Sbn september 2015 by Chinchilla Newspapers Pty Ltd

SURAT BASIN

NEWS

24 September 2015

$1.30 inc GST

INSIDE Andrew Reardon on Annejedaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s value add Page 8

Future is bright for Chinchilla Page 5

New Rural section Pages 12-13

SURAT BASIN NEWS

THE NEWSPAPER

EDITOR'S

NOTE

ELLO and welcome to the September 2015 edition of Surat Basin News. Winter has given way to spring and with it the natural optimism of the warmer days. That is very much in evidence in the Surat Basin on several fronts. In the past month Armour Energy have made a big play in the local gas industry (page 3) while at the monthly TSBE function in Chinchilla local councillors and business leaders were talking up the strength of the region (page 5). There is good news on the future of Wilkie Creek (page 4) while the Maranoa Mayor calls for a new hospital in Roma (page 7). On page 8 we feature an innovative business partnership between Annejeda and CreatEnergy that has the potential to be a real money-spinner for the gas industry – as well as being environmentally sound. The contracts have been signed for the Toowoomba Range Second Crossing (page 11) while our new rural news section (pages 12-13) features the benefits of the relationship with China and important news around the crucial management of water resources.We also check out what is happening at BOC Gases in Miles (page 16) and MI Helicopters in Roma (page 20) as well as the usual range of opinions from local thought leaders (pages 21-23). There’s plenty to get through, so we hope you enjoy this edition. Feedback as always is appreciated to derek.barry@apn.com.au Derek Barry Editor

SNAP OF THE MONTH

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 Surast 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

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Roma's largest bottle tree. on the banks of the Bungil Ck has a girth of 8.9m.. Photo Derek Barry

THE

TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Erika Brayshaw Chinchilla 07 46729921 erika.brayshaw@apn.com.au

ADVERTISING TEAM Greg Latta Chinchilla 07 4672 9927 greg.latta@chinchillanews.com.au

View our previous edition on www.suratbasin.com.au

UPDATES

Bobbie Gorring Chinchilla 07 4672 9930 advertise@suratbasin.com.au

Regular updates on www.suratbasin.com.au

Claire Morris Roma 07 4578 4105 clairemorris@westernstarnews.com.au Nicole Boyd-Taylor China FTA news.........................................12 Dalby 07 4672 5500 Water issues...............................................13 nicole.boyd-taylor@dalbyherald.com.au Litter campaign..........................................14 Gas research forum..................................15 EDITOR Derek Barry Dalby 07 4672 5500 Derek.barry@apn.com .au Armour Energy takeover .........................3 BOC Gases.................................................16 Chinchilla news............................................4 Miles chamber..........................................18 Wilkie Ck update.........................................5 MI Helicopters..........................................20 PAGE DESIGN Beth Walker Syrian refugees to region..........................6 Roma Hospital..............................................7

THE

INDEX

DOWN TO BUSINESS

THE BIG PICTURE

OPINIONS

SURAT BASIN NEWS

ACROSS THE REGION

...................................................................21-23 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413 PO Box 138 Chinchilla QLD 4413

Annejeda.......................................................8 LNG Updates................................................9 Gravel Road................................................10 Range Crossing news...............................11

Chinchilla TSBE event.............................24 Dalby chamber event...............................25 Tourism news.............................................27 Upcoming events.......................................28

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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 24 September 2015

THE BIG PICTURE

Second chance for Skytrans

Armour Energy already has a large collection of assets across northern Australia.

Armour to suit up in Surat Armour Energy announce $13m deal to take over Origin Energy Roma Shelf assets

“This infrastructure has been dormant for some time – taking a back seat while the LNG industry has been bubbling along to the north,” Mayor Loughnan said. “I am looking forward to meeting Armour Energy personnel and seeing how they, Council and landholders can work together to benefit the local region.” Armour told the ASX it proposed to use its existing cash resources together with debt financing to pay for the assets. “Prior to the execution of the agreements for the Roma Shelf Acquisition, the Company had received a funding proposal from major shareholder, DGR Global Limited, which proposed a debt financing package of $15 million on commercial terms (DGR Proposal),” the company said. “Separately, the Company is also in advanced discussions with other third party financiers both as an adjunct to, and alternative to, the DGR Proposal.” The company said they had not signed the DGR Proposal term sheet.

“Armour continues to engage with a variety of parties with respect to funding alternatives to the DGR Proposal,” the company said. Armour Energy is currently focused on the exploration of the McArthur, South Nicholson and Georgina Basins in the Northern Territory and Queensland, and in the onshore Gippsland Basin in Victoria in joint venture with Lakes Oil, for gas and associated petroleum liquids. Armour said its acquisition of Origin’s assets and resources on the Roma Shelf will establish the company’s future as a petroleum producer. Subsequent to the announcement Armour rejected a takeover bid from Westside Corporation, citing the Roma Shelf deal as proof of their “further basis for growth and future cash flow”. An Origin Energy spokesperson had no comment on the deal other than it was about conventional gas resources and had no impact on the APLNG project.

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ARANOA Mayor Robert Loughnan has welcomed Armour Energy to the local resource industry sector. The company told the ASX this month it had agreed to buy conventional gas resources from Origin Energy in the Roma Shelf. The deal worth $10m in cash and $3m deferred includes Kincora gas plant, LPG and condensate processing facilities and a dedicated pipeline to the Roma to Brisbane Pipeline at Wallumbilla. Kincora is located south-west of Wallumbilla and conventional gas was first discovered there in 1970. Gas processing began in 1977 and it was decommissioned in 2012. After recommissioning Kincora, the acquisition will allow Armour become a petroleum producer for up to 10 PJs a year of gas, 110,000 barrels of condensate, 21,000 tonnes of LPG and 100,000 barrels of oil a year. Mayor Loughnan said this reinvigoration of the local natural gas fields was needed in the Roma – Surat area.

KYTRANS has announced a new three-year transport contract worth $25 million awarded by QGC. The company will provide 18 return flights a week for QGC staff and contractors from Brisbane to sites in Chinchilla and Taroom. The flights will commence from Monday, October 26. Skytrans CEO Michael Thinee said the contract would provide new employment opportunities. "We have been able to re-employ 18 Skytrans staff back into full time employment as pilots and cabin crew," he said. "We are also pleased to welcome new staff who have direct logistics experience managing flight operations for QGC customers. "We have grown our workforce by 100 per cent in just five months, with 78 staff being employed in Cairns and now Brisbane". QGC managing director Tony Nunan said Skytrans had been awarded the contract after a competitive tender process which emphasised safety and local business development. "We're delighted that this contract will help a Queensland company to expand," Mr Nunan said. "The Skytrans contract maintains high quality and consistent flight services to support our operations and projects.'' Skytrans had been re-launched in March after the Wild family-owned airline went bust in January,when the Newman government awarded many of its subsidised routes to Rex and Qantaslink.

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PAGE 3

THE BIG PICTURE

Sekitan Resources boss outlines plans for the future

Full steam ahead for Wilkie Creek mine Coal mining to resume in early 2016

HE future for Wilkie Creek coalmine is bright with over 120 job opportunities, the September TSBE forum in Chinchilla heard. Sekitan Resources paid $10m to buy the mothballed Macalister mine from Peabody Energy in July and Sekitan CEO Trevor Bourne told the Chinchilla forum that “sekitan” was the Japanese word for coal. “That’s relevant because our major customer will be Japanese,” Mr Bourne said. Mr Bourne said Sekitan intended to bring Wilkie Creek back into operation very quickly. “With the licences and infrastructure into place, our intention is to bring it back to three million tonnes per annum production by the end of next year,” he said. Mr Bourne said Sekitan had the opportunity to reset the cost base of the mine. “We’ve got the ability to do things completely differently (to Peabody) and that makes a significant difference to the operating cost of the asset” he said. Mr Bourne said Wilkie Creek had 600mt of resources while it had also obtained the licence to Horse Creek near Chinchilla which had 500mt. “So we have over a billion tonnes of coal National Trunk Rail’s Martin Albrecht and Sekitan Resources CEO Trevor Bourne answer questions at the Chinchilla TSBE forum. Photo Derek Barry between the two assets,” he said. “Our plan is for three million tonnes per annum, up to five million and even greater if slowly ramping up to full capacity next year. “We want first coal (out of) the ground and make it more efficient. we are successful.” “We’ve managed to reduce the strip ratio, around December this year and then the first “The other thing is Sekitan will be a thinly With a plan for at least 10 to 15 years of which is how much overburden to coal, from shipment out February-March next year.” managed company with no overheads and mining ahead, Mr Bourne said the company’s around eight what Peabody were doing to Mr Bourne said they would then mine at a managed from site and focussed on doing the biggest challenge was rail access out of the around five to one which makes a significant low rate through the year and towards the operation right and smart.” region. cost reduction,” he said. end of 2016 they would get a new rail Mr Bourne said they would be hiring 126 “We can say politely that Aurizon are not “We are spending quite a bit of money provider which would allow them to ramp up people in the coming months and it would all very competitive and we’ve had to explore upgrading the facility to increase the yield to three million tonnes a year. be local labour – not fly in fly out. other options,” he said. and with all these changes we can get coal to Mr Bourne said they would mine the existing While Sekitan is associated with clean coal “We believe we have a serious contender to the port of Brisbane on the boat, with all open pit for a couple of years “picking the technology company Exergen (which was Mr do that which will bring costs down even costs, for $69 a tonne, which means we are low-hanging fruit” and the savings on Bourne’s background), the Wilkie Ck further and we are certainly a supporter of profitable today.” Peabody operations would be in three areas. operation will not be using the experimental NTR (National Trunk Rail) from a long-term Mr Bourne said their schedule was on track “The first is improved mining practices, so by technology. perspective. and they were looking to close on the deal improving the strip ratio it reduces the Mr Bourne said it was used but only in the “Something has to change on this rail line for this month. amount of equipment and people on site,” he demonstration phase at a Victorian operation it to be competitive.” “Then we are in a three month phase to said. and they were seeking funding from the Mr Bourne said Sekitan were focussed on remobilise, clean up the site and then “We are also spending $16m on the wash market to take it further. restarting the mine later this year and then commence mining,” he said. plant and the upgrade will enhance the yield

Albrecht calls for support for National Trunk Rail alternative

ORMER Thiess chairman and now advocate for National Trunk Rail (NTR), Martin Albrecht wants the Surat Basin to get behind the private alternative to the Melbourne-Brisbane inland rail project. Mr Albrecht told the Chinchilla September TSBE forum that only NTR could deliver a fully integrated cost-effective private-sector supply chain solution and was different from the government-owned Australian Rail Track Corporation solution in a number of key aspects. “The NTR solution is the only one that includes a spur line to Miles, the only one with twin tunnels down the Toowoomba range and the only one with a connection to the port of Brisbane,” Mr Albrecht said. Mr Albrecht said other differences included a duplicated dual gauge track from Toowoomba to Acacia Ridge in Brisbane, the capacity to operate 32.5t axle load

PAGE 4

wagons to heavy haul standards and connections through Shepparton and Narrandera to Parkes to tap into the Murray Goulburn Valley and Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. “This opens up regional areas of Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales for expansion of agricultural products through lower freight costs,” he said. “It would lead to a cost reduction of 50% for freight movements from Surat Basin to Port of Brisbane.” Mr Albrecht said the private sector could do the job in six years. “The private sector has an appetite for infrastructure investment,” he said. “The role of government should be to set standards and performance outcomes, not to build.” Australia’s freight growth is expected to double over next 20 years and treble by 2050.

Martin Albrecht says the privately funded National Trunk Rail is a better alternative to inland rail.

Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 24 September 2015

THE BIG PICTURE

Industrial Park operations hub

Brian McCormack (Brandon & Associates) chats with WDRC Deputy Mayor George Moore at the Chinchilla forum. Photo Derek Barry

Chinchilla’s role vital: Moore

ESTERN Downs Regional Council deputy mayor George Moore has hailed Chinchilla’s contribution to the region in the gas and agriculture sectors. Speaking at the TSBE forum, Cr Moore said Chinchilla was until recently one of the fastest growing towns in Queensland. “The Western Downs is home to high-quality schools, health facilities and with plans for many upgrades,” Cr Moore said. “Council has invested record infrastructure to address growth today and into the future

with major upgrades in water and sewerage, with $33m of that here in Chinchilla alone.” Cr Moore acknowledged there would always be a need for fly in fly out workers and camps were necessary in the construction phase to ease the housing pressure on towns. “However while they are working in the region, it would be great to see them living in the region,” he said. “As we move forward towards the operational phase, I urge all parties here tonight to support our towns and suggest

that operational staff should be based in our communities.” Cr Moore said it had become a top priority for council to balance the need to rapidly develop the industry with the needs of a traditional rural-based community. “Our communities must retain their identity and become a great place to live, work and play,” he said. Cr Moore said further opportunities would come thanks to Wellcamp Airport, the Second Range crossing and Inland Rail.

urat Basin Industrial Park is becoming recognised as the CSG Operations Hub for the Surat Basin, on the western entrance to Chinchilla with easy access to the Warrego Hwy and major gasfields. The estate boasts the recently completed award winning QGC Upstream Operations Supply Base and the QGC Pipeline Operations Division. Origin Energy is anticipated to relocate their Surat Basin head office soon, further developing opportunities within the Industrial Park. RIE have recently completed their regional headquarters with office and workshop facilities to provide expanded capability of specialised instrumentation and electrical services in the region. With only seven fully serviced lots remaining, Surat Basin Industrial Park is the hassle free option when establishing or expanding your business. Concepts are under preparation for a multi-tenant facility with four 288m2 sheds, secured hardstand and separate parking. For leasing or sales enquiries, and to discuss your own fit out requirements, contact Warren Daniells on 0427 468 591.

Opportunities abound despite downturn

HINCHILLA still has enormous opportunities despite coming off an enormous resource stimulus and moving more to operations and maintenance according to local chamber of commerce president Rob Hart. “The most valuable resource we have in Chinchilla and the reason you should invest here is that we have economic diversity,” Mr Hart told the Chinchilla TSBE forum. “We have four or five different industries which give us enormous resilience compared to other country towns in Australia.”

Mr Hart said agriculture was probably the biggest contributor with a wonderful season thanks to good rain. “When farmers do well they put back, it does take some lead time but things look very good,” he said. “Plus graziers are getting three dollars a kilo for their beef which is absolutely unprecedented thanks to demand and free trade agreements, things are looking fantastic on the beef side.” Mr Hart said Chinchilla was one of the feedlot capitals of Australia.

“Many of the feedlots are investing further and expanding their capacity and all of that is putting more stimulus back into the region,” he said. Mr Hart admitted the CSG industry was in transition would companies reducing their cost base. “They have to do that with an oil price between 40 and 50 dollars,” he said. “You will have these ups and downs in the supply chain. But it creates outsourcing opportunities to do Rob Hart speaks at the Chinchilla forum. what they are currently doing now.”

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PAGE 5

THE BIG PICTURE

Roadtrains get pre-approval

Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Ray Brown wants the region to accept 1500 Syrian refugees.

Will help if asked: Brown Western Downs Regional Council mayor puts hand up for Syrian asylum seekers 12,000 places for people fleeing Syria. Cr Brown said the region, including Chinchilla, Miles, Tara and Wandoan could all receive asylum seekers. "The beauty of this is that there are about 500 good quality rentals sprinkled across the region. The last thing I want is a fishbowl with people looking in." Cr Brown was praised for his stance at a candlelit vigil in Brisbane on September 11. In front of 3000 people, deputy premier Jackie Trad said Cr Brown’s offer showed Queensland’s support for refugees. "I am very proud to learn there have literally been hundreds of Queenslanders phoning in to refugee organisations, offering their homes, offering their spare rooms, offering to take in Syrian refugees when they come to Queensland," Ms Trad said. "I'm incredibly proud of Ray Brown, who is the mayor of the Western Downs Regional Council, who called me today and said 'we will take 1500 Syrian refugees’.” However Cr Brown may have his work cut out to convince local residents about the merits of his plan.

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A Dalby Herald poll of over 1000 respondents found 77% did not support the plan. Meanwhile Maranoa Mayor Rob Loughnan would not rule his region accepting refugees, but said he would need the community’s support before doing so. Cr Loughnan said Roma’s empty housing situation was not as bad as Chinchilla and Dalby’s and the lack of employment opportunities would disadvantage any immigrants who moved here. “There’s positives and negatives associated with a subject such as this, and even long-term we all want to help people when they are down,” he said. “I don’t think it will ever be a popular thing (to debate) when there is no promise from employment.”

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ESTERN Downs Regional Council Mayor Ray Brown still wants to house Syrian refugees but says there have been no formal requests for help as yet, and community consultation is vital. After the September 16 meeting of council, Mayor Brown said he was contacted by Deputy Premier Jackie Trad and had offered to assist, should Queensland receive a request from the Australian Government, to resettle refugees from Syria. “There has been absolutely no contact from the Australian Government to Western Downs Regional Council at this time regarding the resettlement of refugees,” Mayor Brown said. “If, at some point in the future, refugees are to be resettled, Western Downs Regional Council believes that it will be vital for the State and Federal Governments to work with the Council on a community information and consultation program.” Mayor Brown’s clarifications came after he initially offered to take 1500 refugees, which is more than 12% of then Prime Minister Tony Abbott's announcement of an extra

OAD trains and B-double routes have received pre-approval to service feedlots and large rural operations within the Western Downs Regional Council area. NHVR Director for Access Peter Caprioli said an agreement was reached to allow road trains and B-doubles access on designated routes, transporting livestock and rural commodities without requiring council approval. The agreement comes after discussions with council, Condamine MP Pat Weir and national vice-president of Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters’ Association and Martins Haulage’s Graeme Hoare. “Although applications for travel will still be needed, council’s pre-approval removes the requirement for the NHVR to contact council in each case prior to issuing any permit,” Mr Caprioli said. “Consent would be required from the Department of Transport and Main Roads for travel where there is interaction with state roads. “This removes a timely and inefficient element to the permit process allowing transporters to more effectively deliver the freight which benefits not only farmers, who produce the goods, but also the local community who consume them.” Mayor Ray Brown said the council would allow permits to be granted for a period up to a maximum term of three years. Pre-approval routes are Aronui Feedlot (from Dalby), Bottle Tree Feedlot, Sandalwood Feedlot (from Dalby) and large rural enterprises in the Auburn area of Western Downs including Auburn Rd to Council boundary, Hawkwood Rd, Andrews Rd, Knudsens Rd and Canns Rd.

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THE BIG PICTURE

Rob Loughnan uses Roma forum to issue a plea to both sides of politics

Mayor calls for new Roma Hospital Ministers sidesteps issue but commits to more rural doctors

aranoa Mayor Rob Loughnan, has repeated his call for both sides of politics to commit to a new Roma Hospital but the Health Minister has refused to commit. Mayor Loughnan said the gathering of health leaders for a Rural Generalist Clinical forum this month was a perfect audience for Health Minister Cameron Dick to announce a complete hospital rebuild. “It is great to have Minister Dick back in the Maranoa again and it would be even better if he were able to bring with him the hospital news our community has been waiting for,” Mayor Loughnan said. “The rural generalist program is crucial to regional areas and every doctor in the forum knows first-hand the importance and urgency for a Roma hospital rebuild. “Our health infrastructure is at crisis point and a new hospital would service the entire south west, not to mention provide some much-needed construction jobs.” Mr Dick did not commit to a new hospital but pledged more country doctors at the forum which marked the 10-year anniversary since the concept of a training pathway for rural doctors was first discussed at Roma. “Ten years on from the ‘Roma Agreement’, I am pleased to say that great progress has been made,” Mr Dick said. “At the moment, there are 225 doctors at various stages in the pathway, but by 2019, there will be 400 doctors, making it the biggest program of its type in the world.”

Ten years on from the ‘Roma Agreement’, I am pleased to say that great progress has been made Health Minister Cameron Dick Meanwhile Mayor Loughnan said the budget commitment to the Roma Hospital was welcome. “The State budget allocation brackets Roma with three other hospitals to share the $180 million ‘Enhancing Regional Hospitals’ program but what we don’t know yet is just how much of that money is to be allocated to Roma,” he said. “A new Roma hospital will cost somewhere around $80 million and our hospital needs a total rebuild, not another band-aid solution. “Both patients and staff of Roma hospital deserve a firm indication of exactly what is being planned. In my view, nothing short of a new facility will be acceptable to this community and we all need to be pushing toward that goal.” The Mayor has also written to the Shadow Health Minister Mark McArdle seeking support for a new hospital. “There were no plans from the LNP when they were in government to commit to a new hospital but now the situation is so dire, I am seeking bipartisan support for a complete rebuild,” he said.

Maranoa Mayor Rob Loughnan is calling on both sides of politics to support a new Roma Hospital.

Origin APLNG fully plugged in to transmission network

ORK is complete on the final connection for Australia Pacific LNG to plug into Powerlink Queensland’s new transmission network in the North West Surat Basin. The new high voltage electricity infrastructure is now powering three APLNG gas processing facilities between Roma and Wandoan, delivering coal seam gas into the 530km pipeline to its LNG facility on Curtis Island. The announcement coincided with Treasurer Curtis Pitt's tour of APLNG's facility on Curtis Island with APLNG CEO Page Maxson last month .

“The $60 billion gas industry is a major source of employment in Queensland. Powerlink’s delivery of this project is helping to secure jobs and support the state’s ongoing economic growth,” Mr Pitt said. “This construction work has also had a major impact at the local level, with $20 million injected into local businesses and service providers in the region so far this year.” Mr Pitt said the new high voltage electricity transmission network facilitated the long-term viability of the resource sector. “It’s estimated that electricity demand in

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the North West Surat will increase from about 100MW to 600MW before 2016, which is more than peak demand for the whole Sunshine Coast and surrounding hinterland,” he said. “To meet this need, Powerlink entered into commercial agreements with APLNG and Santos GLNG to deliver 200km of transmission line and seven substations in total, with all costs paid for by the customers requesting the connections.” Origin Integrated Gas Chief Executive Officer David Baldwin said the new transmission network represented a major investment for the region. “Australia Pacific LNG’s partnership with

Powerlink has delivered the critical infrastructure necessary to power our business and deliver ongoing benefits to Queensland for decades to come,” Mr Baldwin said. Powerlink Queensland Chief Executive Merryn York said Powerlink had long-term experience in delivering large-scale transmission solutions such as this. "Powerlink has completed more than 30 transmission connection services for loads and generators in the last 15 years, and we look forward to continuing to support Queensland industry,” Ms York said.

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PAGE 7

ACROSS THE REGION

CreatEnergy's Adrian Abbott says their machinery is self-powered.

Bernie Ford and Grant King recycle gasfields fluids.

Drill fluid recycling project excites Surat Basin industry

How Annejeda creates energy Partnership between Annejeda and CreatEnergy cleans up in gasfields innovation .

Basically, our approach is: what's on the lease, stays on the lease. Annejeda managing director Andrew Reardon reduce the environmental impact of operations were increasing with regulators reacting directly to public comment and pressure. "Treatment methodology of 100 per cent reuse is a game changer for those who understand the imperative in delivering on cooperate governances," he said. Annejeda's technical partner CreatEnergy develops and implements waste and energy solutions for the resource sector, focussing specifically on the substitution of diesel at mining and energy projects in Australia and overseas.

CreatEnergy's Adrian Abbott said coal seam gas operations were looking hard at their businesses to determining smarter more responsible and value effective initiatives. "Our process technologies give back to a lease consistent high quality water, enhanced pavement materials," Mr Abbott said. "In doing so, this closes the loop, realising opportunities not previously considered attainable." The partnership is now offering their service to the mining industry in Queensland. "The implementation of our unique configurations fits a wide range of operating needs, treatment and reuse of drill fluid, cuttings and oil slops," Mr Abbott said. "All hardware, improvements provided are self-powered and therefore not requiring connection to client power source or a power network." (Front page photo: Annejeda boss Andrew Reardon)

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Annejeda HQ on the eastern approach to Roma. (Photos: Derek Barry)

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NNEJEDA is a Roma company with a long history in oil and gas, but they remain on the forefront of game-changing innovation in the industry. They have partnered with a company called CreatEnergy to come up with a solution to turn wasteful drill fluids into valuable high-quality water. Annejeda managing director Andrew Reardon said the companies were making a collaborative effort to reduce disposal volumes of drill fluids and reduce costs with a sustainable and cost effective solution, especially in an era of low oil prices. "We want to recycle drill fluids and drill cuttings on the (petroleum) lease and where practical, put it back to the lease," Mr Reardon said. "Basically, our approach is: what's on the lease, stays on the lease." Mr Reardon said rules and regulations were changing and the demands on industry to

ACROSS THE REGION

Government building Qld’s ‘Solar State’

LNG exports hit a billion Queensland industry exports $1.14 billion in gas in six months from January to July

ueensland’s liquefied natural gas exports have hit $1 billion in just six months since shipments commenced according to Treasurer Curtis Pitt. Mr Pitt said according to official Australian Bureau of Statistics data, the value of Queensland’s overall merchandise exports is also accelerating. “The nominal value of Queensland merchandise exports rose 20 per cent over the year to July quarter 2015,” Mr Pitt said. “Growth over the year was driven by the ramp up of LNG exports, which commenced in January 2015, along with increases in the value of meat and coal exports.” Mr Pitt said Queensland’s LNG industry exported $1.14 billion worth of gas from

Minerals exports hit $2.3 billion in the July quarter 2015 Curtis Pitt January to July. “LNG is one of Queensland’s great economic success stories, one that will continue to shape the state economy in coming decades,” he said. “LNG exports are projected to hit $15 billion by 2016-17, earning the state valuable export dollars and annual royalties while supporting thousands of jobs. “This is a $60 billion industry which would not exist had it not been for the foresight of successive State Labor governments.

“Queensland Labor championed the LNG export industry from day one and this support is now paying off with exports already surpassing $1 billion.” According to the ABS, Queensland meat exports rose 33.1 per cent over the year to the July quarter 2015. “Minerals exports hit $2.3 billion in the July quarter 2015, a rise of 25.2 per cent compared to the same time last year,” he said. “Each of Queensland’s major mineral exports recorded rises over the year. “Queensland’s crops exports also grew by $375 million, driven by strong increases in grain sorghum exports.” Mr Pitt said with rising merchandise and LNG exports and a rebounding tourism sector, Queensland had all the right ingredients for growth.

he Palaszczuk Government has unveiled the next steps in building its “Solar State” announcing their renewable energy auction would exceed their election commitment of 40 megawatts by half, and would now be for solar projects only. Minister for Energy and Water Supply Mark Bailey said a solar only focus would promote further investment into renewable energy developments. “We will be collaborating with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to deliver this exciting initiative,” Mr Bailey said. “By supporting up to 60 megawatts of extra capacity, we’re aiming to drive significant growth in large-scale solar generation in this state.” Mr Bailey said developing and expanding Queensland’s renewable energy industry is a central component of the State Government’s energy policy agenda. “Queensland has some of the best solar resources in the world and is ideally placed to benefit as solar generation becomes an increasingly important part of Australia’s electricity generation mix,” he said. Mr Bailey said the Queensland Productivity Commission had received the Terms of Reference to begin a public review into a fair price for the cost of solar energy sold back into the electricity grid by homes and small businesses. “We want a fair price for customers regardless of whether a system is installed or is planned to be installed,” Mr Bailey said. “The review’s findings will further support the take up of solar as we push towards one million rooftops, or 3000 megawatts of solar PV capacity by 2020. “This process will run concurrently with the recent announcement of Ergon Energy’s 150 megawatt large scale renewable Expression of Interest, and will help drive an unprecedented amount of renewable energy investment into the Queensland market.”

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PAGE 9

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.

Know your onions

Having done brilliant work on Labor’s leadership upheavals in The Killing Season, the ABC’s Sarah Ferguson will now have plenty of material for part 2, perhaps to be called “The Killing Season Strikes Back” following the ascension of Malcolm Turnbull to prime minister this month. The political Twitterati – never the biggest fan-base of Tony Abbott – turned up the glee with the hashtag #putoutyouronions in honour of the departing PM, the raw onioneating member for Warringah. Many are expecting a change of focus from the new leader though one commentator pointed out the Liberals were replacing one Sydney-seaboard male Catholic Scorpio Rhodes Scholar with another. Gravel Road is not sure about the horoscope implications of all this but notes that Scorpios are motivated by power, position and money and find it difficult to trust people and are therefore very secretive. “They will try to get even with those who dare insult or harm them,” says one website. Sounds like a lot more of the same to come, then. Though with less public onion eating.

Shorten sweet

The turbulence (turnbullence?) in the Liberal Party could yet swing back to Labor where leader Bill Shorten continues to underwhelm with his “zingers” and low approval rating. There have been many calls for the man Mr Shorten defeated in 2013, Anthony Albanese, to take the fight back to Mr Turnbull. However Mr Albanese might have other matters on his mind. At a craft beer event in Canberra recently, he launched a beer called Willie the Boatman’s Albo Corn Beer named in his honour. Mr Albanese told Fairfax Media it was a good drop. “It’s in a long neck bottle, which I like,“ he said. “I’m old school.” Old school or not, the Albo Ale is going down well. The brewery says it makes 1200 litres of it a week and it’s “pretty well sold before it’s fermented.” Down the hatch.

Queens of the Desert

While Labor is toasting itself in opposition, the earthquakes affecting the corridors of power in Canberra will gradually filter out out around the country. Here to western Queensland, the LNP holds the ultra-safe seat of Maranoa, held by Bruce Scott for 25 years. Mr Scott sits in the National party room and therefore did not have a vote in the leadership affair but our guess is that he would have been happy with the result. Mr Scott and Mr Turnbull were the best of buddies as they toured Birdsville recently. The pair even bumped into a bunch of drag queens doing their Priscilla Queen of the Desert schtick at the Birdsville Hotel with two burly blokes wearing bright lipstick planting a kiss on Mr Turnbull’s surprised cheeks. Even with Kings Cross in his electorate this was a challenge for Mr Turnbull’s renowned liberal values and savoir faire but he dealt with it with aplomb. Mr Turnbull had more difficulties addressing the telecommunications shortcomings of the remote region and with his cabinet undecided at the time of deadline, his undersecretary Paul Fletcher, who also accompanied him to Birdsville, may have to sort the matter out if, as rumoured, he is promoted to communications minister. Mr Fletcher is a former Optus executive and across the detail of the mobile black spot program so important to rural areas like Birdsville, so he too may also get many kisses on the cheeks from strange men if he gets it right. Of course, the same rumour mill also had Joe Hockey among the favourites to become the new communications minister. So it could be a case of close, but no cigar!

I’ll get to Scott land before you

Maranoa MP Mr Scott, of course, is retiring at the next election. There is an LNP pre-selection ballot in progress featuring five candidates and the winner now may feel they have a better chance of ending up on the government benches, now that Mr Abbott has been deposed. As Gravel Road reported last month there are two clear favourites in the field: Warwick bank manager David Littleproud and Maranoa councillor Cameron O’Neil. Now there is another regional bank manager standing: Lachlan Douglas of Rabobank. Mr Douglas is an agribusiness expert so he’ll have a lot in common with the two graziers who are also throwing their Akubras in the ring: Alison Krieg from Blackall and Rick Gurnett from Charleville. The postal ballot concludes on October 22 with counting a day later. May the best man or Alison win.

Fossil tomfuelery

Whoever gets in will be pleased at the likelihood of over 120 new jobs in the electorate when Wilkie Creek coal mine re-opens (see page 4). But the coal industry itself has been under CHEERS: Anthony Albanese launches a beer named in his fire for its latest advertising campaign. honour. (Photo from Mr Albanese’s Twitter feed).

PAGE 10

TRICKY TREKKIE: A "Spocked" Canadian five dollar bill.

Called “Little Black Rock”, the campaign from the Mineral Council of Australia (MCA) says the industry is worth $40 billion to the Australian economy and can now reduce its emissions by 40%. “It’s coal,” the ad says. “Isn’t it amazing what this little black rock can do?” Unfortunately not everyone is impressed though some are amazed at the ad’s chutzpah. Some in the environment movement have ridiculed the “coal is amazing” tagline comparing it to an ad from the late 1940s which spruiked the “wonderful uses of asbestos.” News company The Guardian made the news itself when it refused to run the coal ads with Guardian Australia sales director Tony Bell telling MCA the ad was “at odds with both our editorial stance and our company values”. Nobel laureate Professor Peter Doherty was perhaps closest to the truth when he said coal WAS amazing “but now we must stop burning it and save it for different uses”. Gravel Road is torn, seeing the environmental problem but also supporting local job creation in a tight market. It IS amazing what this little black rock can do and it’s a burning issue won’t go away any time soon.

suffer the further indignity of having people defacing its devalued Canadian currency in an unusual way. The Bank of Canada is pleading with Star Trek fans to stop “Spocking” its five dollar bills. Stop what-ing? It seems that since the death of actor Leonard Nimoy, Canadian Trekkers have been adding his Spock character’s distinctive features to the five dollar bill that features a portrait of Canada’s seventh prime minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Sir Wilfrid now sports, on certain vandalised bills at least, pointy ears, the signature Vulcan haircut and eyebrows, and Spock’s (or should that be $pock’s?) mantra “Live long and prosper.” Gravel Road wonders if anyone out there has been modifying Aussie $100 notes to make Antarctic explorer Douglas Mawson look more like Captain James T. Kirk. It doesn’t get to see them very often to find out.

It’s entirely logical, captain

A plummeting coal price is one of the reasons Australia’s current account deficit is in such strife at the moment. In the June quarter the deficit blew out by 41% to $19 billion leaving Australia’s net foreign debt hovering just below a cool (or that a coal?) one trillion dollars. A marked weather-related decline in coal exports was cited as a “significant drag” but the mineral prices are a major reason while resource rich countries like Brazil and Canada are in recession. Spare a thought for poor Canada who has to

IN, OUT, SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT: At prime minister’s question time in federal parliament in Canberra, one Sydney-seaboard male Catholic Scorpio Rhodes scholar has replaced another.

Hit the Road Got something we should know about? Contact us on gravelroad@suratbasin.com.au

Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 24 September 2015

ACROSS THE REGION

BRIEFS BIG RIG UPGRADE

Member for Lockyer Ian Rickuss MP, Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio, Member for Condamine Pat Weir MP celebrate the signing of the Second Range crossing contract.

Range contract signed Provider Nexus have inked the $1.6 billion deal with government to provide Toowoomba second crossing

HE $1.6 billion Toowoomba Second Range Crossing is one step closer with the Nexus consortium signing a contract in August to deliver the project. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the project would underpin Queensland's economic and industrial development, and provide social benefits for the region. "Nexus was selected for the project because of their expertise, innovative design and ability to deliver a value-for-money project that will support the movement of freight to the Port of Brisbane," Mr Truss said. The new road will save up to 40 minutes in travel time for heavy vehicles while avoiding 18 sets of traffic lights. Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt said the

outcome was the result of an extensive and rigorous procurement process. "The project has now cleared the final stage of the procurement process," Mr Pitt said. Pat Weir MP, Member for Condamine, congratulated Nexus on signing the contract. "The second range crossing is long overdue and will significantly benefit businesses and communities in Toowoomba and west of the Great Divide", Mr Weir said. "This project will open up access to new developments within the Condamine electorate including the Wellcamp airport, industrial and manufacturing businesses and the agricultural sector." The project is expected to generate 1800 new jobs and will help to boost productivity in the region, expected to generate $2.4 billion to the regional economy over 30 years.

The project will include a separated connection to Mort Street and there will also be two lanes built each way from the Warrego Highway East Interchange to Warrego Highway West and grade separated interchanges at Warrego Highway West, Toowoomba-Cecil Plains Road and the Gore Highway. A 30-metre deep cutting at the top of the range will also be built as an alternative to a tunnel proposal, enabling safer travel for all heavy vehicles, including ones carrying dangerous goods. The Toowoomba Second Range Crossing will be delivered as a Public Private Partnership, with the Queensland Government contributing up to $321 million towards the project. Construction will commence this year, with the project reaching completion in late 2018.

ROMA’S Big Rig oil and gas museum may finally get a display about the recent coal seam gas expansion. Origin and Santos have told Maranoa Regional Council they are willing to offer $200,000 worth of redundant field equipment to a CSG display at the complex if Council foots the bill for the assembly of the display. Council has a funding application in Round 1 of the Building Our Regions fund but have committed to fund the project if that application is unsuccessful. Council will commit $50,000 to cover construction expenses for the CSG display which would involve new footpaths, concrete pads for equipment, improve the “journey in time” area at the Rig and assembly and securing the display. If $50,000 is not sufficient, Council will store the display at their Roma Depot and further funding would be prioritised at the quarter two budget review in January 2016.

AERODROME RE-OPENS The Chinchilla Aerodrome recently welcomed the landing of the first charter flight since May after completion of the first phase of a $4.7 million rehabilitation project delivered by Western Downs Regional Council, QGC and Ostwald Bros, to enhance the operational capabilities of the facility. The upgrade has significantly improved the reliability, strength and safety of the runway and taxiway.

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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 24 September 2015

PAGE 11

RuralNEWS N Delegation pursues business opportunities

Lyons visits China to promote FTA deal Future of bilateral trade is very bright says TSBE COO

oowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr Ben Lyons is looking forward to the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) becoming a reality after accompanying the Trade and Investment minister to China recently. Dr Lyons was invited to tour Shanghai and Beijing as part of a delegation with Andrew Robb as an opportunity for Australia to show support for the ChAFTA and to pursue business opportunities. Dr Lyons praised Mr Robb for listening to businesses and his strong commitment to ensuring the ChAFTA became a reality. “The overwhelming response to this agreement is that it is the best one China has negotiated and its impact is far beyond simple tariff reductions,” Dr Lyons said. “It is a signal to businesses in both countries that the future is very bright between our two countries.” Dr Lyons said e-Commerce opportunities were a significant focus throughout the delegation, with much discussion focused on what these platforms mean for Australian businesses taking advantage of the ChAFTA, with over 300

TSBE's Chief Operating Officer, Dr Ben Lyons, AustCham Shanghai Chairman, Peter Arkell, Minister for Trade and Investment, the Hon Andrew Robb AO MP and TSBE's Business Development Manager - China, Wen Liu. Photo Contributed million online consumers in China alone, and with online retail sales having grown by 50 per cent reaching $A 500 billion in 2014. “E-Commerce – it’s there, it’s real, it’s big and everyone is talking about it,” he said. “But, everyone is still also trying to figure out how it all works - it’s still not a thing that too many people really understand.”

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story and are opening doors for our businesses,” Dr Lyons said. “The real beauty of online ecommerce is that there is an added transparency to tracking what consumers are actually buying – which provides a real opportunity for those supplying to these Asian markets to actually learn about the consumer.”

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Dr Lyons said Australian businesses need to remember that they are still dealing with a Chinese company, so there are still cultural barriers and challenges. “E-Commerce companies that no one had heard of a year ago, like JD.com and Yihaodian, are now the people we are visiting - they are a part of this online retail

OR Ben Lyons said the idea of agriculture in the Asian century is a misnomer, it is actually the other way round. “I believe it is the agricultural century and Asia just happens to be part of that,” Dr Lyons said. The new TSBE chief operating officer, who had spent the last 17 years working in Chinese agricultural research, was speaking at a certified land management (CLM) forum in Roma. “China has gone through the biggest urbanisation in history and when cities grow they take up the best agricultural land,” he said. This means China is no longer self-sufficient and is looking to other markets to help it feed itself.

demand for Australian beef because the Chinese national herd had gone down from 90 to 70 million in eight years. “Most households are very small with three to five head of yellow cattle,” he said. “A Chinese farmer would normally make $150 to $200 per head, you would now make $600.” Dr Lyons said another key change in Chinese agriculture were three numbers – “61 38 70”. “Sixty-one is June 1, World Children’s Day for all the children working in agriculture, thirty-eight is March 8, International Women’s Day for all the women working in agriculture and 70 is the average age of someone working in Ben Lyons, Tony Gleeson and Lloyd Harth at the a field in China, there are no young CLM conference in Roma. Photo Derek Barry men,” he said.

“Fifteen years ago when I talked to Chinese colleagues, it was about how can we replicate Australian agriculture here, now it’s like, where’s the best place in the world to grow sugar, where’s the best place in the world to grow wool and so forth,” he said. Dr Lyons said there was a great

Your “Local” Operator

Roma Airport PAGE 12

mihelicopters.com.au Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 24 September 2015

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RuralNEWS N

Lazarus summit

ENATOR for Queensland Glenn Lazarus was in the Surat Basin this week to hear from landowners battling the big dry. Mr Lazarus is holding a state-wide water summit including a session at the Dalby Leagues Club next Wednesday. “I have travelled extensively across Queensland to talk with people about the issues affecting their communities and water is one of the biggest issues,” Mr Lazarus said. “Eighty per cent of the state is in drought and farmers are walking off their land. “Overseas countries and international companies are buying up our farms, land

and businesses while rural and regional communities are also being affected by CSG mining.” Mr Lazarus said coal and gas activities were depleting underground water reserves and contaminating the remaining water. “People across Queensland are being crippled by the drought,” he said. “Queensland needs major infrastructure projects to move water around to the areas where it is needed and those affected by water issues need financial assistance to cope with the impacts. “While all levels of government do a lot of talking, very little action is happening.” Mr Lazarus said the free summit would bring together industry experts and Queenslanders affected by water issues. “The summit will identify the issues across Queensland, the impacts and put forward suggestions and ideas on how to address and solve the issues,” he said. Following the summit, Mr Lazarus will draft an action plan with a wish list of projects and funding to address water issues in Queensland. He will have a new minister to deal with after new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull took water management away Senator Glenn Lazarus wants to hear from everyone from environment minister Greg Hunt affected by drought. and gave it to Barnaby Joyce.

St George to host Senate hearing

UEENSLAND LNP Senator Matt Canavan is encouraging Queenslanders to make a submission on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan or appear at a public hearing in St George next week. The Select Committee on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan will host a hearing in St George next week on the removal of water entitlements. The hearing is on Tuesday, September 29 and is one of seven in a Senate inquiry into the Murray Darling Basin Plan’s implementation and risks to the viability of farmers and irrigation communities. Senator Canavan is on the committee. The inquiry was established in June to look into the social, economic and environmental impacts of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan on regional communities. Senator Canavan said the issue did not just affect people on the land. “When farmers sell back their water entitlement, they get a cheque but the hotel owners, the tyre shop owners, the agronomists, the Elders store – these people don’t get a cheque from the government but their businesses

BASIN PLANNING. St George will host a Senate hearing into the Murray-Darling Basin Plan next week.

rely heavily on the agricultural production that underpins the region,” he said. “So, when you take the water away and take the agricultural production away from the catchment, these business people and their staff and families are all affected.” Senator Canavan said the government wanted to impose a cap on the amount of buybacks that can occur at 1500 GL. The inquiry’s main term of reference is about the implementation of the plan, including progress, costs (especially related to further implementation), direct and indirect effects on agricultural industries, local businesses and community wellbeing, and evidence of environmental changes.

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PAGE 13

ACROSS THE REGION

New roadside litter project aimed at residents

Locals must lift their game on litter Signboards reinforce message, and people encourage to dob in litterbugs Regional Councils. Mr Black said the Queensland Government’s Our State of Waste and Recycling in Queensland 2014 report identified councils were spending $17 million on litter clean-up. The Queensland Government has secured further funding support from the Australian Packaging Covenant to deliver the campaign across the region, including advertising and engagement of the community and local businesses. Queensland Murray-Darling Committee CEO Geoff Penton said that littering was an ongoing problem in the region that affects the whole community and the environment. “The litter audits revealed that 68% of the total waste audited was dumped at roadside pull overs, which meant offenders were not just littering but cleaning out their vehicles when stopping,” Mr Penton said. “It doesn’t make sense to pollute and degrade our own back yard. Litter finds it ways into waterways, affecting native fish, plants and animals. Farmland and livestock can also be affected by litter so we all bear the cost.”

TO REPORT ■ Littering from vehicles and vessels can be reported via www.ehp.qld.gov.au

WDRC's Todd Summerville and Cr Greg Olm launch the anti-litter campaign. Photo Contributed

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SOUTH-WEST Queensland roadside litter project unveiled last month has revealed locals are the biggest culprits. A partnership of local councils, industry groups and the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) gathered at a roadside stop south of Toowoomba to unveil the first of several information signs which encourage people to do the right thing. The ‘Love Queensland. Let’s keep it clean’ project is the first targeted regional approach to tackle roadside litter in Queensland. EHP Director-General Jon Black said the campaign had two main messages for road users. “Keep litter inside your vehicle until you can dispose of it appropriately and report littering from vehicles or vessels to the department,” Mr Black said. “Results of recent roadside audits coordinated by EHP showed the Warrego, Moonie and Cunningham highways were the most littered and the most commonly thrown away items are drink containers, food packaging and cigarette butts.” Signage and billboards is being installed across the region reinforcing these messages across the six major highways in the partnering council areas of Balonne Shire Council and Goondiwindi Maranoa, Southern Downs, Toowoomba and Western Downs

ACROSS THE REGION

UQ and GISERA host Surat Basin forum

Landholders learn CSG law and latest research in Roma Project studies impacts on soil, roads and water

ROMA research forum heard this month about the latest research into agriculture and coal seam gas. Landholders and industry stakeholders came to the Roma Cultural Centre to hear about the findings and discuss their own experiences of dealing with the gas industry. Associate professor of rural development at University of Queensland's Gatton campus Dr Jim Cavaye led the discussion and said the purpose of the day was to discuss research done by a range of organisations, mainly by UQ and the Gas Industry Social and Environmental Alliance (GISERA), which is an alliance of CSIRO and the gas companies. "The work at the University of Queensland is being done by the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, which is funded by the Centre for Coal Seam Gas, which itself is funded by the university and the four gas companies," Dr Cavaye said. He said there was a range of research done,

Many of the landholders here have participated in the research project.

Rob and Brigid Price and Amanda Thomas at the CSG forum in Roma. Photo Derek Barry

Dr Jim Cavaye with some focused on water such as the hydrology and understanding the extraction process. "Another project is the interaction between agriculture and coal seam gas focussing on the landholder experience and the impact on production and profitability and also what does co-existence mean to landholders and how co-existence can occur, fully accepting there are some landholders who do not accept co-existence and it's not a concept they agree with," he said. Dr Cavaye said the day also discussed GISERA's projects on soil compaction, the impacts of roads and tracks on land and how

wells impact agriculture and business. "Many of the landholders here have participated in the research project," he said. Dr Cavaye said they received a range of feedback from landholders on the day. "That will add to consideration of future research and each project has its own considerations," he said. "A number of the projects are coming to an end and much of the feedback is about continuing monitoring of impacts but also there are future research priorities around some CSG impacts on land valuation and trying to get the information to be put in a form that landholders can access and help them make better decisions."

Landholder Brigid Price from the Arcadia Valley said she enjoyed the day. "I got a lot of out of it. I never realised there was so much information out there," she said. The day was organised by UQ in collaboration with GISERA, AgForce and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Page28 SEE STORY

Tom Gleeson in the Downs

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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 24 September 2015

PAGE 15

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Password Management

BOC Gases supply LNG to a variety of regional businesses.

Bus tour of regional operation

BOC Gases open Visitors get chance to check out LNG plant

ARLY visitors to the TSBE Chinchilla forum in September had an additional treat with a bus tour of BOC Gases liquefied natural gas plant near Miles. Opened in 2014 next door to the Condamine Power Station, 40km west of Chinchilla, the plant is capable of producing up to 50 tonnes of LNG per day for the domestic market. It is one of BOC Gases three LNG plants in Australia, along with Dandenong in Victoria and Westbury in Tasmania. The Miles plant uses natural gas fed into the Roma–Brisbane pipeline by QGC. It is the same gas Queenslanders use every day for industrial purposes and to cook meals and heat their homes. BOC liquefies the natural gas in a refrigeration process and the LNG is transported in specially designed vacuum

tankers to customers and a network of refuelling stations across the country from Queensland to Victoria. The advantages for customers include a fixed price linked to the domestic gas market price and the fact that “no pipelines are required” with portable LNG available in regional areas for rural customers where there are no pipelines. Customers include food processors and abattoirs with needs that include steam and hot water production, roasting drying and duct exhaust burners. A clean burning flame means there is no contamination. BOC Gases use an Australian-made product which is cleaner than burning biomass or other fuels, and is quieter and an affordable transport fuel. See more photos page 17.

Visitors to BOC Gases. Photos Derek Barry

oday we have so many passwords that eventually we can’t remember them anymore so we start reusing the same passwords, the problem with this if some guesses your password they can get into all of your digital life. Most people don’t tend to worry about it too much until, their Facebook page gets taken over, their EBay and PayPal accounts are being used to buy and sell things that they don’t know about and their email is not theirs anymore. The problem is if you use simple words that are in the dictionary like Monkey or add some numbers Monkey123 these are easily guessed by password cracking software that can run a dictionary attack against a login where it tries every word in the dictionary and all the different upper and lower case letters and number combinations. Computers are so fast nowadays that they can do this in just a few minutes. So how can we manage our passwords better? Today there are some very good tools for managing your passwords, one of those tools is LastPass it can be found at www.lastpass.com this tool works on your PC, MAC and Smart Phone and it will allow you to have passwords like “x3kGBlx%FMGu” and the good thing is you won’t have to think of a password like that it will generate one for you, and you also won’t have to remember the password because it remembers it for you. I have only briefly described how last pass works, if you don’t want to have a password nightmare anymore then head over to www.lastpass.com and check it out.

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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 24 September 2015

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BOC GASES SITE VISIT

Site tour of BOC Gases 50 tonnes per day micro LNG complex next to Condamine Power Station, east of Miles. Photos: Derek Barry

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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 24 September 2015

PAGE 17

DOWN TO BUSINESS

ADVERTISING FEATURE

MPC celebrates safety milestone

Murphy Pipe notch up a thousand days without incident Workers take time out with celebratory cake

urphy Pipe and Civil crews had cause to celebrate on September 10 when they notched up 1000 days without a lost time injury during pipeline construction for QGC. The safety milestone is significant, given the scope of the three large-scale pipeline projects the company’s workforce has been toiling away on for more than 9 million man hours right across the Surat Basin’s coal seam gas fields. During this time, a crew of up to 2000 people have safely laid 312km of steel pipeline, installed 4700km of HDPE pipeline and 960km of cabling and driven more than 30 million kilometres across the region to do it all. At an MPC Safety meeting held at the Chinchilla Cultural Centre crews took time out to cut a celebratory cake to mark the milestone. However, the real icing on the achievement

was that thanks to crews working safely, three local charities received donations on the back of the effort. Crews decided there was no better way to mark the safety record than by helping out some of the hard-working organisations within the host communities that the safety milestone was achieved. Representatives of the Kogan and Tara Rural Fire Brigade, Youth InSearch and the Juandah Heritage Society were all presented with cheques for $1000 to ensure they could continue to do the great work they did in the community. Gas Field Services Project Manager Andrew Parker said while it was great feeling to see MPC continue to build on its safety reputation through its 1000 day achievement, it was surpassed by the gesture from crews to mark the major company milestone by putting something back into the community.

Pipeline makes progress

225-strong team of Murphy Pipe and Civil pipeliners and cable installation specialists have been making great progress on the construction of a 46km steel pipeline to transport coal seam gas for the QCLNG Project. Experienced crews of welders, engineers and machinery operators have spent the last three months constructing the 600mm steel pipeline and also installing 46 km of fibre optic and high voltage cable. When complete, the large-scale pipeline will connect QGC Field Compressor Stations with Central Processing Plants. MPC Project Manager Joanne Nash said crews had made significant headway on the pipeline project, with all stringing and welding now complete and tie-ins and land rehabilitation now being finalised. “Our crews have made great progress in every area of this pipeline project and are well on target to meet the completion deadline in October,” Ms Nash said. Ms Nash said a key driver behind crews achieving such impressive construction productivity on the project, was their prior experience constructing 276km of similar

Calibration lab in Chinchilla is first to gain full NATA accreditation

Our crews have made great progress in every area of this pipeline project and are well on target to meet the completion deadline in October. MPC Project Manager Joanne Nash

pipeline for the QCLNG Project in 2014. “Many of our crew also worked on the first stage of QGC’s steel trunkline network, so they were well-versed with the terrain and ground conditions that they would encounter along this particular pipeline route,” she said. “MPC been working in the Surat Basin CSG fields for more than five years, on steel pipelines and HDPE pipelines for QGC’s gathering network, and this enabled us to significantly streamline our pipeline construction operations, through lessons learned and also introducing new innovations.” Project Superintendent Doug Wood said he was pleased with the construction rate achieved, but what was more pleasing, was the crews’ major focus on working safely. “Our entire project workforce intensified its safety focus to ensure everyone goes home from work in the same way they turned up,” Mr Wood said. “I think evidence of this safety commitment having a positive effect on our crews, was seen in our most recent safety outcome, which saw us achieve Workers on the 46km Murphy Pipe and Civil trunk 100,000 hours without a single injury. lines project.

PAGE 18

MPC's Tony Loria is joined by the Kogan and Tara RFB’s Paul Storey and Vicki Searle and Kylie Ross from Youth InSearch to "safely' cut into a celebratory cake to mark the 1000 days without a lost time injury on the QCLNG Project.

or the first time, the Surat Basin’s Coal Seam Gas, mining, power generation and specialised service industries, have immediate access to a locally-based NATA-accredited calibration laboratory. The newly-established NATA calibration laboratory was set up by UPT in the Surat Basin Industrial Park, a precinct fast becoming an industry hub for specialist services for the region. UPT Operations Manager Tony Alcock said the laboratory had full NATA accreditation to conduct calibrations on all types of pressure instruments and torque wrenches, and added further specialist services that the UPT team can now offer its clients. “UPT has made a significant investment over recent years to expand its range of testing and commissioning services, and adding calibrations to our portfolio of expertise, further supports the growing needs of the

region and its ability to self- support,” Mr Alcock said. “Calibration is highly-specialised, and apart from often requiring full NATA accreditation, it also demands advanced technology and equipment that is operated by experienced personnel,” he said. Mr Alcock said UPT’s laboratory is the only NATA accredited facility in the Surat Basin, and the only one located in close proximity to operational areas. “Up until now, Surat Basin companies were forced to use Brisbane or interstate testing facilities, which was not only costly, but also required increased lead times. “With our new laboratory set up, our team can now provide full calibration services either in-house, on site at the well heads, or in a company’s establishment through UPT’s mobile field unit,” he said.

Tony Alcock (UPT), Ray Brown (Mayor WDRC) and Philip Spann (UPT) check out one of the calibrating machines.

Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 24 September 2015

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PAGE 19

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Towns hear about QGC suppliers Contractors speak to Miles and Wandoan businesses

G A HELPING HAND: Acting Inspector Phillip Young says the new fleet will provide faster and more effective response services to the region. Photo Blake Antrobus / The Western Star

New Chopper fleet at MI Helicopters

HE Surat Basin is gearing up for fire season with a new fleet from MI helicopters. The two new AS355 Twin Squirrel Helicopters and an additional Bell Long-Ranger Helicopter have been added to the Fire Service’s Squadron, which will assist with the upcoming fire season. Acting Inspector Phillip Young said the new additions would be a great benefit to the fire service in the region. “Having them out here will definitely enhance operations in the long run,” he said. “We can use them as reconnaissance before the heavier bombers get there, so it’s more like a way of slowing down the fires.”

The water carriers fitted to the vehicles were designed to carry up to 520L, and could easily be unloaded on a flight operation. But the Twin Squirrel is notable for being used for quick fly operations, possessing the ability to handle payloads of up to 550kg and carry five passengers at a time. Able to cruise at up to 220km/h, the vehicle’s low operational costs and failsafe engine allow it to continue flying to a suitable landing area. “It’s fairly easy for our pilots to fly, so they’re optimal for scouting the levels of fires and delaying them until the water bombers get there,” Mr Young said.

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AS company QGC held supplier information sessions in Miles and Wandoan last month. Both events were hosted in conjunction with local chambers of commerce to help connect local businesses to two of QGC’s key contractors, EDE and Veolia. Miles District chamber of commerce president John Hoffman said their event went well and attracted a larger than usual audience to one of their functions. “It was a meet and greet and a chance to talk to QGC contractors and and see what’s happening there,” Mr Hoffman said. Mr Hoffman said things were tough for trade and retail businesses in Miles since

the downturn and the event allowed people to tap into EDE and Veolia’s operations. “The good thing is these guys will be around for the long term, maybe 20 years or more,” he said. “We were sick of getting involved with companies and then find they were gone just as quick.” EDE are Eastcoast Development Engineering who have won contracts with QCG to do modification and repair of wellhead separator skids while Veolia Water Australia manage operation and maintenance of QCG’s water treatment facilities.

Lucas Batton, QGC Lead Enterprise Development Officer, Ciaran Walsh, EDE/Decmil Contracts Manager, and Julie Sampson, Veolia Procurement and Contracts Manager, discussed subcontracting opportunities with local people at the QGC Supplier Information Session in Miles.

QGC Communities Fund

Round 2 closing soon

QGC would like to invite not-for-profit organisations and local governments in the Western Downs and Gladstone Regional Council areas to apply for grants from the QGC Communities Fund.

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Eligible groups can apply for grants between $10,001 and $50,000 to support programs implemented within a 12-month period. To be eligible, projects must enhance regional liveability by building sustainable community groups and organisations. Applications opened 1 August 2015 and will close 5pm on 30 September 2015.

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PAGE 20

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The types of projects eligible for support include:

•

training programs for employees and volunteers;

•

new facilities and equipment to support education in science, technology, engineering and maths;

• •

improvements to buildings; and events and festivals.

An application form and guidelines can be downloaded from the QGC Communities Fund page on the QGC website www.qgc.com.au. QGC – A BG Group business

Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 24 September 2015

For further information: Web: www.qgc.com.au Email: community@qgc.com.au Toll free phone number: 1800 030 443 www.qgc.com.au

OPINIONS

Living in local communities Gas companies are here for decades to come and genuinely want to help .

COMMENT SHANE CHARLES CEO Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise

o gas companies make wrong decisions sometimes? Absolutely. Do they make decisions that leave all of us wondering – why on earth would you do that? Again – absolutely. But, notwithstanding that, my view is that they are genuine in their belief that they want to assist communities within the region. A number of leader’s throughout the region have in the past few months spoken to FIFO enquiries about how critically important it is that we have employees engaged in the operations

employees sourcing their own accommodation and living locally. I think the tide is turning as we move deeper into this operations phase. However, there is not one easy solution and it is not solely up to the industry. There are many factors at play which cannot be fully canvassed in a short article such as this. However, we must also ensure that our local governments make sure planning laws are effective for businesses to set up easily and quickly. State governments should continue to be mindful of the impact on our regional towns and support us through government programs. And the locals need to do what we do best –welcome new people into our community and show them why our region is where they should stay.

phase of the major CSG projects live in our region. We know this industry is here for decades to come, and as such, we need a major industry (such as gas) to ensure, as far as practicable, that their employees live locally and send their children to school locally, join the local sporting club, buy their bread from the local bakery and the list goes on. What we must also not forget, is that the majority of employees are in fact not employed by the gas companies themselves, but rather their significant contractors. Again, we need to put pressure on these companies to ensure that a “live local” policy is in place. Most, if not all, gas companies have live local incentives in place and I personally commend them for this. With the falling oil price, we have also seen contractors start to insist on

Surat Basin businesses lead gas well best practice and safety

large number of local businesses are providing world-class products and services to support the ongoing development of the onshore gas industry in the Surat Basin. Through a lot of hard work, financial and personal commitment these talented local businesses from Toowoomba to Roma have upskilled their knowhow in engineering, fabrication, welding, electrical and other trades to meet the stringent standards and requirements of the onshore gas industry. One vital area in particular is the well drilling and servicing sector which to date has seen the drilling, equipping and maintaining of more than 6500 exploration, appraisal and production wells across the Surat Basin. Despite the current slowdown in drilling activity due to low global

energy prices, these local skills and expertise will continue to be required by the onshore gas industry over the 30 year lifetime of these projects as they look to develop more wells to meet domestic and export demand. Recently, the Toowoomba Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) brought together over 50 of these local companies involved in the well drilling and servicing sector for an information session to share ideas and create better relationships to ensure this region remains a cost effective destination for businesses involved in the sector. At that TSBE forum, one of the onshore gas operators highlighted the need for local companies supplying their industry to continue to collaborate, cooperate and innovate. Like for any industry, achieving these three things is never easy and is a

Growth boom leaves Dalby dealing with accommodation problem

COMMENT BEN DEVERSON General Manager, GasFields Commission Qld

constant challenge. The GasFields Commission will continue to play its part working alongside TSBE, local chambers of commerce and the onshore gas operators, helping to facilitate opportunities for better information and connections between business and the onshore gas industry. We all want to see more sustainable jobs and opportunities from the onshore gas industry in order to build a more diverse regional economy for the Surat Basin and its communities.

COMMENT PAT WEIR MP Member for Condamine

he township of Dalby and the surrounding community experienced unprecedented growth during the construction phase of the CSG industry. The increase in population both short and long term created pressure on the availability of accommodation, food services and community amenities. It was very difficult to acquire rental homes or apartments, short term stay or overnight accommodation in the motels, hotels and caravan parks with the existing facilities in Dalby. This shortage lead to new motels being constructed, renovations taking place on existing hotels and motels, cabin style housing being built, expansions to existing tourist parks and workers camps both onsite at a tenement and off site being developed. During the height of construction the occupancy rates for all accommodation providers were very high with 80-95% across all types of accommodation facilities. In the past 12 months the construction phase has reached completion resulting in occupancy rates rapidly diminishing, dropping to approximately 40-50% in many cases. This economic decline has caused a great deal of distress amongst all accommodation providers as they see their investments being eroded. Unfortunately they are not alone with this reduction in trade with many other businesses including food and beverage outlets, contractors, clothing retailers and builders, to name a few also experiencing a downturn. Townships like Dalby and others located in the Surat Basin where there has been a large increase in demand for accommodation and service facilities over a relatively short term are now going to have to rethink their markets and develop strategies to encourage business back into their communities. This is not going to be an easy task as for several years accommodation in Dalby was very difficult to obtain. If we work together as a community along with local, state and federal governments I believe we can resolve this problem to enable all businesses to operate successfully.

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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 24 September 2015

PAGE 21

OPINIONS

UPT Laboratory

Bringing excellence in leak protection Chinchilla lab is first of its kind .

COMMENT Cr RAY BROWN Mayor, Western Downs Regional Council

ur towns, communities and agriculture sector can rest assured that the resource industries within the Surat Basin and Western Downs region are being held to the highest standard, with pipeline projects spread across the oil, gas, and water sectors in our region receiving high-level state-of-the-art checks and balances from locally-based National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA)-accredited company, UPT. UPT's NATA calibration laboratory in Chinchilla, the first of its kind in our region, not only gives confidence and peace of mind in leak protection to our communities but highlights how the Surat Basin continues to be a centre of excellence and innovation. Working alongside the major resource

companies in our region to ensure pipelines are tested and monitored in accordance with Australian standards and guidelines, demonstrates how our region is still capitalising on the advantages and opportunities of the resource boom. As the resources sector continues to move into ongoing operation and maintenance phases, it is reassuring that UPT is looking towards implementing a robust 'live-local' policy to encourage and support workers and their families to live and contribute economically and socially to our communities. With fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workforces commonplace in the resource industry, it'll be interesting to see how UPT accommodates and balances their live-local policy with the trend to employ a transient workforce. This will be of particular interest given the current FIFO workforce environments, with a recent survey by the Queensland Resources Council finding that 83 per cent of workers (both residential and

Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Ray Brown is given a tour of UPT's Chinchilla NATA calibration laboratory at their recent open day celebrating their full accreditation. Photo contributed non-residential) are committed to sticking with their current accommodation arrangements. Given the context of the Queensland

Parliamentary Inquiry into FIFO work practices, I'll be watching with keen interest when the committee delivers its report at the end of September.

Local councils win in Federal grants assistance program COMMENT BRUCE SCOTT MP Federal Member for Maranoa

iveability, health, education, sporting and cultural facilities as well as road and transport connections are very real issues which affect Surat Basin communities. That’s why I make sure the Maranoa electorate is at the forefront of the Coalition Government’s vision to support and grow our communities because the Surat Basin is my backyard and I have seen this region transform before my eyes. Local councils across the Maranoa received a huge funding boost of more than $15.69 million last month under the first

quarterly payment of the Federal Government’s 2015-16 Financial Assistance Grant program. One of the best things about this program is that councils – according to local priorities – are free to spend this funding on infrastructure, health, recreation, environment, employment and road projects. During this financial year alone, councils in the electorate are set to receive more than $126 million under the Financial Assistance Grant programme because this Coalition Government is committed to supporting local communities to deliver the services and facilities they need. I’m also looking forward to seeing councils target local priorities with this funding, along with additional funding provided by the Federal Government under the $3.2 billion Roads to Recovery, $500 million Black Spot and $300 million Bridges Renewal programs. This government is committed to ensuring our communities receive the funding needed to deliver the infrastructure and

services of the 21st century and I’m proud to be a member of the Coalition Government, delivering on key projects like the $508 million Warrego Highway upgrade in this region and the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing. Local councils in the Surat Bain will receive the following funding under the Federal Government’s Financial Assistance Grant program:

NB: Some council jurisdictions cross multiple federal electorates.

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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 24 September 2015

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OPINIONS

New water management plans

COMMENT ANNE LEAHY MP Member for Warrego

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. I have been pleased to participate in the official opening of the Chinchilla Community ConneXions. This is another example of a partnership between local organisations, State Government and resource companies with the Queensland Gas Company contributing $1.2 million. Congratulations to the Miles cast and crew on the successful production of Western Downs – Western Front, which I was delighted to attend. The play was a great production, well adapted with local anecdotes and knowledge. I also joined the Tara St Joseph’s School 50

year celebration and am looking forward to joining the Meandarra State School for their in the 100 year celebration. Of importance to the whole Surat Basin is the expiry on September 1, 2016 of the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) Water Management Plan. The GAB water supports town water supplies, grazing lands, irrigated agriculture and the resources industry. For many water users it is their most important water

resource or the only water resource to which they have access. The State Government has released proposals to be considered for the new plan which will be developed over the coming months. Everyone in the Surat Basin should make it a priority to inform themselves of the State Governments proposals for the GAB, and I encourage affected or interested water users to have input into the development of the new Water Resources Plan. Submissions close at 5pm on November 20, 2015. How water is allocated and utilised will shape the future of our communities and region. More information can be found at dnrm.qld.gov.au and use the link in the I’m looking for panel or contact your local DNRM regionalofficednrm.qld.gov.au/ourdepartment/contact-us or email WRPGreatArtesianBasin@dnrm.qld.gov.au. Senex is in the planning stages of its Western Surat Gas Project north of Roma and Wallumbilla. The company has advised me Ann Leahy MP with Linda Elder at Chinchilla Communthey expect to submit and Environmental ity ConneXions.

Ann Leahy MP with David Kimmorley at St Joseph’s Tara. Impact Statement in mid 2016 to the State Government. It is important that local people be able to provide their feedback on the project the during the public submission period closing on October 2, 2015. Further details can be found at www.senexenergy.com.au/1250/WesternSurat-Gas-Project. It has been great catching up with people across the Surat Basin and I look forward to meeting many more in the future.

Optimism abounds in the Maranoa region despite resources downturn .

COMMENT Cr ROBERT LOUGHMAN Mayor, Maranoa Regional Council

n contradiction to the dreadful share prices and outlooks for the resource sector I need to report some encouraging signs. I will add that my optimistic outlook today might be partly inspired by the excitement around the biennial Maranoa Food and Fire Festival which will take place the day after I am writing this article. One of the noticeable lines of traffic at the Roma Airport these days are the Origin and APLNG HR staff. These people have the unenviable task of trimming an enormous number of jobs from their national workforce. These jobs will be missed out here, particularly because Origin, more than anybody else, did have an early

understanding of the word ‘local’ and moved to ensure local workers were given opportunities to work in the CSG industry. The downsizing will certainly have an impact on the local economy. Which again demonstrates the absolute importance of making sure we all get this operational and maintenance end of the LNG projects right. At the risk of sounding flippant, I believe the major companies can no longer afford to be blindly led by the camp suppliers and FIFO proponents into regimes that essentially advantage their operations over local options. The peace of the past few months has given us an opportunity to talk about on-going issues that affect our residents. One of those, the matter of artificial industry speed limits, was addressed in part by a recent meeting of the CSG safety committee. The outcome was conveyed to me by Mr David Baldwin who is Co - Chairman of “Safer Together” group which is the Land Transport Working Group

for the CSG Queensland Industry Safety Forum. In summary, the companies will now be standardising their speed limits across Queensland, eliminating a massive hotbed of confusion between the various proponents, contractors and the general public. The new limits will reflect the signed speed limits on all sealed roads which will be a relief for hundreds of motorists and I welcome it. However the artifical industry limit on unsealed roads has now been set at 80km per hour unless signposted lower. That is a big improvement on the status quo but will continue to be a safety problem across much of my council area. Unfortunately it will take some pretty serious incidents to convince some people that lower speeds could ever have anything but a positive effect on road safety. I will continue to advocate against artificial speed limits which essentially imposes a double standard on road users and essentially forces all traffic back to the lower

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limit. It was heartening to drop in on the Senex team who were holding their first round of consultation in Roma last week. Senex were kicking off their project to the north east of Roma which I believe will sustain the local CSG industry over coming years and appeared to be well received with some pretty ambitious plans. We had more good news with the acquisition of the historic Roma natural gas tenements and infrastructure by Armour Energy. Origin Energy essentially mothballed these assets a few years ago while they concentrated on their APLNG commitments. The Roma Shelf includes the Kincora gas processing facility and associated pipelines which in the past provided stable employment for a small but very efficient locally based team . I have only heard good things about Armour’s past work in the NT and North Queensland and I know they will be a great addition to our local business community.

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TSBE ENTERPRISE EVENING CHINCHILLA 1.Tony Liddlelow, Matthew Jones, Shane Williams, Jason White and Jason George. 2. Peter Koschel (LCR Group) and Jim Randell (New Hope Coal). 3. Anne Mickelbourgh (Westpac) and Jim Camilleri (Construction Machinery Solutions). 4. Lynda Shields (BHD Oilfield Services) and Judy Green (Origin). 5. Joseph Otter (MWH), David Hall (3D Data Guidance) and Stuart Swain (MWH). 6. Bobbie Gorring (Chinchilla News), Ben Lyons (TSBE COO) and Rachael Green (Chinchilla News).

1 2

7. Kim Platen (Klein Excavation) and Christopher Low (Oz Excavator Buckets). 8. TSBE CEO Shane Charles and Martin Albrecht (National Trunk Rail). 9. Marianne Kintzel, Lynda Shields and Pippa Ellis. Photos Derek Barry / Surat Basin News

5 6 7 PAGE 24

Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 24 September 2015

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Dalby Chamber Business After Hours

1. Karen White and Trudi Bartlett at the Dalby Chamber business after hours function for September. 2. Barry Lyell, David Briese and Katrina Hawthorn.

3. Gloria Payne and Alicia Gowar. 4. Bernie Webber and Wayne McKenzie. 5. Jenny MacNellie and Matt Ernst. 6. Cate Turner. 7. Sally and Jim Charlton. 8. Arthur Martin and Michelle McVeigh. 9. Ross Musgrove and Peter McKinnon.

10. Rohan May, Nick Koenig and Mayor Ray Brown. Photos Contributed

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hina will continue to drive Australian growth in the next 10 years but if there is another boom it’ll be driven by tourism not resources, according to one forecaster. An Insurance and Risk inhouse publication said IBIS World Founder Phil Ruthven used his keynote speech at the NIBA Convention in Melbourne to say Australia’s economic position remained strong and a Chinese downturn was inevitable as it transitions from an investment to a consumption economy. “The sharemarket has collapsed of course, but it never deserved to be where it was anyway, so it’s just coming back to where it should be,” Mr Ruthven was reported as saying. Mr Ruthven said the shift away from capital expenditure meant trouble for the mining sector but mining would be overtaken by a new export

It will be inbound tourism, and that will earn us more money than the mining industry does today. Phil Ruthven in the coming years. “It will be inbound tourism, and that will earn us more money than the mining industry does today,” he said. Mr Ruthven said over 100 million Chinese went overseas each year to travel as tourists. “They are the biggest travelling nation in the world today. We only get 1% of those people at the moment; we get about 1 million Chinese tourists each year,” he said. “If we get 10% of them, and over the next

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decade it is predicted to grow to 15%, plus tourists from elsewhere, we’ll probably have 25 to 30 million tourists a year.” That will be five times the current number of six million tourists a year. “That will provide us with more income than the mining industry does today,” Mr Ruthven said. “The world changes and it moves forward; it’s not the end of the world when old industries begin to fade away.” Meanwhile more Australians are staying at home thanks to the weakening dollar. Tourism Research Australia’s National Visitor Survey to June showed a five per cent increase in domestic overnight trips to 83.2 million and a four per cent rise in spending to $55.4 billion. And regional areas are getting the benefit. The Darling Downs experienced an 11.7 per cent surge in visitors and daytrippers.

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Free Drought Assistance concert

Hard Talk in Downs Gifted comic Tom Gleeson heads bill in Not Just For Laughs

omedian Tom Gleeson is bringing his particular brand of quirky humour to the Western Downs next month. Gleeson is on TV with his own “Hard Talk" segment in the popular ABC show The Weekly With Charlie Pickering and he has also been a regular on panel shows and breakfast television. In October you'll have the chance to see him in person as he will be doing a tour of the region called Not Just For Laughs. Gleeson will be supported on stage by rising Australian comic Damien Power in a series of free events aimed to help support those facing the hardship of drought. The Not Just For Laughs comedy nights have been funded through the Queensland Government Community Drought Support Package with the purpose of strengthening the resilience of drought-affected Queenslanders. You can catch up with Not Just For Laughs comedy nights in the following locations: · Thursday October 8, Tara Memorial Hall · Friday October 9, Miles Leichhardt Centre · Saturday October 10, Dalby

VIEW THE LAST EDITION ONLINE At www.suratbasin.com.au/ digital-edition/SuratBasin/

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SURAT BASIN NEWS Published by Chinchilla Newspapers Pty Ltd, 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413 Comedian Tom Gleeson heads the bill at a night of laughs in four venues across the Western Downs next month. Showgrounds Pavilion · Sunday October 11, Chinchilla Cultural Centre Western Downs Residents can reserve their tickets by calling 1300 COUNCIL or dropping into their nearest Council

Customer Service Centre. The events are recommended for ages 16 and above. A free light meal will be included on the night.

Printed by APN Print Warwick General Manager – Erika Brayshaw 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413, PO Box 138 Chinchilla Q4413, Phone 07 4672 9921