA accreditation.

UPT Laboratory Manager Philip Spann said the increased NATA accreditation meant the lab was now able to test all digital and analogue gauges, valves and instruments to a much higher level of pressure and uncertainty. "Basically, the UPT lab now has the capacity to calibrate and test up to 260,000 kPa, which is the highest level of pressure testing available this side of Sydney," Mr Spann said. "This high level of NATA accreditation is a major coup for the Surat Basin resource sector, as it totally eliminates the need for locally-based industries to send their valves, gauges or other pressurised instruments interstate for testing," he said. Mr Spann said UPT had already fielded extensive interest from industry since the calibration laboratory gained its increased levels of NATA accreditation.

"It makes sense, particularly in this current economic climate, where the entire resource sector is heavily focused on reducing operational costs, but also looking closely at ways to increase efficiency gains. "Having a fully NATA accredited calibration laboratory basically on your doorstep is a very attractive proposition for businesses looking to save money on freight, while also reducing calibration turnaround times on their pressure instruments." Mr Spann said in addition to increased take up by the CGS sector, UPT had also seen a higher level of interest from other resource developers, such as the power and coal mining sectors.

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Meet representatives from the Gasfields Commission plus attend the Industry Forum highlighting the massive infrastructure program taking place in the Toowoomba and Surat Basin Regions.

The Expo takes place in Toowoomba, which is the gateway to the Surat Basin and all points west but more importantly it is the gateway to the most amazing infrastructure building program of any area in Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history.

The new international airport on the western side of the city opened in 2015 and the airport business park is filling fast.

With the two billion dollar second range crossing and associated projects now underway plus recent announcements about increased mining and energy activity in the Surat Basin, business activity is at an all-time high. The Surat Basin Expo is perfectly timed for businesses to take advantage of the opportunities across the region by exhibiting and connecting with the thousands of delegates that visit the event each year.

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10

IN THE NEWS

suratbasin.com.au Thursday, April 28, 2016

‘Make good’ review coming this year

◗ BUBBLING ALONG: A bore in Hopeland blowing out gas and water.

PHOTO: MATTHEW NEWTON

Report commissioned by State Government points to industry

Report links CSG and bore blow-outs AN independent report commissioned by the Coal Seam Gas Compliance Unit has for the first time revealed that it is possible for gas from CSG development to compromise water bores, despite there being no decline in a bore’s water level.

The report was prepared by independent hydrologists Klohn Crippen Berger after the Departmentof Natural Resources’ CSGCU received complaints from bore owners about gas in water bores and the impacts it has on the capacity of the bore to supply water.

The report found “free” gas is formed during CSG production, which then migrates from areas of high pressure to low pressure.

“Free gas, particularly methane, in a water bore is more than just a nuisance,” the report stated.

“It directly affects the bore’s capacity to provide water supply for the intended purpose, unless, where possible, remedial actions are taken.”

Under current legislation, water level declines of 5m in consolidated aquifers and 2m in unconsolidated aquifers are enough to trigger a “make good” on an affected bore.

But there is nothing in the legislation requiring mining companies to “make good” on bores where the water levels have remained stable but are too gassy to use.

Basin Sustainability Alliance (BSA) chairman Lee McNicholl welcomed the findings and said the current ambiguity has allowed CSG companies to avoid their moral obligations.

“The report commissioned by the DNRM’s CSGCU concludes that CSG production produces free gas in the Walloon Coal Measures that can migrate approximately 10km ‘up dip’ from the nearest CSG production well,” he said.

“Relevant sections of the Water Act need amending urgently and the BSA calls upon the Queensland Government to act to force recalcitrant CSG companies to do the right thing before free gas compromises many more bores than the 469 affected bores identified under the current Underground Water Impact Report (UWIR).”

Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) Queensland director Chris Lamont said the industry would read the report closely.

“Gassy bores are a natural phenomenon. For more than 100 years, gas has been detected in some bores sunk into Queensland coal seams,” he said.

"The report suggests that further research could be useful.

For its part, the industry is supporting a $550 million bore monitoring and management program which collects the most comprehensive data on water quantity and quality."

THE Department of Environment and Heritage protection will be conducting an operational review of the ‘make good’ arrangements this year.

The current ‘make good’ framework was prepared to deal with the issue of falling water levels as a result of Coal Seam Gas development.

But the legislation has no scope to deal with bores rendered too gassy to use, something Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment general manager Randall Cox described as “an emerging issue” at a recent meeting in Chinchilla.

Speaking to a room full of concerned landholders who had come to learn more about the release of the 2016 Surat Basin Underground Water Impact Report (UWIR), Mr Cox said it was becoming clear that gas could migrate.

“We can have areas where there isn’t a reduction in water level locally but gas has been able to be released and to migrate into places where it’s causing problems for water supply,” Mr Cox said.

“I know that EHP are planning an operational review of the make good framework and that could lead to changes.”

There have been several incidents involving bores blowing out gas and water across the Hopeland area in recent years.

“The Hopelands area does seem to be an area where there is a problem in this regard. I think that seems to be the area where most of the issues are when it comes to gas in bores,” Mr Cox said.

About 500 Surat Basin landholders attending public consultation meetings on the UWIR this month in Chinchilla, Dalby, Wandoan, Roma and Toowoomba.

OGIA is an independent entity housed within the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, responsible for assessing potential future cumulative impacts of CSG on groundwater.

CSG project leader Daniel Phipps said it was important for landholders to have their say on the UWIR and to understand the modelling process and the predicted impacts from CSG across the region.

“The UWIR predicts the immediate and long term impacts of the CSG industry on aquifers and water users across the Surat Basin Cumulative Management Area,” Mr Phipps said.

“The model is predicting impacts to 100 bores in the immediately affected area and 469 bores in the long term affected area as a result of CSG activities.”

BSA chairman Lee McNicholl said the 500-plus turnout, “clearly underscores the ongoing vital interest and concerns that residents have about the impact of CSG sector’s statutory right to take unlimited volumes of ‘associated water’ from Great Artesian Basin aquifers on their bore supplies”.

“Modelling accurately the impact of an unknown final number of CSG wells out to the year 2070 across the SCMA, which is roughly the size of Victoria, is a monumentally ambitious endeavour relying on some ‘heroic’ assumptions,” Mr McNicholl said.

◗ ROADSHOW: Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment general manager Randall Cox at this month's Underground Water Impact Report seminar in Chinchilla.

PHOTO: MATTHEW NEWTON

Thursday, April 28, 2016 suratbasin.com.au

11

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Geothermal bores to help bring down electricity consumption

Australian first drilling tech hits Toowoomba DRILLING experts from across the world gathered in Toowoomba recently to demonstrate an Australian first in drilling technology.

Roc-Drill managing director Nigel de Veth started a specialist drilling company called Geothermal Industries and yesterday workers drilled five 100m geothermal bore holes at the future site of the company’s commercial office on Rielly St, Torrington.

Mr de Veth said the bore holes were drilled with drilling methods from Sweden they implemented in Australia to make installing a geothermal system more affordable.

A geothermal system uses the constant and stable temperature in the ground to provide efficient heating and cooling of a building.

The system has been designed by leading provider of heating, cooling and hot water systems GeoExchange Australia.

Mr de Veth said the partnership between the two companies brought a new dimension to the drilling processes.

“This new system allows us to decrease electricity consumption by 70 per cent in winter and 50 per cent in summer,” he said.

Sydney-based GeoExchange Australia managing director Yale Carden was in Toowoomba yesterday.

“It’s the sort of technology that will work very well up here in Toowoomba. We also found, in other areas of regional Australia, a lot of local jobs (created) with these kinds of projects.”

Mr Carden was joined by GeoExchange project manager Clint Patzack who travelled from Canada to help with the instalment and management of the site.

Swedish expert Kjell Karlsson from Geoborr Geo Energy International was also in town.

◗ EXCITING WORKS: GeoExchange Australia managing director Yale Carden (left) and Geothermal Industries managing director Nigel de Veth.

PHOTO: CHARLOTTE LAM

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12

DOWN TO BUSINESS

suratbasin.com.au Thursday, April 28, 2016

Welding business going strong

Father and son team focus on quality THE local economy may have flattened out a bit since the end of the mining boom – but at BM and MJ Davies Welding in Chinchilla’s North Street, nobody seems to have noticed.

“We’ve been very busy since last November – flat out in fact,” business owner Bern Davies said. Maybe that has something to do with the quality and diversity of work the business puts out, the way customers come back again and again.

“We do a wide range of work,” Bern said.

“Customers want something unique – there’s always somebody wanting something different.

“We build anything the way they want it.”

And what they want is everything from service skids, machinery repairs, trailers and trays.

“We’ve just finished a cotton bail gatherer,” Bern said.

“We do aluminium canopies, mobile fuel tanks, mobile service units – and ute trays are a big part of our work.”

The farmer-turned welder worked for his brother’s company for mre than 25 years, so he knows a thing or two about his craft, and the customers who need it. BM and MJ Davies Welding is a small family business run by Bern, with his son Matt and an apprentice – and the work quality speaks for itself.

Visit www.facebook.com/cookyswelding/ for more details.

◗ WORKING HARD: Bern and Matt Davies have kept busy since the end of the boom.

PHOTO: MATTHEW NEWTON

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IN THE NEWS

Thursday, April 28, 2016 suratbasin.com.au

New airport under construction

Charleville airport work finally begins THE new airport for Charleville is finally officially under construction.

Announced in May last year, the two and a half million dollar upgrade has taken nearly a year to begin.

The tender was finally accepted in January, after being incorrectly accepted in August last year. The winning bidder for a redesign of the terminal had to reapply after misquoting $84,000 for a job they later realised would cost $120,000, due to some unexpected costs. The bids were reopened, and they still won. Then-mayor Denis Cook said the council was more interested in the quality of the hanger, rather than the cost.

Council will receive several million in Royalties for the Regions funding for the project, the first major upgrade since the Americans left. A key reason for the upgrade is improving security in line with regulatory requirements.

The contractor landed at the old airport on Monday. Council CEO Neil Polglase has been pretty keen to delay the construction in order to avoid spending $200,000 on a new water line and pump.

Under old regulations, expected to be changed in July, the building would be considered an illegal fire hazard. But under new legislation due to be adopted by July, the existing water main will do.

◗ LIFTOFF: Reconstruction of the secondary Charleville airport runway in 2014.

PHOTO: ALI KUCHEL

Origin identifies possible source of bubbling in the Condamine ORIGIN believe they have identified a possible source of the bubbling in the Condamine River.

Now the gas company, on behalf of industry, is taking steps to manage the Condamine River seeps as part of its commitment to ongoing research and monitoring.

Further investigation has been undertaken into several possible geological mechanisms and pathways which may explain the phenomenon, as recommended by Norwest’s independent technical report about the seeps released in 2014.

This work, along with recent detailed seismic studies, has identified some underground areas near the seeps that have the potential to accumulate and trap small pockets of natural gas.

This unique geology formed tens-of-millions of years ago and including some natural geological faults appears to create a potential pathway towards the surface underneath the river.

Origin Chief Executive Officer, Integrated Gas, David Baldwin said there were several scenarios that could be contributing to the seeps including the underlying geology, natural events such as drought and flood cycles and human activity which includes water bores and CSG operations.

"While evidence of shallow gas in the area is well known and the nearest gas wells are several kilometres away, we are starting to see more bubbles than there used to be,” he said.

"We have always been interested in better understanding the seeps – not just studying them, but also doing something about it," Mr Baldwin said.

"We have identified a possible way to reduce the seeps and we are pursuing that.

“As a minimum, we will learn more about what is occurring which will shape our future activity," Mr Baldwin said.

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Informed by the research, Origin will shortly commence work to drill up to three wells near the main seep location.

The wells will target the specific shallow geological areas where gas may be trapped. If successful, they will intercept some of this trapped gas, to mitigate and reduce the amount flowing towards the river. Origin reaffirmed that the seeps pose no risk to the environment, or public safety providing people show common sense and act responsibly around them.

"We are concerned by the actions of some local activists and green campaigners deliberately lighting up the seeps in the river to gain attention for their anti-gas views. This is neither safe nor responsible behaviour," Mr Baldwin said.

Consultation commenced with neighbouring landowners along the river last week. Drilling work will commence in mid May.

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RURAL NEWS

suratbasin.com.au Thursday, April 28, 2016

Cattle numbers hit low point

Smallest herds in 20 years

◗ SKIN AND BONE: Cattle from a western Queensland property came in visibly underweight after a tough life in drought conditions.

PHOTO: ALASDAIR YOUNG

THE Surat Basin has lost more cattle than anywhere in the state due to drought, and it is showing in the Dalby Saleyards.

The condition of some of the cattle from western Queensland has dropped as herds drop to their lowest numbers in 20 years.

Between the 2013 and 2015 the stretch between Brisbane and the western Queensland border lost more than a third of its cattle. Managing Director for GDL, Peter Daniel, said the record sales of late had been driven by the supply drop brought about by drought.

“The last three years we’ve been selling record numbers. Now there’s a shortage in supply, driving the market upwards, but with the rising Australian dollar that market is coming back,” he said.

“This is probably the lowest point (in numbers); now we’ll see the start of restocking.” In south-west Queensland numbers dropped from 794,927 to 551,757, while insouth-east Queensland numbers dropped from 564,708 to 354,741 between 2013 and 2015. Despite the pain felt in the Queensland heartland, the numbers have been steady at the saleyards, fluctuating between 4500 an 7000 throughout the drought period. This week there were 4033 head of cattle in the saleyard, though numbers dipped to 2500 last week.

The Meat and Livestock Association is expecting cattle supply to fall to record lows for the next two years,stimulating strong competition between restockers and feedlots.

The national herd is set to fall to 25.9 million head by 2017 – the lowest since 1993.

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RURAL NEWS

Thursday, April 28, 2016 suratbasin.com.au

Vegetation laws ‘worst ever’

◗ COTTON CROP: Dalby contractor and farmer Steve McVeigh will harvest 1600 hectares of cotton this season. PHOTO: ALASDAIR YOUNG

Tech puts farmers ahead pickers (staff) are on the market, meaning contract prices have fallen. But our big focus has always been our own crop.”

Since the first cotton crops were grown on the Downs in the 1980s, yields have risen from around six bales per hectare to 14, most of which are fed into Chinese stockpiles and redistributed to factories worldwide.

His 550-hectare cotton crop at Nandi has been picked, and pcking the remaining cotton from the properties he tends at Warra and Bowenville will take Steve and his brothers-in-law until May. Once this has been completed, he will need to decide whether to invest in the potentially volatile but profitable chickpea crops, or stick with cotton.

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STANDING in the midst of a crop which would have stunned the cotton-growers of the 1980s, Steve McVeigh is part of the privileged minority driving the agricultural revolution.

At no point in history has there been a more efficient way of harvesting cotton – Mr McVeigh uses a 7760, which corrals the cotton buds into a fast-moving spindle and bales them while on the move.

In 2009, he was among the first in Australia to own one of these pickers, cutting the number of workers required per machine from six to two.

“It’s absolutely amazing how it’s changed the industry,” he said.

“It makes it so much easier to contract, which means more

LANDHOLDERS in South West Queensland are urged to join with rural industry groups and Warrego MP Ann Leahy in the fight against Labor’s worst ever, anti-agriculture vegetation management reforms.

Ms Leahy said the petition, in response to the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s Vegetation Management (Reinstatement) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill, was an opportunity for all South West landholders and the wider community to register their protest to Labor’s plans.

"The Palaszczuk Labor Government’s rollback of the LNPs workable and practical vegetation management framework will remove property rights, reduce the productivity of the agricultural sector and threaten jobs in our region," she said.

Ms Leahy said Labor’s proposed amendments were more extensive and aggressive than simply overturning the LNP’s 2013 changes. "The Palaszczuk Labor Government plans to completely repeal the important High Value Agriculture and High Value Irrigated Agriculture pathways to development, threatening to bring South West agriculture sector and future economic growth to a screaming halt," she said.

"Freehold and indigenous freehold landowners will be stripped of their rights to manage regrowth vegetation and restrictions on vegetation management near watercourses will extend even further than ever before.

"Landholders will also be considered guilty until proven innocent with the re-instatement of the reversal of the onus of proof and ‘mistake of fact’ will no longer be considered a defence for alleged offences involving vegetation management activities." Ms Leahy said AgForce Queensland General President Grant Maudlsey had agreed to be the principal petitioner and other rural industry groups had worked with the LNP and AgForce to develop the petition.

16

IN THE NEWS

suratbasin.com.au Thursday, April 28, 2016

◗ Councillors Carolyn Tillman, Kaye Maguire, Ian Rasmussen, Peter Saxelby, CEO Ross Musgrove, Mayor Paul McVeigh, Cr Ray Brown, Cr Greg Olm, Cr Andrew Smith and Cr Donna Ashurst at their swearing in ceremony.

PHOTO: ALASDAIR YOUNG

Local Government Elections 2016

Electorate votes for change Western Downs voters decided to shake-up the council team at the recent election, with four new faces around the board room table

TOOWOOMBA

◗ STEPPING UP: Western Downs Regional Council mayor Paul McVeigh congratulates newly elected deputy mayor Andrew Smith on the job.

PHOTO: WESTERN DOWNS REGIONAL COUNCIL

three-and-a-half weeks and spanned the entire Western Downs, had been the best time of his life.

“I’m pretty excited about the margins we do have. It’s been

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PAUL McVeigh is the new mayor of the Western Downs.

He takes the reins from outgoing mayor Ray Brown, who ran and was elected councillor during the March elections.

Councillor McVeigh’s election as mayor sees his competition former councillors Ray Jamieson, Charlene Hall and George Moore - given time to pursue other ventures over the next four years.

Cr McVeigh received nearly double the votes of his nearest contender, Charlene Hall.

Former deputy mayor George Moore said he was happy with what he had achieved and wished the new council well, adding he was confident the community would be well-served under Paul’s leadership.

Mr McVeigh said the campaign, which officially lasted for

quite surprising – I thought it would be a bit closer. I’m both humbled and excited by the opportunity,” he said.

He dismissed campaign rhetoric critiquing his inexperience in government.

“I do have experience. I think that was just a way to beat the drum about a new candidate standing for election,” he said.

Leaving the management of his farm to the family, Mr McVeigh is now focused on the issues facing the council: a shifting focus from construction to production, and western communities crying out for engagement.

Mr McVeigh was sworn in, along with the Councillors Kaye Maguire, Peter Saxelby, Donna Ashurst, Greg Olm, Ray Brown, Ian Rasmussen, Carolyn Tillman and and Andrew Smith at a ceremony on April 5.

Andrew Smith was unanimously voted deputy mayor at Council’s post-election meeting.

He was congratulated by Cr McVeigh.

“With a strong passion for supporting our small communities, and residing in Condamine Cr Andrew Smith will be a strong advocate for our communities in the west,” Cr McVeigh said.

Thursday, April 28, 2016 suratbasin.com.au

17

IN THE NEWS

Local Government Elections 2016

Underdog Golder unseats Loughnan TYSON Golder has been confirmed as the new mayor of the Maranoa Region, defeating incumbent mayor Robert Loughnan 3,698 votes to 2,670.

As well as a new mayor, four new councillors have been sworn in, with Robyn Bryant, Geoff McMullan, Janelle Stanford and Puddy Chandler winning seats.

They will join incumbent councillors Jan Chambers, David Schefe, Peter Flynn and Cameron O’Neil, who were successful in re-election. Wendy Newman, who was locked in a tight battle with candidate Geoff McMullen during the counting, was unsuccessful in being re-elected, holding 2002 votes to McMullen’s 2153. When Mr Golder was asked about his decision to run for Mayor despite no local government experience, he said there were things he needed to accomplish that he could only do in the top job. "It’s the second time running for mayor [but] really going back to local council went back to the very first election in 2008," he said.

"I wanted to influence things to find out whether the new council would consider keeping it local.

"In that election I stood as a candidate as a councillor but I realise I needed to stand as mayor to make that influence."

◗ UNDERDOG: New Maranoa mayor Tyson Golder sat down in the chair for the first time.

Returning councillor Jan Chambers, now deputy mayor, has the most to smile about, winning the most votes out of any councillor. At 7.9% of the vote as of yesterday, Mrs Chambers said she was very happy "that the community has given me the support for the next four years".

PHOTO: TOM GILLESPIE

The Mungallala-based councillor said she wanted flood mitigation for Roma, as well as Mitchell to be a key priority of her next term. Although she was looking forward to working with the new team, she was not a supporter of Tyson Golder’s proposal to change the structure of council.

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IN THE NEWS

suratbasin.com.au Thursday, April 28, 2016

Local Government Elections 2016

New faces at Murweh council table

◗ NEW FACES: The new Murweh Shire council (from back) deputy mayor Red Alexander, councillors Robert Eckel, Lyn Capewell and Zorro Radnedge, mayor Annie Liston and CEO Neil Polglase.

PHOTO: ANDREW MESSENGER

THE Murweh Shire has a new look, with Annie Liston replacing former shire mayor Denis Cook, ending Cr Cook’s quarter of a century in local government.

Red Alexander is the shire’s new deputy mayor, and two new faces have been officially sworn in as new councillors: Lyn Capewell and Zorro Radnedge.

Red, a bookie with a second job at the court house, was unanimously elected to the penultimate job, as the first official business of council got under way earlier this month.

New councillor Radnedge said he was "like a kid in a candy store".

The new shire quickly began to grapple with its key weakness: zero representation from Morven, Augathella or the grazier communities.

Red was quick to propose a solution: holding two council meetings a year in the outlying towns.

Council also mulled over the idea of holding informal consultations from 4pm on council days, splitting representatives to both small towns.

But council meetings will still be on the second Thursday of every month during working hours in the puny offices on Alfred St. CEO Neil Polglase said they had tried holding occasional meetings in other towns, without success and at great expense.

"By the fourth meeting nobody would show up," he said. But, he implied, a rarer meeting would be more likely to attract interest, so long as it was communicated properly, in advance.

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Thursday, April 28, 2016 suratbasin.com.au

IN THE NEWS

19

Local Government Elections 2016

Marsh looks to an exciting future AFTER serving as deputy mayor in the last council, Richard Marsh has stepped up to the top job as the new Balonne Shire Mayor.

He replaces outgoing former mayor Donna Stewart, who did not recontest her position.

Cr Marsh defeated his nearest rival, Richard Lomman, by a mere 36 votes, 707 to 671.

Candidate Rod Avery came in third with 571 votes, and fourth-placed Ian Hannah accrued 394.

Of his victory, Cr Marsh said “it was a relief to finally find out the results” as it could have gone either way.

But his mind quickly turned ot the future and the next step forward for the Balonne Shire.

“The community put the new council together and we are all here for the same purpose, which is to progress the shire,” he said.

“Obviously there will be robust discussions when council are sitting but that is how democracy works.

“There were a number of projects in the pipeline from the old council and when we sit as a new group we will decide what to continue with and what to get rid of.”

Fiona Gaske was voted deputy mayor.

◗ NEW IDEAS: New mayor of the Balonne Shire Richard Marsh.

One of three women making up the council team, it will be her job to assist mayor Marsh and provide leadership to the rest of the council.

Fiona recognised that although she is deputy mayor, she is first and foremost a councillor for the community.

“I believe it is very much a support based role but also being a liaison, forming and maintaining that link between council and the leadership team, and assisting in the link between council and the community.”

Fiona said she put her name forward for deputy mayor

PHOTO: LAURA TELFORD

“because when I first came onto council I was lucky to have the knowledge and guidance of experienced councillors and I wanted to be able to offer the same support”.

On the issue of representation for all communities in the Shire, Fiona said “It is a whole of council responsibility. We acknowledge that Bollon and Dirranbandi have formal representation but I will do my utmost to make sure they are fully represented.”

Other elected councillors include Samantha O’Toole, Scott Scriven, Robyn Fuhrmeister, Ian Todd, and Robbie Paul.

20

OPINION

suratbasin.com.au Thursday, April 28, 2016

Vegetation management ANN LEAHY

Member for Warrego

Of great concern has been the introduction of the State Labor Governments draconian Vegetation Management Legislation.

In summary the Legislation

■ Removes the right of landowners to manage regrowth vegetation on freehold and indigenous freehold land.

■ Removes High Value and High Value Irrigated agriculture provisions.

■ Extends Category R vegetation restrictions adjacent to watercourses that are currently in place for the Mackay/Whitsunday, Burdekin and Wet Tropics catchments – into Eastern Cape York Peninsula, Fitzroy and Burnett/Mary catchments, impacting thousands of rural landholders for the first time, impacting a huge area of Queensland placed under new regulations.

■ Reinstates the reversal of the onus of proof – meaning farmers will again be considered guilty until proven innocent – and removing ‘mistake of fact’ as a defence for alleged offences involving vegetation management activities. Criminals in

Renewables and natural gas: perfect partners

Queensland will again have more rights than landholders.

There is a Parliamentary Committee currently reviewing the legislation. If you would like to be kept informed about the Committee’s inquiry into this legislation, you can subscribe to receive the committee’s email updates by sending an email to aec@parliament.qld.gov.au with ‘subscribe’ in the subject line.

Details of the Committee submissions, departmental briefings and transcripts can be found at http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-committees/ committees/AEC/inquiries/current-inquiries/11-Vegetation Mangt

Gasfields Commission under Review

The State Government has announced a formal review into the Gasfields Commission.

The GasFields Commission is an independent statutory body established to manage and improve sustainable coexistence between rural landholders, regional communities and the onshore gas industry. The commission was formally established in July 2013, at a time of rapid development of the coal seam gas to liquefied natural gas (CSG-LNG) industry. The terms of reference of the review can be found at http://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/industry-development /gasfields-commission-review.html.

400 million reasons to promote innovation in agriculture

CHRIS LAMONT

Scrapping Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal a win for agriculture

I welcome the decision by the Federal Turnbull Coalition government to scrap the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) as it is a win for agriculture, regional Queensland and common sense. Established by Federal Gillard Labor government in 2012, the RSRT has been making life very difficult for small, family-run trucking operations with its ridiculous rulings on pay rates for owner-drivers.

The pay rulings appeared to be more about boosting union membership and union income than road safety.

They threatened to destroy the owner-drivers who are the backbone of regional transport and getting livestock and farm produce from farmgate to processing and market.

The safety of trucks on our roads and highways needs to be left in the hands of our State transport and police departments and the national Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

I look forward to the Turnbull Coalition Government introduction of legislation to repeal RSRT. It is important to be aware that two independent studies have recommended RSRT be dismantled.

New councils to lead the Surat Basin community JOHN COTTER Chairman of GasFields Commission Queensland

APPEA Director

The debate on energy policy all too often promotes absolutism in an attempt to settle on a single source of power generation.

The potential to embrace renewables in a meaningful way on the east coast of Australia just 10 years ago was far less feasible given technology constraints and underlying concerns regarding gas shortages.

The shortage of gas was such a concern, there were plans to pipe it from Papua New Guinea.

Today, thanks to world leading expertise, Queensland is an exporter of natural gas.

The plan for a pipeline from PNG has been shred and the state has a $65 billion export Liquefied Natural Gas industry.

However, the largely unspoken potential benefit of Queensland’s natural gas industry is the possibility to drive further growth in what’s often considered a competitor; renewables.

Despite promising advancements in renewables, reliability remains an issue, however, this need not limit their potential.

Additional power generation to meet load balancing requirements of renewables can come from Australia’s reserves of natural gas noting that Australia has the largest natural gas reserves in the Asia-Pacific region.

Natural gas turbines can be easily ramped up to meet demand.

This makes gas an excellent natural counterpart for variable energy resources such as wind and solar.

A mix of renewables and natural gas in the United States is not only contributing to a decarbonised supply of power, but has advanced the growth of renewables.

As the Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis reports, "increasing renewable energy integration more generally necessitates flexible resources, such as generation from fast response natural gas turbines".

The US and European experience clearly establishes that the two are not only necessary but are highly effective in forging a lower carbon future.

It is time for Australia to see renewables and natural gas as partners, not rivals.

BEN LYONS TSBE CEO

For TSBE, the 2016 year is now well underway. Our Surat Basin Supply Chain team have just returned from the global LNG Conference, LNG18, held in Perth this year. We have had two very successful Enterprise Evenings focused on the Surat Basin resource sector and the QGC Project Charlie.

This month, I would like to focus on TSBE’s Food Leaders Australia (FLA) initiative and an exciting project we have coming up.

In May, FLA will host the inaugural 400m AgInnovate Investment Forum focused on bringing together Australasia’s key players in AgTech for the very first time to lead a multi-nation conversation about the growing appetite for investment in Asian AgTech.

Why is AgTech so important to ours and our Asian neighbour’s agricultural future?

The last 30 years have seen the Australian farm sector have the second highest productivity growth in Australia.

Innovation in the farm sector has been the key to this success, yet Australian innovators have struggled to bring these innovations to market.

These farming solutions can offer farmers throughout Asia the ability to increase their production and meet food demand in the world’s fastest growing nations.

Keeping this in mind, why have we gone with 400m?

How could Australia better utilise Australia’s 400 million hectares of arable land?

How will the world feed a growing middle class in China of 400+ million?

What difference could $400 million of investment have for AgTech in the Asia Pacific?

In a major coup for the region, co-founder and COO of leading agriculture-focused online investment platform AgFunder, Michael Dean, will be a keynote speaker at the event, with AgFunder supporting the event as media partner.

Supported by USQ, the 400m Forum will be held at the Toowoomba City Library on Wednesday, 18 May. Head to www.400mForum.com.au for more information and booking details.

For the very latest in the lead up to the event follow FLA on Twitter @FoodLeadersAus and keep an eye out for #400mAg.

Congratulations to the newly elected mayors and councillors who will be representing our local communities across the Surat Basin over the next four years.

Toowoomba Region, Western Downs and Maranoa have been at the centre of Queensland’s expanding food and energy industries including the development of the coal seam gas (CSG) industry – the largest scale industrial development ever to be undertaken in this State.

I want to personally acknowledge the efforts of Rob Loughnan, Ray Brown and Paul Antonio for their leadership and commitment in guiding their communities through those challenging times of construction of the CSG industry.

There were a multitude of issues they and their Councils sought to deal with, from the influx of thousands of temporary workers, to traffic management, a struggling road network, outdated water, waste, sewage and other vital community infrastructure, to skyrocketing rents and cost of living for local residents.

These Councils took a proactive approach in their engagement with the onshore gas companies and looked for solutions rather than just simply focusing on the problems.

They have created many long term opportunities for their communities including upgraded road networks and local infrastructure that now benefit the community for years to come. The upgraded Warrego Highway and Toowoomba Second Range Bypass, the new Brisbane West Wellcamp airport and new sewerage and water treatment facilities across the region and are just some examples of major infrastructure made possible due to the CSG industry and forward thinking local government leaders.

These mayors also effectively leveraged the GasFields Commission supporting our Gasfields Community Leaders Council Meetings which put gas industry CEOs around the same table as community and landholder representatives to improve communication, understanding and trust to work through some of these difficult issues.

The responsibility for leading our Surat Basin communities has now been handed to newly elected councils. While the CSG industry has now largely transitioned from construction to the long term production phase, we will see further significant gas field development and an ongoing operations and maintenance activity over the decades to come. That ongoing gas industry investment estimated at over $1billion per annum across the Surat Basin, will bring further challenges and opportunities for the region.

The GasFields Commission stands ready to assist and support these new Councillors and we wish them every success.

Trainees and apprentices DAN MCGAW

ETU South West Queensland State Organiser

IN THIS piece I would like to focus on the training of apprentices and trainees, or lack thereof in the Darling Downs and Surat Basin. The construction boom is done in the Surat Basin and most of the companies who conducted business on the gas have failed the community and the young people of the area.

There has been nowhere near enough apprentices/trainees have been trained in the last 6 years. There are calls to bring in 457 VISA workers as there is a "skills shortage" and I guarantee you that the same companies who refused to train apprentices and trainees will be the same companies who apply to bring in foreign workers. There should never be a need to bring in foreign workers if we train the next generation of Aussie kids.

Unfortunately the reality is since the Abbott/Turnbull Government was elected in September 2013, there are 120000 fewer trainees and apprentices in Australia.

This is due to the relaxation of the 457 VISA requirements and the reckless slashing of funding to training organisations and TAFE’s.

We need to provide our next generation of workers another pathway into the workforce other than universities. Employers need to recognise the importance of training apprentices/trainees and step up to the plate. Governments need to provide incentives and invest into training, otherwise once the current generation of tradespeople retire, there will be no Aussies left in the blue collar jobs.

◗ Dan McGaw wants to see companies training more apprentices locally.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

21

OPINION

Thursday, April 28, 2016 suratbasin.com.au

Lawfare a real risk to this resources rich region GREG LANE

Queensland Resources Council Acting Chief Executive

A MERE whispered rumour of Adani’s mining lease approval had activist groups sharpening the social media knives and planning protests. So within minutes of the Premier touching down in Mackay to confirm the approvals, the modern day donation plates were hitting thousands of inboxes.

‘Click here to make an urgent donation’ ‘Can you donate now so we can fight against Adani’s mining lease in court?’ begged green activist organisations.

And that should strike fear in the hearts and minds of those in the Surat Basin.

You see, this is not solely an Adani problem, nor just a Galilee Basin problem. Until deficiencies in the approval processes are addressed, all job-creating resources projects are open to unreasonable delay. The key word here is unreasonable. To be clear, a landholder with a genuine concern for the direct impact on their property should have the means to voice that. However, there are groups – mainly inner-city dwellers - abusing the system simply to cripple one of Queensland’s largest export industries. And we need to draw a line in the sand.

The Surat is a rich resources province whose prosperity is innately tied to the vast energy capital that lies beneath.

Opportunity in the region should be rife, instead I fear investor confidence in Queensland at-large, is wavering.

Last month, the land court ruled that awarding costs was outside of its jurisdiction. It reiterated a point Queensland Resources Council has long been arguing - the land court ought to be acting like the administrative tribunal it is meant to be, rather than trying to act like a court. The current land court processes lack checks and balances, are too costly, too technical and too lengthy.

It’s not just the companies in the firing line who suffer the impacts of these intentional ‘disrupt and delay tactics’ either.

It’s the 23,000 Queenslanders who have lost jobs in the resources sector and are desperate for a pay check to put food on the table for their families. And their communities including the businesses in the resources sector supply chain feel the flow-on effects. It’s the quality of and access to state services such as schools, hospitals and roads that are paid for by royalties. And it’s the local landholders who spend weeks, months and even years operating under a cloud of uncertainty.

Even the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham, who has previously been on the record saying ‘everyone deserves their day in court, but not four years in court,’ was quick to concede following the Adani decision that it was likely to face further legal prosecution.

And within a week - to no one’s surprise - an appeal has been filed.

Why then is the Queensland government allowing this to continue?

It has taken Adani more than half a decade to get to this point. Closer to Surat’s own backyard, New Hope has been allocated 10 weeks for its current land court hearing, which is already running weeks behind. While that might make for a lawyers picnic it does little good for the community.

The approvals process in Queensland needs urgent reform.

◗ Tyson Golder hopes LNG companies can do more to support local contractors, not ‘local’ contractors from hundreds of kilometres away. PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

Time to focus on what the people want TYSON GOLDER Maranoa Regional Council Mayor

IN MY first article for the Surat Basin News as Mayor of the Maranoa Regional Council, I would like to thank everyone for the strong support shown to me during the recent election process. I look forward to serving our communities.

I would like to mention my ‘Going Back to Local Council’ strategy which gets each community looking after itself and Council more focused on what our communities want.

One of my main focuses in this role will be to advocate for the improvement of employment opportunities within our region. I am looking forward to speaking with LNG companies in the Maranoa to talk about the benefits of using our local contractors and suppliers for their maintenance and production needs where possible.

Local means local, not supplied from contractors hundreds of kilometres away. The most tangible way LNG companies can support our communities, is with their employees and contractors living in and spending money in our towns.

I would like to see a real opportunity for our Maranoa contractors in the resource industry, and that means getting a conversation happening about how using local people can help cut costs, while still getting the right person for the job.

Additionally, for those land owners directly impacted by resource companies, I would like to see them be given more rights to decide what happens with their land.

This I believe, in the long run, would see a group of land owners left in peace with no impact on their land, and another group of land owners happy with the financial compensation provided by the industry to drought proof their properties.

For all your irrigation and building needs in Yes, we do it all! the Surat Basin DESIGN. SUPPLY. BUILD. Come in and see Tony and the helpful team today!

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IN THE NEWS

suratbasin.com.au Thursday, April 28, 2016

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Family in ‘landmark’ case A WESTERN Downs family is taking Queensland Gas Company (QGC) to Land Court in what is being described as a "landmark" case.

Nood and Narelle Nothdurft signed a compensation agreement with QGC in in 2006 for seven gas wells on their property.

Citing noise emissions breaches and health issues - namely headaches and nosebleeds - the Nothdurft's representative, George Houen of Landholder Services Pty Ltd, said the family would be arguing that there had been a material change in circumstances since the agreement was signed.

A directions hearing was held in Brisbane this morning, where a trial date of September 15 was set.

Mr Houen said that to his knowledge, the family's application for a review of their compensation agreement under the Petroleum and Gas Act 2004 will be the first to be considered by the Land Court since the act was commenced on December 31, 2004.

It will also be the first occasion where the Land Court has judicially interpreted the compensation provisions of the act.

“Our application to the court is on the basis that the emission limits for noise have been exceeded and that fugitive gases are

also being released at excessive levels and that they constitute environmental harm, particularly to the health of (the Nothdurfts)," he said.

QGC spokesman Paul Larter said the Nothdurft family had applied to the Land Court for a review of a compensation agreement held with QGC for more than nine years.

“This matter is now for the Land Court to decide and QGC will comply with its orders," Mr Larter said.

“QGC is operating within authorised noise levels. When access to the Nothdurft property is obtained QGC will install noise suppression equipment on some infrastructure.

“Evidence from leading expert bodies confirms that properly regulated, unconventional gas developments do not threaten the environment or public health.

“Air quality at and around the Nothdurfts’ property meets the Queensland Environment Protection Policy for Air.” The Nothdurfts said they were relieved to now have a trial date set.

"Our end goal is to live here happily ever after, to have healthy children and healthy lives without any stress," Mr Nothdurft said.

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◗ Nood and Narelle Nothdurft near a High Point Vent across the road from their home in Hopeland.

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IN THE NEWS

Chinchilla Show!

20-21 May Chinchilla Showgrounds

Events:

Family Entertainment:

n Cattle

n Crack Up Sisters

n Horse

n Young farmers Challenge

n Sheep n Woodchop ◗ LOCAL FOCUS: QGC Guest speaker Nagaraj Ramaraj with Peter Shannon.

PHOTO: JESSICA BAHR

n Side Show Alley n Pavilion Displays and Performances

Dalby Business Before Hours Breakfast

QGC focussed on local content QGC is making efforts to increase the number of local workers hired for their projects.

That was one of the messages from special guest speaker Nagaraj Ramaraj, QGC (previously Queensland Gas Company and now part of the BG Group) Fields Operations Manger at the Business Before Hours Breakfast on Wednesday.

Local business owners and operators gathered at the Dalby Leagues Club to attend the QGC update, which covered operational activities within the Western Downs, a Charlie development update and information on QGC’s new social investment partnership with Food Leaders Australia aimed at supporting agribusiness development in the region.

Mr Ramaraj said the QGC was continuing to ramp up toward plateau production in mid-2016.

"We are operating under routine conditions including maintenance schedules and everything that you would expect for a project of this scale," he said.

Development of the Charlie project was of particular interest to a number of locals.

The project is part of QCG’s development of tenements in the Surat Basin to sustain natural gas supply to customers.

Mr Ramaraj said the civil works and access works were both under way, with workers situated at three locations.

While Mr Ramaraj provided information regarding key contractors, wells being drilled, and pipeline clearance work, he said the expected completion date for the Charlie project was yet to be publicly announced.

Mr Ramaraj also discussed the expanded local content policy including local participation, facilitating job creation and developing regional communities. "(Hiring local workers) is always going to be a focus for QGC," he said.

"There has been a significant increase in local staff in the last 6-12 months and we have developed a plan and strategy. It will be a gradual process."

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suratbasin.com.au Thursday, April 28, 2016

IN THE NEWS

View the last edition The latest news online online Read our last issue at www.suratbasin.com.au

Keep in touch with the latest news with just a mouse click. www.suratbasin.com.au

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

Burrumbuttock Hay Run

Hay runners bring joy to West THE Burrumbttock hay runners have once again brought joy to Western Queensland, carrying charity, mateship, and a politician thousands of miles from central NSW. With a record 258 trucks, the convoy carried about $6 million worth of hay, distributing it around the Ilfracombe area. It was a new world record.

It was a long, tough drive for the hay runners, but there was enough time on the way back to meet their biggest fans Charleville’s Bo, Toby and Lissy Gattera.

Last time the kids shared a photo on Facebook of a handmade sign . It read “Our daddy was a truckie. He watches over you on your travels... Keep safe.”

Their dad Warren “Dub” Gattera was killed in an accident five years ago.

The sign became very popular among the hay runners and was shared widely.

They caught up with some truck drivers on Sunday on the trip back to NSW, thanking them in person.

Many of the drivers pay their own fuel, though there has been some attempt to rebate part of that cost.

Patrick Burke is from Brendan Farrell’s home base, Leeton. He saw the run on Facebook two years ago.

“I’ve been involved in every run since then,” he said. He carried a grand total of 41 bales on a drop-deck trailer this time around, but had to borrow the truck.

It gives him a sense of achievement, to do the epic multi-day trip.

“It’s not only about the farmers receiving the hay, we get something out of it as well,” he said.

They’ve got drivers now from all over, from South Australia to Tassie. He said some truck businesses had offered to pay them for the charity run, but the drivers preferred not to be paid.

“Every second truck’s got a passenger, whether it be Pauline, a girlfriend, wife, mate.

“Some of the trucks there’s two of the divers in them, and they might be sharing the driving.

Sadly, former Ipswich MP Pauline Hanson didn’t help out to

◗ SPECIAL GUEST: Burrumbuttock Hay Runners were joined by former MP Pauline Hanson.

share the load.

“I know my limitations,” she said.

She was the only politician along with the hay runners, despite requests to around 400. She hopes to get back into federal parliament through the upper house and shared a message:

PHOTO: ANDREW MESSENGER

“What I see is the sheer frustration... from everyone along the way, who say: where’s the Prime Minister, where’s the politicians?”

The hay runners’ next delivery is to Thargomindah in Western Queensland. They stayed in Wyandra for a barbeque on Thursday last week.

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