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INSIDE: Santos GLNG starts LNG exports. Page 3
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SURAT BASIN NEWS
THE NEWSPAPER
EDITOR'S
NOTE
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ELLO and welcome to the October 2015 edition of Surat Basin News. Our cover shot this month is of the new barriers at Roma racetrack and while this is not normally a sporting publication, the Roma Cup is an event that transcends sport and provides a huge economic boost to the region. The race itself is on next month and we feature it on page 28. Probably the biggest news of the month is the fact that Santos GLNG have finally started production and the first shipment is on the way to Korea as I write. The low oil price has led to tough times for everyone in the gas business so this is welcoming good news. See more on page 3. Santos GLNG has also done a major deal with Senex and you can read about that on page 4. I attended TSBE’s Agriculture in the Asian Century conference in Toowoomba last month and I report on it on page 6. I talk about the ACCC’s surprising intervention into the Shell-BG Group deal on page 8. As usual I cannot be responsible for the nonsense spouted by Gravel Road (page 10) but more importantly I was at the Senate hearing into the Murray-Darling Basin water buyback scheme which you can read about on page 12. There’s plenty more inside which I hope you enjoy. As always, feedback of any kind is greatly appreciated at derek.barry@apn.com.au Cheers, Derek Barry, Editor
THE VISION
The Surat Basin News publishes every Surat Basin News will allow local month and will be delivered via the four businesses to network and dominant newspapers of the region: the communicate with everyone in the 1200 Chinchilla News, Western Star, Dalby sq km basin, providing unprecedented Herald and The Chronicle. It will reach access to new clients and markets. It the homes and offices of almost 50,000 will give a revealing insight into major people living, working and playing in the industry while lifting the veil on current Surat Basin, connecting the business and and proposed developments. It will be mining communities throughout the there for each and every announcement booming region. Surat Basin News is a shaping the region's future while necessity. It was born out of a passion for profiling the colourful characters that Australia's fastest growing communities define our communities. — a passion for a region of unbridled potential and a future of vast economic growth and opportunities. The newspaper, professionally designed and regionally The Surat Basin News is inserted into topical, will be a must read for anyone the four dominant local newspapers for associated with the exciting Surat Basin. the region: the Chinchilla News and Murilla Advertiser, Western Star Roma, Dalby Herald and The Chronicle Toowoomba. Surat Basin News has gone online to ensure our readers in every corner of the country has the latest news sent directly to them. Newsagents in - Chinchilla, Roma, Dalby, Gladstone, Moura, Toowoomba, Calliope
SNAP OF THE MONTH
Condamine Electric Company had fabulous uniquely designed tables for visitors to the Dalby Chamber event this month (See CEC story page 26).
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THE
INDEX
DOWN TO BUSINESS
IN THE NEWS Santos GLNG exports begin.....................3 Santos-Senex deal.......................................4 FIFO inquiry outcome................................5 Agriculture in the Asian Century............6 Shell-BG Group takeover...........................7
Solar news...................................................14 New Hope coal............................................15 Black Toyota...............................................16 Roma Windscreens. .................................17 Moonie Oilfields.........................................18 Wandoan weed clearing...........................20
EDITOR
Derek Barry Dalby 07 4672 5500 Derek.barry@suratbasin.com.au
PAGE DESIGN Beth Walker
OPINIONS
IN THE REGION
Nicole Boyd-Taylor Dalby 07 4672 5500 nicole.boyd-taylor@dalbyherald.com.au
SURAT BASIN NEWS
BSA forum.....................................................8 ...................................................................21-23 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413 Western Downs council news...................9 PO Box 138 Chinchilla QLD 4413 Gravel Road.................................................10 Ali Jak...........................................................11 PLACES AND FACES PUBLISHED TSBE Wellcamp.........................................24 The Surat Basin News is published by RURAL NEWS Dalby business excellence awards........25 Chinchilla Newspapers Pty Ltd Senate Hearing...........................................12 Condamine Electric Company................26 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413 Cotton planting...........................................13 Ron Murray.................................................27 Roma Cup....................................................28 The Surat Basin News is printed by APN Print Warwick
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IN THE NEWS
Bechtel are pleased
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Santos GLNG's first shipment of LNG leaves Curtis Island bound for Korea after years of construction. Photo Paul Braven / The Observer
Santos gas set for Korea GLNG first shipment has left Gladstone
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"With $7.9 billion invested with Queensland businesses, $200 million invested in roads, hospitals, schools and events and more than 10,000 people having worked on the project in Queensland, GLNG has delivered unprecedented opportunities to build long lasting benefits for regional communities.” Mr Knox said this was the largest project they had ever undertaken and he was proud they had delivered it on time and within budget. "Successfully delivering our first operated LNG project is a testament to our dedicated employees and contractors, the support we have received from governments, local communities, our customers and shareholders, as well as the strong relationships we enjoy with our joint venture partners,” Mr Knox said. Vice president downstream Santos GLNG Rod Duke called the first shipment a significant milestone. “This is a very exciting time for us,” Mr Duke said. “We said we’d produce the first LNG in the third quarter this year and that’s exactly
what we’ve done. “This is the result of a lot of hard work by a lot of people over the past five years and there’s still more to be done.” Work on the second train is continuing to progress well, with Train 2 expected to be ready for start-up by the end of the year. Their Curtis Island plant will have the capacity to produce 7.8 million tonnes of LNG per year when fully operational. The production news comes just weeks after the company announced they were sacking CEO David Knox after seven years at the helm, in a major reshuffle after the share price had dipped from over $15 a year ago to less than $6 today. On August 21 the company announced chairman Peter Coates would assume the role of executive chairman and conduct a strategic review of the company. “The board is determined to address the impact of the fall in global oil prices on the company’s share price,” Mr Coates said. “We are undertaking a thorough strategic review of all option.”
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WO down, one to go. Of the big three Queensland gas producers, Santos GLNG has joined QGC in production mode having shipped its first load of liquefied natural gas from Curtis Island. These may be tough times for the gas company with a low oil price meaning a low share price and hundreds of redundancies – including the scalp of outgoing CEO David Knox - but October 16 was a sweet day as the first gas left Gladstone for Korea. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was among those present as the Malaysian owned LNG ship Seri Bakti left port bound for Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, due to arrive on October 27. Ms Palaszczuk congratulated Mr Knox and the team at Santos, including their joint venture partners and the thousands of workers that made this project a reality, on reaching a critical milestone. "With long-term contracts locked in, this project will play a vital role in Queensland's economic strength for decades to come,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
UILDERS of the Santos GLNG LNG plant Bechtel has hailed the first shipment of gas from the plant. Alasdair Cathcart, general manager of Bechtel’s LNG business line said delivering a project the scale of GLNG was an extraordinary effort that instilled a great level of achievement and pride within their team. “Successfully delivering the unprecedented scale of projects, side-by-side, simultaneously on Curtis Island, is a testament to the expertise of our team and the level of collaboration with our customers and suppliers,” Mr Cathcart said. “Bringing the first GLNG production train online safely for our customer Santos GLNG is another important step forward to full delivery of all six trains on Curtis Island.” The Santos GLNG facility is one of three LNG plants that Bechtel is building on Curtis Island alongside Queensland Curtis LNG (BG Group) and Australia Pacific LNG (ConocoPhillips). In the past nine months, Bechtel has successfully produced LNG on three of the six LNG trains being built on Curtis Island. Bechtel is delivering the engineering, procurement, modularisation, construction and commissioning for the three LNG facilities on Curtis Island. Once complete, the three LNG facilities will have a combined capacity to produce about 25 million tonnes of LNG a year. This is the equivalent of powering every vehicle on Australia’s roads for a full year. Each production train on the GLNG project will produce up to 3.9 million tonnes a year of LNG.
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IN THE NEWS
New player does gas swap with GLNG for cash, permits and expertise
Senex strikes deal with Santos Company hope deal will speed its investment decision
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P and coming gas player Senex Energy has struck a significant gas sales deal with Santos GLNG that sets it up for its Western Surat gas project as well as providing a good cash flow. Senex will supply 50 terajoules a day of gas to GLNG over 20 years from the Western Surat project and has handed over an 77 sq km exploration permit in the Roma gasfield in exchange for $42m in cash plus subsurface and production technical data that the company hopes will speed up the FID approval process. The exploration permit known as Maisey Block is expected to supply GLNG with up to 50 terrajoules of coal seam gas a day, which will be processed at the GLNG plant on Curtis Island. The land is adjacent to GLNG-owned gas fields. Senex managing director Ian Davies said their Western Surat project was still viable despite the low oil price and the Santos GLNG deal would accelerate commercialisation of its gas resources. “These transactions will deliver significant value to Senex through enabling an accelerated monetisation of our material resource base,” Mr Davies said. “This is a natural relationship given our acreage sits adjacent to GLNG’s Roma fields. “The provision of production and subsurface information from these operating fields together with close collaboration with GLNG will be hugely valuable to the efficient development of both projects.” The Western Surat Gas Project is a proposed gas field development over 990 square kilometres of Senex permits north of Roma
Senex gas exploration fields in the north-west Surat Basin region north of Roma. and Wallumbilla, predominantly located within the Maranoa Regional Council area, with a very small footprint in the Western Downs Regional Council area. Senex has now completed the public display and comment period for its draft terms of
reference having held stakeholder meetings in Roma and Wallumbilla. It now expects to submit an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in mid-2016 to the State Government. Senex is targeting first gas production by the
end of 2017. Senex said activities in the early planning stages included pilot appraisal testing, conceptual engineering studies, stakeholder engagement and environmental impact assessment.
Origin steadies the ship with $2.5 billion equity raising and cost cutting
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ATINGS agency Standard & Poor’s has reacted positively to Origin Energy’s plan to strengthen its balance sheet. S&P reaffirmed its long term senior unsecured credit rating for Origin as “stable” after the gas company announced a fully underwritten $2.5 billion equity raising. The ratings agency said this was positive from a rating stability perspective and would ensure Origin could withstand subdued oil prices for a substantial period of time, with earnings from its core business able to support the current rating with no reliance on Australian Pacific LNG cash flows. The $2.5 billion accelerated entitlement offer was part of $4.7 billion worth of capital initiatives the company will undertake. Other initiatives include reducing capital expenditure by over a billion dollars in the next two financial years, restricting the dividend guidance to 20c a share, and selling off $800m of what the company calls “non core assets”. These initiatives are expected to reduce the company’s net debt to below $9 billion by the end of the 2017 financial year. Origin chairman Gordon Cairns said further reductions in capital expenditure would strengthen their balance sheet. “These initiatives will lower debt, strengthen the balance sheet and reduce reliance on distributions from Australia Pacific LNG,” Mr
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Cairns said. “We believe this package of initiatives is prudent in the light of current market conditions and strikes a reasonable balance in the best interest of all shareholders.” Origin shares were in a trading halt following the capital raising announcement after halving in the previous three months as investors became concerned over the company’s heavy debt burden associated
with APLNG during a period of ongoing weakness in the oil price. The company slashed 800 white-collar jobs in August in non-operational departments based in the capital cities including finance, corporate and commercial after reporting a half year loss of $658 million. Mr Cairns said APLNG’s production schedule remained unaffected. “We have consistently stated that the 2015
Origin has strengthened its balance sheet. Seen here - an aerial shot of APLNG's Condabri plant.
Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 29 October 2015
and 2016 financial years are transitional years for Origin, as we complete the final stages of our investment in Australia Pacific LNG,” he said. “Work on the project is nearing completion and the project remains on track to commence sustained production from Train 1 from the second quarter of the 2016 financial year and from Train 2 approximately six months later.”
IN THE NEWS
Basin water under review
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Western Downs Mayor Ray Brown (right) gives evidence to the FIFO Inquiry in Dalby. Photo Derek Barry / Surat Basin News
FIFO inquiry recommends changes to discrimination act .
Everybody in Queensland should be considered for a position, regardless of where they live. Parliamentary Chair Jim Pearce heightened economic activity and population growth and reversing the 1990s trend of declining population. The report found FIFO was on the increase due to workforce recruitment policies, location of mines, employee lifestyle choices, better roads, cheaper airfares, the provision of free or subsidised airfares and buses, roster arrangements, workplace health and safety, the use of contractors, and an increasing casualisation of operational workforces. However the increase in non-resident operational workforces is having a negative impact on employment and on the economic
sustainability of their communities, the panel found. "The overwhelming majority of resource community economic stakeholders expressed opposition to resource companies specifying predominantly non-resident operational workforces for activities located in safe travelling distance of their communities," the report said. While the panel admitted the government had limited legal and legislative options to change existing approvals, it recommended policy changes to stop 100% FIFO workforces in future projects. The report also recommended local accommodation and procurement for operational activities. The report comes just weeks after Sekitan Resources said it would be looking for a local workforce when it re-opens Wilkie Creek coalmine in 2016. "A local workforce is more cost effective," CEO Trevor Bourne told a Chinchilla forum recently.
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HE Queensland Government parliamentary inquiry into Fly In Fly Out has wrapped up with a recommendation to change the anti-discrimination act so mining companies cannot refuse to employ workers based on where they live. Parliamentary chair Jim Pearce said mines which refused to employ locals was a huge issue. "100 per cent FIFO is just not accepted by anybody in regional Queensland and that choice should be a condition of employment," he said. "Everybody in Queensland should be considered for a position, regardless of where they live." The parliamentary inquiry findings follow the expert panel which consisted of two businessmen in the resource industry and two Bowen Basin mayors which also handed in its findings saying there had been unprecedented resource activity in Queensland in the past 15 years leading to
eeting across Queensland have looked at proposals to prepare a new Great Artesian Basin water resource plan. The meetings in Dalby and Roma last week were two of many across the Queensland section of the Great Artesian Basin (GAB). Mark Foreman of the Department of Natural Resources and Mines told the meeting the Basin’s current resource plan expired on September 1, 2016 and the meetings were a chance to get public feedback of what should be in the next plan. Mr Foreman said the idea was to consider what’s working with the current plan, come up with some initial ideas and issues and update technical assumptions about the hydrology before developing a draft plan. New issues include the increasing demand for GAB groundwater for industry and to drough-proof rural properties. There is also additional demand for water due to urban growth. A statement of proposals document said another evolving issue was the management of uncontrolled bores and bore drains. The document warns that although good work has been done for the last 15 years to restore pressure to many parts of the basin, federal funding for the initiative runs out in 2017. “Strategies need to be developed and implemented to address this issue beyond the cessation of federal funding,” the document said. The government is accepting public submissions until the end of the year.
Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 29 October 2015
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IN THE NEWS
Ag conference in Toowoomba looks at mega trends
To Asia and beyond in the 21st century
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CCORDING to NAB analyst Patrick Vizzone, the Asian century is Australia’s opportunity to grow. Mr Vizzone was speaking at the Agriculture in the Asian Century conference in Toowoomba last month and he said that since 2000 agribusiness trade with Asia has increased 200%. “The most staggering growth continues to be from China,” Mr Vizzone said. “The last decade has seen a fivefold increased to $7 billion in US dollars. “Asia will continue to provide the impetus. By 2050 the world population will grow to nine billion and the value of food production will increase 65%,” Mr Vizzone said the strongest increase would come from Asia where the demand will double. “China will continue to be the main driver and will represent a staggering 40% of the total global increase,” he said. “The free trade agreements will provide tailwinds for bilateral trade investment “Industries that will be benefit in Australia are mainly beef, grain and dairy as well as packaged foods.” However what Mr Vizzone found very interesting was that the strongest export growth out of all the categories has come from rice. “It’s growing at a massive clip, who said you can’t sell ice to eskimoes?” he said. Mr Vizzone said beef had enormous opportunities in Asia but it was important to have a strategic plan. “Don’t leave good business sense at the airport,” he said. He said the environment was very complex and getting more so with volatile exchange rates. “The volatility in China is resonating across Asia,” he said. “Business risk and complexity is increasing rapidly. “You need a good partner and good advisors to help navigate the way.” Mr Vizzone said government policy was also a very significant externality and risk. “You must understand where the wind is blow and commission your business accordingly,” he said. In many parts of Asia the government owns or controls the majority of businesses and in China state owned enterprises (SOEs) generate the overwhelming majority of commerce.
Mr Vizzone said China’s top 10 companies were all SOEs and they have a combined revenue of two trillion dollars. “These businesses think and act very differently to the way we do,” he said. “SOEs are a challenge and that is why you need good partners and good advisors who understand how the market works. “When you’re dealing with Asia, try and get to the top person who’s making the decision.” He said China’s market was so big that small ripples there looked like a tsunami when they hit Australia. However he also said Australia needs to not only consider quantity, but also the quality of its goods as food security was the number one issue in China. “There is a deficit in trust in the domestic supply and it is potentially a source of public unrest although the government is working very hard at solving the problem,” he said. “But it’s going to take time given the high
level of soil and water contamination.” Mr Vizzone said Australia’s reputation was extremely well deserved and that helped in creating markets in China. His speech was followed by one from James Campbell, the CEO of beef exporters Sanger Australia who spoke of the mega trends in beef including the importance of provenance branding by region. Mr Campbell noted six key adaptations: being customer facing, securing supply chains, the importance of brands, value adding in your industry, technological advances and making sure your own house was in order. “Half of our Bindaree Beef orders from China are via mobile phone,” he said. MLA’s Lisa Sharp also noted that 75% of all Australian beef is now exported – and mostly to Asia. The conference was opened by futurist Chris Riddell who took the audience through an
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China will continue to be the main driver and will represent a staggering 40% of the total global increase. NAB analyst Patrick Vizzone energetic journey of technological innovation. Mr Riddell asked why was it that driverless cars were being developed by Google and not by the likes of Ford or GM. “Because,” he said, “it’s a mechanical problem with a technological solution.” Mr Riddell said data was the new oil of the 21st century. “You must find it, mine it and then refine it,” he said.
Dr Ben Lyons opens the Ag in Asia conference with Rick Wan and Chris Riddell. Photo Derek Barry / Surat Basin News
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IN THE NEWS
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The Shell takeover of QGC, which is part of BG Group, has been delayed by the ACCC.
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ACCC to review Shell deal
OMPETITION watchdog the ACCC has thrown a spanner in the works of Shell’s takeover of the BG Group deferring its decision on the takeover until November. In April Shell agreed to fork out $94 billion for BG Group, which includes Curtis Liquefied Natural Gas project (QCLNG) with its coal seam gas operation in the Surat Basin. Shell already has a 50 per cent stake in Arrow Energy while BG holds a majority stake in the $20 billion QCLNG project. However ACCC chairman Rod Sims now says they were concerned other LNG operations would lose out and east coast gas users would be hit with higher prices. “By aligning Shell’s interest in Arrow Energy with BG’s LNG facilities in Queensland, the proposed acquisition may change Shell’s incentives (to) prioritise supply to BG’s LNG facilities over competing gas users,” Mr Sims said. “ Shell could choose to direct more (and possibly all) of Arrow’s large gas reserves towards meeting BG’s contracts to supply LNG export markets (removing) some or all
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submissions from market participants concerned about the competition effects of the proposed acquisition”. Mr Sims said last month the ACCC would accept further submissions from the market in response to its statement of issues by October 8 and would defer its final decision until November 12. Manufacturing peak body Manufacturing Australia welcomed the review. Its chairman Mark Chellew said said more gas suppliers were needed in the domestic marketplace. "If the merger does go ahead, then the ACCC ACCC chairman Rod Sims should seriously consider whether enforceable undertakings should be included of Arrow’s gas from the domestic market.” to ensure the Arrow gas reserves in Mr Sims said Arrow had the largest Queensland find their way to the domestic uncommitted gas reserves in eastern market and are not withheld from the Australia with few other potential suppliers market," Mr Chellew said. to the domestic market. "The unfortunate fact is, the gas industry “If the proposed acquisition resulted in less based their project planning for LNG plants supply of gas to the domestic market, on the assumption they would be awash with therefore, this could substantially lessen competition to supply domestic gas users and gas, which they are not, and that oil would remain $90-100 per barrel, despite the lead to higher domestic prices and more long-term average being around half that restrictive contractual terms,” he said. figure.” “The ACCC has received a large number of .
Shell could choose to direct more (and possibly all) of Arrow’s large gas reserves towards meeting BG’s contracts to supply LNG export markets (removing) some or all of Arrow’s gas from the domestic market.
VER 70 regional Queenslanders with undiagnosed, life threatening heart conditions have received urgent medical treatment, thanks to a mobile cardiac service bringing city-level care to rural areas. Launched in October last year with foundation partner Arrow Energy, Heart of Australia brings medical specialists to people in the bush, where these services are lacking. The service has notched up 12 months of saving lives and has discovered undiagnosed cardiac conditions in 70 of the 2100 people it treated during the year. Dalby’s Gary Briggs is one of those patients. “When I had my consultation we discovered that I was overdue to have a defibrillator inserted,” Mr Briggs said. “The defibrillator was put in, I feel great and life goes on – I’m good for another 30 to 40 years.” Heart of Australia – a 25-metre clinic-on-wheels drawn by a Kenworth prime mover – now travels to 11 Queensland towns, delivering fortnightly access to a cardiac and respiratory clinic. “When I tell some people what happened they say ‘you went to a truck to get your heart checked out?’ … and they look at me a bit strange but it’s one of the best things I ever did,” Mr Briggs said. “It turns up at the end of my street. “And the service you’re going to get is as good as, if not better than whatever you would get elsewhere.” Cardiologist and Heart of Australia founder Dr Rolf Gomes said the take-up of the service was resounding.
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IN THE REGION
Wellcamp Airport goes international
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Lee McNicholl, Neville Stiller, Peter Hansen and Ian Hansen at the BSA AGM. Photo Megan James/BMO
BSA warns on water New president wants water for water in ‘make good’ provisions the large impacts on groundwater from mining, especially the proposed Galilee basin mines. He quoted his own Draining the Lifeblood report which analysed assessment documents prepared by five coal mine proponents, projects additional impacts of a further four proposed mines and found that together the Galilee coal mines had the potential to cause permanent and unacceptable impacts on regional groundwater and surface water resources. Mr Cruthers said mining in Queensland was covered by six different acts which overlapped in confusing ways but whereas the coalmining industry needed a water licence, the petroleum industry had limitless
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access to “associated water”. “The fact is, we don’t know how much water the Queensland mining industry is taking,” Mr Cruthers said. Peter Shannon from Shine Lawyers, who resigned from this year’s BSA committee, said CSG negotiation was now changing and companies were “hardening up”. “Your three most valuable resources are your lawyer, your accountant and your valuer,” he told the AGM. “Use them and stay strong.” Mr Shannon noted that a new set of smaller players were entering the gas market such as Armour Energy which didn’t have the market capitalisation of the big players and may be more difficult to deal with.
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EW Basin Sustainability Alliance head Lee McNicholl has promised to make water the number one issue for his advocacy body this year. Mr McNicholl was appointed president at the group’s annual general meeting in Dalby this month and he said the coal seam gas industry took 12 megalitres of water each year from each well and that every 1000 wells represented the loss of 6000 head of cattle. He said stories of farmers having improved relations with the companies was still “something of a fantasy.” “As my new fellow committee member Richard Golden said, it’s more of a shotgun wedding than a marriage made in heaven.” Lawyer Tom Cruthers told the AGM about
ELLCAMP Airport is set to take on the world. That was the message out of the Ag in the Asian Century conference last month after Wagners chairman John Wagner announced Wellcamp Airport had received approval for international freight. The approval is set to transform the way agricultural produce is exported from regional Australia and it means the Darling Downs and Lockyer Valley’s world-famous agricultural produce can now be flown to markets around the world directly from its region of origin. Mr Wagner told the conference that chilled beef will be the first to take flight but beyond that the opportunities are endless. Mr Wagner said the airport had given agricultural exporters a springboard to launch their products directly into Asia. This is a significant expansion for Wagners and the Wellcamp Airport. The airport already provides daily passenger flights to Sydney and across Queensland. But the Wagner family had always aimed to use the airport to give Darling Downs farmers the ability to export to lucrative markets in Asia and around the world. “To be able to operate an international business in Toowoomba is quite difficult without a decent airport,” Mr Wagner said. “In April 2012 the four brothers sat down and made a decision to go ahead and build it.” Mr Wagner said the airport was an anchor for their business park and would become a multi-generational asset. “It was a natural thing to do and it was a very sound decision,” he said.
IN THE REGION
Miles and Condamine go sustainable New waste infrastructure opened in Western Downs region
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ESTERN Downs Regional Council has hailed its new waste facilities which are delivering sustainable waste management to Condamine and Miles. Mayor Ray Brown and Cr Greg Olm officially opened the new Miles Waste and Recycling Centre and Condamine Waste Transfer Station recently marking another step in Council's strategy to implement sustainable waste management alternatives across the region. Cr Olm said the new facilities delivered on Council's commitment to build much-needed new waste infrastructure. "The expansion and upgrade of waste and recycling facilities throughout the region as part of Council's ongoing Towards a Waste Wise Western Downs strategy, will help bring the Western Downs into a new era of waste management as well as allow us to keep pace with new technologies and environmental standards," Cr Olm said. "The new Miles Waste and Recycling Centre and Condamine Waste Transfer Station follow in the successful footsteps of similar facilities in Chinchilla, Dalby, and Kaimkillenbun, and provide residents with an environmentally sustainable alternative to managing their waste.” Cr Olm said these new modern waste
Mayor Ray Brown and Cr Greg Olm officially open the Condamine waste facility. Photo Contributed facilities in Miles and Condamine ensured Western Downs communities could manage their waste by maximising recycling and reuse efforts by helping to divert recyclable items away from landfill. "Council is committed to responsible and
effective waste management solutions that are environmentally suitable, cost effective, meet contemporary industry standards, and improve patron experience,” he said. The facilities were built with the help of contributions from the state government
under the Royalties for the Regions Program and the Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program. For operating hours at both facilities visit www.wdrc.qld.gov.au or contact Council on 1300 COUNCIL.
Changes at the top in Surat Basin economic group
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New TSBE chief executive officer Dr Ben Lyons.
conomic development organisation Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) held their AGM last week with some changes to the board and management team. Inaugural chairman John Wagner announced his resignation from the board and chief executive officer Shane Charles has resigned as inaugural CEO. However, Mr Charles will step into the role of chairman of the board, with TSBE’s chief operating officer Dr Ben Lyons officially
moving into the organisation’s CEO position. Mr Wagner said these changes had been carefully planned and orchestrated. “I indicated to the board some months ago that I would not be standing again as chairman,” Mr Wagner said. “Shane as CEO was originally contracted for three years and generously stayed in the role for another year to ensure that our succession was carefully managed. “It is not great practice for both the CEO and chairman to leave at the same time, and as
such, the board was very pleased when Shane agreed to remain with the organisation as chair.” As incoming chair, Mr Charles thanked Mr Wagner for his contribution to TSBE saying his vision and passion for our region had been instrumental in the organisation’s rapid growth and successes to date. “From the very early days, John has been a driving force behind TSBE’s endeavours and his strategic insights have allowed us to grow and reach milestones far beyond what we could have originally imagined,” Mr Charles said.
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CAUTION: Gravel Road Ahead
There are highways and by-ways and then there are gravel roads. Gravel Road will take a leisurely look at the road less travelled across the region. We would have called it Dirt Road but we are far too clean for that — most of the time.
Deadline in the water
Oh for a few minutes more, or an extended deadline, as Gravel Road found to its misfortune last month. Our column written in the days that followed the “turnbullence” of a new prime minister, allowed itself to speculate on who might follow Malcolm Turnbull as communications minister. We suggested that his then-parliamentary secretary Paul Fletcher was favourite though we allowed for the possibility that Joe Hockey might amply fill his shoes too. Of course we were dreadfully wrong with Mitch Fifield getting the gig instead, Fletcher having to make do with Minister for Territories, Local Government and Major Projects, while poor old Joe got the boot. At least our mistake was tiny compared to the Australian Financial Review whose annual AFR Magazine Power List was fatally undermined by the Canberra coup. Though published 12 days after Turnbull’s ascent to power, he only ranked number six on the list behind Tony Abbott on top and his chief of staff Peta Credlin at three. Magazine editor Katrina Strickland described how one of her senior editors told her the news of the spill after the magazine was printed. “Well, you’re f****d, aren’t you?” the senior editor said, eloquently. Ah, there but for the grace of longer deadlines goes Gravel Road.
A fishy sign called Wondia
Perhaps a hard deadline was the source of this snafu in God’s own country of Queensland. Earlier this month the state government announced a new city. To be called Aura, the new 50,000-strong population city will be situated south of Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast, according to deputy premier Jackie Trad. But wags out west are asking if perhaps there is a secret plan to create a second new town. Well, that’s one of the possibilities offered by a new sign at Jinghi on the junction between the Chinchilla-Wondai Rd and Dalby-Mundubbera Rd. Drivers coming from Chinchilla are offered the choice between turning right into Jandowae or left to a place called “Wondia”. Now Gravel Road is prepared to admit there is a small chance of error that has crept in here and our esteemed governmental sign-writers meant the South Burnett town of Wondai. But our
sense of wonder allied to a dash of wandering, gives us hope that the signwriters were right all along and a new town is about to be created. I Wondia where that is?
To helium and back
The Basin Sustainability Alliance annual general meeting in Dalby this month had a number of lawyers on the bill giving free advice on how farmers should deal with big companies. Given the charge-out rate our legal eagle friends normally charge for their time, this really was a good deal for those present. There was much wisdom imparted but Gravel Road’s favourite speaker was Shine Lawyer’s Rory Ross who looked at the likelihood of tight (shale) gas exploration in Queensland and also asked what might be the next big thing that no one saw coming. His surprising answer: helium. Helium is the second most common element in the universe but rare on earth. It is, however found in Australia (including Santos fields in the NT) and is used as a coolant for superconducting magnets in rocketry and nuclear power. Last year the AusIMM Bulletin asked if helium would be the next mineral to boom in Australia. Gravel Road will follow helium exploration with interest, and will be the first to celebrate in a squeaky voice if it ever comes to pass.
Boom Tish Pom
It wasn’t just helium balloons raised at that Basin Sustainability Alliance, there were lead balloons too. That meeting elected a new committee and incoming president Lee McNicholl promised to take the fight to the big companies over make good arrangements at their AGM this moment. But perhaps he might have to make good himself to his English friends after the joke he told at the forum. What was the difference between a tea bag and the English rugby team, he asked. “A tea bag stays in the cup longer,” he said. Ouch! Let’s hope Mr McNicholl never has to shoot any Wallabies on his property.
Hear ye, hear ye
If Mr McNicholl is having trouble getting his voice heard in the corridors of power, perhaps he might consider a different approach than telling jokes. Perhaps the
Oops. Wondia where that is? Sign spotted near Chinchilla by one of our eagle-eyed readers. strategy of Toowoomba Regional Council which is in the process of hiring a new town crier. The previous incumbent Ralph Cockle retired from the role after 18 years due to bone cancer and he sadly passed away in June. Now Mayor Paul Antonio is calling on anyone with a strong voice, good at acting and passionate about Toowoomba to apply for the role, which attracts a salary of $5000 and a costume designed like those worn by town criers of 17th century. We note that those town criers of older times were protected by law. "Don't shoot the messenger" was a very real command; anything that was done to a town crier was deemed to be done to the King and was therefore a treasonable offence. We hope people remember this when anyone speaks ill of Gravel Road. Oyez. Oyez. Oyez.
Miley High Club
Shooting might be a bit harsh but one messenger who might need a few lessons is Brisbane Channel Seven reporter Mylee Hogan. At a gig at Brisbane’s CareFlight hangar recently, Mylee found a local link to her near namesake pop star Miley Cyrus. “Here’s a fun fact,” Mylee (the Brisbane one) tweeted. “careflight’s new rescue jet is @MileyCyrus old private jet”. Intrigued, Gravel Road went digging. First we found that the jet is not that new after all. CareFlight announced the arrival of the Bombardier Challenger CL–604 jet with that call sign “VH-URR” in November 2014. The press release from CareFlight said the jet would expand their long range capability to a range of more than 3500 nautical miles. But it mentioned nothing about Miley (the American one). We’ve put the question to CareFlight but they are just as mystified as we are. Was this one of the singer’s Bangerz? We Can’t Stop till we find out about this wrecking ball.
Youth in Asia
Gravel Road would not describe China’s inexorable rise as a wrecking ball but we found some of the statistics coming out from the Ag in the Asian Century conference mind-boggling. We grew up knowing that China had a billion people and remember being scared when someone older but not necessarily wiser telling us the havoc that would eventuate if all one billion of them jumped on the ground at the same time. A young and impressionable Gravel Road had nightmarish visions of massive earthquakes as a result of a billion bouncing Chinese. If that was fanciful the real statistics are equally earth-shattering as a country with a population 40 times that of Australia becomes increasingly wealthy and strident on the world stage. However Gravel Road’s favourite comment at the conference had little to do with China and was more a comment on Gen Y from futurist Chris Riddell.”Work,” said Mr Riddell, “was the brief part of the day they use old technology.” I’m not sure what he meant but in the meantime I’ll go back to some more eye-watering calculations about China on my abacus.
Lee McNicholl tells a cup joke. Photo Contributed
Hit the Road Was this once Mylie Cyrus's plane? Journalist Mylee Hogan seems to think so.
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Got something we should know about? Contact us on gravelroad@suratbasin.com.au
Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 29 October 2015
IN THE REGION
Tara set to regenerate its future
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Ali Jak is new equipment from CPM Engineering to improve water quality.
CPM release new waste management product
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New Ali Jak technology
he Ali-Jak Process is the latest in a long list of developments by CPM Engineering Queensland. CPM has been involved in the exploration and mining sector over the last 10 years of operation, continually finding safer and more cost effective ways to approach projects. The development of the Ali-Jak over the last three years has been a big step forward towards this concern. This machine has proven to really open some eyes when it comes to treating materials that were previously considered “untreatable”. So far they have tested many different liquid waste streams with success, and hold NATA approved test reports to support these claims. The Ali-Jak has the capability to isolate and extract only the clean water from a waste stream, and leave all contaminates in a solid form, deemed as “spade-able”.
The machines are designed in a way to allow mobile operation, or be installed as a fixed plant. So far the developers are gaining expressions of interest from the main stake holders in the field with the data that we have presented. Not only does this data show that we can treat drill muds and frac waters, but we have recently proven that the process can take dried salt out of brine water and process water. The water that is left behind has tested to be suitable for irrigation, stock water, construction water and even possibly drinking water to meet Australian standards with some additional processing. The biggest outcome for the client is the cost savings associated with almost 80% reduction in transport costs, waste disposal costs, and fresh water purchasing requirements for drilling and construction of future wells. The
Ali-Jak holds evidence to show that it can improve water quality to a level considerably lower than that asked for by the regulatory bodies, with beneficial cost savings to the operator. The biggest breakthrough for the inventor Jason McPherson is “the chance to simply make a difference to the environment and give something back to the bush”. Being brought up in St George, and having an understanding of the stress that landholders are facing, Jason has developed the machine in a way so it cannot physically produce dirty water. A data logger takes a sample of the water quality both in and out every 5 minutes, and this can be uploaded for the client and landholders to view for themselves to see that it is working. The information is available for the Ali-Jak through CPM Engineering, and Ali-Jak Environmental.
ARA is the first community in Queensland set to model a new community regeneration project. Bob Neville, an expert in economic development, is running the project and he was in town recently to explain it. Mr Neville said the small businesses of small towns were like the plankton of the ocean in the way larger businesses fed either directly or indirectly from them. Yet these businesses, which employ four people or less, made up 85% of the economy. “We live in a world that’s shrinking under globalisation and communications,” Mr Neville said. “Continued expansion is an unsustainable treadmill. Development doesn’t make communities liveable, regeneration does.” His program was designed to help communities help themselves, not through funding or having the work done by some exterior body, but by training locals to be “community-based micro-facilitators” for identifying and supporting the “seed-ideas” of local people. “A community’s capacity for regeneration does not relate to its size,” he said. The Tara Futures Group is meeting on October 29. For more information, contact Gayle Porter at the newsagency on 4665 3465.
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RuralNEWS N Murray Darling Basin senate inquiry hearing comes to St George
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Dirranbandi suffers in buybacks
EARTBREAKING tales of a "man-made drought" filled the air in St George last month as the Senate Committee hearing on the Murray Darling Basin Plan heard how water buybacks were destroying Dirranbandi. The town is reliant on irrigation from the Balonne, but the buyback scheme to the south of St George is taking irrigators out of the market with knock-on effects to other businesses. Farming contractor Bruce Connolly said the needs of the environment had been put before the needs of residents and investment had been destroyed in the town. "This is a man-made drought," Mr Connolly said. "It was abhorrent no socio-economic impact assessment was done before they implemented buyback." He agreed with the suggestion from committee chair Senator David Leyonhjelm that depression was a major issue. "If you take away our reason to get out of bed in the morning. it won't get better," he said. Cotton grower Frank Deshon told the hearing the buyback scheme was "immoral and unjust". "We've lost 34GL in lower Balonne and we've
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closed four farms," Mr Deshon said. "We've got nothing in return. The community is on its knees." Balonne mayor Donna Stewart said Dirranbandi's population had dropped from 1500 to 400 residents and was in a state of permanent drought. "We have been pillaged by our own government," Cr Stewart said. "The lower Balonne is bearing an unfair impact of water buybacks for the good of the nation." Western Downs mayor Ray Brown told the hearing the buybacks had not yet impacted his region, but they were reliant on food and fibre from the Balonne. "The agriculture industry can manage floods and droughts, but can't manage for human error," Cr Brown said. Warrego MP Ann Leahy said the Senate inquiry was a chance to influence government policy. “They’ve really got the cart before the horse in the way this has been implemented,” Ms Leahy. “They would have been better to do the socio-economic study done before they did buybacks so they knew what the impacts were.”
Hearing committee members: Senator Bob Day (FF,), a member of the secretariat, chair Senator David Leyonhjelm (LDP,), Senator John Madigan (Ind) and Senator Matt Canavan (LNP,). Photo Derek Barry / Surat Basin News
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RuralNEWS N Senator Lazarus on water warpath
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Jimbour dryland cotton farmer Jamie Grant checks the moisture in the soil as he continues with the planting season. Photo: Derek Barry
Planting in the cotton Jimbour Dryland cotton farmer puts in his 2015 crop so,” he said. Once it’s all in the ground it will be sprayed with Roundup against weeds, in one or two major sprays in the Cotton farmer Jamie Grant season. Picking season is expected to be around March or April next year. it packs the moisture in. “We do it all in round bales these days,” “We’re moisture farmers, it doesn’t he said. matter how flash your tractor is, without moisture there’s nothing,” Mr “Under the old system with the picker and the buggy and the module builder Grant said. we needed six men plus me. The lack of decent rain in the region “Now one man can do the same job and over the last three years meant they do twice as much in a day.” missed a planting last year. Ironically Mr Grant was now hoping it Mr Grant has been growing cotton in didn’t rain before the crop was all in the the region for around 15 years selling his product to a merchant then it is ground. “It will only slow me down for a day or exported mainly into Asia.
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HE cotton planting season is coming to its half way mark and local farmers are hoping for a good harvest. When Surat Basin News caught up with Jimbour dryland cotton farmer Jamie Grant one beautiful October morning he was out in his tractor, busily planting some of his 2015 seed. “It’s just got nitrogen, phosphate, zinc and sulphur as a mixture and we put that in with the seed, that’s what we call the starter fertiliser,” Mr Grant said. “The main nitrogen is put on in a different operation pre-season.” “The idea of a cover crop is to grow a crop there, then spray the cotton out then cover it in the ground like mulch –
ENATOR for Queensland Glenn Lazarus has slammed the federal government for its lack of action on the use of water. Speaking at his Dalby water summit he said wanted to make sure we protected the quality water we already have. “We need to urgently address the issue of drought and water management including use, cost, access and distribution, across the state of Queensland,” Senator Lazarus said. “Queensland is in the midst of one of the worst droughts on record with 80% of the state drought declared. “The people of rural and regional Queensland are suffering and they desperately need assistance and long term solutions. Senator Lazarus said CSG mining was depleting the ground of water and contaminating what water is left. Mr Lazarus said he would take his Water Action Plan report to the government and work to ensure further action be taken. “This issue needs to be kept on the forefront as it has been going on for years now and will continue in the future if we don’t do anything about it,” he said. “Farmers are struggling and the banks have no patience. “We also need to create awareness because it is a massive issue and we need to get people talking and making solutions.”
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DOWN TO BUSINESS
Solar tech breakthrough
Mergers will help solar
New cooling towers at UQ Gatton solar plant to reduce water use in power generation facility.” Ms Enoch said the 20m cooling tower at Gatton was made possible thanks to a $1.5 million investment by the Bligh Labor Government in 2012. Lead researcher Dr Kamel Hooman said the research aimed to reduce water consumption in future Queensland power generation plants by over 70,000 megalitres per year by 2020, equivalent to about 28,000 Olympic sized swimming pools. “The hybrid cooling tower technology uses a
combination of water and air cooling, depending on the conditions,” he said. “It operates in the ‘dry’ mode, which requires no water, for a majority of the year. “The technology offers the prospect of making geothermal and solar thermal power generation viable in regional areas suffering from drought. “The implications of this are huge – offering up a reliable electricity supply without posing a significant environmental cost on rural communities.”
ELECTRIC REVOLUTION: The hybrid cooling tower technology at The University of Queensland's Gatton campus is aimed at reducing the amount of water used in thermal power generation.
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ORE regional and rural communities could end up off the grid using solar energy and batteries as part of proposed electricity business mergers. “With the mergers, it’s not just about making them run effectively and more efficiently for us,” Treasurer Curtis Pitt said. “Playing more in that (renewable energy) space is going to benefit those businesses and transform the way they operate.” Mr Pitt said it was an important challenge for his government to “get more solar on rooftops” because it would help the bottom line and create jobs. He said he expected more remote and rural communities to take up solar and battery power options off the grid as electricity businesses worked to find the best options for the economy, environment and users. Mr Pitt said fringe areas around the larger centres might be able to have their own local or suburban grids where they share electricity.
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EW ground-breaking technology developed in Queensland could soon revolutionise the electricity industry – leading to a cheaper, more reliable source of energy in drought-affected areas. The hybrid cooling tower technology at the University of Queensland’s Gatton campus is aimed at reducing the amount of water used in thermal power generation, a major issue for arid and drought-affected regions. Minister for Science and Innovation Leeanne Enoch officially opened the university’s new test research facility at Gatton where the technology is being further developed for potential domestic and international use. Ms Enoch said the hybrid cooling tower technology could transform electricity generation, by cutting water consumption and operating costs. “Water conservation is a significant challenge in arid areas and there is a substantial market for technologies that make the most efficient use of this valuable resource,” Ms Enoch said. “In Queensland, we’re well aware of how precious water is and we know that in drought, you can’t afford to waste a single drop.” Electricity generation requires large quantities of water UQ Gatton is seeking to develop efficient cooling technologies that reduce water consumption. “The University of Queensland has taken a giant leap forward in this field with the development of this hybrid cooling tower test
DOWN TO BUSINESS
Latest on Acland Stage 3
Stephan holds out New Hope Acland mine managing director confident of land court process
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Acland mine is waiting for stage 3 approval. Photo: Derek Barry the operation’s footprint and potential impacts,” he said. “The Coordinator-General imposed 137 conditions on the project and the New Hope Group has made some 890 commitments as part of that approval.” The project went through the Independent Expert Scientific Committee under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. “This type of scrutiny is exceptional for such
a project in Queensland,” he said. “Because of this I am confident that the project will hold up to all scrutiny in the land court process and we look forward to providing some security to the 275 current full time local employees and 507 contractors.” The mine, which has been in operation since 2002 and currently employs about 300 people, is expected to close in 2018 if the continuation is not granted.
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EW Hope Group’s managing director Shane Stephan has welcomed the upcoming land court process for its New Acland revised stage 3 plan. The revised plan, subject to the development of a new Environmental Impact Statement was issued a draft Environmental Approval from the Queensland Government’s Department of Environment and Heritage Protection on August 28. “Public submissions were sought on the draft EA and Mining Lease Applications,” Mr Stephan said. “Those submitters were invited to turn their submissions into objections and those objections and the project now enter the land court process as part of the approvals process.” Mr Stephan said that since the initial application for the project in 2007 and prior to the release of the Coordinator General’s report in December 2014, the project has been through two EIS processes two additional information and response to submissions periods, and four public comment opportunities. “Queensland’s independent Coordinator-General approved the Acland Coal Mine continuation plan following extensive revision of the original proposal, which resulted in a substantial reduction of
PAGE 15
DOWN TO BUSINESS
Malware and Adware
W
The Black Toyota crew at the Chinchilla Hilux launch. Photos Greg Latta
2015 Hilux is on show at Chinchilla
Black Toyota’s big launch A
LARGE crowd turned out for the 2015 Toyota Hilux launch at the Black Toyota dealership in Chinchilla this
month. Chinchilla Dealer Manager, Craig Hammermeister, said the launch turned out to be a very successful event for the Black Auto Group with a strong mix of local farmers, business owners and towns folk present together with workers in the resource sector. “Black Toyota has been providing rural Queensland with quality vehicles at affordable prices for over 30 years,” Mr Hammermeister said.
“We are the largest supplier of commercial vehicles in Queensland and we supply a fantastic range of new and used Cars, Utes, 4 Wheel Drives, Hybrids, Vans and Customised Vehicles. “We are both privileged and proud to have the people that work us in all facets of the business, some who have been with us for decades, and their dedication to satisfying our customer’s needs, has been one of the most critical factor in the The Black Auto Groups sustained growth over the years”.
e have all had at one time or another some Malware or Adware on our
computer. You may have noticed some toolbars named Ask, MapsGalaxy, My Web Search, these are just few that redirect you to websites that you may not have tried go to. Firstly I just want to say not all toolbars are malicious for instance take the Google search bar it does exactly what it says a Google Search. Before installing any software that you’re not sure about you should do a search about the software and read the reviews. You should also read the fine print and if given the option you should do the advanced install because quite often you will find you are not only installing what you want but there is another piece of software bundled with it that may be malicious. We quite often see people trying to tune up their computers by purchasing some software from the internet like, Speed up my PC, Optimizer Pro, Tune up Pro, Regcure Pro, none of these will tune up your computer, basically as soon as you install any of these they just start redirecting you to different websites and telling you that you have a bad infection and if you pay for this different software your computer will be clean and virus free. Basically just because software is advertised on the internet as doing a particular thing doesn’t really mean that it does exactly what is say’s. Checking exactly what something does before you install may just save you a lot of money.
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DOWN TO BUSINESS
Roma family-owned business: Advertorial
Rely on Roma Windscreens Lyall and Leonnie Fisher have run the business since 2007
A
FAMILY-OWNED business speaks volumes for the people looking for good service, which is why Roma Windscreens’ family origins guarantee the best service with windscreen repairs and replacements. The team at Roma Windscreens has been family owned and operated since its beginnings in 2007, owners Lyall and Leonnie Fisher purchasing the business as an incentive to keep an excellent windscreen repair and replacement business in the Roma community, with customer satisfaction paramount. “It was something that my husband and I went into together, and we got our son Kyall and daughter Chyna involved in the operations, so we have family working here together,” Leonnie said. Roma Windscreens direct bill to all insurance companies and fleet services. “We have 620 windscreens on stock for cars
Roma Windscreens is a trusted family business: Chyna, Kyall and mum Leonnie. Photo Blake Antrobus/Western Star and trucks, all kept in stock when the time is needed.” Roma Windscreens aims to provide quality services through customer satisfaction, efficiency and attention to detail with competitive prices and guaranteed results. Aside from their signature work on windscreen repairs, the business also offers competitive service on chip repairs, customisation, glass installation, resealing and new windscreen fitting. The business practice is owed to Mr and Mrs Fisher’s years of experience in the industry
and their insistence on putting the customer first. “The main thing is driver safety, and we need to do it properly; if you don’t do it right it can be disastrous for the drivers and for others involved in accidents,” she said. We are members of Australian Auto Glass Association. We follow the Australian standard and do it properly from the start.” With fair pricing and quality services to offer to the Roma community, Roma Windscreens offers a service that is hard to beat in an industry dominated by fierce competition.
Mrs Fisher said they are always willing to go the extra mile for their customers. “We have a pickup and drop off service to help people with getting around town, and sometimes just open up our house to those waiting for a service,” she said. “We’re all about respect for our customers and drivers.” They still remain the one-stop shop for all windscreen supply, repair and replacement services, and pride themselves on their professional and friendly staff to assist with all of windscreen service requirements.
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DOWN TO BUSINESS
The site of Australia’s first oil find
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The history of Moonie pipeline
HESE days more famous as the junction of two major highways, the tiny Western Downs town of Moonie has a place in history as the birthplace of the first oil pipeline in Australia. Barely a speck on the landscape where the Moonie and Leichhardt Highways connect, Moonie was first put on the map by liquid gold. In December 1961 Moonie was the site of Australia's first commercial oil field, a very small field consisting of less than one percent of Australia's oil and gas reserves. But it was big enough to require the building of the Moonie Oil Pipeline. The pipeline took oil from the local field all the way to Brisbane. Being the first such in Australia it proudly holds Queensland pipeline licence number 1. According to research done by Barry Wood and Roger Woodman, work on the pipeline started June 1963 and pipelaying was completed by October. However it was now officially opened until April 1964 with oil flowing by May 1964. Wood and Woodman said the company responsible for building the pipeline was Union Oil Development Corporation and their resident manager in Australia was Doyle T Graves.
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The crew also had to be beware of the deadly poisonous snakes that abound here The writers said Union Oil formed a new company called the Moonie Oil Pipeline Co Pty Ltd. Union Oil let the contract for construction of the pipeline to Bechtel Pacific Corporation and Bechtel’s field superintendent was an American named Ralph Bucher. The oil pipeline was 190 miles in length with a 10 inch diameter and cost £4,500,000. In one of the Moonie Oil Pipeline Company’s original pipeline documents the company says “The 190 miles of pipeline crossed various types of terrain. Commencing at the now famous Moonie Oil field, it travelled through brigalow, scrub, and gum timbered lands. “It was quite common for the construction crews whilst working in this area to encounter the dingo, a wild Australian dog and a cunning killer that takes a heavy toll of livestock each year. The crews also had to beware of the deadly poisonous snakes that abound here.”
Artefacts of the Moonie oilfields are now on display for tourists by the side of the highway.
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 29 October 2015
PAGE 19
DOWN TO BUSINESS
AA&ES are Surat Basin biosecurity stalwarts
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Powerlink Queensland Field Environmental Advisor Michael Smith and Wandoan State School student Marty Sinnamon add to the native plant biodiversity of Wandoan's Waterloo Plain Environmental Park. Photo Lisa Yorkston/QMDC
Wandoan gets a makeover
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Wandoan wildlife habitat is getting a makeover with school students planting dozens of native trees in the town’s wetland park while learning how to protect their region from the threat of weeds. On October 12, Wandoan State School agriculture students joined Powerlink Queensland and the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee (QMDC) for the “day of action” at the Waterloo Plain Environmental Park. The park is a bird haven but organisers said the garden beds needed replanting to improve habitat values, biodiversity and the park’s aesthetic appeal. Powerlink CEO Merryn York said the event showcased the benefits of schools, environmental
organisations and industry working together to protect the environment. “Offering an outdoor classroom experience for students is invaluable and enhancing this local green space will lead to environmental rehabilitation and greater recreational opportunities,” Ms York said. QMDC and Powerlink launched an ‘Integrated Weed Management Strategy’ on the day to provide local landholders a regional snapshot of weed management issues in the region. QMDC spokesperson Sandy Robertson said the strategy had been prepared through the formation of a Working Group of landholders and other stakeholders.
ustralian Agricultural & Environmental Solutions (AA&ES) have maintained their presence in the Surat Basin as stalwarts for Biosecurity management. Managing Director Ursula Keating said that surging agricultural commodity prices demonstrates the strength and future of the region. However, protecting this example of economic return continues to be an ongoing balance of making sound business decisions and implementing long term best practice land management options. “Weed management is an important component of land management, and is increasingly acknowledged as a major threat to business returns and ecosystem stability” Ms Keating said. “Prevention is the cheapest and most effective control option and includes knowing what material/equipment/stock is coming onto your land, weed identification skills, a vehicle clean down policy and a capability for early detection and rapid response if required”. AA&ES has been assisting landowners and CSG proponents understand each others’ land management perspectives and develop a common sense approach to biosecurity management, especially vehicle weed hygiene. “A concise property biosecurity management plan will help to oversee a strategic control approach especially in weed management and weed seed spread prevention” Ursula said “It also provides those wishing to access land with a set of guidelines or access rules that should be followed”. In 2015 AA&ES has expanded its base at Chinchilla to offer its services from Roma demonstrating their commitment to the region.
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 29 October 2015
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C O N TAC T
OPINIONS
Welcome to the new owner of Wilkie Creek
Chinese Free Trade AgreementHidden Facts .
COMMENT Dan McGaw State Organiser Electrical Trades Union South West Queensland
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COMMENT Cr RAY BROWN Mayor, Western Downs Regional Council
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here has been much media on the potential impacts of the recently signed Chinese Free Trade Agreement. Both sides have tried to validate their argument but there remains undeniable evidence that will impact future CSG projects in the Surat Basin. The Chinese FTA permanently puts an end to labour market testing in the 457 VISA program for all Chinese nationals in all skilled occupations. This includes engineers, nurses, electricians, plumber, motor mechanics and another 200 trades and occupations where testing currently applies. On the 15th July the LNP government backbencher Andrew Laming has spilled the beans on the China Free Trade deal
W
elcome to the new owner of Wilkie Creek Mine, Sekitan On behalf of our Western Downs I am pleased to welcome the new owner of the Wilkie Creek coal mine, Sekitan Resources, to our community. Along with representatives from Western Downs Regional Council, I have already been meeting with Sekitan so as to help support the company in arranging for operations to get 'off the ground' as quickly and as smoothly as possible. We are particularly pleased to see that Sekitan is committed to employing a local workforce of around 140 staff, as it recognises that highly skilled people with suitable experience are already available in our region. Further, we are happy that Sekitan expects these employees to live in their own accommodation as it means that workers won't be removed from our communities in a secluded workers camp. This is important to supporting those workers and their families in being a part of the community they live and work in, so as to develop a sense of social inclusion which is important for their general health and wellbeing.
We look forward to supporting this 'live local' approach with a range of private rental accommodation options currently available in Dalby. It is encouraging that Sekitan is investing in mining coal for export as it demonstrates that there is still a global demand for fossil fuels. The company was attracted to the Wilkie Creek mine as it has a low ash thermal product with a low sulfur content, which is a combination highly sought after by power utilities around the world to help them meet strict emissions compliance requirements. Sekitan's approach to preventing coal dust from trains is to veneer coal in wagons using a polymer wetting agent which will support both a healthy environment and healthy communities. All-in-all, with Sekitan investing in our region to re-open the Wilkie Creek coal mine, our communities' future is bright.
live on ABC radio. The member for Bowman told the ABC the agreement would allow major resources projects to be staffed by Chinese workers. “For a Chinese project in the middle of nowhere, they can now employ Chinese electricians and they don’t need to be skill tested.” Projects near towns like Wandoan, Yuleba, Injune and Kogan would not have been built by Australian workers if this FTA was in place a few years ago. These projects have driven our economy for the past decade and employed 1000s of workers. What hope does a local kid have at getting an apprenticeship when they are competing with Chinese multi-national companies? This is nothing against the Chinese. It has everything to do with securing work for Australians first and foremost and then ensuring future generations have opportunities to work in these industries. There is and always will be a need for a skilled migrant program in Australia, but this Chinese FTA sells out Australian workers and the generations to come.
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 29 October 2015
PAGE 21
OPINIONS
Warra subway re-opens COMMENT Ann Leahy MP Member for Warrego
W
elcome to the latest Surat Basin News and it has been great to be out and about in the Surat Basin over the last month. Warra subway One of the issues which I have been pursuing is the repair and re opening of the Warra pedestrian subway, closed by Queensland Rail last year. I am pleased to advise that following community and my representations, there is now a commitment to repair and re open the subway from Queensland Rail. I have co ordinated a meeting between the community and Queensland Rail on site, at Warra, which was very successful and I look forward to continuing to work with both parties on this project as it progresses. Chinchilla Christian School opening I recently attended the Chinchilla Christian School opening of a new classroom block and spoke with many of the students at the school. This was a great achievement by the School community and I would like to thank
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College Principal Chris McPhail and his team for their efforts. They have worked very hard to improve the facilities and opportunities for their students and I acknowledge the support given by the Federal Government of $260 000 and State Government $260 000 and the contribution of $440 544. State Parliament In State Parliament recently a leaked cabinet-in-confidence document dated August 2015 shows the State Labor Government is still cobbling a plan together some eight months after being sworn in. The Premier tried to distance herself from the document despite 57 of the action items containing State Labor Governments own election promises such as Jobs Queensland, Advanced Queensland program and Skilling Queenslanders for Work. The document states “the action plan includes existing government programs, election commitments and proposed new initiatives.” This refutes any claim the document was not prepared for State Labor Government and is ‘non-government policy’. Some of the action items within the 67-page document includes: A secret plan to tax state school education in Queensland – the death knell of free public education in this State. Congestion tax and more tolls – another
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COMMENT BRUCE SCOTT MP Federal Member for Maranoa
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Ms Leahy re-opens the Warra subway. example of Labor using Queenslanders as cash cows Remove restrictions on business opening hours – in stark contrast to Labor’s proposed lock out laws. Fast food outlets to advertise and use school facilities Scrap long distance passenger and high speed tilt train services. Increase water prices for the agriculture sector – sneaky way to tax farmers Banishing back yards by increasing the percent of a land a residential land owner can use to build. Reduce constraints on removing heritage buildings in Brisbane City Council region. If the Opposition didn’t release this document, Labor would have continued to keep it a secret.
Ag in Asian Century conference a great success COMMENT BEN LYONS Chief Operating Officer
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e are all still a bit in the shadow of the Ag in the Asian Century Conference that TSBE hosted in Toowoomba almost a month ago now. In the space of 12 months, we have evolved from an ‘awareness’ type event in 2014, to a ‘doing business’ event in 2015, with companies sharing their on-the-ground experience in export, business development, marketing and sales from all over Asia, with China a big focus due to its tremendous rise and growing
potential. A few key highlights from me are below.It was great to hear about disruption and other macro trends from digital futurist Chris Riddell and seasoned Asian player Patrick Vizzone of NAB Agribusiness. In addition, we were lucky enough to not only bring an E-Commerce giant like JD.com to the region, but also their supply chain providers Top Ideal and Treehouse International. It was great to hear their feedback about our region and what opportunities they see here. Variety was another great facet – where else could you hear from a John Wagner, a New Zealand PR company specializing in Dairy, a Chinese E-Commerce warehousing specialist, an Austrade Free Trade Agreement expert, a livestock export veteran of 44 years, and a
South African ice-cream exporter all within one hour? Of course, undoubtedly it’s the doers that get the most interest – Lucy Gregg from Reid Fruits in Tasmania and Richard Sampson Genest from our very own Stahmann Farms in Toowoomba gave us great insight into their Asia strategies. I was most impressed by Richard’s personal engagement with China and the region. Other key speakers included James Campbell of Sanger Australia, Craig Aldous of Elders China, and marketing guru Andrew Kuiler of The Silk Initiative from Shanghai who all offered valuable and thought-provoking information to delegates. TSBE were pleased to bring this conference to the region for the second year in a row.
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s I sit on the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade joint standing committee and am the chairman of the Trade subcommittee, I can offer an insight this Coalition Government’s landmark TPP Agreement set to open-up a wealth of opportunity for our region in the growing Asia-Pacific region. October 5 marked the conclusion of TPP negotiations – a historic deal which spans 12 countries and 40% of the global economy. This agreement will drive economic growth, create jobs and promote and facilitate regional supply chains. In the Maranoa, agriculture and horticulture are set to be the biggest winning industries as a result of tariffs to be lifted on more than $4.3 billion of Australia’s agricultural exports. As well as preferential access or tariff reduction on a further $2.1 billion of our agricultural exports including beef, dairy, cereals and wine. The Asia-Pacific region is home to a burgeoning middle-class seeking clean, green food products – qualities synonymous with the Maranoa electorate. One in five jobs in Australia is linked to trade so this is not only good news for our nation but also a positive step for the Maranoa. This agreement will also provide certainty for businesses, cut the cost of trade and reduce red tape for Australian exporters, service suppliers and investors.
Did you know: ■ The TPP is a multi-country trade agreement between Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Japan, the United States, Vietnam, Mexico and Canada.
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 29 October 2015
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OPINIONS
Encouraging news for south-west
COMMENT
LGAQ conference brings regional collaboration
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COMMENT Cr ROBERT LOUGHNAN Mayor, Maranoa
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here has been some encouraging news for Southwest Queensland in recent days as I’ve been attending the Local Government Association of Queensland annual conference in Toowoomba. In a nice gesture of regional collaboration, I am actually writing this piece from the desk of my old mate and mayoral counterpart Cr Paul Antonio. Of course Paul was the leading hand in our great collective achievement this week of instigating a peak advocacy group for the ten councils comprising the Darling Downs and Southwest Queensland. I am certain that group which is to be led by Paul will put some significant runs on the board over the next five years, regardless of which political parties are in power at either level of government. This group represents around a quarter of Queensland’s land mass, a quarter of our beef production and 75% of the state’s grain and pulse crops among some other very notable statistics.
Under Paul’s leadership, this will become a very powerful lobby group, particularly when we are making the case for improvements to our infrastructure needs. One of the primary issues will be the region’s rail infrastructure needs; however the range crossing, the roads and communication infrastructure will certainly be to the fore. No question either – this will be nothing but good news for the regional resource sector. The conference itself provided a rare opportunity to hear from the Queensland Coordinator-General Barry Broe about a range of opportunities and explanations within his jurisdiction. Barry indicated he will be travelling around Queensland a lot more in coming months as part of a broader consultation push. Mr Broe explained the current softening of the resource sector and his desire to help the proponents of major projects and to help keep their costs down in the current environment. My observation to Mr Broe was that any such compassion must not come at the expense of local government and our council ratepayers, and I will warmly welcome his engagement. Another talking point in Toowoomba was the
recent State Parliamentary Committee Inquiry into the fly in - fly out (FIFO) industry. Hot on the heels of the advisory group’s report into the same issue, Jim Pearce’s committee has come up with an intelligent and well considered document that I believe has to lead to some long overdue reforms. Certainly I think the practice of 100% FIFO reliant projects must now come to an abrupt and welcome end, but how to ensure the local community is given employment opportunities is a broader question that will do the rounds for a while yet. I hope this report will set the scene for some genuine bipartisan discussion in George Street and I thank all members of both committees for taking the time to visit the Maranoa and meeting our people while putting the reports together. And yes, I remain hopeful that any legislation from this inquiry and from the Coordinator General’s activity will lead to greater consideration of those councils and communities where major projects are established, and a little less to the vested interests of those powerful parties from outside the community.
The importance of our region .
COMMENT Pat Weir MP Member for Condamine
T
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he Toowoomba and Surat Basin area is important to the economy of Queensland. This importance has been significantly enhanced by the development of the Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport. The airport will allow access to both domestic and international markets to be considerably easier. Agriculture will be a big winner as the
project reaches its full capacity along with all the businesses associated with agricultural production. Our part of Australia has the luxury of having some of the most fertile soils in the world and a moderate climate, this allows for a wide diversity and extensive range of agricultural commodities to be produced successfully. Transporting these commodities to the rest of Australia and the world in a timely manner has always been a challenge because of the vast distances within our country. Road and rail has been the traditional mode of transport which can have its limitations. The introduction of air freight has meant produce is delivered quickly to the end user with minimal loss to quality.
The Wellcamp development will result in efficiencies only dreamt of in the past. Asia is one of Australia’s largest food consuming markets and as producers of premium produce we need to take advantage of this market and expand it as much as possible. With other significant infrastructure projects about to commence construction in this region, like the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing and Inland Rail Project our area is on the cusp of a new era of transportation. Our community has been reliant on agricultural production for generations and as we progress all the projects on our doorstep I can see a bright and long future for agriculture in our region.
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new survey of resources sector workers shows more than four out of five would not change where they live, even if given the opportunity. Supporting that stand, 85 percent of the 1832 workers surveyed – including commuters to and residents of the Surat Basin – described their physical and mental health and quality of life as either excellent, very good or good. This is the second URS Australia survey in the past four years to confirm the vast majority of sector workers are happy with their current living arrangements – either in proximity to their work or further away and commuting by car, bus or aircraft.Endorsing survey results from 2011, the central message was that workers want a choice and they don’t want it taken away. Obviously, the concern for industry is if accommodation choice is withdrawn, it would lose access to a large number of skilled workers. Contrary to claims, almost 80 percent of workers say they are satisfied with the standard of employer-provided accommodation, with a mere eight percent dissatisfied. This second edition survey dispels many of the myths circulating around worker health, accommodation and travel arrangements – and is something a recent state Parliamentary inquiry would have been well advised to initiate. Seen in the light of the current commodities downturn, the results strengthen the view that there is no need for government interference in the lives of resources sector workers, particularly when it comes to travel.
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PLACES & FACES
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TSBE October event at Wellcamp Airport Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise held their October gathering last Thursday evening at Wellcamp Airport, west of Toowoomba. A record crowd of over 550 people attended the event to hear from the project director and senior staff from Nexus who won the contract to deliver the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing which is due for completion by early 2019. See next monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Surat Basin News to find out what they said. 1. Fran Smith with Marien and Russell Morrison. 2. Mick Duggan and Andrew Tierney. 3. Scott Nield and Cassandra Lawler. 4. Marcus Koolen and David Powell. 5. Brad and Lynda Johnson. 6. Ben Lyons and Rohan Gosstray 7. Jimmy Marr and Stacey Fink. 8. Dr Cormac Carey, Stephen Bowers and Dr Peter Hopson. 9. Mark Bedggood and Tim Gooda. 10. Emma Rackley and Brendan Ellis. Photos Derek Barry / Surat Basin News.
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 29 October 2015
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7. Black Toyota celebrate their win. Photos Derek Barry / Surat Basin News
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AVIN Walton told the success story of Condamine Electric Company at Dalby Chamber of Commerce’s October Business After Hours, a story that also came with a salutary warning for small businesses. Mr Walton welcomed visitors to CEC’s expanded new premises on the Warrego Hwy and said they had come a long way since starting out as Gavo’s Electrical back in 1991, with 54 employees now on deck. Mr Walton said CEC did everything from domestic work to support work for the power stations in the gas fields and work for QGC at Orana Ponds. “We also do a lot of work with local industry, we’ve done all of Bushman Tanks’ automation across Australia,” Mr Walton said. Mr Walton said the company had come through some tough times recently. “Something we’ve learned and it’s something you don’t hear about and you don’t know about is that when you have to let go 15 employees you get into that space where you have to pay redundancy,” he said. “No one likes to put people off, you’re only doing it
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 29 October 2015
PLACES & FACES
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Ron brings decades of knowledge Murrays Coaches now based in region
R
ON Murray AM is a legend in the Australian travel and transport industries and the owner and sole shareholder of Murrays Australia, a company he started as a retail travel agent almost 50 years ago. Ron employs over 400 staff and drivers in his company around Australia and he is still deeply involved in the continued success of Murrays. We caught up with Mr Murray in Toowoomba where he was there for a Chamber of Commerce development of the regions meeting. “I’ve been in business for 49 years and I’ve served on both state and federal tourism bodies and now we’re part of the Surat Basin I feel we need to make a contribution,” Mr Murray said. “So we’re part of the chamber of commerce and development board.” Mr Murray modestly deflects praise when we suggested he built his business from scratch. “I was very lucky. I started as a 19 year old in Canberra in 1966 and fortunately that year Lyndon B Johnson, the American president came to town and the federal government needed someone who would look after ground handling,” he said. “I organised that and since that time I’ve looked after state visits and CHOGMs (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings) for VIP visits to Australia.” Mr Murray still owns the company and is still active on the national stage. “We look after the rugby league, the rugby union, we do the A-league soccer,” he said. “But we’ve also been in Queensland for over 30 years, I’m a proud Queenslander – I’ve mentored the Queensland Rugby League State of Origin team for 10 years and we believe in putting into the community.” Mr Murray said their operations now stretched into the Surat Basin. “When we came to the region at the request of QGC, we knew that it wasn’t being particularly well serviced from a cost point of
view with coach services,” he said. “We had approaches to run coach services between Miles, Chinchilla, Dalby, Toowoomba into Brisbane, there weren’t discount fares available which is not the normal pattern within transport today so we decided how could we give the community a safe, efficient, cost-effective transport system.” Mr Murray said his coach services started from the region early this year. “If I can give an analogy between my old home town of Canberra and Toowoomba, Toowoomba is half the population, everyone in Canberra has to travel to Sydney as everyone in Toowoomba at some stage needs to travel to Brisbane,” he said. “Between Canberra and Sydney around three quarters of a million travel each year, whereas Toowoomba there wouldn’t be 100,000 people (travelling),” he said. “So theoretically there is an argument that we should be able to get at least a quarter of a million people off the road. “That hadn’t happened due to a lack of competition on the route and it is cheaper to drive.” Mr Murray is on the national council of chambers of commerce and was in Toowoomba to talk about long term strategies to advance the Surat Basin. “The Surat Basin is hugely important, we’re here to stay,” he said. “We established full depot facilities in Chinchilla and a depot in Toowoomba and Brisbane and we have a policy of employing locals in all those areas.”
Ron Murray ■ Chair and sole shareholder of Murrays Australia ■ Awarded AM for services to travel ■ 49 years in the business ■ 400 staff nationally ■ Access to 2000 vehicles
Ron Murray with his business development manager Mark Mingay in Toowoomba. Photo Derek Barry / Surat Basin News
Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 29 October 2015
PAGE 27
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SURAT BASIN NEWS Published by Chinchilla Newspapers Pty Ltd, 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413 Printed by APN Print Warwick Kassandra McKennariey and Annabel Tidmarsh dress up for the 2014 Roma Cup.
2015 Roma Cup: the race that stops a region
Roma gears up for big day
T
HEY say it’s the race that stops a region, though in truth the Roma Cup does more than most to kickstart the region. On November 22, Roma Turf Club will see anywhere between 8000 and 10,000 people flock through the gates for the biggest meet in south-west Queensland, doubling the population of Roma at a stroke. Qantaslink put on extra flights from Brisbane to cope with demand. Even the Young Farmers Federation has its annual conference in Roma that week so its member can party on afterwards. With many people making a full weekend of it, camping or booking out the towns motels
and caravan parks, the weekend is a crucial money earner for the Roma economy. Maranoa councillor Cameron O’Neil who is the portfolio chair for economic development said each year the Roma Cup enticed people from all over to journey to the Maranoa for a weekend of great entertainment, fun times, high fashion and horse racing. “With around 10,000 people attending the Roma Cup on an annual basis, and approximately 89% of attendees coming from outside of the region, the Maranoa economy is given a substantial boost during this weekend,” Cr O’Neil said. “When visitors come to the region for an event, they pay for accommodation, shop in
General Manager – Erika Brayshaw, 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413, PO Box 138 Chinchilla Q4413, Phone 07 4662 7368
our retail stores, and eat and drink in our restaurants and establishments, thereby helping to support our local business community.” Cr O’Neil said figures from Tourism and Events Queensland estimated that each visitor spent $343 on average during their stay. “Therefore it can be anticipated that around $3 million will be injected into the Maranoa economy during the Roma Cup weekend,” he said. “This re-occurring substantial economic boost makes the Roma Cup a significant event for the entire region.” Roma Turf Club president Ranald Ferrier
said this year’s event was special as it was the 50th anniversary running of the race and the track had installed new barriers. The catchcry of this year’s races plays on its golden anniversary. “We are 50. We are not old. We are vintage, improving with age. We have more races, more entertainment, more fashion and less inhibitions than ever before. You know we can party with the best of you,” the race club proudly says. There are plenty of packages still available for the day as well as camping at a tent city on site. Check out www.romaraces.org.au for more information.
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