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Copper comeback

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The bitumen thatbeat a cyclone

Dozers with a difference

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IN THIS ISSUE

All material is copyright and cannot be produced in part or in full by any means without written permission of the managing editor. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher.

7 DRIVERLESS DOZERS

18-23 ADANI OPPORTUNITIES

28-31 BAUXITE RISING

32-35

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uring

PHOTO FEATURE

Osborne mine site infrastructure in north-west Queensland.

2COPPER COMEBACK

Cover image: courtesy of Ros Budd

Contacts:Managing Editor: Robert Dark 0417 623 156Senior Journalist: Belinda Humphries 0439 726 074Journalist: Bruce Macdonald 0418 154 016 Graphics Editor: Jim Thorogood 0418 790 745Email: [email protected]: PO Box 945, Townsville, QLD, 4810Web: www.i-q.net.au

Advertising booking deadline:Spring 2017 edition - August 24

24 Construction

26 Emerging Leaders

27 Renewable Energy

36 Local Government

38 Building Communities

40 Mining Heritage

48 Machinery Review

2 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | WINTER 2017

“We think we should

be entering into a

fairly good copper

market next year”

Carl Hallion

Capricorn Copper expects the mill to start turning in October as it hits the fi nal straight in a $110 million project to bring its north-west Queensland copper operation back online.

Chief executive offi cer/managing director Carl Hallion said more than 300 people were working on the project, 120km north of Mount Isa, as construction peaked and the operational build-up began.

That will drop back to a steady state workforce of about 220 in production.

“We should be ramping up operational activity through the middle of the year so we start feeding the mill in October,” Mr Hallion said. “We’re still on track with that at this stage – that is going pretty well.”

He expects to be shipping concentrate by the end of the year and ramping up to steady-state production in early 2018.

A fi ve-year logistics contract worth about $50 million is in the fi nal stages of tender.

Mr Hallion said all other major contracts

had been awarded apart from some mill

modifi cation work.

Mining contractor Byrnecut is continuing

development work and rehabilitation work

underground. Ausenco has the engineering,

procurement and construction management

contract for processing plant modifi cations.

Ventilation capacity has been upgraded,

power supply installed and Outotec has won a

contract worth about $10 million to construct

a pastefi ll plant.

Mr Hallion said Dawsons Group was carrying

out the structural mechanical pipework and

a number of refurbishment programs on the

mill. Minelec has carried out electrical work,

LogiCamms is working on the process control

system and Outotec will install a new HIGmill.

Capricorn Copper was well advanced in

assembling a maintenance team and had

commenced recruitment for its process plant

operations, Mr Hallion said.

“We have a heavy focus on the Mount Isa

area and then Townsville and Cairns,” he said.

Lighthouse Minerals and EMR Capital took

control of the mothballed Mount Gordon

operation from former owner Aditya Birla in

Capricorn Copper on track for 2017 production milestone

NEWS | Copper

www.i-Q.net.au 3

October 2015 to restart mining as Capricorn

Copper. The State Government has granted

prescribed project status to the restart, in

what Mr Hallion described as a positive sign of

support.

“The Co-ordinator-General’s offi ce has been

working with us when we’ve needed help with

any processes,” Mr Hallion said.

“We were fully permitted but there are

tweaks here and there for the different

operating strategies that we need and they

have been very helpful.”

The new owners are aiming to process

1.6Mtpa-1.7Mtpa of ore over a mine life of at

least 10 years.

Mr Hallion said Capricorn Copper would

be viable no matter what was happening in

the commodities cycle as it restarted. “But

we think we should be entering into a fairly

good copper market next year. We are getting

feedback about a fairly strong market out

there at the moment,” he said.

A strong copper price means north-west Queensland can look forward to an exciting 12 months of economic growth, according to Commerce North West president Travis Crowther.

In the 12 months to June 30, copper prices rose from $US2.19 a pound to $US2.69 a pound and Fat Prophets resource analyst David Lennox believes prices could rise as high as $US3.25 a pound over the next 12 months, based on a continuation of the weaker US dollar and a reduction in supply.

‘’The last 12 months have been a very solid period for copper and there is an optimistic outlook for the next 12 months,’’ Mr Lennox said. ‘’Even as far out as November 2018 we would expect to see a picture involving higher prices. So the next 12 months

look rosy for both copper prices and producers.’’

Mr Crowther said the strong copper price had been a boon for the local economy and he expected that to continue over the next 12 months.

‘’A guaranteed strong price means copper mines can pour more money into exploration and that means fl ow-on effects for the region,’’ he said.

Mr Crowther said he had seen a noticeable turnaround in the region’s economy over the last six months.

‘’After a diffi cult period when ore prices dropped, we have defi nitely seen an improvement over the last six months,’’ he said.

‘’I think the next 12 months will be a buoyant period for north-west Queensland and a stronger copper price will have a lot to do with that.’’

Rosy outlook for red metal

Byrnecut is continuing underground development.

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NEWS | Rocklands

“Everyone is aligned and motivated and working towards achieving our objectives”

Mark Gregory

Cloncurry’s Rocklands copper operation doubled its mining fl eet in June as it started up a second pit and continued to work towards a production goal of 10,000 tonnes of copper concentrate per month.

Chief executive offi cer Mark Gregory said momentum was building at the CuDeco project as it advanced towards nameplate capacity.

Mr Gregory, a former Walz Group executive, joined CuDeco in February – around the time the company’s board underwent a shake-up and Rocklands mining operations were suspended following a Department of Natural Resources and Mines safety audit.

“There’s been a lot of change at senior management level in the last three months, but that has stabilised now,” Mr Gregory said.

“We have key people in key positions at both the senior executive team and site-based management team.

“Everyone is aligned and motivated and working towards achieving our objectives, short-term and long-term.

“With any mine and processing plant which is relatively new there are some teething issues, but we’re addressing those.”

The Rocklands mine, 17km west of Cloncurry, was offi cially opened in October 2016 after a $640 million build.

It has been exporting commercial quantities of native copper and concentrate since September last year.

But getting the processing plant to a point where it is consistently achieving nameplate capacity on a monthly basis is the mark Mr Gregory’s team is striving to reach to deliver a successful business model for the operation fi nancially and operationally.

Andy’s Earthmovers, which has merged into the Emeco Group, commenced mining operations in March and has ramped up to 24/7 operations across two pits – Las Minerale and Rocklands South - to achieve target ore production.

The primary fl eet has more than doubled in that time to include two 250-tonne class excavators (Hitachi EX2500) and 10 Caterpillar 785 haul trucks of 135 tonnes capacity.

This is supplemented by an ancillary fl eet of bulldozers, graders, water trucks, service trucks and drill and blast subcontractor Roc-

CuDeco builds momentum after rocky run

Drill has increased its fl eet of production drills from four to six.

Mr Gregory said the Rocklands team was aiming to produce about 8,000 tonnes of concentrate in June and would build up in a methodical way to 10,000 tonnes per month.

The company has been investing in minor circuit modifi cations and recently installed a metallurgical laboratory.

It will have to weigh up the technical and economic factors involved in commercialising its cobalt deposits, which would involve the commissioning of the plant’s pyrite circuit.

And while the current life of mine is 7-10 years, CuDeco is looking to use its Rocklands processing plant as a base to extend that.

“In the next few years we will be looking to see how we can develop other mining assets in the local region,” Mr Gregory said.

“Whether developing new mining leases around Rocklands or acquiring other mining operations, we have a longer term plan for growth.”

Rocklands has a workforce of about 180 and prioritises employing in the Cloncurry area. In cases where positions are fi lled from elsewhere, Mr Gregory said CuDeco offered subsidised accommodation in Cloncurry as an incentive for workers to base themselves in that community. “We see ourselves as a local company and part of the community,” he said.

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NEWS | Pajingo

Minjar Gold is investigating a potential new open-cut operation at Pajingo in north Queensland as it looks to boost throughput at the on-site processing plant.

The new owner is keen to develop the gold mine into a long-term operation, according to general manager - Pajingo operations Kerry Payne.

“Currently the Pajingo process plant is an underutilised asset, so the main objective is to see the plant operate on a full-time basis,” Mr Payne said. “There is an abundance of opportunities in the area and the key is to prioritise and resource appropriately so that we can convert ‘potential’ to ‘deliverable’ in the shortest timeframe possible.”

Minjar Gold acquired the Pajingo gold mine

New owner opens door to gold mine growthThe Vera Underground portal at Pajingo.

A gold pour at Pajingo.

and surrounding exploration tenements from Evolution Mining in September last year for up to $52 million in cash and royalties.

Operating since 2009, the company is focused on becoming a mid-tier player in the Australian market, according to chief executive offi cer Michael Ji.

Minjar Gold has a signifi cant presence in Western Australia, where it owns the Golden Dragon mine as well as the Kirkalocka and Fields Find gold projects.

It entered into a management agreement in April with parent company Shandong Tianye Group Bid Co for the operation of the Southern Cross Mine, also in WA.

Pajingo, 50km south of Charters Towers, produces 60,000-70,000oz of gold per annum and has a workforce of about 240 Minjar employees and contractors.

Mr Payne said it had recently expanded the mine and exploration geological teams to support the regional growth strategy.

The site’s overall numbers were expected to increase again in the next 12-18 months if the open-cut operation opportunities were proven and approved, he said.

The operation is also targeting other near-mine epithermal deposits, or ‘transformational’ targets.

“This is in addition to the areas we have identifi ed that could be mined from the current underground infrastructure that will extend the current life of mine,” Mr Payne said. “We believe a long-term presence in the region shouldn’t just rely on the one traditional ore source and our growth plans refl ect this.”

Aside from growth the site has also focused on the underground’s operational effi ciency, introducing mining techniques not traditionally used at the Pajingo mine. These include in-cycle Fibrecrete for development, larger diameter production blast holes, emulsion explosives and mechanical rising via a small modifi ed raise bore.

Pajingo has been operating since 1986 under owners including Battle Mountain Gold and Normandy Mining, Newmont Mining Corporation, North Queensland Metals and Heemskirk Consolidated, Conquest Mining, and Evolution Mining.

“Pajingo has a production history over more than 30 years, but due to the nature of its mined orebodies it has rarely ever had a life-of-mine beyond three years,” Mr Payne said. “The current Vera Underground at Pajingo remains around this three-year mark but we certainly have fi ve to 10-plus-year plans based around our current exploration activity.”

Regarding the local community, Mr Payne said the operation had always taken a ‘local fi rst’ approach to recruitment and procurement and would continue to do so.

“We have recently awarded a very signifi cant earth moving contract to a locally based company and, amongst others, continue to engage local drilling contractors and Charters Towers-based engineering fi rms,” he said.

“In respect to individual job seekers. we always maintain a preference for local talent or those willing to relocate to Charters Towers.”

6 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | WINTER 2017 www.i-Q.net.au 7

NEWS | Mining

The drivers’ seats may be empty, but that won’t stop these dozers pushing dirt.

Toowoomba-based Wolff Group is putting the latest semi-autonomous tractor system technology to the test in real mine conditions, with three Cat D11T machines going to work at an open-cut coal operation in central Queensland.

The Australian-fi rst production trial at Curragh mine near Blackwater is being conducted in partnership with Hastings Deering and Caterpillar.

“These machines will be game-changers for the mining sector,” Wolff Mining director Terry Wolff said.

“The unpredictable nature of the resources sector means companies need to run more effi ciently than ever before.

“Technology will allow for resilience: not only paving the way for increasing productivity rates and operational excellence, but will also play a critical role in continuity and extending employment. It is about being smarter, safer and future proofi ng business.”

The technology allows one operator to oversee the activities of up to four D11T

Wolff on track with leading technology

tractors from a safe and remote location.Co-owner Wanda Wolff said the machines

would allow people previously excluded from in-cab, manual operation of dozers to enter the industry.

“The repetitive nature of this kind of excavations, including tasks of ripping rock, means workers usually retired before they were 50,” she said.

“These machines will allow operators to be upskilled, creating a more adaptive organisation. We are excited to be involved; as a smaller, agile company we will quickly adapt to unlock and fully leverage the potential of the technology in shaping the future of our business.”

Wolff Group, Hastings Deering and Caterpillar showcased the machines at a three-day industry demonstration event at Willawong in Brisbane. Hastings Deering

executive general manager – mining Mark Scott said the equipment had been tested in research trial conditions at Black Thunder Mine in Wyoming, USA.

“This trial is the fi rst of this scale in Australia and outside previous test environments,” Mr Scott said. “It is also the fi rst production implementation of Caterpillar’s COMMAND for Dozing semi-autonomous tractor system: the very latest in technology and part of Caterpillar’s wider MineStar suite of technology for mine site automation of hauling and drilling.”

Mr Scott said the technology would reduce unit costs through increased dozer operation, increased process consistency and increased execution of best-in -lass practices.

The mine-site trial is expected to run for 18 months.

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Wolff Mining directors Wanda and Terry Wolff with Mark Scott from Hastings Deering (right) and the Cat D11T dozers.


NEWS | Foxleigh

The levee and creek diversion area at Foxleigh.

player moved to shed its Australian coal mines after posting a 2015 loss of more than $5 billion.

Backed by Taurus Funds Management, Realm Resources (via its 99.9 per cent interest in Middlemount South) acquired a 70 per cent interest in Foxleigh mine as well as two exploration areas for a cash payment of $43.7 million, plus royalties and bank guarantees.

Its Foxleigh joint venture partners are POSCO Australia (20 per cent) and Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metals Australia (10 per cent).

Mr Lewis said there would always be a difference in approach between a small-to-medium operator and a global operator.

“Foxleigh is the most valuable asset we own, so we will do everything we can to add value to it and extend its life, whereas a major has so many things in their portfolio - their focus is different,” he said.

For Realm Resources, creating value means doing the right mine planning, exploration work and undertaking rehabilitation in a way that’s sustainable.

“It’s a good news story for the company, the community and the state,” Mr Lewis said.

AE Group recently completed civil works including a 4.1km creek diversion and construction of 5.6km of fl ood protection levees at the Foxleigh site to allow continued mining operations, which are

Out-foxing the whims of the coal marketFresh approach to take Anglo cast-off beyond the next decade

New owner Realm Resources has overseen a $15 million civil works program to set the Foxleigh pit up for the next eight to 10 years of mining.

But managing director Glen Lewis believes the company can push the coal operation’s life out even further as it invests in exploration efforts on a 57,000ha tenement package that stretches from Curragh North to Middlemount mine.

It’s part of a long-term vision to make the most of an asset acquired from Anglo American in August last year as the global

www.i-Q.net.au 9

now working through a superseded interim levee.

“The other thing being run currently is a fair bit of legacy rehabilitation work,” Mr Lewis said.

“Wolff (Group) have been in and have done a fantastic job on rehabilitating old mining areas - about 354ha.

“We will be continuing to do legacy rehabilitation because it helps us reduce the fi nancial assurance held by the government.”

In addition to those works, Mr Lewis said Realm Resources was investing in excess of $3 million on exploration this calendar year.

Mr Lewis said it had “only just scratched the surface” so far, but had identifi ed six targets it believed were worth putting a lot of time and money into.

“I’m fairly confi dent we will fi nd more coal and keep this project going for quite some time,” he said.

While coal prices started to increase about the time Realm Resources took over Foxleigh, Mr Lewis said they had wanted to

position the operation to be able to survive

future downturns.

A restructure in March saw 120 full-

time jobs reduced, with CHPP operations

and maintenance activities outsourced

to Sedgman Contractors and Comiskey

Mining Services respectively.

“Operations should be a lot more

sustainable for the long-term coal cycle,”

Mr Lewis said.

Foxleigh – which produces low volatile

PCI coal - now has a workforce of about

360, including labour hire positions.

“When you take over an acquisition you

start with a 100-day plan,” Mr Lewis said.

“There are a signifi cant number of things

you need to do in the fi rst 100 days to

make the required changes for the future.

We are beyond that point.

“We have done most of the structural

changes and the rest is about bedding in

the changes and then value adding.”

“Operations should be a lot more sustainable for the long-term cycle”

Glen Lewis

Phone: 07 4779 0173Email: [email protected]

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A strategic expansion into Townsville by polythene pipe fabricator and supplier Greens Water Group (GWG) in February has been further vindicated by confi rmation Adani will build its $16.5 billion Carmichael coal project.

GWG managing director Darren Werda seized the opportunity to buy a 5357sq m site in Keane St, Currajong, which had been used by a pipeline supply business.

The site features a 1430sq m industrial warehouse with a clearance up to 10m, an airconditioned offi ce and showroom plus on-site car parking and large concrete hardstand and yard at the rear for additional storage.

Mr Werda said GWG would continue to supply the agriculture and aquaculture sectors from its Ayr facility 100km south of Townsville.

“The Townsville operation is focused on mining, wholesale, industrial, civil and local government sectors,” Mr Werda said.

The new warehouse facility has given GWG the capability to stock a much more comprehensive range of poly pipes, fi ttings and valves.

“Last year we carried about $350,000 in stock but now we have invested $1 million in a much bigger range of products,” Mr Werda said.

“I hope to double that again in the next 12 months.”

Pre-construction work at Adani’s Carmichael coal mine in the Galilee Basin is scheduled to start in September and 500 administrative staff will be based in the company’s headquarters in Townsville.

“I always thought Townsville had hit the bottom of the cycle late last year and it was the right time to invest,” Mr Werda said.

It certainly seems his hunch was right, with work on a new stadium for the North Queensland Cowboys National Rugby League team scheduled to start in September.

GWG now has the capability to deliver product fabricated in-house to work sites in the Townsville area within 24 hours.

“We have forged partnerships with major transport companies that allow us to deliver wholesale or fabricated products to mine sites quicker than southern-based businesses,” Mr Werda said.

Mr Werda and marketing manager Karen Seal have been travelling extensively across north Queensland to get the message out that they have the capability to deliver wholesale product and fabricated jobs quickly and effi ciently, saving time and money.

Promising project pipeline as Townsville fi rm steps up

To the untrained eye, this is a large tangle of poly pipes with some sort of industrial use.

In fact it is 12m of 315mm-diameter poly pipe made into a manifold which was installed at the sewerage pump station at the southern end of Townsville’s iconic Strand foreshore late last year.

It was fabricated in GWG’s new warehouse and fabrication facility in Currajong and delivered to the site in two 6m sections.

“All the Townsville City Council staff had to do was dig the hole, drop it into ground and join it together,” GWG manager Darren Werda said.

“It illustrates our capabilities to deliver custom-designed products which, when delivered, can be connected with minimum disruption.”

Custom design brings manifold options

GWG | Advertorial

“It’s nothing fancy. I just like whatI see ....”

Neil Richardson

Neil Richardson has been keen on fl ying since he was a schoolboy.

But confi rmation back then of red-green colour blindness meant giving up hopes of a career in the airforce or with a commercial airline.

Today his aerial aptitude dovetails nicely with the travel demands of being a quantity surveyor based in regional Queensland.

The principal of Rockhampton-based Neil Richardson Quantity Surveyors gained his pilot’s licence in 2003 and regularly fl ies his Cessna 210 to jobs around central Queensland and beyond.

“That’s what started me in fl ying – it meant I could go anywhere,” he said.

Being able to fl y out to centres throughout the Bowen Basin, for example, rather than driving meant he could be back at home every night with his family and could often fi t in several locations in a day.

And as he has covered the miles over the years Mr Richardson has made the most of his birds-eye view to take photographs

“It’s nothing fancy, just using my phone. I just like what I see,” he said.

So do others.When fl ooding hit Rockhampton in

April in the wake of Cyclone Debbie, Mr Richardson fl ew out from the airstrip at his Pandora property north-west of the city for fi ve days in a row to take a look at water levels around the region.

He posted photos from each day’s fl ight on Facebook, where they reached more than 500,000 people from April 4-10 and drew many comments.

“Unfortunately it doesn’t make any money, but it’s a community service thing I like to do and people like to see it,” he said.

A small selection of Mr Richardson’s aerial photos of fl oods and other scenes are shared on these pages.

Readers can fi nd more athttps://www.facebook.com/njrqs/

Winging it brings top shots

Hastings Deering sales/service depot during fl ooding in Rockhampton, April 2017.


NEWS

www.i-Q.net.au 13

Ensham mine dragline, Emerald fl ood, 2008.

Big Red Sand Dune west of Birdsville, 2009.

Humpy Island, off Yeppoon, 2014.

New camp at Moorevale mine, Coppabella, 2009.

Fairbain Dam, upstream of Emerald - January 2008.


RENEWABLE ENERGY | Jobs

The boom in large-scale solar projects throughout regional Queensland has fuelled demand for workers in the renewable energy sector.

But where are the skills coming from in a niche area that was virtually non-existent fi ve years ago?

“Solar plants are quite simple to put together - so it’s really about the civil works, which is putting in the structure that the actual panels sit on,” ACRWorld Australia associate director Rob Lawrence said.

“Then it’s putting the panels together and connecting them to the grid - the electrical engineering side of things. That’s all interchangeable really (with other sectors).”

ACRWorld Australia specialises in renewable energy sector recruitment and Mr Lawrence said the real skills shortage for large-scale solar developments was at the top end – fi nding project managers with relevant industry experience, for example.

“What happens is that clients will always want people who have experience in the areas that they are looking to fi ll - in this

instance solar. But because that is pretty short on the ground in Australia, they then will extend that brief to people with transferable skills and then it becomes a lot easier because of the downturn in the traditional resources sector and other areas.”

Mr Lawrence said people were being drawn from the oil and gas sector for solar project work, but had to adjust down their pay expectations.

In many cases contractors were simply shifting workforce resources across from other project work, he said.

“That’s probably the easiest way for people to make the transition (into the industry), if they are already working for one of the contractors,” he said.

“If they’re not, what’s happening is it’s getting to a tipping point where companies come to recruitment professionals such as myself. They will ask for solar people and we’ll tell them there’s not many around and then it gets to the point where they have to consider people outside of industry.”

He stressed that actual operational roles on solar farms were minimal and the construction projects typically lasted a matter of months.

But those who entered the industry now could be assured of a strong project pipeline for at least two years, he said.

Hays Construction senior regional director Simon Bristow said the highest component of demand in the solar area had been for candidates with civil labour and machine operating experience as well as the ability to withstand long working days and weeks.

“We have also seen an increase in white collar demand for site/project engineers from the civil contractor side,” he said.

It was too early to fully gauge where the talent pool was being drawn from, he said.

Large-scale solar projects under construction in regional Queensland or due to commence this year include the Kidston project, Clare Solar Farm, Lakeland Solar and Storage, Emerald, Collinsville, Longreach, Oakey, Dalby and Sun Metals solar farms.

Skills transferable for large-scale solar builds

in the know

and join our DIGITAL NEWS BULLETIN feed at www.i-q.net.au/iq-newsletters

CONNECT WITH US

Construction work on Genex Power’s Kidston

solar project in north Queensland.


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Queensland was carrying a full pipeline of construction apprentices, according to new research from Construction Skills Queensland.

The received wisdom was that not nearly enough people were entering apprenticeships and then completing them to meet the future needs of industry, CSQ director of evidence and data Robert Sobyra said.

Mr Sobyra called it alarmist and said the construction industry in Queensland was

taking on apprentices at a very healthy rate.

“Queensland’s construction industry is currently commencing 3.3 apprentices for every 100 workers; that’s higher than any other industry, and comfortably above the long-run average,” he said.

“What’s more, our modelling suggests that around 6700 people will complete a construction apprenticeship in 2018, while the industry will only require another 4200 tradespeople in that year.”

While the numbers suggested there would be a surplus of apprentices in the coming years, the excess would help to offset the number of tradespeople that left the industry every year through natural attrition, Mr Sobyra said.

“Apprentices completing in the coming years will fi nd themselves in a competitive jobs market, but not an impenetrable one,” he said. “While the pipeline is full, some areas of the apprenticeship system warrant close monitoring.

“The intake rate of apprentices has dipped sharply in recent quarters, a trend that probably refl ects the softening of the residential construction market in Queensland.”

Female participation in construction apprenticeships, while trending upward, also remains very low at only 2.7 per cent of all active construction apprentices.

The notion that apprenticeships were for young people just out of school was another misconception, Mr Sobyra said.

“Less than half of all new apprentices actually fi t the school-leaver stereotype,” he said. “The majority of construction

Construction sector apprentices face a competitive marketplace as tradespeople in coming years.

Apprentices in good supply

apprentices are aged over 19 when they begin their training, While mature-aged apprentices might seem to offer some benefi ts to employers that their younger counterparts cannot, such as a depth of life experience, there is no evidence that older apprentices are more likely to complete their apprenticeship.

“Older apprentices have only completed at higher rates in 10 of the last 16 years, and even then the differences are small. In recent decades, Queensland’s construction apprentices have tended to complete their apprenticeships between 60 and 70 per cent of the time, regardless of age.”

CSQ estimates that the 2015 cohort of construction apprentices in Queensland will complete at a rate of 64 per cent. This compares favourably to Bachelor-level university students, who complete at 67 per cent when given a six-year window to fi nish their degree.

Construction Skills Queensland director, evidence and data, Robert Sobyra.

www.i-Q.net.au 17

The Independent Schools Council of Australia (ISCA) has welcomed the successful passage of the Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017 but the National Catholic Education Commission has reservations.

ISCA supported a sector-blind, needs-based funding model, consistently applied across the non-government school sector, executive director Colette Colman said.

“The legislation represents a move towards fairer and more consistent Australian Government school funding,” Ms Coleman said.

“The passage of this legislation also provides much-needed funding certainty for independent schools, critical for essential fi nancial planning.

“The move from a 10-year to six-year transition rate for the majority

of independent schools, which are transitioning up to 80 per cent of their SRS (Schooling Resource Standard) entitlement, is a particularly positive outcome for the independent sector.”

The changes would also have a positive impact on those independent schools serving amongst the most educationally disadvantaged students in Australia, Ms Colman said.

“Independent special schools serving high-need students with disability and majority-Indigenous schools will receive additional funding under the model, along with low-fee independent schools serving low-SES communities,” she said.

The National Catholic Education Commission has expressed ‘serious concerns’ about equity.

“Educational leaders, schools and families were locked out of a process that has now put in place a fl awed 10-year

school funding plan,” executive director Christian Zahra said.

The government, under pressure from within its own party room, made a couple of minor tweaks to its policy that would affect non-government systems, he said.

“Under signifi cant pressure from the Catholic schools sector, the Minister fi nally agreed to a review of the socioeconomic status (SES) methodology,” he said

“(That was) six years after Gonski recommended it, four years after the National Education Reform Agreement required it and 12 months after his own department encouraged it.

“The retention of the system-weighted average approach to funding non-government school systems for another year does not go far enough. That approach, which was recommended by the Gonski panel, should have been locked into the 10-year model.”

Independent schools welcome funding model

Recent legislation represents a move towards fairer and

more consistent Federal Government

education funding, says the Independent

Schools Association of Australia.


ADANI | Opportunities

Adani Australia has launched dedicated regional supplier and employment portals for those wishing to tender for work or gain a job on the Carmichael mine, rail and port projects.

Survey and detailed design work for the rail line, site airport and mine camp is getting under way and Adani says a number of pre-construction contracts are being fi nalised.

Adani chairman Gautam Adani in June gave the ‘green light’ for the $16.5 billion Carmichael coal development in what he described as an historic day for Adani, an historic day for regional Queensland, and an historic day for Indian investment in Australia.

Mr Adani said the Carmichael projects would generate 10,000 direct and indirect jobs, with pre-construction works starting in the September quarter 2017.

The supplier portal, hosted through specialist regional content platform EconomX, will handle supplier registration

Project portals open as next phase begins

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for Adani and its subcontractors on the Carmichael projects.

The offi cial gateway for job opportunities for the Carmichael project is via a uWorkIn portal, which is designed to act as the single point of contact for Adani as well as top-tier suppliers and contractors to connect with regional Queensland’s workers.

Adani Australia reported that about 5000 people registered via that portal on its fi rst day, and another 1000 within a week of it coming online.

Adani Australia chief executive offi cer and country head Jeyakumar Janakaraj described the portals as a cornerstone of the Adani Regional Content Strategy.

“We’ve consistently had a strong focus on providing jobs and supply opportunities for Queensland, and these portals will allow us to make this a reality,” Mr Janakaraj said.

The company will oversee the construction and operations of the project through its Adani’s Regional Headquarters (RHQ), opened in Tomlins St, Townsville, in June. The RHQ will also accommodate Adani’s Remote Operations Centre, the fi rst time that such a centre has been deployed in an Australian regional city.

Mr Janakaraj said the company had already invested $3.3 billion in the Carmichael project including buying the bulk coal handling facility at Abbot Point.

Downer Mining has been appointed for the construction and operation of the Carmichael mine, while AECOM will carry out survey and design for the rail link.

The supplier and jobs portals can be accessed via www.adaniaustralia.com

Adani Australia chief executive offi cer and country head Jeyakumar Janakaraj at the opening of the Townsville regional headquarters.

www.i-Q.net.au 19

ADANI | Rockhampton

Rockhampton company Austrak is celebrating the news it has won an $82 million contract to supply concrete sleepers for the rail line which will service Adani’s Carmichael mine development.

The deal will see Austrak triple its Rockhampton workforce to more than 80 and generate up to 30 supply chain jobs.

Austrak general manager Murray Adams said the company was excited by the opportunity to work on the project.

“Austrak is the largest concrete and sleeper manufacturer in Australia and has been part of the Rockhampton community for almost 25 years,’’ he said.

“This contract will see additional rosters and shifts added in the factory, which will have a big impact on local wages.’’

Rockhampton Regional Council has been pushing to ensure local businesses are ready to grasp opportunities offered during the construction phase of the mine.

“I can’t overemphasise how important it is for local businesses, big or small, to immediately begin looking at what they can provide for Adani and to make sure their business is at the forefront of Adani’s mind during this critical time when they are looking to regional Queensland to provide those jobs and services,’’ Mayor Margaret Strelow said.

The council has conducted an online business readiness survey to help plan a series of forums to address the areas where businesses need the most assistance when bidding for contracts with Adani.

Meanwhile, Capricorn Enterprise economic development manager Neil Lethlean said a decision to make Rockhampton the FIFO hub for the Adani mine would be an ‘unbelievable’’ boost for the region.

Adani has indicated that it will choose from Townsville and Rockhampton as

the FIFO hub, with a decision expected by the end of July. “A decision in favour of Rockhampton would provide a major economic injection for sectors such as retail and education and would be of huge benefi t to the region in general,’’ Mr Lethlean said.

He said having Rockhampton as the FIFO hub would give impetus to a push to upgrade Rockhampton’s airport to international standard.

The establishment of the Adani mine had the potential to benefi t the region in the same way the opening up of the Bowen Basin had, Mr Lethlean said.

“With the Adani mine we are talking about a project with something like a development period of eight years and all that that brings in terms of benefi ts,” he said. “This could mean the emergence of long-term mining in the Galilee Basin and if someone had said that fi ve years ago they would have been told they were dreaming.’’

Rockhampton on track to reap rewards Austrak will supply more than 730,000 concrete sleepers for the construction of Adani’s 388km standard gauge rail line.

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TOWNSVILLE ENTERPRISE | Advertorial

The headquarters is offi cially open,

the Final Investment Decision has been

approved, there is a royalties agreement

in place, the most stringent environmental

regulations have been met and now

Adani can fi nally do what was intended

seven years ago - create jobs for regional

Queensland.

The recent approval of the Final

Investment Decision by the Adani Group

Board confi rms the commencement

of the largest single infrastructure and

job creating development in Australia’s

recent history. This has cemented the

future growth and prosperity of regional

Queensland and confi rmed the signifi cant

employment opportunities that will

be delivered to thousands of regional

Queenslanders.

Townsville North Queensland primed for FIFO growth

Adani’s Carmichael project will be the fi rst new coal basin opened in Australia in 50 years and is the largest investment an Indian company has ever made in Australia. The Carmichael project is much more than just the lifespan of one mine. By opening up the Galilee Basin, a projected 16,000 additional jobs will be created by future mines operating in the region, delivering ongoing opportunities for regional Queensland for decades.

Given the remote location of the Carmichael project in the Galilee Basin, a substantial FIFO workforce will be required. Townsville North Queensland is one of two potential locations being considered as the main FIFO hub for the project. Townsville North Queensland offers a highly desirable location to serve as the FIFO hub for the project.

The region’s major strengths as a FIFO hub include: size, quality, and availability of a regional skilled workforce; strong existing representation across the mining and construction sector; established air connectivity, strong projected population growth; affordable living costs and an attractive lifestyle.

FIFO opportunities for Townsville North Queensland have recently been announced by global resources company, MMG, and Australia’s largest coal producer, BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA). MMG have confi rmed Townsville as the base of its FIFO operations for its Dugald River Mine located in north-west Queensland.

The development and operation of the Dugald River Mine will provide an important employment, economic and revenue contribution to regional Queensland for more than 30 years.

In terms of recruitment for the Dugald River Mine, the preference for MMG is to employ staff from Cloncurry and Mount Isa, however where candidates cannot be sourced locally, Townsville is the preferred choice. It’s anticipated that up to 400 site-based staff will be employed when the mine is fully operational. BMA has also called upon Townsville to supply more than 200 workers to its Peak Downs and Suraji mines.

Townsville North Queensland’s business, political and industry leaders have been putting a strong case forward to secure FIFO opportunities for the region. Townsville has a proud history as one of Australia’s premier Fly-in Fly-out hubs, with MMG and BMA’s announcements welcome news for jobs, business and overall confi dence.

Choosing Townsville as a FIFO hub is a vote of confi dence in the advantages the region offers the mining sector as a proven logistics base with a ready workforce. Further opportunities in this space will also supply the economic boost the region deserves. Townsville Enterprise looks forward to continuing to work with the mining and resources industry in order to deliver maximum employment opportunities for Townsville North Queensland.

Townsville North Queensland offers a highly desirable location to serve as the FIFO hub for mining projects.

www.i-Q.net.au 21

ADANI | Mackay

W W W . J A S - A N Z . O R G / R E G I S T E R

Contact us on 07 4722 4800, or [email protected] visit us at 91 Hubert Street, South Townsville.

www.nsspl.com.au

Mackay is Australia’s premier Mining, Engineering and Technical Services (METS) hub and ready for the arrival of the Adani Carmichael coal mine project.

That’s the message from Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson.

“We have worked with key industry stakeholders to ensure our region is ready for this project,” he said.

Council and Resource Industry Network have forged a strong partnership to identify and develop opportunities for the world-class services sector based in the Mackay region.

RIN chairman Tony Caruso said Adani’s historic announcement was a strong display that the region was open for business.

“RIN’s role as a leading member organisation is recognised and valued by the Adani Group as it looks to develop this

Blue-ribbonMETS hub ready to roll

historic project,” he said.Cr Williamson said Adani had already

announced the Mackay region as a maintenance hub for its mine.

“We have over 1300 mining, engineering and manufacturing businesses in the region and all are mine-ready to deliver their expertise,” he said.

RIN has held supply chain panel sessions, developed a capability and procurement portal, while council has had

ongoing discussions with Adani’s local content specialists and recently hosted the 3rd National Energy and Resources Services Forum – the fi rst regional centre to host the forum.

“This is a project we want for our community and our region is ready and has the capability and capacity to fully take advantage of the work that the Carmichael mine project will bring to the region,” Cr Williamson said.

Mackay is a proven Mining, Engineering and Technical Services (METS) provider.


ADANI | Townsville

“The project will

generate strong

port activity”

Claudia Brumme-Smith

Port of Townsville is preparing large laydown areas for Adani’s project cargo to be stored or partly assembled as the Carmichael coal mine and rail construction draws near.

First import cargo for the Carmichael project is expected at Townsville in the fi nal quarter of 2017, according to Port of Townsville Limited general manager business development Claudia Brumme-Smith.

“In the fi rst few years we expect around a million tonnes/cubic metres of imports into Townsville,” she said.

“The biggest infl ux of cargo will be during the construction and development stage of Adani’s port, rail and mine project, with more regular and steady supplies of freight once the Carmichael mine is operational.”

Project cargo, fuel and general cargo for the Carmichael mine, rail and port project will all be channelled through Townsville.

“Due to its proximity and its triple road train access to the mine site, Townsville Port presents a highly effi cient and cost-effective import supply chain solution,” Ms Brumme-Smith said.

“Once mine operations begin, the Port of Townsville and its service providers will continue to support Adani’s Carmichael mine with supplies such as fuel, equipment, vehicles, tyres and containerised cargo.”

Ms Brumme-Smith said the port’s trade and logistics teams had been working very closely with Adani over the past few years to ensure the port was ready to accommodate their requirements.

“A number of infrastructure investments made over the past fi ve years by the Port

Port geared up for infl ux of Carmichael cargoof Townsville as well as private companies such as stevedores and fuel suppliers have ensured that Townsville Port is well equipped and prepared in anticipation of not only the Carmichael mine project, but also a number of other major projects in the pipeline,” she said.

These investments have included: An $85 million upgrade of Berth 10

completed in 2013 and a $40 million upgrade of Berth 4 which is due for completion in December 2017.

Port stevedores have invested in heavy-duty mobile harbour cranes as well as new cargo storage areas and cargo handling equipment.

The $217 million Townsville Port Access Road completed in 2012, which will play a key role in facilitating effi cient cargo operations from Townsville Port to mine site – enabling triple road train access from port berths through to the Carmichael mine site.

The $130 million Townsville Marine Precinct, which will be used for barging large pieces of equipment from Townsville Port to Abbot Point, taking trucks off the Bruce Highway.

Adani will use existing berth infrastructure at the Port of Townsville.

“Adani’s Carmichael mine is a signifi cant project for the Port of Townsville and its service providers such as stevedores, shipping lines, shipping agents, freight forwarders and transport companies,” Ms Brumme-Smith said.

“The project will generate strong port activity, which has important direct and fl ow-on effects for jobs, suppliers and service providers in the region.

“Through detailed planning and proactive engagement with Adani we will ensure smooth cargo operation and optimised supply chain solutions.”

www.i-Q.net.au 23

“Negotiations

have taken place

in good spirit”

Barry Taylor

FLS (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD

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End to end project logistics

clearances

A Townsville lawyer believes Adani has set the standard for how mining companies should deal with landholders when negotiating to acquire land needed for large-scale projects.

Emanate Legal’s Barry Taylor has been dealing with Adani since 2010 and has acted for many of the landholders involved in the sale of land required for the Carmichael mine and the rail line proposed between the mine and Abbot Point coal loading facility.

Mr Taylor believed many Australian mining companies could take a leaf out of Adani’s book when it came to dealing respectfully with landholders.

‘’The way Adani have conducted themselves compares more than favourably with some Australian mining companies I have dealt with who have been nothing short of belligerent and aggressive,’’ he said.

‘’Adani have never adopted that sort of

an attitude and I believe they have set a template for how to conduct these sort of negotiations with landholders.

‘’Adani could have been aggressive in their dealings with landholders but have adopted a reasonable approach.’’

Mr Taylor fi rst dealt with Adani in 2010 when it expressed interest in securing the cattle property on which the mine sits, which was owned by the Acton Land and Cattle Company.

Acton sold the property to Adani for $110 million in November 2011.

While Mr Taylor admits some landholders in the area would have preferred the status quo to remain, they recognised that Adani had been granted the right by the State Government to develop the mine and rail corridor.

“With that in mind, it has been a matter of balancing the landholders’ rights and requirements against those of Adani,’’ Mr Taylor said.

“All of the land holders in the area are going to be affected by the rail

corridor and I believe they have been compensated reasonably and fairly.

“Negotiations have taken place in good spirit.’’

Land dealings lead the way


Rebars reimagined with polymer technologyFibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) bars are some way from replacing steel as a reinforcement material in concrete.

But they are making headway as their advantages become more widely accepted in Australia, according to a Toowoomba-based materials engineering expert.

Dr Allan Manalo heads USQ’s research into FRP bars as internal reinforcement to concrete structures through its Centre for Future Materials (CFM).

He believes they are a good option for applications including marine infrastructure,

electrical structures or where there is magnetic activity, such as medical facilities with MRI machines.

The centre started its work in this fi eld in 2012 in collaboration with V-Rod Australia and has recently become involved in the development of Australian Standards for FRP bars.

“It’s about educating the end user that the product can be used as an alternative to steel, particularly in those applications where corrosion is an issue,” Dr Manalo said.

“We have developed an experiment program to look at its qualities, from the bond between the FRP bars and concrete up to the structural behaviour of concrete

elements reinforced with FRP bars. “We are not saying FRP will replace steel,

but in some applications where corrosion is a signifi cant issue, then using FRP bars is preventing the corrosion you would see with steel.”

Dr Manalo said the university was working with the Department of Transport and Main Roads in the development of a new specifi cation for boat ramps in Queensland to use FRP reinforcement bars, for example. And a number of companies are considering using FRP in concrete elements for railway projects, particularly in tunnels where there is a high risk of corrosion and it is desirable to minimise

CONSTRUCTION

www.i-Q.net.au 25

Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) bars in different diameters.

Assembled FRP cage for column reinforcement.

“It’s about educating the end user that the product can be used as an alternative to steel”

Allan Manalo electrical and magnetic disturbance. FRP bars are already being used in road

bridges in the United State and Canada.“At this stage in Australia we are probably

fi ve or 10 years behind in that application,” Dr Manalo said.

FRP bars were recently incorporated in a Toowoomba City Hall refurbishment project as part of USQ’s research into their use.

The non-conductive reinforcement was used for the building’s annex extension instead of traditional reinforcement materials due to the proximity to an Ergon substation.

More than 700m of FRP bars were used as internal reinforcement to the foundation piers and footing slabs. CFM director

Professor Peter Schubel said the success of the city hall project would boost the centre’s efforts to expedite the uptake of FRP bars as reinforcement to concrete structures with existing industries, such as marine, building and construction.

“USQ is leading the development of Standards for this alternative reinforcing material, which is strong, economical, safe and durable,” Professor Schubel said.

“The work we have undertaken provides an excellent framework for reference in the development of design criteria and specifi cations for FRP bars so that the construction industry can benefi t more widely from this technology.”

EMERGING LEADERS | Simon Hickey

As a young electrical technician in the late 1990s, Simon Hickey was part of the team that connected the Ernest Henry, Century and Mount Gordon mines to the grid in north-west Queensland.

Today he is dealing with a new wave of development as he turns his skills to design requirements for substations to handle the large-scale solar plants that will soon be feeding into the network throughout the north.

Mr Hickey is a senior substation standards engineer with Ergon Energy and the 2017 chair of the Engineers Australia Townsville Regional Group.

Despite sticking with the government-owned utility since beginning an apprenticeship with what was then NORQEB in 1990, his career has included a variety of challenges thanks in a large part to Mr Hickey’s embrace of professional development opportunities.

He is a keen advocate of the sector as a rewarding choice of profession.

“In the electrical industry there are so many different opportunities, it’s a diverse discipline,” he said.

“I’m in a utility and I love what I do, but I’ve got friends and relatives who have worked with me and gone on to work in mining or manufacturing, and work in other roles too - diversifying into things like operational controls and project management. The electrical industry is a great place to be at the moment, especially with all the innovations that are coming through with large-scale solar power.”

Mr Hickey’s career choice was infl uenced by his love of physics at school and elder brother Paul’s work in electrical instrumentation with Mount Isa Mines.

Born in Mount Isa, Mr Hickey moved to Townsville with his family at 10 and began an apprenticeship as an electrical fi tter/mechanic when he left school.

“I decided I wanted to get into the more technical side of electrical work so I completed a four–year associate diploma part time,” he said.

“Then I got a job in a testing and commissioning group working for NORQEB. We had some interesting jobs back in those days.

“That was when they kicked off Ernest Henry mine (near Cloncurry), so

we built and commissioned the line and the substations at Mica Creek (Mount Isa) and Ernest Henry and then later on we did Gunpowder (Mount Gordon) and Century. We were building a 220kV network which was the fi rst network of its size in our region. They were fun and interesting times.

“Some of the guys I used to work with who are still out there in the fi eld have just completed a connection to Dugald River (zinc mine). So it is now fed out of Chumvale – one of those substations I was involved with in the early days.”

Mr Hickey said he had left that role after seven years to take an offi ce job in substation design. “I had a young family and had bought one too many birthday presents at the airport coming back from Mount Isa,” he said. “I said to my wife ‘it’s time for a change’.”

Mr Hickey completed a Bachelor of Engineering Technology (electrical and electronic) degree through the University of Southern Queensland. This was followed by a Master of Engineering Practice (power systems engineering) degree that included recognition for prior learning as he took on more senior roles with Ergon. As senior substation standards engineer, his role now includes addressing some of the challenges involved in introducing more renewable energy sources to the electricity system.

“We now have situations where renewable generators want to connect at the end of long lines that were never designed for power to fl ow back to the coast,” Mr Hickey said.

He is looking into substation options including dead tank switchgear which have smaller footprints and may be quicker and cheaper to install.

Meanwhile the Hickey electrical attraction continues through the next generation - with daughter Samantha having completed an electrical engineering degree.

“She just got a job in Townsville as a medical engineer, doing things like testing and reviewing details of medical equipment, making sure it fi ts the purpose and is available when needed,” Mr Hickey said. “The medical industry is growing markedly and is highly technical. Once again this shows how diverse the opportunities are within the electrical engineering profession.”

Substation standards engineer Simon

Hickey is chair of the Engineers Australia

Townsville Regional Group.

Hickey hard-wired for electrical profession


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NEWS | Bauxite

The machines at Cape Dingo Embroidery and Lasering have been humming away as the Weipa business tackles an order of 18,000 work shirts for Rio Tinto’s Amrun project.

The contract is the single biggest order received by Cape Dingo, run by owner Sharon Evans with one full-time employee.

It has boosted the business’s profi le and placed Ms Evans in a position to buy four new embroidery machines and hire two new employees.

“Securing an Amrun project contract has defi nitely improved demand for our services

and has allowed me to grow the business,” Ms Evans said.

“It’s great to see our region and local businesses looking towards a sustainable future as a result of opportunities provided by the project.”

Cape Dingo Embroidery and Lasering is among more than 50 western Cape businesses that have provided goods and or services to Rio Tinto’s $2.6 billion Amrun project and its contractors.

Construction remains on target for a 2019 start to production at the Amrun site, which is located on part of Rio Tinto’s existing lease south of the Embley River, between Weipa and Aurukun.

Rio Tinto Amrun project general manager Marcia Hanrahan said the site was steadily

gearing up to reach its construction peak later this year.

“At present there are close to 800 workers on site. At peak it is expected to reach 1200,” she said.

Major elements delivered to date include a 40km all-weather access road and river terminals that have established the infrastructure for further construction activities.

Ms Hanrahan said construction activities under way included fabrication of the process facilities, completion of the accommodation village (over 800-bed capacity to date) and construction of the export wharf, surface water dam and key mine infrastructure.

Another Weipa business, Goodline, won the contract to build the river terminal and is

Amrun builds up to construction peak

www.i-Q.net.au 29

also constructing the accommodation village, which will have a capacity for a workforce of up to 1200 people.

Ms Hanrahan said the Rio Tinto board approved expenditure of $US1.9 billion in November 2015 to deliver the Amrun Project and to date Australian companies had secured more than 99 per cent of contract value.

Recent contracts have included a $100 million deal for Aggreko AusPac to build and operate a new 20MW power station at the Amrun project..

In February the Queensland division of civil construction company Fulton Hogan won a contract valued at $45 million to build a 10.9 gigalitre dam and Sodexo won a $22 million contract for camp management services.

A bulk earthworks contract valued at

$70 million went to Queensland-based civil engineering fi rm QBirt in January and the Townsville division of Vinidex secured a $20 million contract to supply high-density pipes and associated fi ttings.

Rio Tinto Weipa was highly commended in the Best Company Indigenous Procurement Award at the QRC Indigenous Awards this year and Ms Hanrahan said to date 16 Aboriginal businesses had supplied goods and or services to the Amrun project.

Bidders for work packages over $1 million are required to submit Local and Indigenous Participation Plans.

“We are tremendously proud that over 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been engaged to work on the project to date,” Ms Hanrahan said.

Above - Cape Dingo

Embroidery and

Lasering owner Sharon

Evans and Rio Tinto

communications and

communities specialist,

Weipa operations, Lucy

Warren display one of

the fi nished products.

“At present there are close to 800 workers on site”

MarciaHanrahan

Above right - Wik-Waya traditional owner Helen

Karyuka working with colleagues at the site of the

accommodation village.

Left - Aerial view of the Amrun project

accommodation village under construction.


NEWS | Bauxite

The Bauxite Hills project is expected to employ about 180 people in full production.

The company has been undertaking early works to prepare the site, including overhauling an old kaolin mine accommodation camp for use during mine construction.

“We’ve installed a catering company in there and ordered all the long-lead items – the piles, the structural steel,” Mr Finnis said.

“We’ve gone to tender and lined up preferred tenderers ready to go, ready to just push the button and start construction itself.

“The construction phase is expected to employ about 50 people and that grows to about 180 when we’re in full production.”

Metro is developing its $36 million Bauxite

Hills project with the previously approved Skardon River bauxite project, acquired in a takeover of Gulf Alumina this year.

The company announced in June that it had secured the $40 million debt fi nancing required to develop the mine as well as fi nal environmental approvals.

“We will start employing the workforce later this year,” Mr Finnis said.

“Some of the construction team will obviously roll into operations and we have started recruiting some of the overseeing management team already for the site.”

Mr Finnis said his best advice to people interested in working at Bauxite Hills was to

Bauxite Hills on the starting blocksNew Cape York mine to come online in early 2018

Metro Mining aims to begin employing its Bauxite Hills workforce within months, targeting jobseekers in Cairns, Weipa, Injunoo and Hope Vale

Construction for the direct shipping ore

operation, 95km north of Weipa, is expected

to be completed in July-December this year.

Managing director Simon Finnis said

it would then be placed into care and

maintenance over the wet season before

kicking off production in March/April 2018.

www.i-Q.net.au 31

keep an eye out in the local media.“We will make it clear when the start is

occurring and will have open days, not at site itself because it is too remote, but in Cairns, Weipa, Injunoo – those sorts of places - where people can come and have a chat,” he said.

“We will be doing FIFO out of Cairns but also having fl ights from Weipa and Injunoo in the north, and we’re trying to connect in Hope Vale as well.”

There would be a strong focus on indigenous engagement, he said.

The construction phase will include establishing a barge loading facility, building or augmenting roads, and developing a new accommodation camp to house the operational workforce.

“The main infrastructure components are the barge loading facility and we’re putting a brand new camp in - those items make up over half the capital costs,” Mr Finnis said.

It will be a surface mining operation and the site already has an airstrip and load-out area.

Transhipment Australia has been awarded

the transhipping contract for the operation in joint venture with an indigenous corporation, Dadaru.

Cater Care will provide camp management services in the construction and long-term accommodation camps.

Based on the bankable feasibility study completed in March 2017, the planned production from Bauxite Hills mine is 2Mtpa increasing to 6Mtpa over the fi rst four years, with a 17-year mine life.

“That’s based on a reserve of 92 million tonnes within a total resource of 145 million tonnes, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if the mine life extends,” Mr Finnis said.

The site also held exploration potential, with more than 2500sq km of regional tenement holdings, he said.

Metro has an initial four-year, 7 million-tonne binding offtake agreement with Xinfa Group - one of the largest integrated aluminium companies in China.

The company has also secured an offtake letter-of-intent with Lubei Chemicals - China’s fi fth largest bauxite importer.

“We will start employing the workforce later this year”

Simon Finnis

LCR Group has been appointed to undertake all mining and haulage operations at the Urquhart bauxite project on Cape York.

Project proponent Metallica Minerals also recently entered binding agreements with Ngan Aak-Kunch Aboriginal Corporation (NAK) on behalf of the Wik and Wik Way People in regard to native title, cultural heritage management and landholder compensation for the project.

“The agreement is required by the State prior to the issue of a mining lease,” Metallica chief executive Simon Slesarewich said.

“Metallica is now looking to fi nalising the grant of a mining lease that targets production in Q3 CY2017.”

The operation is expected to have a production rate of about 1.5 million tonnes of ore per annum, and employ up to 30 people.

LCR will be responsible for the supply of all equipment and personnel for the mining and haulage operations and will perform all short-term planning and management to deliver bauxite from the project to Hey Point, where it will be transhipped via existing infrastructure into ocean-going vessels.

Urquhart contractor lined up

Pre-mine drilling at Metallica Minerals’

Urquhart bauxite project near Weipa.

BIG PICTURE | Roslyn Budd

Photographers will tell you an image in the 21st century is made up of pixels or little bundles of light that defi ne resolution.

Roslyn Budd will tell you it is made up of elements.That’s the geologist in her coming out. Ros now bases her business, Budd Photography, in Townsville

after spending almost two decades in Mount Isa raising a family and pursuing a career with husband, Stephen.

Her 15 years as a mine geologist and then exploration geologist, gleaning the value of prospects from ore samples, has contributed to her current work as a photographer.

“Knowing the make-up of something helps you appreciate how to take a photo,” Ms Budd said.

“The ability to look at things a bit differently, how things are formed and how they look the way they do.”

This attention to detail helped create images with some hard-to-defi ne subjects, Ms Budd said.

“People are a refl ection of where they live. North Queenslanders have a real spirit about where they are and why they are there. They are there because they love it,” she said.

“A big part of what I do is creating ‘environmental portraits’, that is, getting the subject in the right context in a landscape or industrial site and making that blend. It’s about fi nding the right setting for that particular person or business and depicting them in that environment.“

Budd Photography can be contacted on 0408 495 031 or www.buddphotography.com.au

Capturing life from a different point of view

Headframe at Mount Isa Mines, commemorating 90 years of mining in Mount Isa (2013).

M

M


Mount Isa Mines, underground development.

Mount Isa Mines fi ll conveyor. Lady Lorretta Mine - downhole raise borer.

Innisfail landscape with Johnstone River and Mount Bartle Frere.

BIG PICTURE | Roslyn Budd

Abandoned cars, captured from a hot-air balloon fl ight near Christchurch, New Zealand.

Mount Isa Mines copper smelter at night.

L

A

Mount Isa Mines copper smelter operations.

Chemical lab at Phosphate Hill.


Lady Loretta Mine drilling for the fi rst cut of the portal development.

Airside at Townsville airport. Wedding venue on a sand bar off Karumba.

Preferred supplier to Industry Queensland

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Praise fl ows for water sector achievementsJohn ‘Sherlock’ Holmes from Whitsunday Regional Council has walked away a winner from this year’s Queensland Water Industry Operations conference in Logan.

Mr Holmes was named “Operator of the Year’ at conference, which brings together a range of people involved in the operation and maintenance of urban, rural and industrial water related infrastructure.

The senior treatment plant operator has 27 years of experience, combined with tertiary education and professional development training.

In a statement to iQ, Whitsunday Regional Council said there were many reasons Mr Holmes deserved the award, from his detailed knowledge of the plants and his ability to predict and troubleshoot issues, to his positive ‘can do’ attitude and innovative ideas for improvement.

These qualities were on show after Cyclone Debbie, when he was instrumental in the coordination of plant and equipment to ensure water was restored as soon as possible for Whitsunday region residents.

The Kingaroy Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade project received an excellence award.

“John is an integral part of the water and waste team and always goes above and beyond, leading his team to deliver the best outcome in every situation,” council treatment operations manager Peter Stapleton said.

“He is such a humble person and we are very proud that his many years of effort have been rewarded with such a high level of recognition.”

Another highlight of the Water Industry Operators Association-run event was the ‘Water of Origin’ competition, pitting the Queensland winner of the Ixom Best Tap Water competition against NSW/ACT winner Icon Water from Canberra.

A sample from Toowoomba Regional Council’s Mt Kynoch Water Treatment Plant came out trumps in the taste test.

WIOA chief operations manager Craig Mathisen said the water taste tests were about raising awareness of the quality of the drinking water across Australia.

“We see the award as a fun and exciting way to raise awareness of the quality of drinking water across Australia and recognise the efforts of local water service providers and their operators in delivering safe, valuable water services to their communities.” Mr Mathisen said.

Toowoomba Regional Council Goombungee-based assistant water and wastewater operator Harry Coleman (left) displays his Queensland Young Water Operator of the Year award with

Cr Nancy Sommerfi eld and TRC water operations manager John Mills.

John Mills, water operations manager at the Toowoomba Regional Council, said his team celebrated with a tall glass of water.

“The June 2017 vintage is a pretty good one,” he said. “For us it’s a balance because when you have dam and bore water blends, you have to make sure the hardness level


Queensland Operator of the Year John Holmes - Whitsunday Regional Council

Queensland Young Operator of the YearHarry Coleman – Toowoomba Regional Council

Queensland Operator of the Year (Civil/All Rounder) Glenn Cook – Gladstone Regional Council

Brian Davis Award for Best Paper Overall Marcus Boyd – Toowoomba Regional Council

Nalco Water Prize for Best Paper by an Operator1st Marcus Boyd – Toowoomba Regional Council 2nd Martin Coromandel - Queensland Urban Utilities 3rd Andrew Watson - South Burnett Regional Council

Ixom 2017 Water of OriginQueensland, represented by Toowoomba Regional Council,

defeated NSW/ACT, represented by Icon Water

Queensland Mains Tapping Competititon 1st Tapping Tubbies - Trent Roberts and Spencer Stacey from

City of Gold Coast

2nd Kool Tappings - Matt Pochadyla and Daniel Lee from City of

Gold Coast

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Queensland Water Industry Operations 2017 Winners

doesn’t go up too much. A little bit too much hard water makes washing and lathering up soap more diffi cult.”

Following a successful south-east Queensland live mains tapping competition held at last year’s qldwater Innovation Forum, the WIOA conference hosted a Queensland mains tapping competition.

Two-person teams had to install a tapping band and ferrule on a 100mm pipe, then tap the water main, install 1m of poly pipe and then install a ball valve on the end. Time stops when the ball valve is turned off, tools returned to tool box, and the box is shut.

The 2017 title was taken out by the ‘Tapping Tubbies’, Trent Roberts and

Spencer Stacey from City of Gold Coast - who completed the task in one minute and 47 seconds to fi nish ahead of challengers from Queensland Urban Utilities, City of Gold Coast and Logan Water.

Mr Mathisen said it was the fi rst time the tapping competition had been conducted at the WIOA event and it had proved a huge hit as a spectator sport for those in attendance.

More than 850 people attended this year’s conference, which featured more than 30 presentations over two days and 110 exhibition sites displaying equipment, services and process technologies available to the water, wastewater and liquid conveyancing industries.

John Holmes accepts his award from Australian Water Association - Queensland branch president Sandra Hall.

www.i-Q.net.au 37


BUILDING COMMUNITIES

Loads of benefi ts

What fi res up three top Queensland building companies to get competitive about who can make the best kids’ cubby house?

Well, It’s a Bloke Thing.The FKG Group, McNab and Hutchinson

Builders got stuck into the cubby-building challenge recently in the interest of raising funds for prostate cancer research through the It’s A Bloke Thing Foundation.

Queensland Master Builders regional manager, Downs and Western Region, Linda Rosengreen conducted the offi cial judging at FKG Group’s head offi ce in Toowoomba in June.

McNab’s double-storey entry, complete with slide, came out on top.

McNab managing director/chief executive offi cer Michael McNab said the group’s Toowoomba construction cadets Terry Heslin and Riley Mellor, along with

some of the apprentices, had designed and built the cubby house.

“It was designed to resemble the ‘M’ in our McNab logo, using predominantly recycled and donated materials, and most importantly to be fun space for a six-year-old,” he said.

The ground rules had included that all cubbies must fi t a standard tray back ute, they had to represent an element

of sustainable building and construction practices, there had to be at least one window and one door and the total cost for materials could not exceed $500.

Mr McNab said all three entries had been exceptional and would be auctioned off at this year’s Qantas Link It’s a Bloke Thing luncheon (in August), with all proceeds going to prostate cancer research.

McNab managing director/CEO Michael McNab shows off the winning cubby with itsco-creators Terry Heslin and Riley Mellor.. Photo: LucyRC Photography

Builders make child’s play ofcharity work

Having the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys on your team can’t hurt when it comes to lifting Indigenous opportunity in the north.

The footy favourites have thrown their weight behind Rio Tinto’s Indigenous employment and training initiatives at its Amrun bauxite project on Cape York.

Former Cowboys, Queensland and Australian rugby league player and now ‘Amrun Project Ambassador’ Matt Bowen helped launch the initiative recently.

He made an Amrun site visit to meet employees, joined a recruitment roadshow for the project in Aurukun and visited students at Aurukun State School.

Cowboys on-side with Indigenous initiative“Having grown up in far north

Queensland I’m excited to have the opportunity to give back to local Indigenous communities in a meaningful way,” Bowen said.

“It’s great that Rio Tinto have chosen to partner with the Cowboys, using the sport of rugby league to benefi t the Indigenous community in the region, across all ages.

“The project offers an exciting opportunity that can really help local Indigenous people in Cape York kick start their careers and gain valuable experience.”

The Cowboys will provide mentoring support to Indigenous staff across the project and actively support the Amrun project’s initiatives on site and in western Cape York communities.

The Cowboys will also run their Try for 5! Program at Aurukun State School to encourage student attendance.

Amrun project director Marcia Hanrahan said the rugby league team was a natural partnership, sharing many of the same values and a determination to succeed.

“I have no doubt our combined expertise will see a great improvement in employment and training opportunities for local Indigenous people over the life of the Amrun project,” she said.

Former Cowboys rugby league player and Amrun Project Ambassador Matt Bowen with Amrun senior Wik-Waya traditional owner Tony Kerindun.

www.i-Q.net.au 39

New Acland machinery operator Brett Jackwitz might be ‘ jack of all trades’ in a mining pit but outside of work he is an accomplished farrier who has worked with Canadian Olympic horses and on the North American rodeo circuit.

Not long after commencing with New Acland Mine in 2003, Mr Jackwitz took a six-month backpacking trip through North America. He had no idea what a chance meeting with a man in rodeo would bring.

“My grandfather taught me to shoe when I was growing up on our family property near Nanango, so when this guy asked me to help out at the rodeo I thought it could be fun and said yes,” Mr Jackwitz said.

“That launched a fi ve-year adventure as a farrier in North America and by the end of it I had my own business and an apprentice and had seen some pretty great things.

“Because I also rode and broke horses I had a real advantage on farriers over there who traditionally don’t ride.

“This enabled me to help equestrian teams fi gure out how best to shoe horses to improve their performance.”

When he got back to Australia, Mr Jackwitz returned to work at New Acland

Mine and settled with his wife and their two young boys on a small farm in Groomsville on the Darling Downs.

“Now that I’m home and working at the mine, my favourite part of the job is being on New Acland’s Emergency Response Team,” Mr Jackwitz said.

“Not only does our training in fi rst response help keep our work mates safe, our guys often provide the community with assistance in emergencies that we come across out of hours.

“Just a few months ago when I was on my way home after a night shift, I came across a two-vehicle collision where both drivers were in pretty bad shape, one of them critical.”

Mr Jackwitz and another New Acland employee provided important fi rst response care to the drivers before the ambulance and LifeFlight helicopter arrived about 40 minutes later.

“Providing care in that short window immediately after an accident is so important, we call it the Golden Hour,” Mr Jackwitz said.

“But because some of our communities are more isolated, it can take emergency services a little while to reach people.

About 100 Mount Isa, Cloncurry and Townsville students took part in science and engineering exercises with mentors from Glencore during a recent Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) activity.

The STEM 4 School Kids (S4SK) program is aimed at high-achieving year 10 students interested in pursuing a professional career in engineering or science.

During one-day events in Mount Isa and Townsville, students from Spinifex State College, Good Shepherd Catholic School, Cloncurry P-12 school and Kirwan State High School worked in groups to complete a series of exercises based on the disciplines of science and engineering-related professions in the resources sector.

Industry professionals spoke to students about their own careers and helped them complete the experimental stages of the activity.

Meanwhile, year 10 students who showed an aptitude for trade or operator roles took part in Toolkit days at Mount Isa and Townsville.

The aim of the Toolkit day is to engage students with industry professionals and make them aware of job opportunities in the resources sector, while receiving an understanding of life as a tradie.

Glencore human resources manager Leanne Ryder highlighted the importance of inspiring young minds to follow a pathway into STEM.

“The mining and resources sector is technologically advanced and we need people with high levels of skills in these areas, now and into the future,” she said.

Townsville: Glencore senior process engineer Kellie Whitby with Kirwan State High School students Liam, Chris and Oliver.

Steering students towards STEM skills

Farrier takes on rescue role

Brett Jackwitz with wife Shannan and sons Walter (left) and Roman.

“Our New Acland Emergency Response Team is trained in providing that important, and sometimes lifesaving, initial care and it’s reassuring for the community to know we can help out during that fi rst window before the professional emergency services arrive.”

In addition to the Emergency Response Team, New Acland Mine and New Hope Group are long-term partners of the Darling Downs LifeFlight service, which provides emergency response helicopters and doctors to the Darling Downs region.


Blair Athol coal mine is poised to enter a new chapter under its latest owners, TerraCom subsidiary Orion Mining.

But its story has some age and the operation has a claim to fame as the fi rst mine in Australia to adopt open-cut methods.

The region’s coal was discovered by accident in 1864 on Robert McMaster’s grazing run, Blair Athol, says Clermont Historical Centre co-ordinator Deb Alvoen of Isaac Regional Council.

A coal seam was penetrated when sinking a well on the homestead.

In June 1909, the Blair Athol Coal and Timber Company became the fi rst

large company to undertake coal mining operations in the area, absorbing smaller collieries and preparing for the day when steam shovels could remove the overburden of between 15-30m.

On May 18, 1922, Queensland Governor Matthew Nathan offi cially opened Australia’s fi rst open-cut mine at Blair Athol.

Modern machinery such as the Ruston steam shovel was used, with a bucket capacity of 1.5 cubic metres.

“We have that steam shovel that came out of Blair Athol mine at the front of the Clermont museum complex,” Ms Alvoen said.

She said the steam shovel and other heavy machinery from the early years of the mine attracted keen interest at the museum.

They include a Jacques diesel-powered

shovel, a Euclid haul truck and Mack truck with Keystone mounted drill.

By the 1970s it became apparent that there were signifi cant coal seams under the town of Blair Athol.

The school closed on December 31, 1974, and buildings that were commercially salvageable were dismantled and relocated, mostly to nearby Clermont.

After Rio Tinto started production at Blair Athol Mine in May 1984 about $60 million was spent on the provision of accommodation and facilities.

Ms Alvoen said nearly 200 houses had been constructed in Clermont as well as single-person quarters, additional town power supplies and a new workshop complex for the shire council.

Streets were upgraded and a 50m six-lane swimming pool established along with tennis and basketball courts as well as a turf wicket for cricket.

The mining company also made substantial contributions to a new showgrounds/sporting complex and new land was released for sale to the public.

“It was during the Bjelke-Petersen era and his expectation was that mining would be the way these communities would grow and develop,” Ms Alvoen said.

“To see the company invest those millions

BLAIR ATHOL

MINING HERITAGE

www.i-Q.net.au 41

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of dollars in the town saw signifi cant change, population growth, families being located here (Clermont) and having a very long connection with the town.

“So it certainly did change the face of the community.”

In 2012 Rio Tinto formally announced the closure of the Blair Athol Mine after almost 30 years of production. At its peak the mine employed 400 people.

Ms Alvoen said the company had donated many items to the local museum as it wound

up operations, including all of the gifts received from joint venture partners over the years. “I have an absolutely wonderful eclectic collection of everything from Japanese dolls to fi ne ceramics and silks - amazing stuff,” she said.

Left - Blair Athol Coal and Timber Company operations in 1946.

Left insert - Blair Athol mining operations under Rio Tinto. Photo: Dean Whitling Photography.

Right - The Ruston steam shovel before restoration.

Far right - The Ruston steam shovel was displayed near the main mine administration building before Rio Tinto donated it to the Clermont Historical Centre in 2013.

Richard Goetz and

Gordon Thompson

check out the

Ruston steam

shovel display at the

Clermont Historical

Centre.

“It certainly did change the face of the community”

Deb Alvoen


NEWS | Regional round-up

TOWNSVILLEManaging contractor Watpac has started releasing work packages

for Townsville’s $250 million North Queensland Stadium.The project is expected to have a sustained peak workforce of

nearly 400 people during construction.Townsville-based groups already working on the project include:• structural, civil, traffi c and acoustic engineers Arup• wind engineers at James Cook University• Douglas Partners, for geotechnical services• Parker Hydraulic Consulting Group• RPS, for surveying and landscaping services• quantity surveyor AECOM• project programmer RCP.The North Queensland Stadium is a joint project of the Australian

Government, Queensland Government and Townsville City Council and is supported by the National Rugby League and the North Queensland Cowboys.

The North Queensland Stadium forms part of the Townsville City Deal signed in 2016.

To view the trade packages and register EOIs visit northqueenslandstadium.icn.org.au/

NORTH-WEST QLDGeologists have unearthed evidence

that suggests Queensland may be sitting on a treasure trove of rare minerals in what has been dubbed the Diamantina Minerals Province.

The discovery covers an area from Fifi eld in central New South Wales, through Queensland’s north-west and up to the Merlin diamond mine in the Northern Territory.

Experts from the Department of Natural Resources and Mines and the University of Queensland have uncovered evidence of platinum and gold as well as Rare Earth Elements (REE) used in advanced technologies from hybrid vehicle batteries to super-conducting magnets.

“This may be a whole new frontier for Queensland,” Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said.

“Beyond the potential economic boost for Queensland, the discovery brings a new understanding of mineral potential in a previously under-explored area.”

UQ Emeritus Professor Ken Collerson and DNRM geologists uncovered the potential resource when they discovered extremely rare geological pipe structures in a remote area of western Queensland south-west of Mount Isa and near the Northern Territory border.

GLADSTONELiquefi ed Natural Gas Limited has dumped plans for an LNG project at Fisherman’s Landing which date back from before the development of the

three Curtis Island LNG plants now operating.Following a review of its asset portfolio, the company announced that it had decided to no longer fund the costs associated with maintaining the

project at the Port of Gladstone and to exit the project.The company is relinquishing the site to the Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC).“The closure of the Fisherman’s Landing LNG Project was not an easy decision by the company,” managing director and chief executive offi cer of

LNGL Greg Vesey said.“However, after many years without success in securing the long-term economic gas supply that would be needed to proceed with project

construction, we made a strategic decision to close the project. We are grateful to the GPC and the Queensland Government for their support of the FLLNG Project over the last several years.”

www.i-Q.net.au 43

CHILLAGOEAuctus Resources has fi nished commissioning the processing plant at its Chillagoe project in north

Queensland and is ramping up production.GR Engineering Services carried out the upgrade and completion works on the polymetallic

concentrator, with a bespoke Auctus Resources design to allow it to handle copper, lead, zinc, gold and silver product.

Auctus, backed by Denham Capital, is investing about $100 million to bring a package of former Kagara assets online after securing them in a takeover of Atherton Resources in late 2015.

As well as refurbishing the Mungana polymetallic plant, Auctus is mining at the rehabilitated Mungana underground mine and bringing the greenfi elds King Vol zinc deposit into production.

About 300 people are working on site now, but that is expected to drop back to about 200 as commissioning and construction works are fi nalised.

Pybar Mining Services has the development and mining contract for the project, covering 31 months’ service provision at Mungana and fi ve years at King Vol.

MORANBAH North Goonyella’s mines rescue team topped this year’s QMRS Memorial Competition.

They were followed by Moranbah North (pictured), who also won the George Carbine Shield for excellence in fi rst aid, in the competition at Anglo American’s Grosvenor mine.

Broadmeadow and Kestrel also fi nished in the top four ahead of Ensham, Grasstree and a mixed team.

The top four performers from the QMRS Memorial Competition would usually progress to the EK Healy Cup Competition to take on the state’s four best performing teams from the previous year. The 2016 EK Healy winners were Grosvenor, followed in the podium places by teams from Cook colliery, Oaky North and Oaky No.1.

However, with owner Caledon Coal in administration and Cook operations halted, organisers have confi rmed that the Cook team has withdrawn from the 2017 competition.Oaky No.1 also will not compete due to that Glencore-owned operation winding down.

Chief assessor Ray Smith from the Queensland Mines Rescue Service said this meant Ensham and Grasstree would be joining North Goonyella, Moranbah North, Broadmeadow and Kestrel to take

on Grosvenor and Oaky North in the 47th EK Healy Cup competition in August.

DARLING DOWNSThe Queensland Land Court has come down against the planned $900 million Stage 3 expansion of the New

Acland coal mine on the Darling Downs.In a judgement in May the court recommended that the mining leases and environmental authority

amendment for Stage 3 not be granted.The decision follows one of the largest environmental cases in Australian history, with community

objectors challenging the mine expansion on grounds including threats to water, air quality and farming businesses.

The company also failed in its application in the Supreme Court in June for a stay on the recommendation.

Proponent New Hope Group said the Queensland Minister for Natural Resources and Mines and the Chief Executive of the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection would be the fi nal decision-makers.

“New Hope remains committed to delivering the New Acland Stage 3 project and will actively progress this project through the fi nal stages of approval,” it said.

“Approval of this important project is consistent with the Palaszczuk Government’s recently unveiled resource policy which seeks to provide jobs, opportunities and investment certainty in regional areas for years to come.”

The New Acland mine has workforce of 782 employees and contractors. New Hope said the approval of the Stage 3 operation would provide employment stability for many years to come and that it remained committed to delivering the project.


NEWS | Engineering

Regional Queensland engineering companies are turning perceptions on their head by winning lucrative consulting contracts in the south-east corner of the state.

Townsville-based FortisEM Civil and Structural Engineers have recently set up operations in Brisbane.

It was on the back of a specialty scaffold engineering process and software system developed under managing director Bill Hutton.

The business recently designed a system

to allow access to the Merivale Bridge for blast and painting.

The bridge, which crosses the Brisbane River between the South Brisbane and Roma Street stations, was the Association of Consulting Engineers of Australia’s 1980 ‘most outstanding engineering project’.

It was also a complex structure, Mr Hutton said. “The bridge consists of a double-track railway line, twin arches curving in the horizontal and vertical planes, multi-angled cable stays and has high-voltage cables running mid-height under the arches,” he said.

“We designed a complex scaffold system that perfectly fi t between all elements of the bridge, was 27m tall at its high point, supported on only two points either side of the bridge and clear spanned across the width of the bridge.

“We employed the latest data capture equipment and interpretation software to deliver a solution to what is now a signature project for the business.”

Central Scaffold and Rigging Services, based in Brisbane, awarded FortisEM the design contract for Merivale Bridge.

Regional fi rms demonstrate winning waysBridge work brings FortisEM expertise to the fore

www.i-Q.net.au 45

Brisbane-based engineers could expect more competition from the regions, Mr Hutton said.

“While regionally based engineering companies are on the same page technically, they’re hungry, well-resourced and increasingly backed by technology which is breaking down distance barriers.

“Also, engineering is a people-centric discipline. If it fails, someone gets hurt. It’s as simple as that.

“By its nature, there is a more direct connection between regionally-based

engineering fi rms and their clients which means they often outperform consulting fi rms from major capital centres. It’s this experience which regionally-based engineering companies can bring to the table.”

Mr Hutton said the Merivale Bridge scaffold was designed using the Layher system with structural capacity at 100 per cent utilisation to ensure the most effi cient use of materials,

Given the complexity of installation, this was critical to delivery of the project, he said.

Townsville-based FortisEM designed a complex scaffold system for the Merivale Bridge.

“Engineering is a people-centric discipline. If it fails, someone gets hurt.”

Bill Hutton


ROADS | Foamed Bitumen

Overtaking lanes, Warrego Highway, Oakey to Dalby.

Foamed bitumen foils fl oodwatersYears of research delivers results on Queensland roads

Stretches of Queensland highway stabilised with foamed bitumen have emerged unscathed from inundation caused by Cyclone Debbie, saving millions of dollars in repairs and notching up recognition for the road rehabilitation method.

Rockhampton’s Yeppen Floodway was among the areas to go under water after being rehabilitated with foamed bitumen early this year.

“Soon after the water receded there were no load restrictions and it recovered completely to its original strength,” Department of Transport and Main Roads Director (Pavements Rehabilitation) Jothi ‘Rama’ Ramanujam said.

“In other words, water couldn’t affect the foamed bitumen.”

Camp Cable Rd in the south-eastern corner was another case where foamed bitumen had been recently used and it had not required repair despite having almost 3m of water over the pavement after Cyclone Debbie, he said.

In other cases, water had covered unsealed foamed bitumen base at unfi nished roadworks and still those sections escaped damage – avoiding expensive and disruptive repairs.

“That’s the beauty of it,” Mr Ramanujam said. “These are not miracles. We have done research over the last 20 years and have been constantly improving it.”

He said the department’s executive leadership had been very impressed with the performance of the areas stabilised with foamed bitumen compared to other road bases.

Foamed bitumen is just one form of stabilisation TMR is investing research funds into through the National Asset Centre of Excellence (NACOE).

The department’s approach often includes removing the road sub-base and sub-grade to improve the foundation with a ‘triple blend’ treatment – a balance of lime, cement and fl y ash – before the foamed bitumen stabilisation.

Mr Ramanujam said the TMR procedure included investigating the depth and quality of existing material, the quality of the foundation, before rehabilitation work.

“We have a good investigation and rigorous procedures in our modern laboratory at Pinkenba. In addition, we have technical notes, specifi cations and we have the pavement rehabilitation manual,” he said. “Depending on

www.i-Q.net.au 47

funding and the traffi c situation, there are so many things to consider before doing a complete design like stabilising the sub-base.”

The department is involved in the design and construction process when foamed bitumen is used and carries out post-construction testing. “It is a constant loop of learning,” Mr Ramanujam said.

Foamed bitumen in Australia was introduced for rehabilitation work to extend pavement life, but is also being used in new construction – including the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing project.

The foamed bitumen clings to fi ner particles in the unbound road base, acting like ‘spot welds’ between various-sized particles to create a matrix of materials that is water-resistant but fl exible – overcoming cracking problems found in more rigid cement bases.

It uses low-viscosity (Class 170) bitumen and a lime additive for initial and long-term strength.

Mr Ramanujam said its use on Queensland roads began with a small trial on the

Cunningham Highway, Gladfi eld, in 1997.The process has become widely accepted

to the point where Mr Ramanujam says about 1000 lane km of road in Queensland now has foamed bitumen base.

The FKG Group began using foamed bitumen in 2012, with its work on the Gore Highway near Toowoomba being the largest in situ foam stabilisation project in the southern hemisphere at the time, according to senior project engineer – civil engineering Simon Weier.

“It was in excess of seven million litres of bitumen used for the foaming and it was about 44km of highway upgrades completed using that method,” he said

The FKG Group had invested in plant for foamed bitumen projects as TMR increasingly incorporated it in road design, he said.

As well as stabilisers and placing equipment, the company has three mobile batch plants for foamed bitumen manufacture.

“At the moment we are working on a project between Oakey and Dalby on the Warrego

Highway. It involves about 120,000 tonnes of plant-mixed foamed bitumen, which we are manufacturing using our plant, for about 7km of overtaking lanes across four sites,” Mr Weier said.

“We also have a project on the Cunningham Highway using foamed bitumen and gravel.”

These areas featured expansive subgrades and traditional cement treatments had greater potential to suffer block cracking or other failure compared to the fl exible base provided by foamed bitumen, he said.

“We still do traditional work using gravel or cement stabilisation, but we are seeing more and more work come through for foamed bitumen - which is great,” Mr Weier said.

“I particularly enjoy it. It’s a different type of work. A little more challenging than traditional road construction.”

He said rehabilitation using foamed bitumen often allowed in situ recycling of sub-base material, providing cost and environmental benefi ts.

The $170 million Yeppen South crossing project on Rockhampton’s southern outskirts was completed in 2015. It included the construction of 2.1km of new bridges across the fl oodplain as well as an upgrade to the low-level side of the Bruce Highway and a major intersection upgrade at the Burnett Highway. The project, jointly funded by federal and State governments, aimed to safeguard access to the south of Rockhampton during fl ooding scenarios up to a one-in-100-year event.

During fl ooding in the Rockhampton region in April (picture above), north and southbound traffi c on the Bruce Highway south of Rockhampton used the new high-level bridges to maintain access. The old, lower section of the fl oodway was inundated but recovered well.

Crossing project keeps traffi c fl owing


Caterpillar has released a new blasthole drill – the Cat MD6250, promising optimum effi ciency in single- and multi-pass applications for rotary and down-the-hole modes.

The MD6250 comes with a variety of standard and optional auto drilling features to ensure drill pattern and depth accuracy.

This helps operations lower explosives costs, improve blast performance and optimise muckpile uniformity to reduce downstream processing costs, the manufacturer says.

An optional auto drill assist controls every step of the drill cycle to simplify the operator’s job and improve accuracy.

Standard Cat Product Link™ technology enables operations to improve fl eet management through customisable reports and mapping.

The machine drills hole diameters reaching 150 to 250 mm with bit loads of 22,321kg and 32,655kg respectively for the 11.2m and 13.7m masts.

The 11.2m mast is capable of drilling multi-pass hole depths reaching 53.6m,

while the 13.7m mast drills multi-pass depths of up to 37.9m.

The MD6250’s power train features the Cat C27 ACERT™ engine with a 655kW (879 hp) power rating at 1800rpm that can be confi gured to meet any emissions regulations.

A camera on the mast offers operators a full view of the pipe carousel/top drive operation, while cameras at the front and left sides of the drill offer a 360-degree view from the operator’s seat for improved safety.

New Cat goes the hole hog

MACHINERY REVIEW

www.undergroundoperators.ausimm.com.au

Event Management: The AusIMMFor further information, please contact: Eliza Sanneman, Team Leader, Senior Coordinator, Events Telephone: +61 3 9658 6105 | Email: [email protected]

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13th AusIMM UndergroundOperators’ Conference 2017

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Conference Highlights:• Three-day technical program with over 50 papers

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To view the program, tours and workshop details visit the conferencewebsite

Keynote Presenters• Lena Abrahamsson, Professor, Luleå University of Technology

• Mark Adams MAusIMM, Kaama Consulting

• Gideon Chitombo MAusIMM, The University of Queensland

• Dale Elphinstone, Elphinstone Group

• Joe Luxford FAusIMM(CP),Trident Project & Mining Services

• Professor Michael Quinlan, UNSW Australia

• Paul Rouse MAusIMM, PYBAR Mining Services Pty Ltd

Workshops:W1: ACG Shotcrete Design & Performance Workshop

W2: Cave Mining 2040 Masterclass

W3: Diesel Emissions in Underground Mines

Conference Tours:• Ernest Henry Mine and Dugald River

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