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Monday June 23, 2014 184th Edition

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Queensland mining community's best source of local news

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NEWS 4 Rural revolt over

Galilee rail

5 Low-cost era sees surge in rebuilds

6 Layoffs a bitter pill for workers

7 Moranbah miner flies to Brissy and back to work locally

8 Meteor mine ready for take-off

9 CSG to rewrite property values

10 Gladstone says no to port sale

11 Equipment suppliers see some green shoots

REGuLaRS 16 Stuff to the Editor

17 Frank the Tank

18 Miners Trader

19 Off Shift

20 Sport

Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com

4 23rd June 2014

News

COUNTRIES voicing concern about the impact of Queensland port developments on the Great Barrier Reef are mouthpieces for environmental activists that don’t have a clue about the local assessment process.

That’s the frank assessment of the Queensland Resources Council’s Michael Roche, as Australia was given a 12-month reprieve from UNESCO, which has deferred a decision on whether to list the reef as “in danger” until next year.

Queensland’s environment minister Andrew Powell travelled to Doha, Qatar, last week to convince The United Nations’ world heritage committee the reef was being protected.

However, several countries including Jamaica, Portugal

and Germany raised concerns about the impact of dredging at the Abbott Point coal terminal expansion near Bowen.

The Australian delegation said it was just “sand and silt” and rejected suggestions the assessment process was inadequate.

“The truth is that the Queensland government has completed significant work to address those concerns and deliver on UNESCO’s recommendations,” said Mr Powell.

“We have significantly scaled back the development at Abbott Point and imposed more than 140 conditions on the project.

“We have delivered our Ports Strategy, limiting development to existing port areas for a decade, and we have outlined our plans to enshrine that

commitment in legislation.”The QRC’s chief executive

Michael Roche said the countries raising concerns had been briefed by the environmental group WWF, which was also given the opportunity to address the committee.

“They [concerned countries] had in front of them WWF briefing notes and they seemed not to want to listen to the Australian delegation,” said Mr Roche.

“Countries that wouldn’t have a clue about port development - let alone port development in Queensland - are falling hook, line and sinker for their arguments.”

It might seem like a wild conspiracy theory, except for the existence of a $6 million funding plan to shut down

the coal industry, spearheaded by Greenpeace.

The document was first leaked to the media in 2012 and outlined a plan to stop the coal industry by attacking new port developments and engaging in time-consuming legal battles over new projects.

Mr Roche said there was no doubt environmental activists were to blame for whipping up an international storm in a teacup.

“My belief is the activists will work very hard to keep the Sword of Damocles hanging over us, to require us to keep coming back [to UNESCO] year after year,” he said.

“It would suit their purpose to scare governments, which would slow down approvals for ports.”

Mr Roche said a yearly check-up on reef health was not needed.

“The world has every right to ask how we are managing the reef but such intense scrutiny every year is not particularly constructive,” he said.

“We need to be judged on the longer term, not year to year, by countries who know very little about how and what we do and how we operate and expand ports.”

Australia has until June next year to complete its Reef 2050 Plan, which includes input from both the resources sector and environmental groups like WWF.

A draft plan will be ready for public comment in a few months.

Queensland’s environment minister is taking some positives from UNESCO’s deferral of a decision.

“[This] gives Queensland a big tick and the work we are doing a big tick,” said Mr Powell.

“The decision is also a win for logic and science rather than rhetoric and scaremongering.”

Mr Roche said the resources sector and the Queensland government had now launched its own reef campaign.

“Our message is fairly boring; it’s based on facts of science,” he said.

“The alternative story has pictures of nemos and dugongs and turtles and implies that ports and mining are somehow going to place those wonderful animals at risk.

“We have a much harder story to tell.”

In this war over hearts and minds, Mr Roche said an economic argument also rang true.

“The prospect of an ‘in danger’ listing for the reef would be devastating for Australia’s reputation,” he said.

“We know that it would rattle government and regulators and we would therefore expect the clamps to come down on development approvals.

“We can’t afford that scenario to play out so the resources sector has to be ultra careful about everything we do in terms of development and its impact on the reef.”

They wouldn’t have a clue: QRC

IT might have reduced in size by 94 per cent, but local graziers are up in arms about the newly declared Galilee Basin state development area (SDA).

How rail development should proceed in the region to link the thermal coal basin to port has been a contentious issue for years.

Back in 2011, there were five companies vying to build six lines that criss-crossed hundreds of kilometres of pastoral land.

Dozens of landholders have been privately negotiating with individual mining companies to sort of out complicated compensation agreements for a number of years.

Now, the state government has acted to put an end to some of that uncertainty.

Two rail corridors totalling 690 kilometres - one from the southern and one from the central end of the Galilee Basin - have been declared.

Deputy premier Jeff Seeney said the new SDA is also vastly scaled back.

“The state development area covers 106,000 hectares and directly affects 74 landholders, far less than the 1.8 million hectares and 1400 landholders affected by the draft plan,” he said.

“And there will be further reductions to come. Currently the SDA is around 500 metres wide, however once more detailed rail line designs are finalised and approved by the Coordinator General, the rail corridor will be reduced to about 60 to 100 metres wide.”

However, graziers feel they have been left in the dark for too long, and the declaration does little provide certainty for the future.

Clermont grazier John Burnett from the Corridor to Coast group said landholders still don’t know how the new SDA will affect negotiations with mining companies.

“For the last 12 months we’ve heard nothing from those proponents,” he told the ABC.

“We’ve had no further negotiation on compensation or changing the position

of the line to better suit the property operations, to better suit the flood damage potential that will be caused by placing the line across the flood plain.

“We’ve had no further discussion with mining proponents, the only input we’ve had from government is our opportunity to place a submission, we’ve had no feedback from government.

“It’s a frustrating annoying position to be in where we feel we have some valuable input for both parties. We’re not being listened to and haven’t been for the last five years.”

Meanwhile, the federal environment minister Greg Hunt has delayed his decision on whether Adani’s massive Carmichael coal project and associated railway will get the go ahead in the region.

The minister had extended his deadline until August 1 in order to consider the large volume of material associated with the project.

THE mood of exhibitors and visitors was probably best described as buoyant but not wildly optimistic at the Surat Basin Energy and Mining Expo in Toowoomba last week.

According to the event directory, around 250 businesses were on display, which puts it on par with the expo in previous years.

However, speaking to exhibitors, it seems the Surat Basin is not immune from the pessimism currently enveloping the Bowen Basin.

The combined effects of the coal mining downturn, and nervousness about ongoing work after the main construction phase in the CSG sector is on people’s minds.

Exhibitors have also been diversifying in the last 12 months, both in terms of what they are offering the market and how far afield they are prepared to travel to keep the cash flow going.

The event runs for two days.

Buoyant - not boomingRural revolt over Galilee rail

Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com

23rd June 2014 5

News

MINE equipment supplier Sandvik said the current outlook in the coal sector is driving interest in the economics of refurbishment as an alternative to buying new machinery.

The refurbishment of its bolter-miners - used in underground coal mining - is becoming an attractive alternative as miners push to cut costs but not productivity, the company said.

Sandviks’ Troy Robertson told Shift Miner refurbishment can make good economic sense.

“Refurbishment of bolter-miners is an important factor in the economics of these machines, particularly in the current climate where there is a need for aggressive cost reduction while maximising productivity,” he said.

“Depending on the scope of work required and the upgrade options specified by the customer, a typical rebuild takes around 9500 hours and typically a refurbished bolter-miner will be around 40 per cent of the cost of a new machine.”

According to Sandvik a

refurbished bolter-miner will be equal in productivity to a brand-new machine with the same specifications and options, and in addition, if a customer opts for the latest upgrade packages available, a refurbished bolter-miner can deliver higher productivity than it did in its original incarnation.

Sandvik has around 50 bolter-miners working in the Australian coal industry, and says the rule of thumb is that after about 15 years and three refurbishments further rebuilds become uneconomical.

Low-cost era sees surge in rebuilds

Before... After!

Qld exploration pushedEXPLORATION companies are struggling through a mining downturn, but Queensland still wants their business.

The state mines minister Andrew Cripps has made it clear there is a plan to ramp up resource exploration in Queensland into the future.

Mr Cripps has publicly released recommendations from a Ministerial Advisory Committee of Exploration this week, and says the state government has already acted in several areas highlighted in the report.

“I thank the committee for helping identify ways Queensland can attract more exploration investment and promote sustainable growth of our mining and petroleum and gas sectors,” he said.

“The committee has advised the government to make more land available for exploration, deliver more high-level, world class geoscience and grow and expand incentives to support greenfield exploration,” he said.

“There were also strong messages to cut exploration costs by streamlining

exploration permit regulations and examining further opportunities to minimise costs to industry and I’m pleased to say the government has already acted on some of the committee’s advice.

“Queensland’s resources sector laws are currently being modernised and simplified and we have already delivered changes to the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004 to extend exploration work programs and provide more flexible tenure relinquishment arrangements.”

The Queensland Resources Council’s Michael Roche has welcomed the commitment by the minister to grow the sector.

“In Andrew Cripps, the government has a mines minister who clearly ‘gets it’ with respect to the essential role that exploration plays in underwriting the economic future for Queensland,” he said.

“We have the resources the world needs in the 21st century but without a vibrant exploration industry there is no resources sector in the long term.”

Buoyant - not booming

Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com

6 23rd June 2014

FEDERAL approval this month, granting of mining lease in a year, and first coal in 2017.

That is Indian giant Adani’s schedule for its Galilee mine, and it intends to stick to it, according to its project manager Ian Sedgman.

Mr Sedgman was the keynote speaker at a Bowen Basin Mining Club event in Mackay earlier this month, with 350 business people turning out to hear his commentary on the proposed Galilee mine.

The record-breaking crowd bears testament to the importance Central Queensland business is placing on the opening up of the new coal province.

“Getting approval is a mammoth task, and for those not familiar with how much work goes into it I invite them to download the 600 page report we recently submitted,” Mr Sedgman said.

“The approval process has been a three-year intensive study of the impacts on the natural and social environment, and we are about 80 per cent of the way through that process.

“But there is still a lot of work to be done to get the project over the line, and we still have stakeholder and legal processes to go through.”

The end of the growth and capital investment phase in the Bowen Basin has put a huge hole in demand for mining construction services, and not surprisingly the

attention of those businesses has swung to the monumental possibilities of the Galilee Basin.

But with low coal prices expected in the short term and a massive bureaucratic process to be navigated, it does seem at times the Galilee is going nowhere slowly.

Behind the scenes, however, Mr Sedgman said an enormous amount of work has been done, including a massive exploration effort with more than 760 drill holes that had “proved” up an 11 billion tonne thermal coal resource.

According to Mr Sedgman, that resource would be the largest single tenement in the world, with open cut sections expected to accommodate the biggest truck and digger fleet in Australia.

“In spite of all the talk, the consistent message from the owner [Guatam Adani] has been get it going, get the coal moving,” he said.

In actual mining terms, Adani is working with seven coal seams 12 to 15 metres thick, laid at a six degree decline.

The majority is expected to be covered with a loose overburden to be simply dug out without the need for explosives, and along the 40-kilometre strike length there are plans for four major open cut mines and three underground pits.

Significantly for Australian business, Adani has made a clear decision to own the mine, the rail, the ships, the ports and even

the businesses that deliver the coal-fired power to Indian households. However, it doesn’t intend to operate the mine, meaning a potentially massive avenue of ongoing work for Queensland’s biggest mining contractors.

“We have 100 people employed in Australia and we cannot execute this project without other people,” Mr Sedgman said.

“We have studied the development of similar mega projects around the world and one of the key points of failure has been trying to do things themselves without the necessary expertise.

“Most of the work will be delivered through very large vertically integrated packages and we want to develop these partnerships to deliver the project.”

“We expect these to be put into place over the next 12 months.”

With respect to employment on the site, the only thing Adani can say with any certainty is that all the workforce will be FIFO due to the isolation of the site and the impracticality of driving to and from work.

“We will take capable workers from any region, although we are restricted by the source airports that we are going to be able to use,” Mr Sedgman said.

“However, ultimately our major contractors will be doing the recruitment drives.”

Adani on a deadlineNews

THE steady shedding of jobs in the mining sector was bad enough, but many contractors were being replaced by cheaper labour hire, according to the union.

CFMEU district president Stephen Smyth said labour hire workers were employed on a day-to-day basis and had little protection because most weren’t members of the union.

“We will be back to the good old days where people will soon be lining up at the gate to get work,” he told Shift Miner.

He questioned why mines were cutting jobs when they continued to post healthy profits and had not lost their contracts.

Last week, BMA cancelled a key contract at Goonyella Riverside mine to try and keep the mine’s books in the

black, and Curragh mine near Blackwater began shedding workers.

“Goonyella were one of the highest producers last year and now they are getting rid of people, particularly when they had another two years on their contract,” Mr Smyth said.

Downer EDI was informed that its overburden removal contract at the mine would be terminated in September, almost two years ahead of its official expiry.

Mr Smyth said job losses were happening at a time when companies were ramping up their production, and people would still need to be employed.

“Generally companies are saying they are in dire straights and to cut costs they

need to reduce the labour force, and then they bring them back as labour hire.

“It’s big enough pill to swallow when people lose a job, but it’s a bigger pill to swallow when people lose a job and are then replaced.”

Mr Smyth said in the late 1990s coal companies actually lost contracts and there was a need to shed jobs, but he is unaware of any companies losing contracts currently.

at Curragh, it is unclear how many jobs will go while management commences a major restructure of its operations.

A Wesfarmers spokesperson said the miner was making a number of changes to its operations in response to continuing challenges in the coal industry.

“The changes will involve some aspects

of the operations moving from seven-day rosters to five-day operations from June 23,” the spokesperson told Shift Miner.

“In addition to the roster changes, a recent review of the organisation has identified a number of roles will no longer be required.

“The changes are designed to ensure that Curragh remains a competitive and sustainable business, which is well placed to respond to the very difficult market conditions currently being experienced.”

One Curragh miner, however, told Shift Miner that jobs had already been lost.

“They [management] began escorting workers off site late Wednesday,” he said.

“Many of the people who are disappearing have been around for 20 or 30 years.”

Layoffs a bitter pill for workers

New era at ClermontGLENCORE has taken over management of the Clermont thermal coal mine, after buying Rio Tinto’s 50 per cent stake last year.

The $1 billion sale is now complete, with both companies issuing statements to confirm the change in management.

Glencore said the acquisition reflected its focus on identifying high quality assets that complement existing operations and marketing capabilities.

“It is a producer of high energy thermal coal, with minimal future capital requirements,” a Glencore spokesperson said about the mine.

Glencore will now begin reviewing operations and looking at how the new site will fit into the company’s existing portfolio in Queensland.

For its part, Rio Tinto says the sale of mine delivered good value for shareholders.

“It demonstrates the Group’s focus on strengthening its balance sheet and taking a disciplined approach to allocating capital,” the company said in a statement.

Rio Tinto says it remains committed to a long-term future in the Australian coal industry, where its mines provide work for more than 5000 people in Queensland and New South Wales.

A US$2 billion extension of the Kestrel Mine was completed last year and studies are currently underway into options to extend the life of Hail Creek Mine, subject to future investment decisions.

Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com

23rd June 2014 7

THE coal sector in Central Queensland is hurting, but if businesses look up there is reason for optimism.

Investors are once again flying into the region.“We’ve certainly seen a spike in investor

tours in the Bowen and Galilee Basins and they tend to give us an indication there is some movement,” Adagold Aviation chief executive Mal Sandford told Shift Miner.

“The inquiry started coming through before Christmas… and while it’s certainly not a flood there have been regular tours from a whole range of people.

“If you talk to anyone in the coal sector they say it’s still two years away from recovery so it is a little surprising really.”

Despite a gloomy outlook for coal prices in the short term, the Department of Natural Resources and Mines central region director Peter Donaghy gave an

optimistic outlook for the future of the Bowen and Galilee Basins recently.

“Right now the prices aren’t terrific for getting projects up, but the medium-term view is very, very strong,” Mr Donaghy told the Central Highlands Development Corporation’s Investing in our Future conference in Emerald.

In fact, 11 companies and as many as 13 projects could have the necessary approval to begin mining in the region in the next two years, according to official department predictions.

The Galilee Basin is creating a lot of interest among local supply chain businesses, but a lot of its success will hinge on the sky.

The coal mines proposed for the area are massive, and with no substantial local population to draw from, all will require fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workforces.

There is no airport within the region that can cater for such a demand, so all proponents are looking to build their own.

“We have already given some advice on how companies could look to do that because they are greenfields sites,” said Mr Sandford.

“It will require a lot of infrastructure and expenditure and it can either be done initially at the start or the costs of creating an airstrip spread over the construction phase as they start to use bigger planes.”

Mr Sandford said mining companies would need to make key operational decisions now to adequately plan for airports, because getting it wrong would be costly.

“It comes right back to how the mine roster will work, how many people you need and how frequently because that will determine what aeroplanes will fly in there,” he said.

“If you’re going to need 50-100 seater planes it will need to be a substantial runway with fuel facilities and infrastructure for handling passengers.

“That sort of thing can’t be built in a couple of weeks, and to get it wrong could be a multi-million dollar mistake.”

The cost of building an airport is also hugely variable.

“It’s a bit like how long’s a piece of string,” said Mr Sandford.

“It could be between $10-15 million or between $70-80 million and depend on a range of factors including soil type and what sort of aeroplanes need to land there.”

Adani on a deadline

Alpha Airport will be key if the mines in the Galilee Basin get off the ground. However, it needs an upgrade and has missed out state funding.

.Moranbah miner is flying to Brisbane and back and staying at a mine camp to qualify for work at a local mine, federal parliament has heard this week.

“A worker goes to the Moranbah airport, flies down to Brisbane, gets on another plane in Brisbane, flies back to the Moranbah airport, gets on a bus, drives past the family home and stays at a mining camp for a week,” the Member for Dawson George Christensen told the house.

“And [he] is not allowed in that time to go back and see his family.”

It comes as the debate surrounding BMA’s new 100 per cent fly-in fly-out (FIFO) mines escalates, as central Queensland grapples with the coal downturn in which many local miners have lost their jobs.

BMA made the decision to run two of its new mine sites - Daunia and Caval Ridge - with a 100 per cent FIFO workforce at the height of the boom.

The company also has an application before the state Coordinator General for a mining development that includes

the giant Red Hill mine and associated accommodation camp near Moranbah.

It is up to the Coordinator General to decide what conditions are imposed on the project, and whether it be allowed to proceed as another 100 per cent FIFO workforce site.

Federal MPs across central Queensland have united in a campaign to see an end to the practice, and intend to lobby the state government for a change of policy at the LNP state conference next month.

“I believe that 100 per cent FIFO is a cancer,” Mr Christensen said, “BMA is riding roughshod over the community that supported them.

“BMA doesn’t need to keep with this policy. They can drop it and do the right thing by the communities that supported them by not having 100 per cent fIy-in fly-out.”

However, for its part, BMA points out its 10,000 strong workforce in central Queensland is predominantly local.

“BMA has seven operating mines in the Bowen Basin and six of those are residential

workforces,” said a spokesperson.“FIFO workforces are one part of the

overall mix of employment offerings across our operations.”

BMA has also made it clear it will not bow to pressure and change tack.

“We made a careful and considered decision to operate our newest mines, Caval Ridge and Daunia with remote workforce arrangements for a range of reasons, including the ability to source a diverse workforce and to share the economic benefits of employment in the mining industry more broadly across Queensland with other regional centres such as Cairns.”

Mr Christensen said local mining towns were suffering as a result of the decision.

“There is no confidence and there is extreme fears for the future… families who still have employment fear that their kids will be unlikely to get jobs there in the future,” he said.

Shift Miner contacted the Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney’s office for comment, but has not heard back.

News

EIGHTY businesses have closed their doors over the past 12 months, but there’s a renewed level of optimism in the Central Highlands, according to business leaders.

Developers Citimark are moving ahead with plans to develop a 15.62 hectare site in Emerald, where over 250 dwellings and a motel will be built adjoining a shopping centre.

“We are definitely seeing an overall boost in business confidence and optimism with an increase in activity,” Central Highlands Development Corporation chief executive Sandra Hobbs said.

The corporation held an Investing In Our Future conference last month, and people left feeling a lot more optimistic after hearing the presentations, she told Shift Miner.

“We are being impacted like everyone else in the global market, and not just resources but across the economy.”

However, Ms Hobbs said local businesses had restructured and were actively looking for new opportunities.

“In the resources sector, we are not seeing so much as a downturn but it is more a balancing out of the past couple of years where we had a massive peak.

“So it is coming back to a standard level, and that has been pretty dramatic.”

New businesses had suffered the most, because most long-term businesses were aware of the cyclical nature of mining, she said.

“People are being cautious about how they are looking at the future and it is no secret that mining companies are looking at cost reduction.”

The recent conference revealed that there was still a positive outlook for the region in terms of proposed future growth and investment, particularly in resources.

“Businesses in the Central Highlands are also well positioned to make the most of the projects occurring in the Bowen and Galilee Basins, as long as they are responsive to these opportunities and are competitive and innovative.

“We have also started to see an increase in the number of start-up businesses in a range of professional services and trades over the past 12 months.”

With the mining industry coming off its historic peak, businesses can now attract skilled workers with affordable accommodation now available.

“We do a fortnightly measure on vacancies, and there are about 400 vacancies across the regions.

“But we had 250 houses and 150 units built over the past year and if we hadn’t we would still be in an accommodation crisis.”

Ms Hobbs said this was reflecting development.

Meanwhile, tourism is in the spotlight and the corporation sees this as an untapped market with huge potential

“We are the gateway to the coast as well as the outback, and we have spectacular places to visit - Carnarvon Gorge and the largest gem mines in the country,” Ms Hobbs said.

Citimark spark

Moranbah miner flies to Brissy and back to work locally

Investors land by planeful

Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com

8 23rd June 2014

News

Charter flights skyrocket in SuratFOURTEEN of Australia’s fastest growing regional airports are in Queensland, and it’s all being fuelled by fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workers in the Surat and Bowen Basins.

At Roma, in the heart of the Surat gas fields, the recently upgraded airport has seen a 64.7 per cent increase in total domestic passenger traffic in the last financial year.

Gladstone - the processing and port hub for the CSG sector - has also seen a 25 per cent jump in passenger numbers.

Aviation industry expert and Adagold chief executive Mal Sandford said there had been a virtual explosion of charter flights in the Surat Basin.

“Airports like Roma and Miles have been upgraded and now they’ve gone ballistic. You only have to go out there to feel what it’s like,” he told Shift Miner.

“It has been pushed by the construction work but with that slowing down you might now see passenger numbers in places like Taroom and Wandoan pick up as the wave moves through.”

As the CSG sector transitions from

construction to production, Mr Sandford predicts FIFO demand will continue to push up passenger numbers.

“I think the figures will probably continue to grow but from mid to late 2015 they will taper off or maintain,” he said.

Despite the downturn in the coal industry, Emerald and Moranbah also recorded 25 per cent growth in air traffic over the 2012-2013 financial year.

In the past six months, Mr Sandford said there has also been a pickup in demand for charter flights in Central Queensland’s coal provinces.

“We’ve certainly seen a spike in investor tours in the Bowen and Galilee Basins and they tend to give us an indication there is some movement,” he said.

“The inquiry started coming through before Christmas… and while it’s certainly not a flood there have been regular tours from a whole range of people.

“If you talk to anyone in the coal sector they say it’s still two years away from recovery so it is a little surprising really.”

Meteor mine ready for take-offTHERE’S a lot of negativity in the Queensland mining sector at the moment, but not if you work for U&D Mining.

The majority Chinese-owned coal developer has just signed a joint agreement with experienced Japanese miner Sojitz that should see a new thermal coal project in production next year.

The Meteor Downs South project is 30 kilometres west of the small town of Rolleston, and adjacent to Glencore’s Rolleston mine.

While coal prices have continued to weaken, U&D Mining chief financial officer Peter Edwards says the timing is right for this project.

“No mining operation can run independently of the market. If the market says coal is only $50/tonne then that affects decisions,” he told Shift Miner.

“But we are a very low-cost coal mine so subject to prices being at a reasonable level we are very able to move ahead.

“We have a low strip ratio and the coal doesn’t need to be washed. We are expecting a very simplistic truck-and-shovel operation with no draglines.

“The deposit is only 16 million tonnes, so it is a low life of mine project of about nine or 10 years extracting a million tonnes per year.”

The planning, building and operation of the mine will be in the hands of Sojitz, which currently run the Minerva mine, located 65 kilometres from the Meteor Downs South site.

It’s expected the mine will use trucks to carry the coal the short distance to rail and will either ship coal through the Gladstone port or the new Wiggins Island coal terminal.

“We are in the final stages of getting our mining lease granted and we expect that to come late this year or early in 2015,” said Mr Edwards.

“We are currently doing some mine plan studies and we are looking at how to get production up as soon as practically possible after that.”

The company is also in the final throes of negotiation for a compensation agreement with Glencore, which owns the pastoral business above the tenement. The company (previously Xstrata) bought the station back in 2011 for $20 million, so it could extend its Rolleston mine.

Mr Edwards said a lot of the pessimism in the coal sector was driven by multinational companies with high production costs and the option to mine elsewhere in the world.

“We only have the one mine that is relatively near production and because it is low cost the economics make a lot of sense,” he said.

“We’re not going to be producing all of our coal up front, it’s over nine to 10 years, so we’re hoping that towards the end of the cycle the prices are more attractive and the joint venture partners can do a lot better out of the project than at the start.”

Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com

23rd June 2014 9

CHINCHILLA is now armed with a key piece of machinery to fight the spread of weeds in the Surat Basin.

A new weed washdown station has been opened at a staggering cost of $1.3 million, with half of the money coming from gas company QGC and the rest

paid for by the Western Downs regional council, state and federal governments and Powerlink.

“These are very expensive items,” Western Downs mayor Ray Brown told Shift Miner.

“This is not a car wash, it’s not just about hosing down a vehicle.”

The hidden cost is how to manage the waste that flows down the drain.

“We can’t just put it down the sewer - it’ll choke it. We have cattle trucks that use it and we have to try and put the sludge and solid effluent in a waste

facility and recycle as much water as we can.”

Since the coal seam gas industry entered the region, a renewed emphasis has been placed on weed and pest management, with local landholders now seeing an unprecedented level of traffic on and off properties.

“Landholders need the assurance that if an CSG worker, cattle truck or stock and station agent turns up on their place that their vehicle is clean.”

Cr Brown said it had sparked a whole new industry in certification.

“Most landholders demand a certificate to show a vehicle has been inspected, and learning about weed and pest management now happens in all induction courses in the energy sector.”

Cr Brown would not be drawn on whether the CSG traffic had created weed or pest problems in the region.

“I do think that it is very difficult to determine,” he said. “I certainly think it’s something the entire community needs to be vigilant about.”

The new washdown station at Chinchilla replaces a smaller facility with two heavy vehicle wash bay and a four-wheel-drive bay that provides access underneath vehicles for cleaning and inspection.

It’s the fourth for the region: the council owns and operates a washdown station in Wandoan and is considering building one in Dalby, and a private company runs one in Miles.

QGC’s vice president of sustainability Brett Smith said the company was committed to improving washdown facilities for the whole community.

“QGC, like all others who travel through properties in the region, shares the responsibility to prevent the spread of invasive weed species,” Mr Smith said.

“We work hard every day to minimise our impacts by identifying risks and adjusting our work practices.

“On top of that, this facility will help to ensure that QGC employees and contractors, other businesses and the general public are able to play their part, too.”

CSG helps to keep weeds out of Chinchilla

QGC’s Brett Smith and Western Downs mayor Ray Brown try out the new facilities.

News

CSG to rewrite property valuesTHE value of gas wells on rural property remains nearly impossible to quantify in Queensland despite the CSG industry now maturing into the production phase of its lifecycle.

At the heart of the issue is how to put a dollar value on the cost or benefit to a rural enterprise when gas wells and other infrastructure are built on it.

Further, what compensation should the landholder be entitled to receive over time, and how should that value be factored into the sale price if the farmer ever wants to sell?

The Bush Telegraph is clogged with rumours about which landholder is doing back flips about the new cash flow he has negotiated with a CSG company and which one hasn’t.

But it’s the rural valuation profession that has the unenviable task of trying to come up with an evidence-based system to value Queensland’s gas and agricultural lands.

Recently a group of specialist rural valuers operating in the Surat Basin met with the Gasfields Commission to discuss this very issue.

One of the valuers at that meeting was Stephen Cameron with Herron Todd White in Toowoomba.

He says while it was a constructive meeting and allowed valuers to discuss various aspects of the industry, it still remains a very immature market to

accurately identify the true impacts of CSG development on rural properties.

“There remains very little market evidence of property sales with gas development other than those acquired by the companies themselves,” he told Shift Miner.

“Partly the lack of sales is because of the general depressed state of the rural property market overall, with low liquidity throughout the Surat Basin.

“From a compensation point of view every property is unique and the impact of gas well development must be treated in the same context.

“With gas development now well and truly under way various opinions have emerged about how CSG is impacting on property values.

“Those opinions will vary between those landholders waiting for gas companies to approach them about development, those presently in compensation negotiations and those that have had completed development on farm and receive annual compensation payments.”

In theory, as more sales occur involving rural property with gas infrastructure on it - the more evidence there is about how the market values it.

However, each property and the conduct and compensation agreement (CCA) attached to it is unique.

That means direct sale for sale comparisons are at best going to be conditional, and at worst just wildly inaccurate.

As an example, many people discuss the value of gas wells on a farm according to the royalty that a single gas well generates for the landholder.

However, take the case study that two adjoining farms are on the market: one has 10 wells earning $10,000 a year and the other has 50 earning $10,000 a year.

On face value it might appear the second property is more valuable - but what if the first property has just 10 well service roads while the second has 50 and they severely restrict the operation of the farming business?

“As valuers, we don’t get too tied down in the money received per well,” Mr Cameron added.

“The end compensation amount is obviously important, however there must be an understanding of what are the physical impacts to the property and how they will affect the ongoing operation of the business.

“This will vary across country types, development and the style of the business operation that exists, therefore as no two rural business operations are identical, it is important to treat every compensation matter on its individual merits.”

Death at CobarINVESTIGATIONS are continuing into how a miner died at an underground copper mine in Cobar in New South Wales last week.

The 26-year-old man was attempting to remove debris from a pipe when he was trapped and killed.

Allan Hayes from the Australian Workers Union told local media the death underscores the ever-present danger on a mine site.

“It just drives home the message that whilst a lot of time and effort and money is put into training and implementing safety measures within the industry and any industry for that matter, individuals - when they go to work - have just got to keep it at the forefront of their mind that they have got to be responsible for their own safety,” he said.

“We certainly encourage people that if things happen, report them and learn from them and hopefully we can get up in the morning without being greeted with the news where another young person has been killed on the worksite.”

It is the second death in two years at the Glencore owned CSA mine and the fourth death in NSW in as many months.

Meanwhile in Queensland, the Mines Department has completed its investigation into the death of 34-year-old electrician Paul McGuire at Anglo American’s Grasstree mine near Middlemount last month.

Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com

10 23rd June 2014

A NEW cost-effective technology to treat mining wastewater and reduce sludge by up to 90 per cent has been used for the first time at a commercial mine.

The technology, called Virtual Curtain, was used to remove metal contaminants from wastewater at a Queensland mine and the equivalent of around 20 Olympic swimming pools of rainwater-quality water was safely discharged.

Sludge is a semi-solid by-product of wastewater treatment and reducing the amount produced has huge environmental and economic benefits.

“Our treatment produced only a fraction of the sludge that a conventional lime-based method would have and allowed the mine water to be treated in a more environmentally sound way,” CSIRO scientist Dr Grant Douglas said.

“Reducing the amount of sludge is beneficial because the costly and timely steps involved to move and dispose it can be reduced.”

Given the Australian mining industry is estimated to generate hundreds of millions of tonnes of wastewater each year, the technology opens a significant opportunity for companies to improve water management practices and be more sustainable.

“The technology can produce a material high in metal value, which can be reprocessed to increase a miner’s overall recovery rate and partially offset treatment costs,” Dr Douglas said.

Virtual Curtain utilises hydrotalcites, which are minerals sometimes found in stomach antacids, to simultaneously trap a variety of contaminants – including arsenic, cadmium,

and iron – in one step.Dr Douglas and his team

developed the technology after discovering that hydrotalcites could be formed by adjusting the concentrations of common wastewater contaminants, aluminium and magnesium, to an ideal ratio and then by increasing the pH.

“By using contaminants already present in the wastewater we have avoided the need for expensive infrastructure and complicated chemistry to treat the waste,” he said.

“If required, the treated water can be purified much more efficiently via reverse osmosis and either released to the environment or recycled back into the plant, so it has huge benefits for mining operators in arid regions such as Australia and Chile.

“It is a more efficient and economic way to treat wastewater and is enabling the global mining industry to reduce its environmental footprint and extract wealth from waste.”

The licensed technology, which can be applied to a range of industrial applications, is available through Australian company Virtual Curtain Limited.

The new treatment in progress to remove a range of metal contaminants. The mine pit following the release of treated water.

News

Car boss happy with boom endTWO years ago, car dealership Autocorner Mackay turned over nearly $250 million and employed 350 people.

But if the business had another 12 months like April this year, turnover would fall to $108 million, according to its owner John Glanville.

So it might come as surprise to hear that Mr Glanville does not wish for the mining boom to return.

“In reality our turnover is down 46 per cent on the boom…. but I hope it doesn’t go back to boom times,” he told the Bowen Basin Mining Club in Mackay last week.

“During the boom good people were difficult to find and keep. We were using the pulse method of employment - if you had one, you got a job.”

He said staff costs had spiralled and some employees were less than ideal.

“The boom affected loyalty and performance,” he said.

“Wages were out of control and expectations were out of line with the level of service employees were willing to provide.

“On the other end we had tight margins and the lowest per vehicle gross in the state.”

Adding to this already difficult environment, Autocorner faced a

perception problem. Many customers concluded - incorrectly in Mr Glanville’s opinion - that mining demand was inflating prices in Mackay and they started shopping elsewhere.

In the wake of the boom, Mr Glanville is calling for a new era of fairness and cooperation among all businesses engaged in the coal mining sector in Central Queensland.

He has called on mining companies to give Mackay businesses a go and to not treat subcontractors as dispensable.

“Many of us are still in business today, but many of us know some of our competitors aren’t and we feel for them because we all know just what is required to stay in business,” Mr Glanville said.

“I hear people saying ‘when is it going to be like it was two years ago?’ But we need a new model; we need to restructure around the new business environment.

“We need to demand better output from our people, we need to work together and make it imperative that large companies have no choice but to deal with us.

“We need to become tribal and help each other so as many coal-related businesses as possible can thrive and prosper.”

GLADSTONE residents have been ignored as the state government pushes ahead with plans to lease the Gladstone port if it wins the next election, according to one community leader.

State independent state MP Liz Cunningham said she has never supported privatisation or long-term leases and it would have a negative impact on the people of Gladstone.

“Gladstone is different to other ports because it’s right in the city, and what happens to the port impacts on the people living in this community,” she told Shift Miner.

“I don’t support it because it’s an income generator for the state and on the horizon we have an increased income with LNG, and coal will come back.

“Here is an income we would sell off.”Ms Cunningham said the community

had made it very clear they were not supportive of privatisation through a long-term lease.

“It’s very disappointing. I have a community that has been very tolerant of industrial impact, and Gladstone is recognised as being a key to our prosperity, but the state will still go ahead with a decision that goes against the community.”

Ms Cunningham said it was important the state retain ownership of assets, such as electricity and water because there was a real rise of price increases and rural

communities would be disadvantaged.She said while she recognised the

budget deficit, she would prefer to see the debt to be dealt with over time, and in manageable chunks.

“But this government seems to want to do it in one term.”

Ms Cunningham said the public made it clear in the government’s Smart Choice programme that they would prefer a hike in resources royalties over asset sales.

Meanwhile Gladstone Regional Council Mayor Gail Sellers, who was outrightly opposed to the leasing of the port in May last year has changed tack.

“I have to look at it this way - Gladstone Regional Council is a part of Queensland and if our leaders are telling me that we need to sell the port for the good of Queensland I will have to listen to that and I will have to support that,” she told local media.

“It might not be what I like but if that’s what is needed for Queensland, I will have to come on board.”

Mining wastewater turned into rainwater

Gladdy votes not to port sale

Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com

23rd June 2014 11

News

Car boss happy with boom end

A Yupungathi Traditional Owner and Weipa-based mining superintendent has won top honours at the Queensland Resources Council’s Indigenous Awards.

Ray Ahmat took out the prestigious Overall Indigenous Award for his exceptional contribution as a role model in the Queensland resources industry.

As the first local Aboriginal superintendent at Rio Tinto Alcan’s bauxite mine in Weipa, Mr Ahmat leads a large operational team of over 170 people.

More than one fifth of the

mine’s workforce is Indigenous, the highest participation rate across all Rio sites in Australia.

“Winning the overall Indigenous award is very humbling, and I am very proud to be representing

not only the business, but the Yupungathi Traditional Owner Group,” said Mr Ahmat.

Mr Ahmat has worked at the mine for 15 years, starting out as a truck driver and working his way up to mine development superintendent in 2012.

He followed in the footsteps

of his mother and father who worked at the mine before him - for 28 and 32 years respectively.

“My family and I have strong connections with the land on which the business operates, and I feel a responsibility to build upon the foundation my parents and elders created many years ago,” he said.

“The broad range of careers available with a world-class operation right on our door-step provides a unique opportunity to develop local talent in a remote Australian community.”

Rio Tinto Alcan Weipa general manager, operations, Gareth Manderson said that Mr Ahmat is

a key part of the mine’s leadership team, and a great ambassador for the business.

“Ray and his team played an integral part in helping to achieve a 50 per cent increase in production rates during a ramp up phase of the operation,” Mr Manderson said.

“His commitment to diversity as one of the key focus areas of our business has resulted in a 30 per cent Indigenous participation across his team alone.”

Equipment suppliers see some green shoots

QUEENSLAND’S mining and construction equipment suppliers are cautiously optimistic about the future, with order books filling up again.

The Construction and Mining Equipment Industry Group (CMEIG) Queensland vice president Andrew Wheeler says there are some bright spots in the Queensland economy.

“While it is fairly mixed, our order book is quite full, but it is generally the smaller stuff, up to 30 tonnes,” he told Shift Miner.

“I am sure most of our members are drawing up strategic plans all the time and then changing them, but certainly things are looking healthier than they did last year.”

CMEIG members are heavily exposed to the downturns in construction, so as the construction boom of the mining sector fades, so

has a lot of that work.However, the oil and gas

sector - particularly CSG - continues to offer opportunity, with the major CSG companies pushing ahead with upstream infrastructure in places like Chinchilla, Miles and Wandoan.

Despite this, Mr Wheeler says there is a squeeze on margins with a large number of businesses competing for the same work.

One segment of the market that has been hard hit is articulated trucks. Typically these vehicles are used for civil construction projects, both in and out of the mining sector.

“The artic [articulated] market is as small and quiet as I have ever seen it,” Mr Wheeler said.

“I just happen to know that there is a large oversupply. There are a lot of used and rental machines available and that is pretty much eliminating the market for new vehicles.”

Traditional owner AND miner

Ray Ahmat has won a top Indigenous award in mining.

TUCKED away in Central Queensland is a small project about to do big things for clean coal technology.

The $245 million Callide oxyfuel project wraps up this year, but it has demonstrated that carbon capture technology does work, producing almost zero emissions when applied to an existing coal-fired power station.

Project director Dr Chris Spero said the project, which works on a 30 megawatt power plant, will now upscale to a 167 megawatt plant in the US.

“We have fairly close ties with the Futuregen project in the US, and that’s the next scale up and it’s in its final planning stages,” he told Shift Miner.

Carbon capture technology and storage technology (CCS) works by capturing all power

plant emissions, which are then transported to an appropriate location and injected deep under the earth’s surface for storage.

“It’s been very successful, and our target is 10,000 hours of firing and four hours of carbon dioxide capture, which are simple targets,” Dr Spero said.

“It works and it’s reasonably reliable. On oxyfuel, we passed 6000 hours and with carbon capture, we have passed 3000 hours.”

At the end of the year, the Callide facility will be closed and the equipment sold off, but this is part of an international joint venture between multiple companies: CS Energy, ACA Low Emissions Technologies (ACALET); Glencore; Schlumberger Carbon Services; and Japanese participants, J-POWER, Mitsui and IHI Corporation.

Once the next demonstration

phase with Futuregen in the US is completed, the technology will be applied to a 300 megawatt power plant - and then it is ready for commercial use. This could be as soon as 2020, Dr Spero said.

“As engineers, we like to work in a series of steps,” he said.

The International Energy Agency, which works towards clean and affordable energy for its 29 member countries, has identified CCS as being central to limiting the earth’s temperature rising by 2 degrees, and the industry has been working towards bringing this to fruition.

In Western Australia, Chevron is spending over $2 billion on a its own CCS project starting in 2014/15.

Green groups, however, have remained sceptical, pointing out the high cost of the technology.

Dr Spero does not agree.“We have the basic electricity

price, but we talk about climate change, which is having a very negative impact with flooding and storms, and the costs are huge.

“If that is not picked up in electricity price, it is picked up by government. So in the end, the cost of burning coal really cleanly costs the same. But where

is the cost reflected? Is it on the price of electricity or the general cost of society?”

“The fundamental premise of this technology is that we are going to be burning coal for a long time. The renewal markets are increasing, and that’s fine, but we still utilise a lot of coal to produce electricity so it makes good sense to produce it cleanly.

“That is what this project is about. Work on it, release it when it is viable rather than waiting.”

Community questions have been raised as to the safety of carbon storage, and Dr Spero said this is one of the safest aspects of the project.

The Callide project has facilitated the bulk storage through studies and collaborations and it used Cogan Creek in Queensland as a model site.

“We looked at the storage of a 500 megawatt power station and looked storing one million tonnes per year in the Surat Basin.”

The pre-feasibility study has been published by the National Energy Development Organisation.

The project also carried out two studies with the Carbon Capture Storage Institute that looked at the environmental and social cost of carbon dioxide

transport and injection in the Surat Basin, mainly near Wandoan, Chinchilla and Taroom.

These areas have been selected because of its geology and stone aquifers and the ability for gas to be sealed under the surfaces.

“Socially and environmentally it raises eyes more in because people don’t understand it, but from an engineering point of view it’s pretty straightforward,” Dr Spero said.

“It’s about understanding coal and following good engineering and coal practice and it needs to be proved at each stage.”

Dr Spero pointed out that in the US, carbon dioxide has been used for decades as a means of pushing oil to the surface.

“It’s millions of tonnes per year injected every year in US for oil recovery, so it’s not really a new thing. Storing carbon dioxide for it’s own sake is a new thing.”

The project was awarded $63 million from the Australian government under the Low Emissions Technology Demonstration Fund. It has also received financial support from the Japanese and Queensland governments and technical support from JCOAL.

CQ ground-breaking clean technology one step closer

Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com

12 23rd June 2014 Holding a social event you want photographed? Call the Shift Miner office on 4921 4333 to let us know. You can also give our office a bell if you’d like a copy of any of the photos in this edition.

Around Town

NEED FOR SPEED...The Blackwater Speedway was abuzz with action earlier this month. [Photo credit: Jeannette Fletcher]

Casey, Courtney and Baxter Bowers

Tyler and Noah McKay

(L-R) Ross Bellard, Ros Young and Brooke Collocott

(L-R) Lance Mcmanus, Stacey Kent - Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise, Adam Bradley Rocla

(L-R) Adrian Harding - Maranoa Motors, Tony Prior, Shane Sleeman - Europecar

(L-R) Richard Smith, Sam Vickerson - Blue Broking, Jamie Kennedy - AERgo, Chris Lynam - Blue Broking, Liam Gardner - AERgo

(L-R) Warrick Higgins, Anna Gundry, Christina Geldard - Wagners

(L-R) Craig Tunley, Hillary Grulke, Rebecca Van Dermeer - Western Downs Regional Council

(L-R) Beth and Tayla Dyer, Karla Asse, Helen Young and Kwinn Ryan

(L-R) Belinda and Isabella Galvin and Tamara Guy

Emma and Elizabeth Choules

(L-R) Jeremy Young, Carlin Dyer, Dylan Finlay and Fletcher Ryan

(L-R) Nathan, Richie, Gillian, Anita, Kerry and Tegan

SURAT BASIN EXPO...A buoyant but not “booming” mood in the Surat Basin

.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com

23rd June 2014 13

www.shiftminer.comBuy this and many other images at

Shift Miner magazine – bringing the mining community closer together

Around Town

ADANI DRAWCARD…A record-breaking 350-strong crowd turned out to hear keynote speaker Ian Sedgman outline Adani’s plan for its Galilee Basin mine at the Bowen Basin Mining Club event in Mackay recently.

(L-R) Nancy Myles, Shar Logan - MRAEL, Maxine Brown - Lacoa

(L-R) David Brierley - Fugro Spatial, Rod Tayler - Hitachi Wenco, Steve Hall - Whittens

(L-R) Henry Taljaard - Allroads, John Anger, Mark Ruston - Macmahon

(L-R) Graeme Husking - Performance on Hand, Fiona Vella - Worksense, Chris Bugela - Cummins

(L-R) Craig Batten - Vermeer, Peter Gledhill, Arron Johnson - BIS Industries

(L-R ) Chris Fung, John Tehan, Rob Romano - Morris Corp

(L-R) Danny Beard, Chris Gibbs - MACS Engineering, Jim MacDonald - Tatra Offroad Trucks

(L-R) Hans Pihil, Allan Ruming - Group Engineering, Chris Fung - Morris Corp

(L-R) Steve Blaik, Stephen Domin, Curtly Quakawoot, Brad Muscat - ESS

Gary Hansen - Gladstone Entertainment Con-vention Centre, Rachelle Lobodin - Generate PR

Simon Zalko - Titan ICT Consultants, Stephen Wright - Excelis

Ken Brown - Bluescope, Ben Sedcole - T&B Mine Maintenance

(L-R) Ty Moore, Andrew Williams, Paul Bailey,Larry Mc-Carthy - Prime Rentals

(L-R) Luke Deayton, Hana Tow - Greyhound Australia, Ron Nicolas - Downer Mining

Jennifer Grant, Craig lane - Quarrico Liam Gaskin, John Glanville - Autocorner Mackay

Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com

14 23rd June 2014

MICHAEL Roche is on the money when he says environmental activists like Greenpeace don’t have a clue when it comes to the health of the reef.

When you have a campaign to shut down an industry, why let a few facts get in the way of a good story?

And it is far easier to blame a group rather than taking on personal responsibility.

The agriculture industry has been taking a hit for years, with fertiliser run-off blamed for increased levels of nitrogen and phosphate in the ocean. (This in turn has created an environment crown of thorns starfish thrive in.)

It’s so much the case, that many scientists have taken this as a given without testing the theory.

However, several well-respected studies have found that one of the biggest contributors to nitrogen and phosphate levels in the reef has been the sewerage run-off from Brisbane. It was responsible for a quarter of increased levels up to Gladstone - not including any towns or resorts along the coast.

On top of this, there is the run-off from fertilisers used on lawns, pesticides in the garden, and the fact we live in a concrete jungle so water runs off hard

surfaces directly into waterways. And how many people use phosphate-free laundry detergent (I do)?

The mining industry is now facing its own fear campaign about the reef.

Did you know 11 ports existed in the Great Barrier Reef footprint when it was first declared a World Heritage site in 1981? So the area has always been multi-purpose and, lets face it, industry using the sea is not a new idea - we are an island nation after all.

Meanwhile, we have the mining industry putting money into new technologies, like the Carbon Capture and Storage at the Callide Oxyfuel Plant, and the CSIRO developing new ways to clean up mine water.

I don’t see environmental groups coming up with any solutions - and what are they doing to reduce their own environmental footprint as their campaigns use products (like big boats and computers) that are a direct result of mining somewhere in the world?

I am all for minimising our impact on the environment, but I have no tolerance for hypocrites like Greenpeace and WWF.

Inga Stünzner

Our front page story on the future of the coal industry in Queensland had a lot of you talking:

Of course there’s a future in coal. BMA still employs 10,000 people in CQ. It’s still the biggest employer in CQ by a country mile. TR, Mackay

Why does everyone act surprised when mining follows a boom bust cycle? Someone’s pain will be someone else’s gain when it all booms again in the future. DS, Bucasia

New companies are out looking for viable coal mines. There’s still money to be made; it’s just that the big miners have been so wasteful and can’t explain themselves to shareholders. WS, Rockhampton

Oh boo hoo people of CQ. It’s about time a little bit of reality was injected into the region and people got used to having to work hard to keep a job. The sense of entitlement in this region is out of control. AP, Walkerston

Our story on the growth spurt in the Surat region, and in particular Toowoomba, also caught your interest:

What no one seems to know is what CSG will be like when they stop building and hit the big green button. How many jobs? Where? Will they be local? It’s all pretty quiet on down here at the moment. RS, Miles

Toowoomba’s getting a big, new airport. Will it get used? That remains to be seen. TD, Toowoomba

Frank the Tank has his usual legion of fans:

Frank on holidays? I’d like to know where… but I’m guessing, Bali. GS, Gladstone

Classic Frank. I laughed the first time. And I laughed a second time round too. Best column in the mag. David, Mackay

Stuff to the Editor

All accidents and personal injury claims:• Motor Vehicle Accidents • Workers Injury Claims• Public Liability Claims • Mining Accident Claims• Total and Permanent Disability Insurance Claims• Boating and Holiday Accident ClaimsDarren Sekac is available for consultations at the

Whitsunday and Proserpine offices on Thursday, by appointment only.

Darren Sekac* Call 4944 2000www.macamiet.com.au

*Personal Injuries Law Accredited Specialist (MAckAy)

PERSONAL INJURY EXPERTS

MACKAY

Locally Owned & Operated

Monday, June 2, 2014 183rd Edition

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23rd June 2014 15

Frank the tank’s “Streakin” good love adviceDear Frank,My girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend has returned from overseas and he will be at a party we are both attending. I want to upstage him badly. How should I do it?Mal, Dalby

Dear Mal,There is nothing more satisfying than doing over a bloke who used to date your missus. So the first thing I’m gonna say is don’t be anxious and don’t worry. This is going to be fun.

What does a country do before it invades another country? That’s right, it gathers intelligence. It sends in spies and special forces to find out what the defences are, where the weak spots are placed. It sabotages, wages psychological warfare and then finally attacks with overwhelming force. You have to look at this project like an invasion. An invasion of this man’s dignity resulting in the destruction of both his self-respect and any respect others

may have for him. So, let’s get to work. First, gather intelligence. Casually and

ever so subtly pick your girlfriend’s brain. Things like his size, strength, ability to hold his drink and any phobias he might have will come in handy later.

The trick is to do it in such a way that it doesn’t raise your beloved’s suspicion. So try something like: “Honey, we never really talked about your break up with <insert the mongrel’s name>. Would you like to share your feelings with me about it so I can better understand you?” Some poncy rubbish like that.

Then after she’s flapped her gums for a while about how she was so “hurt” and “abandoned” and “betrayed” and whatnot, slip into the conversation some questions. For example, “Well, when you see him next, you just have to be strong. Is he quite strong by the way? Is he a big fella then?”

See how sneaky this is?Armed with your new knowledge of

your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, it is time to check the lay of the land.

No general enters the field without first knowing the terrain he is fighting on. So go and do a reconnaissance of the venue for the party. Take a camera or camcorder with you so you can recreate a blueprint of the place later on.

You might have to wait a while for the host of the party and any occupants to leave. Otherwise, you could do it in the middle of the night (as long as you have

night vision on your camcorder).If you don’t know how to pick a lock,

just break a window or kick the door in. You can always bring it up at the party later on by saying how bad crime is these days and how you once caught a thief and had to ninja-kick him off a balcony.

If you do make a forced entry, make sure you trash the place afterwards and take a few things otherwise it might look strange that someone just broke in and then left empty handed. Smoke and mirrors, my friend, smoke and mirrors.

Now that you have intelligence, the last thing to do is to form a plan of attack. There are two basic strategies you can take - offensive or defensive.

Offensive is doing something that destroys his reputation.

Defensive is something that enhances your own.

You have to be inventive of course and tailor your approach to his particular traits. But I will give you some examples to get you started.

One defensive tactic you could use is killing a fake snake that you have previously hidden under a curtain (make sure you fill it with pig’s blood or something to make it extra authentic).

Another idea might be to start a fire in the garage as a result of an IED (improvised explosive device) you have already set. You can then run in with a previously hidden fire extinguisher and save the day.

In terms of offensive tactics, just make sure your intel is spot on before you do anything. There is no point starting a fight with the guy if it turns out he’s 6’7” instead of 5’7”. Or if he’s a professional cage fighter. But even if he is, why not slip some rohypnol in his drink?

There is no such thing as cheating or fighting dirty when it comes to impressing your missus (and mates). All is fair in love and war as they say.

However if you don’t want to take the violent route, perhaps try something like knocking him out with chloroform, putting him in cupboard with half a light beer and then letting everyone discover him.

As you can see, the possibilities are endless. Happy hunting...

Frank

IN AMERICA- YOU can’t get this on a kindle!

During a recent review of its 15-million volume book collection, Harvard University came to a gruesome realisation...three of its books were bound in human skin. Director of Harvard University’s Libraries, Sidney Verba, wrote in a University blog that the three books contain treaties on medieval law, Roman poetry and French philosophy.

Not the usual fodder of your average page turner, but still the human leather twist does make the material rather compelling.

It looks old. It looks ordinary. Its yellow-tinged tone has no noticeable marks such as hair or tattoos.

Only a purple-ink inscription on its back page gives the game away:

“The banding of this books is all that remains of my dear friend Jonas Wright, who was flayed alive by the Wavuma on the Fourth Day of August, 1632. King Mbesa did give me the book, it being one of poore Jonas chief possessions, together with ample of his skin to bend it. Requiescat in pace.”

Obviously not your regular dust-cover, such book-bindings, while rare, are not unknown.

Full DNA testing of the collection may reveal more of these ghoulish curiosities.

MORE IN AMERICA - Take a deep breath dog lovers.

A recent study that is sure to get the fur flying has concluded that cat people are ‘more intelligent’ than dog people.

Much like their preferred animal, ‘cat people’ are introverted, open-minded, non-conformist and just plain more intelligent than their canine-loving counterparts, at least according to the new study.

In a personality experiment conducted in the US and presented at the annual Association for Psychological Science, participants that described themselves as ‘cat people’ scored higher on intelligence than those who identified as ‘dog people’.

Six hundred university students were surveyed about their pet preferences and then assessed on a number of other factors in a test that revealed how people gravitate to animals whose personality traits they share.

Denise Guastello, associate professor of psychology at Caroll University in Wisconsin, said: “It makes sense that a dog

person is going to be more lively, because they’re going to want to be out there, outside, talking to people, bringing their dog.

“Whereas, if you’re more introverted, and sensitive, maybe you’re more at home reading a book, and your cat doesn’t need to go outside for a walk.” In the survey, dogs proved much more popular than their feline frenemies. Sixty per cent of participants said they preferred dogs compared to 11 per cent for cats, with the rest saying both or neither. Those who chose dogs said they valued companionship, whereas cat lovers valued affection.

AGAIN IN AMERICA - If you want to add some zing to your usual stoner routine, head to Washington DC for a legal high of cannabis-infused coffee.

The cold-brewed drink, which is called Legal, contains about 20 milligrams of THC, a key psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.

Creator Adam Stites describes the beverage as like having a “nice glass of wine”.

The Legal drinks line by Mirth Provisions comes in five flavours: plain, cream and sugar, and fruit flavours cherry, lemon and pomegranate. Each is mixed with a different strain of cannabis for a different effect.

Mirth declares its intent is to “promote widespread joy and secure the blessings of euphoria for ourselves and our buds”.

Washington, along with Colorado, is one of two states in which recreational marijuana is legal.

IN AMERICA - drones and thermal imaging are something you’d usually associate with a war of epic proportions, but now they’re being used to fight feral pigs.

Yep, herds of 180 kilo hogs are currently reaping $1.5 billion a year of damage on America’s farmlands.

Officials are also concerned the pigs could be spreading a deadly Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea virus (literally a pig with the runs), which has killed 7 million piglets but is not a threat to humans.

Now, 11 thermal scopes that snap onto high-powered rifles have been ordered - at $12,000 a piece - all part of a $20 million project to combat the swine.

It means a sniper-style night-time assault on the pigs that officials are hoping will come up trumps.

Another technique being used at the moment is the “Judas Pig”, when feral sows with radio transmitter collars are released back to their wild herds.

Drones are also being considered in this war on swine. Who will win - man or pig?

fair Dinkum!

Off Shift

DEAR MAL,I think you need to ask yourself

why you want to upstage this guy. Does your girlfriend still have a thing for him? If she does, you definitely need to talk about it. But if you are just being insecure then I suggest you forget about breaking into houses and drugging people and just enjoy the party for what it is.

Kind Regards, Susan

SEnSiBLE SuSan

BACoN BURGER: Fighting swine with military precision in the Us

Cat People v Dog People

BIKE FOR SALE

HARLEY DAVIDSON 07 NIGHT TRAIN CHEAP

Can help with finance. Very clean new tyres 200 rear tyre 6 month REGORWC looks right rides right. Information, photos phone Reuban or email: rp.watson@hotmail.com. Can freight bike.

$17,750Call: 0418 754 206

BOAT FOR SALE

QUINTREX 5MTR HALF / CUDDY CAB

Near New 70hp Tohatsu TLDI motor. All the extras for creek & off shore fishing included. Offshore Safety gear. Everything Works. Dry boat & powers well in all conditions. Owner recently layed off & now retired. Other pics / view available by email.

$12,000Call: 0419 587 668

BOAT FOR SALE

2011 CUSTOM BASS BOAT

115 Mercury Optimax (18hrs), Mercury smartcraft gauges, Hydraulic steering, electric motor, Lowrance HDS 8 & Structure scan at the helm, 100ltr fuel tank, Scotty downriggers & rod holders, 50Ltr live bait tank, Seven built in compartments & many more extras.

$37,500Call: 0438 117 725

CRIB ROOM FOR SALE

14.4mtr x 3.35 mtr Trailer Mounted Crib Kitchenette, air conditioned seating for 40 men 3 x toilets Gas Lift Shades & Pull out decks, 2500 litre Water Tank 2500 litres Waste Tank Ready to Plug to Generator

$180,000Call: 0428 691 429

CAR FOR SALE

VE SSV COMMODORE

475 BHP Rear Wheels Full X Force Exhaust OTR Induction Stage 5 VCM Cam Mafless Tune Ripshifter Black Leather Interior.

$30,000Call: 0437 331 814

CAR FOR SALE

HOLDEN COMMODORE OMEGA VE 2007

VE Omega 06/2007 V6 auto 86500 kms Phantom Black Pontiac front 20” rims - 5 GST mag rims, rear spoiler & dual exhaust protector mat fitted. Price inc 6 months rego. Vehicle located in Longreach.

$14,500Call: 0428 458 149 Call: 749 381 550

ROOM FOR RENT

SELF CONTAINED CABIN ACCOMODATION

Furnished, self contained, ensuite cabins now available in Mount Morgan, just 35 mins to Rockhampton. Quiet and secure. Suit single working male.

$160/wk

CAR FOR SALE

HSV 2005 VZ R8 CLUBSPORT - RED

Auto V8 - 54000 kms. 2 owners only 10.5 inc DVD player in roof Red Car Bra & Mirror covers Black Leather upholstery. Ceramic coated extractors, 5 Mag wheels. Vehicle in Longreach.

$23,000Call: 0428 458 149

CAR FOR SALE

HOLDEN HSV R8 CLUB SPORT 2001

V8 Auto 84000 kms. Met Silver, GTS Bonnet & Senator Front Charcoal Leather Upholstery, Black Car Bra & Mirror Covers, Tow Bar / Air Bag suspension. Immaculate condition. Vehicle in Longreach.

$15,000Call: 0428 458 149

TILES FOR SALE

DESIGNER TILES FOR SALE

Tiles left over from our renovation.

$100Call: 0428 154 653

XT500 FRAME FOR SALE

1977 XT500 FRAME

Ready for that new project. Have lots of other stuff as well including airbox/ pegs/ tanks / electrical / full motor (inparts) / swing arm / wheels / shockies.

$150Call: 0428 154 653

CAR FOR SALE

2003 KIA RIO

47,000 Genuine Klms, One Owner elderly gentleman, maily driven around town, good condition. Make excellent second car or first car for teenager.

$5,000Call: 0457 888 131

CAR FOR SALE

HOLDEN SS VE UTE

Immaculate 2009 model Holden SS VE commodore V8 ute, only 70,000 klms, tinted windows, 1 owner, regretful sale.

$22,500Call: 0438 377 050

XENON HID LIGHT KIT

Came with a Ford Ranger I bought - aftermarket and replaces the OEM bulbs. Was getting tired of people flicking their lights at me around town so pulled them out. They are really bright.

$80Call: 0428 154 653

BRAND NEW TRAILER MOUNTED CRIB ROOM

BIKE FOR SALE

STOCK STANDARD HONDA CRF450R

Well maintained with little hours. 2010 model (purchased new 2011). Full service history & just had last full service June 2013. A few small scratches here & there but nothing to cry about. Test ride welcome.

$5,450Call: 0419 587 668

Cert III Civil Construction Plant Operations.Cert III Civil Construction Road Construction.

Cert IV Civil Construction Supervision.Certificate IV in Building and Construction.

Could anyone help me with user guides or manuals for these please. Anything considered.

$50

WANTED

Call: 0467 233 292

NOW ABSOLUTELY FREE FOR SUBSCRIBERS at www.shiftminer.com

Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com

23rd June 2014 17

IF you are a fan of fart jokes and love nothing more than seeing liberal doses of bodily fluids on the big screen, A Million Ways to Die in the West is the movie for you.

The latest creation from comedian Seth MacFarlane of Ted and Family Guy fame,

A Million Ways to Die in the West is an attempted marriage of romantic comedy and western and, like many odd couples, the whole relationship tends to fall flat despite the early hype.

The opening credits kick things off well

with soaring panoramic desert landscapes, dimestore paperback graphics and a big, ballsy score by Joel McNeely, A Million Ways to Die in the West has the look, sound and feel of classic big production western.

The story centres on average-joe sheep

farmer Albert Stark (Seth MacFarlane) who, as a dweeby nerd, is wildly out of place in the Wild West frontier of Arizona in 1882.

When he chickens out of a gunfight, his girlfriend Louise (Amanda Seyfried) leaves him for Foy (Neil Patrick Harris), the local owner of a moustache accessories shop, and he despairs.

Enter a beautiful, lonely stranger - Anna (Charlize Theron). Albert makes firm friends with her and shows her around.

Her husband – the notorious outlaw Clinch Leatherwood (Liam Neeson) – soon comes looking for her, but Albert sees that taking the fight to Clinch may be just the courageous act he needs.

Failing to be classic, main man material can fall in your favour but sadly Seth MacFarlane comes up well short of pulling off the part of romantic lead.

Charlize Theron actually gives her role a red hot go and the quality support cast also try stoically to keep up their side of proceedings.

The overarching theme of the West being one big cesspit of death and despair works as a vehicle for bringing in some quite interesting facts, but the humour is unnecessarily burdened and desperately obvious.

It isn’t without laughs and a few of the sight gags are genuinely funny but sadly the comedic gold is a rare seam running through this generally pretty lame production.

BuM STEER FROM SETH MaCFaRLaNE

mOViE rEViEw by ELEanor ThomSon

Shift MinerHandy Cross blank grid.pdf©Lovatts Publications 5/03/09artist – mb

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10

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86 #MUIDEM

1 2 9 8

4 3 1 9 6 51 2 7

6 52 3 93 9 8 6 1 2

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Across 1. Secretly damage (equipment) 5. Metal grating 9. Flight fees (3,5)10. Iron-attracting bar12. Design (garden)13. West Indian republic14. Pleadingly, on bended ...16. Illegally import19. Alleviate21. Fibs24. Prickly desert plants25. Upstages27. Sounds28. Cued (actor)29. Humanitarian, Mother ...30. Winces

Down 1. Horse shed 2. Exposing 3. Rips 4. Hand bomb 6. Highway cafe 7. Yearnings 8. Winds together11. Elizabeth I, Good Queen ...15. Poverty17. Police district18. Braver20. Love god21. Sideways (movement)22. Seize23. Stage whispers26. Restrict (3,2)

SHIFT MINERHandy Cross 756 - (15A grid)ShiftMinerHandy091s. pdf© Lovatts Publications 10/06/2010

O R N A T E L Y T A C T I CN O I E V U UW I T H D R E W W E D G E DA I A R A R B DR E C A L L I N G S H O A LD E N E I A I

G A N G S H O R T E NT A G N S GW A V E R E D J O S SO I E E E R UT R A C E M A R A U D E R SI T M O I R M EM A I L E D S C A B B A R DE O N H A N UD E N O T E J O I N E D U P

# 67 8 1 6 5 3 4 2 7 97 3 9 1 2 8 4 6 55 2 4 9 6 7 8 1 39 7 1 4 8 6 3 5 26 4 2 3 9 5 1 8 73 8 5 7 1 2 9 4 64 6 3 8 5 9 7 2 11 5 8 2 7 3 6 9 42 9 7 6 4 1 5 3 8

LAst eDitiOn’s sOLUtiOnsPUZZLES

Off Shift

Seth MacFarlane batting way above his league with Charlize Theron

Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com

18 23rd June 2014

ALWAYS fancied hurtling through the air at speeds of up to 200 kilometres per hour? Well now you can take the plunge and experience up to 45 seconds of epic free-

fall in the skies off the Capricorn Coast. Skydive Capricorn is a locally owned

and operated business offering tandem skydiving, with its team of instructors

bringing over 20 years’ industry experience and in excess of 8000 jumps each.

With flights departing from Hedlow Airstrip, your next adrenalin hit is centrally located between Yeppoon, Rockhampton and Emu Park and will deliver views to the Keppels and landings on Farnborough Beach.

Tandem skydiving is the ultimate introduction to this highly sophisticated sport.

“The technology is great these days - it allows for really soft openings. It means we can generally cater for everyone from old grandmas through to 100kg footy players,” Skydive Capricorn owner Lloyd Cofield said.

With all of the technical to do taken care of by your instructor, all you need to do is man up, then bliss out, enjoy the scenery and suck in the sweet vibes.

Check out Australian Parachute Federation’s ‘Learn to Skydive’ video on Skydive Capricorn’s Facebook page if you are after further motivation.

As one dreamy-eyed devotee on the promo describes: “It’s about the visuals I get. What I can smell off the door. What I can taste and it just makes me feel so good.”

Lloyd - or Coey as he is more commonly known - agrees there is more to skydiving than just the jump.

“It’s the complete experience. The anticipation of a great day ahead, the

smell of the fuel, the awesome views, the challenge and then an overwhelming sense of achievement.”

Coey should know. He has been skydiving for 22 years and has competed as part of the Australian four-way formation (team of five including cameraman) national skydiving team at the world championships in countries including Spain, France and Turkey.

Coey reckons it is a rare occasion when someone doesn’t enjoy their skydiving experience and that he has only had two refusals in all the time he has been taking tandems.

“You might get someone who may not necessarily want to jump again but they are still always very proud and happy with their achievement.”

•Tandem skydive from 10,000ft with 30 seconds of freefall is $390

•Tandem skydive from 12,000ft with 45 seconds of freefall is $440

•Includes 30 minute safety briefing, including paperwork and all skydiving and safety gear

•Video and photo packages also available

•For further information and bookings go to: www.skydivecapricorn.com.au and

• https://www.facebook.com/pages/Skydive-Capricorn/133787903449237

BLuE SkIES OpEN ON Cap COaSTOff Shift

Contact Simon Milton 07 3114 8652 or Jeff White 07 3114 8621 to discuss how we can help you. www.morgans.com.au/milton

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Our advisers provide investment recommendations which are supported by award winning research. Clients have access to a wealth of experience in superannuation and self managed super fund advice, retirement and estate planning, portfolio management, strategic planning and personal risk insurances.Morgans and CIMB – Please visit www.morgans.com.au to understand the products and services within our alliance.

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It is one thing to be clever

and another to be wise

George R. R. Martin

One heck of a rush with Skydive Capricorn

Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com

23rd June 2014 19

BLuE SkIES OpEN ON Cap COaST IN YEPPOON - WELL, the winds have been making things blooming lousy offshore on the Capricorn Coast, according to John from Rosslyn Bay Fishermans Market.

While all of those hopes for the loooong weekend were given a pummelling, the weather appears to be dropping and should hopefully mean an attack out wide is imminent.

Spanish are on the horizon and should be starting to school up by the end of the week.

John recommends setting your sights on 40 Acre Paddock or head for the hills about 35 miles out to seek out some Spanish action.

For quarry closer in, John says whiting are fishing well with nice pan-sized specimens coming out of Corio Bay and Yellow Patch.

Good quality crabs are coming out of the estuaries around the Fitzroy and Corio Bay.

IN MACKAY - Winds have been on the wail off Mackay as well, but Ashley from Nashy’s Compleat Angler says the rivers have been putting in a tidy performance.

Whiting, bream, grunter have been in good supply and Ashley has still been pulling decent sized barra out of the Pioneer.

With water temps remaining warm, Ashley reckons you can hope to snag

a barra around the 65-70cm mark and perhaps pull in the odd metre mark.

The other Mackay-way hooray is that the harbour break wall is now open.

For six weeks only you can hopefully dine out on mac, queen fish and trevally.

Ashley recommends using pilchards or prawns on the bait front, and for surface lures he reckons to give Halco roosta poppers or River 2 Sea bubble pops a go.

IN GLADSTONE - Yep, windy off Gladstone too and a wee bit chilly at times but thankfully the estuaries have been stepping it up with good numbers of salmon and barra, says Dylan from Pat’s Tackle World.

The barra might be a bit harder to catch but Dylan reckons if you throw a live mullet down a deep hole of a creek you should be able to sniff one out.

Dylan says the Calliope River has been serving up some quite exceptional salmon and that there are nice grunter, big bream, flathead and whiting around the Gladstone traps.

Try the southern end of the narrows or the flats in the harbour.

Prawns and crabs are also being pulled in in good numbers throughout the upper estuary reaches.

If you have a good photo or fishing yarn

send it through to our resident bait chucker- angus.peacocke@shiftminer.comQueenfish caught on a Halco roosta popper

Bait ShOp BantEr

Off Shift

river sessiOns 2014Saturday, June 28, 2014Region: Queensland, Mackay

Get your groove on at Mackay’s River Sessions 2014. Featuring: The Amity Affliction, Rufus, Art Vs Science, Horrorshow, Dan Sultan, Sticky Fingers, In Hearts Wake, Papa Vs Pretty, Allday, Sweater Beats (usa), Hayden James, Safia, Dexter, Tigerlily, JDG, Stevie Mink, Saints Alight, Reecey Boi, King, Naylo, Weathered, Jordan James, Scowny Xedge and CSG. But with the Mackay Showgrounds hosting over 40 bands playing over 12 hours you are sure to find your personal line-up of awesomeness.

For tickets and further information go to www.riversessions.com.au

rOckhAmptOn cUp 2014Saturday, June 21, 2014 Region: Queensland, Rockhampton

Get frisky with the fillies at this year’s Rockhampton Cup.The $100,000 Inspirations Paint Rockhampton Cup is the pinnacle event of the XXXX Gold Winter Racing Carnival, which commences on May 29. Indulge in The Archer Pavilion’s Mediterranean gourmet BBQ lunch at $100pp (includes entry, reserved table in The Archer Pavilion with five cans of XXXX Gold, Bitter or Hahn 3.5 or five glasses Martini Sparkling Wines or five glasses Habitat Wine or any mixture of five of the above drinks). Or get a gang together and take a table in Lindauer Lawn Village Marquee. If you are after a punt or a party, the Rockhampton Cup is on the money. Bookings for all areas are essential and can be made by contacting the RJC on 4937 4000 or email admin@rjc.com.au.

BrisBAne rUgBy gOes BUshSaturday, July 5, 2014Region: Queensland, Roma

Roma’s Bassett Park will look more like Brisbane’s Ballymore Oval when Premier Grade rugby teams Norths and Brothers make a special fly-in visit to put on an action-packed game for locals.

Billed as “Brisbane Rugby - Goes Bush”, the competition game will see a star-studded line-up going into battle for what is expected to be a massive crowd of regional rugby supporters.

Brought to Roma through the assistance of QRU, Brothers and Norths, the game will provide fans with not only a big day of rugby action, but also a full day of entertainment with loads of local music, fantastic food and plenty of free fun for kids.

Entry is $6 per person and all funds raised on the day will go to the local Echidna Rugby Club.

Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) member MAS Accommodation and business member Murphy Pipe & Civil are both major sponsors of the event.

For further information contact: Jackie Erickson, Secretary of the Roma Rugby Union Committee on 0427 227 428.

Brothers and Norths players Luke Beauchamp (left) and Bart Ritchie (right) pack a scrum with Maranoa Regional Council Mayor Rob Loughnan after announcing the two teams will come head to head in Roma on Saturday, July 5.

SHIFT MINER’S PICKWhat’s happening?

WAnt mOre events in yOUr WOrLD?Go online and look at our events Guide. it’s updated daily.www.shiftminer.com or Get the iphone app

Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com

20 23rd June 2014

Sport Monday - Roundup

Mitch powers Bluff to victoryPosted June 16: A PLAYER’S player and man-of-the-match performance by fullback Mitch Power delivered the Bluff Rabbitohs a victory in their top-of-the-table clash against Clermont on the weekend.

The win puts them in first place in the Central Highlands rugby league competition and sends a strong signal about Bluff’s grand final ambitions for 2014.

The 29 point to 28 victory was hard fought for Bluff, who were just able to withstand a late rally from Clermont who no doubt were energised by their vocal home crowd.

Midway through the second half, Bluff led Clermont 28 points to 18, but Clermont then scored two tries - one of which was converted bringing the teams back level.

However with just two minutes to go, Mitch Power kicked the winning field goal for Bluff.

“It was something we had practiced a bit at training,” says Bluff coach Josh Byrne.

“Mitch Power had a great game, not only did he kick the winning field goal, he also scored our first two tries.

“Clermont are not defending premiers for no reason, and to beat them at home on a wet and windy night took a massive effort, and to get the points is very pleasing.”

While it didn’t rain during the game, the ground was wet from earlier storms which meant handling

was difficult for both teams.This led to a more forward

orientated match and resulted in a few unforced handling errors.

Nonetheless Byrne heaped praise on his forward pack.

“Both sides made some cheap handling errors, but the Clermont forwards are widely considered the best pack in the competition,” he said.

“But I think we more than matched them in that department.

“Forwards Chris Conway and Brendan Porter both had excellent defensive and running games.

“It was a very physical game, everyone had to stand up.”

Other players mentioned for their performances were Mitch Wyatte and Keegan Freeman who had strong games in the back line.

The big downside for Bluff, is that it looks like second rower Dale Rice will be out for the season with a shoulder injury.

“Dale will be a big loss, but it looks like everyone else made it through OK, it was a good bus ride home, it’s been a while since we beat Clermont at home,” Byrne added.

Topsy turvy CQ leaguePosted June 13: IT’S going to be an interesting two weeks in the Central Highlands men’s rugby league competition.

There is a top-of-the-table clash this Saturday and bottom-of-the-table-clash the weekend after.

This weekend Bluff play second placed Clermont who are just one point behind them on nine points. Sitting further back

Blackwater was too strong for Brothers, winning 24 points to five. Blackwater currently sits in fifth position with three wins and three losses in the central Queensland rugby competition.

Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com

23rd June 2014 21

Sport Monday - Roundup

on the table are Emerald Tigers on seven points, Cowboys and Blackwater on six points, Springsure on two points and the unlucky Middlemount side on none.

Every team has now played each other once, but according to competition secretary Cameron Stallard, that doesn’t mean anyone is any closer to knowing who will be around on grand final day.

Emerald roll Rolleston in rugbyPosted June 16: DESPITE the defeat on the weekend, the Rolleston rugby side remains upbeat about their prospects for the 2014 Central Highlands rugby season.

Their loss by 17 points to Emerald means they are currently sitting on four losses from five games.

Rolleston centres (and brothers) Kelani and Kendall Hecke are both in the U19 Country representative team. Joining them there is Rolleston hooker Joey Marshall.

Meanwhile local miner Sam Fairweather is in the senior shadow Country team and several more players have been away trialling for the CQ side.

Win away from winningPosted June 16: IN theory the team that can win away from home will race to the top of the table in the Central Highlands rugby union competition.

The trouble is no team has been able to do it yet, meaning that after six games the points table is decided completely by how big the margin has been when you won at home.

Or put another way, it depends

on how badly beaten you were in your away game.

Sitting on top of the table on 21 points are the Moranbah Bulls, followed by Capella on 18, Emerald on 15 and Clermont and Rolleston together on 14 points.

On first glance that could seem like teams aren’t travelling with a full compliment of players, but president of the Central Highlands competition Eddie Shaw, says it speaks more to the evenness in this year competition.

“Yes it is an incredible result; every home team has won their game,” he said.

“Everyone is proud of their little home fortress and everyone can win when they are playing there.

“In most cases teams are travelling with a full side, or close to it, so it doesn’t say rosters are preventing players from playing, but it just reflects how even the competition is.”

“At this stage any two teams can make the grand final.”

However Mr Shaw does say table leaders, the Moranbah Bulls, have to be considered competition favourites given how well coached, organised and strong they are at the moment.

But having said that, he points out that Rolleston on the bottom of the table - but just a bonus point win away - are a team to be watched.

Rolleston have had six players selected in Country squads this month, meaning they have the youth and enthusiasm to go all the way.

Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com

22 23rd June 2014

h e i g h t s

Money Matters

MaNDaLay, CavER-SHaM, Wa$5,900,000If you are gaga for the gee gees, this “little” bolt hole on the Swan River might be worth a squizz. Nineteen fenced paddocks, exercise track and a massive stable complex will keep your loved ones in the lap of luxury and there is even a rather nice homestead for the family too. Only 30 minutes from Perth’s CBD, this luxury oasis is the perfect place to kick back at on your weeks off. This property commands 250 metres of Swan River frontage, stunning valley views, beautifully landscaped gardens and comes with your very own life-sized horse sculpture. The missus will love that!

Contact johng@garlandinternational.com.au for details.

THE DIaMOND RaNCH, MONTaNaPrice: $10,000,000Ever have a hankering for whittling away the days on the porch at your very own ranch? Go one up on your American-style barn kit home and make the move state-side to Montana. Run cattle on your 2930 acres and turn off some hay while settling in for some quality elk hunting and wild trout fishing. The main house and adjoining bunk house were built to highlight the private lake. The ranch also offers a private guest house as well as a manager’s home. You won’t find a better place to hang your big hat.

Email info@fayranches.com for further information.

aLBaNy, THE BaHaMaSPrice: From $1,600,000If you are looking for somewhere to savour your dough without coughing up your hard earned cash to the taxman, head to Albany, a new luxury resort community in The Bahamas. “Albany is the collective vision of its developers, private investment company Tavistock Group and golf icons Tiger Woods and Ernie Els”. Woah, heavy. Albany will feature a variety of residences that include cottages, beachfront and golf course custom homes, equestrian ranchettes and luxurious marina residences designed by some of the most notable architects in the world, all in a “favourable tax environment”. It even has “adult pool and bar with private cabanas”. Sound like tax haven heaven?

Contact www.aylesford.com/international if you want in.

HaCIENDa, BONNIE DOON$439,000Feel the serenity and create your own castle with 40m of absolute lake frontage at Bonnie Doon in country Victoria. Two storey “hacienda” with glass on three sides to enhance superb water views. Easy access to enjoy a range of water sports. New open-plan kitchen and huge family room. Large entertaining deck - ideal for barbecues and relaxing. Downstairs garage and boat storage.

For more information contact Jenny Ford at Mansfield Real Estate on 0425 737 037.

RooM WIth A VIEW

ExOTIC HOMESfOr ThE mObiLE miNEr

»

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Send your exotic dream property details and low resolution images to justin.carlos@shiftminer.com

Shift Miner Magazine www.shiftminer.com

23rd June 2014 23

Money Matters

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