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Surat Basin
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SURAT BASIN NEWS
THE NEWSPAPER
EDITOR'S
NOTE
H
ELLO and welcome to the February 2016 edition of the Surat Basin News – the first for the year. Our cover shot this month comes from the site of QGC’s $1.7 billion Charlie Project, where work is well and truly underway. QGC says the workforce will peak at about 1600 people this year, and no doubt we can hope to see some benefits flowing into the region as a result. You can find a full update on what’s happening west of Wandoan on Page 5. The biggest news since our last edition of Surat Basin News would have to be APLNG’s first shipment leaving Curtis Island in early January. The move to production means Australia is now on track to become the largest LNG exporter in the world. That story can be found on Page 3. There has been a lot of pessimism around the present low price of oil and the effect that is having upon gas prices, but industry heads all believe the long-term future of the industry is as bright as ever. On a final note – the quadrennial local government elections are upon us. This is our chance as a region to have a say as to the future direction of our communities. Pages 16-20 includes a list of all the mayoral and councillor candidates for the Western Downs, Balonne, Murweh and Maranoa regional councils. The sheer number of candidates running for local government in the Surat Basin indicates there’s a bit of discontent with the present lot of pollies. Interesting times ahead! Cheers, Matthew Newton
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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TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Erika Brayshaw Chinchilla 07 4672 9921 manager@suratbasin.com.au
ADVERTISING TEAM Rachael Green Chinchilla 07 4672 9931 Rachael.green@chinchillanews.com.au Bobbie Gorring Chinchilla 07 4672 9930 advertise@suratbasin.com.au Greg Latta Roma 07 4672 9927 greg.latta@westernstarnews.com.au Nicole Boyd-Taylor Dalby 07 4672 5500 nicole.boyd-taylor@dalbyherald.com.au
EDITOR
Matthew Newton
View our previous editions on www.issuu.com/suratbasinnews
PAGE DESIGN
UPDATES
Beth Walker
Regular updates on www.suratbasin.com.au
SURAT BASIN NEWS 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413 PO Box 138 Chinchilla QLD 4413
THE
INDEX
RURAL NEWS
Spray drift havoc for farmers............. P12 Bumper grain crop ...............................P13 APLNG exports begin ............................ P3 Tornado, mice plague in Bowenville . P14 Dalby Debt and Drought taskforce ... P15 Dalby PBR comes to town..................... P4 Charlie development ramps up ............P5 TSBE’s first Enterprise Evening ..........P7 Senate Inquiry into UCG Mining .........P7 Royal Hotel rebuilding ...........................P8 Western Downs Regional Council .P16,17 Kogan Creek upgrades .......................... P9 Balonne Shire Council ......................... P18 GasFields Leaders Council ................. P10 Murweh Shire Council .........................P19 World Science Festival Chinchilla .....P11 Maranoa Shire Council ........................P20 Revolutionary well servicing rig unveiled ..................................................P21 Lyons talks Chinese export ..............................................................P23,24 opportunities .........................................P27
IN THE NEWS
2016 COUNCIL ELECTIONS
PUBLISHED
The Surat Basin News is published by Chinchilla Newspapers Pty Ltd 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413 The Surat Basin News is printed by APN Print Warwick
OPINION
PLACES & FACES
LIFE IN THE BASIN
TSBE Evening Parliament House ......P25 A helicopter pilot’s story .......................P6 World Science Festival Chinchilla .....P26
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IN THE NEWS
Gas exodus: 9000 jobs leave basin
A
SETTING SAIL: Australia Pacific LNG (Origin Energy) shipped their first cargo of LNG aboard the Methane Spirit in January.
APLNG celebrates historic first LNG shipment Australia set to become biggest LNG exporter in the world
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departure in October last year. Australia Pacific LNG’s first shipment set sail on January 9. In January federal resources minister Josh Frydenberg congratulated Australia Pacific LNG on its first shipment. “Australia is expected to directly benefit from this increased demand with our LNG exports set to triple by 2019-20, when we are expected to become the world’s largest exporter of LNG,” Mr Frydenberg said. Australia Pacific LNG’s upstream operator Origin said it had achieved a 14% lift in production in the last quarter of 2015. “This result can be directly attributed to Australia Pacific LNG progressively coming on line,” Origin CEO of Integrated Gas David
Baldwin said. “LNG production at Australia Pacific LNG commenced on December 11 and the project’s first shipment of LNG departed the Curtis Island Facility on January 9 representing two landmark milestones in Origin’s history,” he said. “Australia Pacific LNG shipped three cargos in January to customers including Sinopec in accordance with the Sinopec Sale and Purchase Agreement.” Last year, state resources and mines minister Anthony Lynam agreed Australia could become the world’s premier LNG exporter. “[And] by 2018, Queensland could be the world’s fourth –largest LNG exporter,” he said.
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USTRALIA is set to become the largest LNG exporter in the world. And Queensland could become the fourth-largest exporter in its own right. It’s already all systems go with liquefied natural gas (LNG) now arriving at Curtis Island off Gladstone, after travelling through a 530km pipeline in gas form, from the Surat Basin to its destination. And it’s being delivered far and wide from there to the likes of Kansai Electric in Japan, Sinopec in China, and various other Asian customers, from the three main players. QCLNG was quickest off the mark with its first shipment leaving the Gladstone port in December 2014, with Santos’s inaugural
N EXODUS of gas industry workers has seen an estimated 9000 jobs disappear from the Surat Basin in the year to June 2015, according to a reportfrom the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. Of the 14,490 non-resident workers on shift throughout the Surat Basin in June 2014, just 5425 remained in June 2015, highlighting the huge downturn felt by local businesses as the region’s three large coal seam gas projects moved from construction to maintenance phases. Over the same period, the report found the demand for accommodation for non-resident workers decreased. Hotel/motel room vacancy rates increased from 34% in June 2014 to 54% in June 2015. The number of workers’ camps in the Surat Basin has gone from 100 in June 2014 to 61 in June 2015. The decline in the non-resident population has been partly offset by an estimated increase in the permanent population of 3500 people. The Western Downs saw a 61% decrease in non-resident workers on shift, going from a peak of 9100 in June 2014 to just 3560 in June 2015. While Chinchilla recorded the Western Downs’ largest on shift non-residential worker population of 1140 in June 2015, just under double that number were residing in workers’ camps throughout the region. The report said the decline in non-resident population was consistent with the completion of gas field development for the three big LNG projects.
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PAGE 3
IN THE NEWS
Balonne plans tourism project
Justin Paton on Disco Duck at the PBR Bullride, Dalby Showgrounds.
PBR stomps into Dalby The rankest bulls and the wildest riders combine for heart-stopping, edge of your seat actio n in March
T
HE PBR-sanctioned Rural Weekly Live Series at Dalby Showgrounds Indoor Arena next month is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated events of the season as the PBR’s top bull riders strive for national and world rankings, and a shot at the series-end bonus. Started in 2014, the Rural Weekly Live Series is pure bull riding catering for both young and old fans as well as people looking for a first time extreme sporting experience. It delivers great match-ups between man and beast as the most accomplished riders in the country go head to head, eight seconds at a time, against many of the most agile and athletic bucking bulls. The competition sees the country’s best professional bull riders battle it out against a rank pen of bulls. World-class bull riders, including Fraser Babbington and Sam O’Connor, will compete against the toughest bucking bulls in the country. In total, five professional stock contractors from across the state will bring to town bulls
Mitch Paton on Filthy Rotton.
PAGE 4
including Hall’s Pandemonium, Ruhland’s Neil’s Parts Astro Boy, Stuart Timm’s Delta Force, Robert Bunn’s Heathers LittleSpinner and Ryan Frame’s Disco Duck for the Saturday, March 5 event. The Rural Weekly Live Series is about consistently delivering top competition as well as a high standard of production that entertains and educates fans.
Mathew Pfingst on White Rhino.
The big screen and multiple camera angles deliver vision from inside the bucking chutes as riders prepare as well as slow-motion replays. Also on hand is the voice of the PBR, Warren Matotek. Matotek, a former bull rider, keeps crowds entertained with informed commentary on each aspect of the event. Tickets are on sale at www.ruralweekly.com.au/ liveseries. Don’t miss this spectacular show full of thrills and spills. It will be a heck of an entertaining night for the Western community, so bring your family to one of the best nights of the year held right here in our local community. For rider rankings and other information on the thrilling world of professional bull riding, visit www.ruralweekly.com. Prices for ringside tickets will be $45 for adults and $20 for children aged 3-16. Ringside family tickets can also be purchased for two adults and two children at $110. For general admission, adults can purchase tickets for $35 and children for $10.
Fraser Babbington on Chili Beans.
Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 25 February 2016
A THREE-part project which will bring together Indigenous and non-indigenous art, information, a library and tourism is currently being discussed by the Balonne Shire Council. The existing Visitor Information Centre site in St George is earmarked to become an art and cultural hub which would possibly contain an art gallery, library, cafe, and feature an Aboriginal art space along with a cultural display area. It would be the most visible part of the three project phases, while the other two parts of the project focus on growing opportunities for our indigenous community, and plans to complete a cultural trail and a business incubator program, delivered by other agencies, would complete the project. A Steering Committee has been established to provide advice to the Balonne Shire Council and is represented by elders from various Aboriginal groups in the area, council officers and community representatives for art and culture in St George. Council has received $1.68 million in grant funding and will contribute a further $1 million from its own budget. At its meeting on January 22, Council decided to pursue the design of the centre within the existing budget obtain full project costs before making any commitment. Mayor Donna Stewart said it was a great opportunity to enhance the community.
IN THE NEWS
QGC’s $1.7 billion Charlie project ramps up Drilling of wells underway across 2,500 hectare site, 20km west of Wandoan
W
EST of Wandoan, the worksite of QGC’s $1.7 billion Charlie gas project is humming with activity. QGC vice president Surat Developments Bill McKenzie said that three years of hard work in preparation are now paying off as our people and contractors turn plans into action. “As construction of the various components of the project begins, the number of people employed on the project will grow. We expect numbers will grow from current levels of about 400 to a peak of 1600 in 2016,” he said. QGC’s major construction contractor Leighton Contractors has more than 50 people on site and other flexible scope contractors are also mobilising plant and people. Clearing of the access track to the 240TJ/day Charlie Field Compression Station (FCS) and the site itself began less than a week after the project was announced in mid-November. Leightons’ excavation sub-contractor for this work, Ezyquip Hire of Toowoomba, has now completed clearing of topsoil and heavier earthworks, including the cutting of drainage for rainwater runoff, have commenced. Work has also begun to secure the bare necessities of construction – water, gravel and cement.
The borrow pit for gravel has been dug, QGC’s well engineering team has drilled a bore for construction water and a concrete plant is being brought in. The process to start natural gas production is also on course, with wells continuing to be drilled across the Charlie project area. In the lead-up to large-scale activity, local roads will be upgraded. QGC contractor FKG Group, also based in Toowoomba, has mobilised to site to start work on the upgrade of Bundi Road to make sure it can safely handle local traffic and traffic associated with project construction. Earthworks are expected to be completed at the Charlie FCS in the next few months and have begun at the Charlie Pond. Construction offices were scheduled for completion in February. Mr McKenzie said that after a successful start, the project’s biggest challenge over the next weeks and months is to ensure the work is completed safely. “The Charlie Project is part of our work to continue developing our tenements in the Surat Basin to sustain natural gas supply to both domestic customers and to our LNG plant on Curtis Island,” he said. “The project represents a more streamlined approach to gas field development, involving more use of existing processing facilities and
impacting few landholders. “The development will have a footprint of 2,500 hectares, within a development area of 123,000 hectares, about 20 kilometres west of Wandoan and will involve the construction of 300 to 400 wells, a large field compression station and associated pipelines and facilities that will feed into existing gas processing and water infrastructure at Woleebee Creek.”
How is Charlie different? ■ More options in design to manage sub-surface risk ■ Redesigned FCS to have three times the usual capacity at 240TJ/day ■ Improved flaring capability for better efficiency ■ Changed project management model with our major contractors ■ Investigating a modular build for construction ■ Securing around 50% of land access required in advance to enable work to commence.
Royal Dutch Shell merged with BG Group, which owns QGC, on February 15.
Shell / BG Group merger finalised
R
OYAL Dutch Shell’s merger with BG Group has finally received ticks to all approvals, which means it is now the owner of LNG supplier QGC (QCLNG). Shell has described the US$52.6 billion takeover as a move to a “simpler, leaner, more competitive company”. It brings oil and gas interests in Australia and Brazil into the Shell fold, which will become the largest supplier of LNG in the world as a result. “This is a very exciting day for us,” Shell Australia spokesman Paul Zennaro said. “We are committed in a big way to Australia, and the BG merger has expanded our footprint [here]. “This further develops our position as the leading supplier of LNG to the world.” Mr Zennaro said the move placed Shell closer to Asian markets. “Shell has operated here for more than 100 years – and we have respect for the professionalism in QGC.” But some staff will pay the ultimate price and lose their jobs. “[The merger] will involve some job reductions, as you would expect when two companies merge,” Mr Zennaro said.
ON THE JOB: Shaun Raus of Ezyquip Hire Toowoomba on the site of QGC's Charlie project.
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PAGE 5
LIFE IN THE BASIN
Profile: MI Helicopter Pilot Kevin Clark
From mustering cattle to corellas Patrols, transport, freight, it’s all in a days work for a pilot out west
A
NO DULL MOMENTS: MI Helicopters chief pilot Kevin Clark on the job. 1861, was being eaten by a huge flock of corellas, driven to desperation by the drought. “There were about 20-30,000 birds there, eating the historic tree during the drought. “I circled and got them on the ground – they saw me as an eagle, so that’s what they do,” Clark says. “Then I ‘walked’ them up the Cooper Creek for two hours.” That one certainly wasn’t in the training manual – but it worked. “There were four birds there the next morning; we shooed them up the creek, too. “It was quite a sight – that’s where Cooper Creek is only one channel, so I had them walk on the stony bank on one side – and we weren’t set up for cameras or mobile phones then,” Clark says sadly. What a sight that would have been, indeed.
RIGHT: One of the MI Helicopters' fleet. 6268595aa
DAY in the life of a chopper pilot can be varied, whether it is mustering cattle, patrolling power lines for breakages, transporting people and freight to gas and oil plants, and more. But posing as an eagle and mustering up to 30,000 corellas for a two-hour “walk” up Cooper Creek to save a nationally historic tree surely has to hold the Quirky Aviation Stunts Award for the next 50 years. Kevin Clark, who with his partner and co-director Sandy runs Roma-based MI Helicopters, started his career as a pilot mustering cattle near and around his home town of Taroom – then the resources boom hit. “I’d been mustering for about 12 months, then thought we may as well do our own thing – so we bought a little R22 helicopter and had a crack at it,” Clark says. “It was a lot of hard work.” But it paid off and MI Helicopters now owns and operates five choppers, including two large Airbus machines, servicing a range of contracts from Brisbane to Gladstone and Mt Isa to Thargomindah. “We got in early with the CSG boom in Roma, so we needed the bigger aircraft,” he says. “Now we work with Santos and Origin while still doing work with the power companies, carrying out power line patrols. That work comes and goes.” It’s a fun job, but it has its dangers, too – in times of flood, for example. “Rescuing people from a roof during the 2010 floods, up between Roma and Taroom. “It was a tight area for manoeuvring, with raging water underneath; that tends to sharpen your senses,” Clark says laconically. Other everyday hazards encountered in Surat Basin skies include storms, low cloud and fog. “And heat can take its toll; on a 40-degree day you can’t carry as much load or you overheat.” But it was “1999 or 2000, I think” when Clark was assigned by a heritage trust to rescue the iconic Dig Tree near Bulloo on the Queensland/South Australia border. Believed to be up to 200 years old, the tree, which features carvings memorialising explorers Burke and Wills who died there in
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...one local to another
IN THE NEWS
Lazarus gets gas inquiry started
A
EASE UP: TSBE parliament evening presenters QRC CEO Michael Roche, New Hope Group managing director Shane Stephan and Senex CEO Ian Davies. Mr Roche called for State Government concessions to be extended to coal miners and described the senate inquiry into unconventional gas mining as a 'show trial'.
TSBE Evening at Parliament House
Squeeze hits resource sector QRC CEO Michael Roche calls for resource explorers concessions to be extended to coal miners he said. “People say ‘it can’t be done, it’s not possible’, and yet in the parliament today Minister Lynham made a very good announcement.” Mr Roche said he hoped it was a sign of more assistance to come and called for miners to receive similar help. Although Mr Roche admitted the resource sector was struggling he said the industry was resilient and would pull through. Mr Roche said Glenn Lazarus’s senate inquiry into unconventional gas mining that started in Dalby on Wednesday, was a “show trial” – but promised the resource industry
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HE Queensland Resources Council boss has called for State Government concessions granted to resource explorers to extend to coal miners. Speaking at a Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise event at Parliament House in Brisbane last week, QRC chief Michael Roche praised the Government’s decision to grant a two-year, 50% spending concession to resource explorers and hoped it would be expanded. “We’re not talking about bailouts or subsidies, but our entire sector needs some certainty about approvals processes and it needs some relief on some of the pressures,”
PUBLIC hearing into the effects of gas mining in the Surat Basin has seen 10 disgruntled residents submit damning claims for the record. Senators Larissa Waters, Glenn Lazarus, Joseph Ludwig and Joanna Lindgren, along with Jeanette Radcliffe, made up the Select Committee on Unconventional Gas Mining, which gathered at the Dalby Leagues Club yesterday. Western Downs speakers included Helen Bender, Shay Dougall, Nood, Narelle Nothdurft, Peter McGowan, Joe Hill, Lindsay Boyle and Brian Monk. The major issue continued to be the mandatory secrecy of the industry, enforced through non-disclosure agreements, and a sense of not being listened to or negotiated with. Senator Lazarus chaired the committee and was careful to distance himself from extremism, denying any political ties to the Lock the Gate movement and insinuations that CSG representatives had not been invited to the hearing. No CSG representatives were present, though APPEA Queensland Director Chris Lamont expressed concerns that Senator Lazarus' attacks on the industry suggested he was not seeking evidence-based responses or submissions. The Surat Basin News understands that APPEA was not invited to the hearing. "We hope to see a final committee report that is balanced and factual. It is important that fear campaigning and misinformation do not displace fact."
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PAGE 7
IN THE NEWS
$1.4m tourism project milestone
A
A Royal rise from the ashes
Work is underway on Roma’s historic Royal Hotel - renamed Royal on 99 - after it was destroyed by fire
A
ROOFTOP bar will be just one of the many new additions to the newly-dubbed Royal on 99. Work has continued on the site of the historic Royal Hotel, which burned down in November 2014. Walls have started to go up despite delays from heavy rain in late January and early February. Roma-born spokesman for the Garvie family Justin Garvie gave the Western Star an exclusive look at the new building, with works to commence on the second floor within two weeks. The name Royal on 99 is derived from its street number on McDowall St and Mr
Garvie said the aim was to add something new while keeping the tradition. “We realise the Royal is in the heart of many locals, but we wanted to also add to it as well,” he said. “The previous business owners did a great job and we’re not trying to emulate them – we’re doing something a bit different.” While all the features can’t be revealed just yet, Mr Garvie said the rooftop would only be just the beginning. However, he added locals would still be able to recognise some of the classic features of the previous iterations. “We’ve brought some old things back with the new though – even though it’s modern, it
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will still have the look and feel of the Royal,” he said. The logo for the new pub will be adorned in front of the worksite over the next week.
$1.4 million joint tourism project between Australia Pacific LNG and Western Downs Regional Council has hit a major milestone, with the draft Local Tourism Action Plans developed consultation with residents across the region, now available for public view. Many around the region believe tourism is an important and as-yet untapped sector which if developed properly will help soften the blow of the downturn in the resources sector. The six individual Tourism Action Plans for Chinchilla and District; Dalby and District; Jandowae and District; Miles and District; Tara and District; and Wandoan and District are now available from the Our Western Downs website. Selected projects in the Tourism Plans will be funded over a three-year period, ending in September 2018, through a funding agreement between Western Downs Regional Council and Australia Pacific LNG. State Development and Southern Queensland Country Tourism have assessed the plans. For more information about the Western Downs Tourism Investment Project or to view the Local Tourism Action Plans, visit ourwesterndowns.com/westerndowns-tourism-investment -project.
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 25 February 2016
IN THE NEWS
Benefits will flow on to Chinchilla
$68m ugprade at Kogan Creek
A
MAJOR overhaul of Kogan Creek Power Station will soon get under way. And it will boost the number of workers on-site by about 500 at its peak. Owner CS Energy will spend about $68 million on the overhaul of its 750-megawatt station near Chinchilla between April and June of this year, resulting in hundreds of additional workers arriving at the site. The workers will carry out inspections and maintenance across 56 days to ensure the power station remains in peak condition. Overhauls of power station were a regular requirement, and a major logistical exercise, power station general manager Phil Matha said. “It involves getting equipment to the site, coordinating works to happen on time and liaising with the community to ensure the people working on the project could be accommodated,” Mr Matha said. “We’re expecting a peak workforce here on-site of approximately 500 people, which will include more than 400 contractors, along with the power station’s permanent workforce of 72 people,” he said. “The types of extra workers on site will range from trades assistants, to technicians
and engineers, including a small number of specialists from overseas. “This contractor workforce will be accommodated at different motels and camps in Chinchilla.” Kogan Creek power station began operations in 2007 and is considered to be one of the most efficient coal-fired power stations in the National Electricity Market. It features the largest single generating unit in Australia and water efficient dry cooling technology. CS Energy also owns the neighbouring Kogan Creek Mine, which supplies black coal to the power station and is operated by Golding Contractors.
Lunch time at Kogan Creek Power Station. Photo by Nadine Shaw.
Kogan Creek Power Station General Manager Phil POWER UPGRADE: A major overhaul of the Kogan Creek Power Station will soon get underway, with the 500-strong workforce to be accomodated in motels and camps in Matha. Chinchilla. Photo by Nadine Shaw.
Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 25 February 2016
PAGE 9
IN THE NEWS
Fire a hot topic for graziers at forum
A
CONFIDENT: Arrow Energy Vice President Leisa Elder, Senex Energy CEO Ian Davies, GasFields Commission Chairman John Cotter, Santos Vice President Trevor Brown, Origin Energy CEO David Baldwin, QGC CEO Tony Nunan, and Shell Australia External Relations Manager Stuart Copeland at the recent GasFields Community Leaders Council in Roma.
GasFields Community Leaders Council
Gas industry in their version of ‘drought’ Sector heavyweights predict strong long-term prospects for CSG
T
HE CSG industry will bounce back from poor oil prices, according to key stakeholders in the sector. Executives from Santos, Origin, Senex and other companies came together late last week for the GasFields Community Leaders Council to discuss the future of the industry in the Surat Basin. Chairman John Cotter said while the price of oil had caused investors to shy away from gambling on further projects, the industry would still remain a pillar of the Maranoa economy. “They are in hard times with the commodity
.
“While it is tough, they are here for the long term.” Brendan Egan prices at what they are, but the long-term future is strong and the enthusiasm to ensure that the supply out of the Surat Basin to Gladstone is maintained is still there,” he said. “We’ve got QGC talking about drilling 300 wells here.”
John Cotter and Shane Charles during the GasFields Community Leaders Council.
PAGE 10
Media Director Brendan Egan noted the two major companies, Santos and Origin, had finished all the infrastructure and wanted to finish what they started. “Their CEOs were both here and their message was while it is tough, they are here for the long term,” he said. “They’ve built all the infrastructure and they’ve got to keep those LNG projects full of gas, so they’ll spend money on the gasfields and in the communities around the Surat Basin for the 30 years. “For the Roma and Maranoa economy, that’s another plank alongside agriculture, so when one’s down, the other is up.” Mr Cotter noted the increase in living standards for Asia would improve the food industry, which he believed is instrisically linked to the CSG industry. “The fundamentals of Asia are now on a movement to a higher standard of living, and I’m judging this on the food industry, but food and energy are so tightly linked,” he said. “If you look at the expectations of the rising standard of living, the opportunities for Australia to supply to Asia are there.” Santos GLNG vice-president Trevor Brown said at the meeting the current downturn was not disimilar to a drought. “We need to adjust spending and improve efficiency, so we need to work with suppliers and contractors to lower the rates and costs,” he said. “It’s a challenge that goes all the way through to the contractors and sub-contractors. “It’s our version of a drought.”
Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 25 February 2016
RECENT forum in Roma which brought together the CSIRO, fire experts and local landholders, examined the role fire plays in the Maranoa and the need for investment in improving knowledge about the practice and its role as a grazing land management tool. Organised by the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee, the forum was held as part of a Fire Project which aims to capture local data on fire use and the impact it has on production, biodiversity and carbon in the Maranoa region. The forum attracted some of Australia’s top scientists including CSIRO Chief Research Scientist Professor Alan Andersen, from Darwin who presented findings of biodiversity and in particular ant surveys the CSIRO has been running in the region on behalf of GISERA funded project, partnering with QMDC and the Qld Herbarium. QMDC Climate Change Officer Rhonda Toms-Morgan said the forum was a part of QMDC’s “Landscape Fire Planning in Poplar Box Grassy Woodlands” project, and aimed to help people address fire issues locally with one of the project’s most important outcomes being the building of relationships between fire agencies such as the Rural Fire Service and landholders. “We’d been having conversations about fire use for a few years and sourced funding through the Australian Government to run this five-year project, which is the first of its kind in the region,” she said. “There is very little data on fire as a management tool even though graziers pro-actively burn so we’re collecting data pre- and post- burning on several properties to put some science behind the practice and capture inter-generational knowledge.” Local identity, Ray Klein, of ‘Glendonel’, Injune, said some vegetation in the Maranoa was thickening due to a lack of appropriate use of fire and there was a need for landholders to burn on small and large scales. This project is supported by the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee through funding from the Australian Government.
IN THE NEWS
World Science Festival Brisbane - Chinchilla Regional Tour
Inspiring a new generation of scientists Hundreds flocked to the World Science Festival earlier this month
I
F YOU were at the World Science Festival Brisbane event in Chinchilla earlier this month, Steve Liddell would have taught you a thing or two about Sodium polyacrylate. As well as being used as an absorbent in nappies, adding water to the chemical turns it into fake ‘snow’, as hordes of bright young scientists discovered, much to their delight. “They use it in the movies. They get big buckets of it, they throw it in the air with a fan and it looks like its snowing,” Mr Liddell said. But Mr Liddell’s street science show was just a small part of the scientific fun on offer for the estimated 2000 people who visited the Chinchilla Cultural Centre on the weekend. Palaentology, robotics, parasitology, and many other fields were put on show in a bid to inspire the next generation of scientists. The event was made possible through a partnership between QGC and the Queensland Museum Network called Futuremakers. The partnership was designed to look at ways kids across rural and regional Queensland could become more involved in and develop a love of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). State Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy Leeanne Enoch said Chinchilla was chosen as the first regional event for the World Science Festival Brisbane at the behest of QGC. She said that with the changing nature of the jobs market over the next 10 years - with estimates that 40% of all jobs will become automated over that time Queensland needed to train people with new skills for the state to remain competitive and sustain the economy. “So through education ... we’ve got (to create) the right environment ... so they’re embracing STEM so we remain competitive in the next 10 years and beyond,” she said. When asked whether she thought there was
The fossicking table at the World Science Festival Brisbane Chinchilla Regional Event. a little Einstein running around the Chinchilla Cultural Centre on Saturday morning, Minister Enoch laughed and said, “Quite possibly!” “I mean that’s the big thing, isn’t it. You don’t know. We literally have thousands of scientists in our state that don’t even know they’re great scientists yet,” she said. “We’ve got thousands of great entrepreneurs who haven’t even worked out what they’re doing. And thousands of innovators, that with the right environment and the right encouragement, are going to make a huge difference in this world.” The World Science Festival Brisbane visited Townsville on February 20 before the exhibition proper opens in Brisbane on March 9 and runs until March 16.
Jake Lloyd and Kaden Worthing experimenting with robots at the World Science Festival Brisbane Chinchilla Regional Event on Saturday.
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 25 February 2016
PAGE 11
RuralNEWS N
Spray drift causing havoc for farmers Millions of dollars damage to cotton crops over Summer
C
OTTON growers across the Darling Downs have been hit hard by off-target spray drift incidents, causing tens of millions of dollars in damage and threatening farm businesses. Records have shown that in the past months more than 20% of cotton crops across Queensland and New South Wales have been threatened by Phenoxy (2, 4-D-type) spray. The cereal fallow sprays have also travelled during temperature inversions, moving tens of kilometres from intended target fields. Cotton Australia general manager Michael Murray said the environmental conditions during the December-January period combined to produce a “perfect storm” for off-target spray drift damage. “Heavier than usual seasonal rainfall has encouraged weed growth, which in turn led to more spraying by farmers and applicators, and this has combined with temperature inversions to produce substantial off-target spray drift,” he said. “This is the worst year in memory for spray drift damage to cotton crops, so we are taking this issue extremely seriously.”
Cotton Australia board member and Cecil Plains (Wamara) cotton farmer Stuart Armitage said the problem happened yearly, but fortunately his crops weren’t affected this year. “People have been taking risks and we can’t afford to do this with this chemical because otherwise it could be banned,” he said. Mr Armitage said it was important for farmers to educate themselves and update their knowledge. “Ninety-nine per cent of people follow the rules but it also needs to be the right conditions to spray and be managed properly,” he said. “I am urging farmers to spray according to the label because if they don’t, then they potentially jeopardise other neighbouring crops and the livelihood of farmers.” Despite the poor conditions Mr Armitage said crop growers wont be able to tell the extent of the damage until next year’s harvest. “The projected loss will show up in next years yields but it is already enough to be a yield loss to the cotton industry,” he said.
CATCH MY DRIFT: Spray drift is costing cotton growers across the Darling Downs millions of dollars in damage.
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 25 February 2016
RuralNEWS N Well-timed downpours have farmers eyeing off bumper crop
Grains right as rain
S
ORGHUM growers are expecting the highest yield in years for their March crops, according to Ag Force Grains vice-president and Grains Research and Development Corporation panel member Arthur Gearon. The Hopeland farmer said sorghum growers in the Darling Downs, including the Western Downs, who had planted during the summer cropping window in mid-December were likely to expect “good to excellent crops across the Downs” when they harvested in mid-March. However, the profitability of sorghum depended almost exclusively upon China’s movements stimulating the export market. “There’s too much sorghum on the Darling Downs for the domestic market,” Mr Gearon said. “Over the past two years the Chinese only bought sorghum for livestock production but if they come in for the Baijiu market (alcoholic grain wine), it could trade in much higher.” Sorghum continues to bethe mainstay crop for many farmers throughout southern Queensland despite chickpeas and mung
beans both yielding much higher market values in recent times, due to sorghum’s relative low maintenance, resilience and market reliability.
Harvested sorghum grains.
READY TO HARVEST: Sorghum crop rouse-about Paul Brideson ready to pick the harvest at Wainui Farm.
Arthur Gearon is expecting the highest yield for sorghum's March crops in a number of years.
Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 25 February 2016
PAGE 13
RuralNEWS N Grain farmers recovering well despite wild weather and rodent infestations
Bowenville hit by Tornado, mice plague rainfall or floods that actually devastates mice populations. If you have all the burrows and cracks filled, there’s nowhere for them to shelter.” Darling Downs Cotton Growers Vice President Stuart Armitage said 30% of sorghum crops had already been affected by mice plagues. “We are baiting with Mouseoff now so the chances of them breeding become limited,” he said. “Sorghum is at most harm due to its edible qualities and shelter which covers the mice from prey above ground.” The process of baiting is used by dispersal of planes which drop the bait onto the crop grounds, the mice then take to the bait and gradually die in their burrows. Mr Armitage said the need to lay bait for mice happens very little. The registered rodenticide Mouseoff has been deployed at various farms across the area. The Bromadiolone rodent bait is a wholegrain wheat bait, making it effective in cropping. The summer harvest will has begun, with sorghum, mung beans, barley and wheat the most common crops.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: Grain farmers near Bowenville are recovering from a tornado and mice plague this season.
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 25 February 2016
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RAIN farmers near Bowenville are recovering well from the tornado which caused an estimated $50 million of damage to their summer crop. The twister on December 23 started south-east of Cecil Plains and tore through the north-east “decimating” crops according to Agforce. Agforce grains president Wayne Newton said rainfallup to 40mm, hail and strong winds left swathes of sorghum ruined. “The farmers that were totally wiped out had the chance to immediately replant. So there’s been corn and mung beans planted since the storm,” Mr Newton said. “A fair few had hail insurance, so they’ve been able to collect the payout,”he said. “The trickier part is claiming on crops which have been partially damaged.” Mr Newton said farmers would need more rain again soon to deter the next challenge – mice. “A lot of the crop, particularly sorghum, was chopped down (by the storm) and readily available as mouse food. We’ve also had, by and large, a dry season, which is good for mice,” he said. “They are well adapted for a drier environment. When you get prolonged
RuralNEWS N Rural Debt and Drought Taskforce
Tales of heartbreak at hearings Struggling farmers tell politicians what it’s like on the land during times of hardship
F
ARMERS looking for answers gathered in Dalby recently to discuss the spiralling rural debt crisis threatening regional Australia. More than 85% of Queensland farmers have been suffering significant debt problems due to the prolonged drought and government red tape. Fifteen farmers attended the Rural Debt and Drought Taskforce meeting and along with AgForce representatives told the taskforce members that the Federal Government was not doing enough to help them. One distressed sheep farmer from Bell said he was struggling to pay back his crippling debt, living on $121 a fortnight from government support payments. "I went to the shop to buy $38 dollars worth of food the other day only to find that my card had been cancelled because I hadn't had enough money on it; it was so embarrassing," he said. "Just before Christmas I received a letter informing me my home was going to be repossessed if I didn't make repayments on a current loan I had taken out. "I don't know how I am going to make those payments."
Chinchilla grain farmer Bruce Head, who had endured previous droughts, told the meeting rural communities and towns were suffering from excessive stamp duty. "We need to get multi-peril crop insurance under way and get the cost of stamp duty
re-evaluated," he said. Queensland Farmers Federation president and former cotton grower, Stuart Armitage said the Dalby area was in good shape because of the way it has been marketed. "Some things that aren't in effect is energy
DROUGHT RELIEF: Trucks carrying hay to drought-affected areas of western Queensland.
costs, so we need to increase capital funding," he said. Chaired and led by Katter Australia Party member for Mt Isa Rob Katter, the taskforce's aim is to take its report to the Federal Government. "We are here to make generational change that will secure our agricultural industry and ensure regional growth into the future," Mr Katter said. "Over past years rural debt has wreaked havoc on families, businesses and communities. "It is essential people from all walks of life contribute to the taskforce, to shed light on the crisis facing primary industries, regional businesses and communities." Those attending the Dalby meeting were told there were strategies in place to help those struggling. Darling Downs client liaison officer for QRAA, Kate Dunk told those at the meeting that in the past 12 months the ARAA had put out about $100 million into drought affected areas. "It's important that farmers don't pre-assess their problems. Instead, call us for assistance because there is people to talk to," she said.
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PAGE 15
2016 COUNCIL ELECTIONS
MAYORAL CANDIDATES FOR WESTERN DOWNS REGIONAL COUNCIL
WDRC council hopefuls WITH the final list of council nominations released last week, here are the candidates who are running for elected office within the Western Downs Regional Council. The election will be held on March 19.
Mandy Krause
Cr George Moore
Cr Charlene Hall
Cr Ray Jamieson
Paul McVeigh
DALBY businesswoman Mandy Krause has agricultural and entrepreneurial experience. As a former manager of the Dalby Herald, she is committed to making a stand for the community.
WITH strong roots in Condamine and Miles, George Moore is committed to providing affordable housing, water infrastructure, maintaining regional communities and preserving the environment.
DALBY’S Charlene Hall has six years of experience in the WDRC. With business interests in Dalby, she has stated she will run on a platform of transparency and improved engagement with small communities.
WITH 10 years experience in local government, mostly in WDRC, Tara’s Cr Ray Jamieson is a board member of Australia Livestock and Marketers and director of the Western Downs Affordable Housing Fund.
HAILING from Dalby, Mr McVeigh is a prominent farmer, businessman and Wheatmen president. He will focus on open dialogue, the region’s untapped resources and improving council performance.
WDRC COUNCILLOR NOMINEES
Cr Ian Rasmussen
HAILING from Jimbour, Donna Ashurst has more than 30 years experience in local government. Cutting red tape and increasing liveability is important to her.
COUNCILLOR Ian Rasmussen is based in Dalby and comes from a background of teaching, farming and investment.
Kaye Maguire CHINCHILLA born and bred, Ms Maguire has nearly three decades of business experience, has served on the Chinchilla Chamber of Commerce and the board of the Surat Basin Corp.
Jamie Hurley AFTER 14 years in the police force, Mr Hurley now works in the security sector. He plans to reduce crime by installing safecity cameras, and increasing WDRC ties with police.
Cr Andrew Smith
Glenn Strandquist
Cr Carolyn Tillman
MR Strandquist is an advocate of rural communities. A member of the Jandowae business group, he is also a Miles District Chamber of Commerce officer.
FROM Dalby, Cr Tillman has spent 19 years as a kindergarten director. Her areas of expertise include music and community development.
FROM Jandowae, Cr Brame spent 37 years with the Queensland Police. His expertise lies in community relations, corporate and disaster management.
Lance ‘Tex’ Heuston
Graeme Hill
Cr Ray Brown
Lindsay Marsden
A TARA resident for more than 18 years, Mr Heuston has a farming background and served with the Navy for 20 years. He will focus on transparency, tourism, and engagement.
DALBY’s Graeme Hill was a tradesman for many years. Graeme believes striking a balance between the energy, resource and agricultural sectors is crucial for the region.
ANDREW Smith of Condamine has background as a radio announcer; publican and grazier.
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ORIGINALLY a grazier from Moonie, Cr Brown has been mayor of the WDRC since 2008. He has experience in accounting, economic development, and aged care.
Cr Greg Olm WITH 12 years of local government experience, Cr Olm has a good rapport with the people he represents. From Brigalow, he has a good grasp of agriculture.
Allan Sorley
LONG-time Chinchilla resident Lindsay Marsden has an extensive history of community service throughout the Chinchilla district and is the current Lions Club president.
A GRAZIER from Bell, Allan is standing for council on a fiscal management platform and will be fighting to keep rates and charges at a sensible level.
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Cr Tony Brame
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 25 February 2016
7:45am 1:45pm 4:45pm
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Donna Ashurst
2016 COUNCIL ELECTIONS
WDRC COUNCILLOR NOMINEES
Paul Secretan
DARREN Hall is a member of PAUL Secretan lives in Dalby the Miles Presbyterian Church and has decided to run for counand has been actively involved cil. in the community for many years.
John Hoffmann JOHN Hoffmann, from Miles, believes WDRC has lost touch since amalgamation. He has a long-standing involvement in the community.
Peter Saxelby
Philip Labrie
CHINCHILLA’S Peter Saxelby PHILIP Labrie, from Jandowae has worked in council for just has nominated to run for counover 20 years, has lived in the cil. Western Downs for 46 years.
Council election in full swing THE much-anticipated ballot draw for the local government elections of the Western Downs Regional Council took place last Wednesday. Councillor and mayoral nominations have now closed, as has the electoral roll. Five candidates are standing for Mayor, three of them serving councillors. Twenty three have stood for the position of councillor, with five of them currently serving as councillors. Charlene Hall was first out of the hat for the
mayoral candidates, followed by Ray Jamieson, Paul McVeigh, Mandy Krause and George Moore. Outgoing Western Downs Mayor Ray Brown was first drawn for councillor candidates, followed by Bradley Krause, Allan Sorley, Peter Saxelby, Colin Clark, Darren Hall, Philip Labrie and Tony Brame. Returning Officer Owen Crouch has been managing the duties associated with State and local government elections in the Western
Downs since 2006 on behalf of the Queensland Electoral Commission. He explained that the first eight people on a ballot have an advantage in any government election, due to the unfortunate tendency of small parts of the population to intentionally fill out the ballot incorrectly; a donkey vote. Having handled tens of thousands of votes in his time, he said the next most common tendency for the disengaged voter was to tick the boxes in the order they appear.
Cr Charlene Hall said she would campaign on a platform of transparency whilst capitalising on her knowledge of local government, garnered over her eight years at the amalgamated Western Downs Regional Council. Cr Ray Jamieson, who was the first to publicly state his intention to run for Mayor, said he would campaign on the basis of affordable services for regional areas. In his initial interview, he said the efficiencies of amalgamation had
“yet to materialise” and promised to bring his full 12 years oflocal government experience to bear on this issue. Paul McVeigh, a respected farmer and businessman around the town of Dalby, said he would campaign on a platform of “people, progress and performance.” Specifically, he said he wished to introduce an element of competition between the Western Downs and the adjacent regions for things like business and tourism. Mandy Krause, who
Mark Murphy
MARK Murphy is a Dalby busi- DUCKLO resident Shane nessman. His bakery on Cun- White has thrown his hat in the ningham St has been operating ring for council. successfully under his ownership for years.
OTHER CANDIDATES: ■ Colin Clark, Dalby ■ Bradley Krause, Dalby Attempts were made to contact both candidates before going to print. moved from a life on the land in Charleville to Dalby 12 years ago, said she would take action on popular issues which had fallen out of the spotlight. Specifically, she said she would reopen the flood study and introduce initiatives for youth, particularly the unemployed, as well as introducing business practices to the Council. Finally, Cr George Moore, the current
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Deputy Mayor, said he would campaign on a platform of business and industry, better utilisation of transport and the promotion of local lifestyle. Specifically, he said he wished to see the Wellcamp Airport and train lines better used to facilitate export of local produce as they are developed. Pre-polling will start in March, with the election to be held on March 19.
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PAGE 17
2016 COUNCIL ELECTIONS
MAYORAL CANDIDATES FOR BALONNE SHIRE COUNCIL
Cr Richard Marsh
HAVING served four terms as a councillor and deputy mayor, Cr Marsh is seeking fifth term. A newsagent prior to council election, he said he had seen the council through tougher times and saw transport improvements to ports as a priority in the coming term.
Richard Lomman
RICHARD Lomman is chair of the Australian Table Grape Association and former joint chairman of water harvesting group Smartrivers. He seeks to bring honesty, openness, integrity and collaborative approach to council if elected.
Ian Hannah
A DEDICATED St George resident and member of the Balonne Residents and Ratepayers Association, Ian Hannah has always put the concerns of the region first. As a mayoral candidate he will aim to create a more harmonious and transparent relationship between council and the Balonne Shire residents.
Cr Rodney Avery
RODNEY Avery has sat on council since 2012 and feels it’s now time to step up. He said the local agriculture needed help with financial planning and would like to further promote tourism initiatives in the Balonne region.
COUNCILLOR CANDIDATES: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Joanne Kellock Robyn Fuhrmeister Fiona Gaske Scott Scriven Ian Todd Trent Challenger Jane Parker Ranald (Ian) Winks William (Billy) Winks Samantha O’Toole Allan Espie Robert Paul Anthony Greigg Victoria Nancarrow Richard Dengate Ellen Smith
THE nominations are in. Four people – Cr Richard Marsh, Richard Lomman, Ian Hannah and Cr Rodney Avery – are in the running for the mayoral race and 16 hopefuls are in the mix for a seat at the Balonne Shire Council table.
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 25 February 2016
2016 COUNCIL ELECTIONS
MAYORAL NOMINEES FOR MURWEH SHIRE
Annie Liston
John Jones
Denis Cook
A former councillor and deputy mayor, Annie is challenging Denis for the top John is the outsider of the campaign. A former Aramac shire councillor, he The incumbent, Denis has been full time mayor since 2012. In his professional job. Born in Quilpie and raised in Adavale, she has worked as a nurse for four worked in hospitals and on the land for decades before returning to organise life, he worked at the hospital as a carer and operations officer. Before that he worked at Bayards in Brisbane, returning to Charleville in 1968 to work at Pall decades – while also running cattle and sheep on her property, Rhondavale. the Charleville Masters’ Games in 2015. Mall, a family business. He was first elected to council in 1991.
COUNCILLOR NOMINEES FOR MURWEH SHIRE COUNCIL ■ Peter Alexander: Mr Alexander has worked at the court house for over four decades. He’s involved with the Central Warrego Race Club and is a lifetime member of the All Whites Rugby League Club. ■ Jacob Barton: Born in Charleville, Jacob went away for 10 years to study civil engineering and now runs his own structural engineering consultancy in Charleville. In his late 20s, he’s one of the youngest candidates for council. ■ Lyn Capewell: Lyn owns and runs Charleville Dunlop tyre centre and has been working in small business for more than three decades. She is from Charleville and has four sons. ■ David Charles: David has been the chef at the Mulga Country Inn for the last 10.5 years. This is his first council run. ■ Robert Eckel: Mr Eckel became a council member during the by-election in 2014. He
has had his own mechanical business for nearly three decades. ■ Donna Enders: Ms Enders works as a community worker assisting people affected by domestic violence. She said her number one issue is community. ■ Ian David Johns: Born in Cunnamulla, Mr Johns moved to Charleville in 1978. He owns the Asian restaurant, which he started in 2014. Before that he owned JP Motorcycles and Armoires for 17 years. This is his first time running for council. ■ Madonna Maris: Ms Maris works for CWAATSICH, and volunteers for the show society, the CWA, netball, the Lions Club and she was the 2012 Murweh citizen of the year and 2011 runner-up QCWA countrywoman of the year. ■ Michael McKellar: Mr McKellar is a grazier, owning the property Booka between Augathella and Morven.
■ Laurie Parker: Mr Parker is a defence lawyer for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Legal Service and heavily involved with Western Rugby League. He came to Charleville from the Gold Coast in November 2012. ■ Greg Phillott: Mr Phillott has been a local accountant for 25 years. This is his first run for council. ■ Zorro Radnedge: Mr Radnedge owns Dunne’s Butchery, but is probably best known for his work with junior sport, particularly rugby. This is his first run for council. ■ Cecil Russell: An incumbent and Augathella local, Mr Russell is semi-retired after a careeer as a livestock carrier, mail contractor and windmill erector. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, the hospital committee race club and the Progress Association.
■ Jake Sullivan: Charleville based plumber, Mr Sullivan is another of the younger candidates in the race. He owns the plumbing and drainage business, South West Hire. He’s been a firefighter with QFES for 13 years and was awarded the Commissioner’s Medal for Valour for rushing to the aid of an injured truck driver in 2014. ■ Karen Tully: A former teacher and principal at the School of Distance Education, Ms Tully was responsible for lobbying council to build the new town arts gallery, which she is now president of. She was also Deputy Chair of Red Ridge Interior Queensland, the Director of SWNRM and Queensland Plan Ambassador Council ambassador. ■ Angela Walton: Angela has owned Gecko Builders and Concreters for a decade. She has two young kids and was born and raised in Charleville.
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PAGE 19
2016 COUNCIL ELECTIONS
MAYORAL CANDIDATES
Cr Robert Loughman
The incumbent mayor of Maranoa Regional Council, Cr Robert Loughnan believes he is backed by his achievements from the past four years.
Tyson Golder Businessman and life-long Roma local, Tyson Golder aims to be pro-business and to change the roles councillors have if elected mayor. Mr Golder ran for council in 2012.
COUNCILLOR NOMINEES FOR MARANOA ■ David Bowden: Mr Bowden is an advocate for smaller communities and is involved with eight different political, service and community clubs and groups. ■ Robyn Bryant: Has lived in the Maranoa for 10 years and is the AgForce regional manager. Ms Bryant wants to focus on the region’s strengths, including being pro-local business and employment. ■ Myrtil ‘Tilly’ Butler-Woodall: With a strong belief all people should have a right to services and opportunities, Ms Butler-Woodall would like to see fiscal responsibility from council in allocation of resources. ■ Cr Jan Chambers: Cr Chambers has 12 years’ experience in local government, helped develop the framework for the 2015/16 budget, and is the current chairperson of the Maranoa Regional Council’s Wild Dog Advisory Group. ■ Puddy Chandler: As a Maranoa resident for nearly 40 years, Ms Chandler would like to see council focus on the three Rs – roads, rates and rubbish. ■ Tony Dixon: Wallumbilla’s Mr Dixon wants to see council return to the basics of roads, rates, waste and water. He wants to make sure towns like Wallumbilla are represented. ■ Cr Peter Flynn:Cr Flynn wants to finish the job started with the master plans for both Bassett Park and PCYC Precinct and see the Maranoa supporting state and national sporting events. ■ Tony Garland: Mr Garland believes in de-centralisation and would like every town’s depots fully- resourced and staffed,
as well as quickening development. . ■ Ruth Golden: Ms Golden has more than two decades’ worth of local government experience in multiple councils across Queensland. She would like to see tourism pushed more. ■ Ray Howson:Mr Howson has decided to run for council to make it more ‘businessfriendly’. He is the current president of the Roma Tourism Association. ■ Geoff McMullen: Mr McMullen is running for a seat to improve local infrastructure. As a member of the transport industry, he wants council to keep spending money locally. ■ Cr Wendy Newman: Cr Newman believes the highlights from her past four years as a councillor have been the flood mitigation projects, increased professionalism and efficiency in council and support for volunteer groups. ■ Cr Cameron O’Neil: Cr O’Neil has been involved with politics since 2006 and is a member of nine community groups, and is the Natural Resource Management Development Co-ordinator for the QMDC. ■ Greg Richardson:Mr Richardson will be pushing for more transparency from council when it comes to putting projects out for tender. He would like to see improvements in waste and pest management. ■ Cr David Schefe: Cr Schefe has been heavily involved with water and sewerage upgrades as part of his current portfolio. He is running again to further improve the region’s road networks and other essential infrastructure. ■ Geoffrey Scott: Mr Scott wants to see an
improvement to the region’s roads and support for the Maranoa’s smaller towns ■ Peter Sheehan: Mr Sheehan will be pushing for more transparency from council, and would like to see more power given to the councillors to enact the will of the ratepayers. ■ Janelle Stanford: Having lived in the Maranoa for most of her life, Ms Stanford has an extensive background in community and volunteer work. She wants more work done to engage youth in the community, as well as improve road maintenance. . ■ Brendan Thomas: 28-year-old Mr Thomas wants to see more focus on aged, health care and young people in the region, suggesting a holiday program to integrate kids into the Maranoa. ■ Frank Tucker: Mr Tucker wishes to focus on the core business elements of the region, with reasonably priced infrastructure, animal control, roads, water and sewerage. ■ Mark Westbrook: Roma’s Heart Church pastor and business-owner, Mr Westbrook is concerned with youth engagement. He suggested employing a full-time youth officer to help give kids a brighter future. ■ Dallas Williams: With more than 30 years working with windmills, bores, oil and gas, Mr Williams has local infrastructure high on his agenda. He is an avid supporter of local businesses. ■ Michael Wright: A business-owner for 20 years, Mr Wright is running to help restore ‘town pride’. He believes council should focus on re- beautification of parks and gardens.
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IN THE NEWS
CSG driving industry innovation AWS releases revolutionary well servicing rig
T
HE Coal Seam Gas sector’s clarion call for decreased operational costs and increased efficiency continues to resonate loud and clear throughout the industry. It’s a call that has produced a new breed of companies eager to deliver the innovative solutions CSG developers are seeking to reduce bottom line costs on construction and operations. Australian Well Servicing (AWS) is a company that has heard the call and worked intelligently to capture this new opportunity. Last month, the Brisbane-based company unveiled its fleet of revolutionary XDR 75 well servicing rigs to CSG stakeholders who are keen to explore any innovations that can deliver efficiency. According to AWS Executive General Manager Doug Henderson, the unveiling has been 18 months in the making, but is set to change the landscape of Australia’s well servicing sector. “The XDR well servicing rig is like no other in the country and has been designed with a “clean sheet” approach to deliver exactly what the client wants – it’s as simple as that,” Mr Henderson said. “The XDR 75 rig reduces costs because it is road legal and doesn’t need an escort, it can be setup in 30 minutes by a crew of three, and its innovative workfloor design means it can work in and around crowded lease pads without issue. “The rig is also multi-purpose, so it can fully
cater for both flushby and workovers, which means it can deliver cost and time savings if either of these services are required,” he said. Mr Henderson said he was buoyed by the intense industry interest shown for the XDR 75 well servicing rig during its official launch last month.
“The rig launch attracted a host of key CSG stakeholders and their overwhelming sentiment was they liked what they saw and could see the immense efficiencies that this purpose-built rig can deliver to their operations.” Asked if he believed the XDR 75 rig would herald a new era in well servicing, Mr
Henderson was confident the industry would embrace this new technology. “CSG sector developers know that well servicing is a long game, and with an ever-increasing motivation to run operations more efficiently, I think any innovation that can deliver a valuable mix of safety and productivity will attract strong interest.”
ALL IN ONE: Australian Well Servicing has unveiled the XDR 75 well servicing rig, which AWS says is set to change the landscape of Australia's well servicing sector.
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 25 February 2016
OPINIONS
Sector contributes $194 million in wages to Surat Basin
Gas industry a major jobs creator 2016 starts on a bright note with continued success of industry and new milestones reached
.
COMMENT MICHAEL ROCHE CEO Queensland Resources Council
W
e have started 2016 on a bright note with the natural gas industry continuing its success story and reinforcing its vital role as an extraordinary generator of jobs and economic benefits for Queensland. The industry reached a new milestone last month with Australia Pacific LNG exporting its first liquefied natural gas shipment from Curtis Island, near Gladstone. This was the final piece in a $70 billion investment jigsaw
puzzle. The gas industry in Australia, and especially Queensland, has seen the largest concentration of private capital in the nation’s history and the shipment signifies the continued growth of this export pillar in the Queensland economy. The QRC’s economic contribution data for 2014/15 shows that the gas industry provided five percent of Queensland’s full time jobs. In the Surat Basin (and surrounding) region, it employed more than 1200 people and contributed $194 million in wages. The gas industry also delivered seven percent of the state’s gross regional product and contributed $22.1 billion to the state
economy. As well, over the next four years the gas sector is forecast to provide $1.2 billion in royalties, paying for vital services such as roads, hospitals and schools throughout the state. The incredible growth of the natural gas industry in Australia, and especially in Queensland, is the largest concentration of private capital in Australia’s history, representing (in today’s dollars) the equivalent of three Snowy Mountain Schemes – the largest engineering project in Australian history. Australia remains on track to become the world’s leading exporter of natural gas by 2020, with Queensland among the states
leading the pack. Despite what the green activists say, there is widespread support throughout Queensland for the resources industry. Research undertaken for the QRC by the independent polling firm JWS Research in 2015 found that the Queensland natural gas or LNG export sector attracted a favourable or neutral rating from 62 percent of respondents with just 17 percent recording an unfavourable rating. It also found that 72 percent of Queenslanders had a favourable or neutral view of coal mining and less than a quarter (23 percent) of Queenslanders had an unfavourable view.
Resource sector continues to pump money into economy .
COMMENT BEN LYONS CEO TSBE
W
territories in our Region, and in the appropriate investment environment, will trigger commencement of projects like Charlie. There will come a time soon, where we may consider the gas sector like other cornerstone sectors in our Region. As an example, we can acknowledge the gas sectors legacy projects. Last week the Western Downs Regional Council awarded a $10.4 million contract for Stage 1 works on the Chinchilla Potable Water Project. The $17.5 million state-of-the-art water infrastructure project will provide a much-needed reliable supply of quality water to Chinchilla residents. Not to mention the recently completed $200 million Royalties for Regions project that was incepted to support communities that support resource projects. A healthy proportion of these funds were channelled into road improvement and upgrades in the Maranoa, for example. We know regional communities thrive with
infrastructure investment and development. So secondly, we can look at other opportunities presented by infrastructure that are on our doorstep. Of course, one of these, is Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport and the imminent regular air freight services to Asia our region’s agriculture sector would so readily benefit from. The Inland Rail Project is still a must, and we hope to see some traction on this project come to a head in 2016. Last week, TSBE hosted our first Enterprise Evening of 2016 with Michael Roche, Chief Executive of the Queensland Resources Council, Ian Davies, Managing Director and CEO, Senex Energy Limited, and Shane Stephan, Managing Director, New Hope Group. As a panel, Michael, Ian and Shane gave their thoughts on the opportunities and challenges facing the resource sector this year. I for one was very interested to hear their perspectives and look forward to seeing how things play out as we navigate our way through this new year.
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ith the New Year delivering a situation where all three Surat Basin gas projects now export LNG from Gladstone, this month I would like to turn my attention back to the resource sector. 2015 definitely had its challenges with the transition from construction to operations and maintenance in the major projects in the coal seam gas industry and the falling oil price. Whether an onlooking party or those deeply involved and linked to the sector - by all accounts the expectations for the start of 2015 and what had eventuated by its conclusion, appeared very different. On a positive note, it was great to eventually see the industry’s first example
of ongoing investment within the Surat Basin sector. QGC’s $1.7 billion Project Charlie coal seam gas (CSG) development located at Wandoan, which gained approval at the end of 2015, represents the ongoing ‘sustain phase’ of these projects, where smaller targeted geographical territories are developed as new gasfields to keep supply of gas to Gladstone for export . The two-year project will see up to 1,400 jobs created and competition amongst the supply chain for opportunity. So, with gas flowing to Gladstone, we can pause to consider the sector in a new light. Queensland Mines Minister Anthony Lynham recently predicted that LNG exports from Queensland will hit $15 billion by 2016/17, so while this certainly paints a positive picture, this is only one piece of the puzzle. Of course, we have all recently heard about the continuing drop in oil prices and so we await to see what comes next. But importantly, all the Surat Basin gas companies hold significant development
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Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 25 February 2016
PAGE 23
OPINIONS
Small and medium construction sector businesses fear for survival and livelihoods of workers
Bring back the ABCC .
COMMENT BRUCE SCOTT MP Federal Member for Maranoa
T
he first two weeks of February marked the return of Federal Parliament this year – an important election year – and this Liberal National Coalition Government has hit the ground running. One of the first orders of business was this government’s decision to reintroduce legislation into the Parliament to re-establish
a strong watchdog abolished by Labor in 2012 – the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC). In workplaces across our region, honest hardworking people who own or work for small and medium businesses in the construction sector genuinely fear for the survival of their enterprise and the livelihoods of their workers. In some instances, business owners and workers often go to work in an environment of fear, threats, intimidation and reprisal – knowing that unless they bend to the industrial will of the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), they will be subjected to a range of bullying
actions which can easily destroy their business’s viability and future longevity. The Coalition Government recognises the construction industry is a great job creator and this sector is critical to a productive, prosperous and internationally competitive Australia. That’s why this Bill sets out to re-establish the ABCC, a genuinely strong watchdog that will maintain the rule of law to protect workers and improve productivity on building sites and construction projects. The legislation prohibits unlawful industrial action, unlawful picketing, coercion and discrimination where penalties are high enough to provide an effective deterrent. A wide range of effective remedies – such as
Royal witch hunt
.
.
information until the Royal Commission? Rouge bottom feeding employers gave COMMENT evidence, which in many cases were guilty of DAN McGAW misdealing’s themselves. State Organiser This Royal Commission should have focused Electrical Trades Union on the construction industry in general. South West Queensland There were over 300 deaths in the construction industry in 2015, not one of them were mentioned in the report. he recent Royal Commission into Why aren’t rogue employers who are Trade Union Governance has been responsible for these deaths held to account? nothing but a political witch hunt. It Why isn’t there an inquiry into employers ran for 2 years and cost us tax payers in who rip off workers? excess of $80 million Why isn’t there a commission into bosses Make no mistake, there is no place for who abuse migrant workers? Why isn’t there corruption in trade unions or amongst its anything done about protecting local jobs? officials. But unfortunately there are always bad eggs in every bunch, and this goes for all The Liberal Party are hell bent on the agenda of bringing down unions. sectors including business and industry We are the ones who stand up for the most groups. vulnerable in the community. The entire commission was a farce, the commission did not once visit a construction We are the ones who work to improve working conditions for all workers and we site to speak with workers, nor did it speak with large employers who have good working are the ones who will fight back when unjust laws are past by out of touch politicians. relationships with unions. If an employer had concerns of illegal activity Unions are the balance in a workplace and without us we would spiral back to the dark from a union official, why didn’t they report ages. it to the police, instead of saving the
.
Keeping the pressure on COMMENT Ann Leahy MP Member for Warrego
W
elcome to the first edition of the Surat Basin News for 2016. I would like to publically thank past editor Derek Barry for his work across the region over many years and in different roles.
T
Roma Hospital
One of the major infrastructure projects that I have been working towards is the replacement of the Roma Hospital. I am pleased to advise your readers that the State Government has recently committed $70 million to replace the 70 year old Roma Hospital. Since being elected I have kept the pressure on the State Government to deliver much needed infrastructure for the region and raised the Roma Hospital in the Parliament at every available opportunity and petitioned the State Government. I will continue to make sure this infrastructure commitment is delivered and pursue other
Cut the red tape
I
PAGE 24
infrastructure projects that are important for our region.
Warra Subway
Advice has been received by my Office that Queensland Rail will commence rectification works on the Warra Subway at the end of January 2016. I look forward to continuing to work with the Warra community on this project.
Congratulations
Congratulations to the following community groups and volunteers on their successful grant applications - Brigalow Recreational Grounds for a kitchen, Warra State School for upgrades to the playground, Kogan and District Rural Fire Brigade for facilities upgrade, Jandowae Golf Club for a solar pump, Surat Local Ambulance Committee for equipment, Roma Touch Association for verandah repairs, Mungallala Rural Fire Brigade for a shed, Riding for the Disabled for fencing, Injune Retirement Village for furniture, and Noonga Community Association for upgrades to the tennis courts at the Noonga Community Centre.
Surat Basin has a bright future .
further behind other states in Australia. The projects presently on the back burner could COMMENT inject much needed investment to our Pat Weir MP economy whilst encouraging confidence in Member for Condamine the business and manufacturing sectors. This in turn would create employment opportunities for the many Queenslanders would like to take this opportunity to who have been made redundant due to the thank the executive of the Surat Basin downturn in the mining industry which has News for inviting me to make a impacted negatively on the support contribution to their monthly publication in 2016. We are now into the second month of an businesses associated with this sector. The Queensland economy needs to have already busy year, one that has provided us these projects progressed as soon as possible with several significant events and a to restore confidence and certainty in the promising start to primary production with future of our state and ensure Queenslanders good rain falling in some areas of have the same employment prospects as Queensland. The first sitting week of the other states. This stalling will only Queensland Parliament commenced on the exacerbate the problems being experienced February 16 with a considerable amount of by our resources sector and cripple crucial legislation to be brought before the Queensland. In Queensland we have the house for discussion and debate. luxury of having a diverse state that is rich in In Queensland currently there are a significant number of projects that have been natural resources, has a productive primary put on hold by the government. Over the last industry sector and a progressive and manufacturing industry. We need to support twelve months these projects have been projects that will create employment and are subjected to reintroduced bureaucratic red economically sustainable and avoid tape, lengthy court cases and parliamentary unnecessary bureaucracy. reviews while the Queensland economy lags
injunctions – will also be available to the ABCC and persons affected by unlawful behaviour. When the ABCC existed, the economic and industrial performance of the building and construction industry significantly improved and the government’s sees its reintroduction as an important pillar for job creation and economic growth. The Bill’s main object is to provide an improved workplace relations framework for building and construction work to ensure that it is carried out fairly, efficiently and productively for the benefit of all building industry participants and for the benefit of the Australian economy as a whole.
COMMENT CHRIS LAMONT APPEA Director
F
armers know a thing or two about volatile commodity prices, the need to make tough decisions and plan for the future. Good seasons don't necessarily mean good returns. A drop in commodity prices can put the squeeze on farms, their suppliers and the communities in which they operate. Similarly the oil and gas industry is familiar with the swings and roundabouts of supply and demand cycles. The current oil price shock which is in turn impacting on gas prices across the globe, requires sometimes quite significant adjustments to work plans. However, like the agricultural industry, successful players in oil and gas operate over the long term, taking into account a wide range of possible price, economic, the environment and other policy developments. As a result the Surat Basin's future should
Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 25 February 2016
not be shaken by current gas prices. More than 7000 wells are hooked up to pipelines and are producing natural gas. Work on three LNG plants on Curtis Island (Gladstone) is finished and more than 80 LNG cargoes have departed since first shipment in January 2015. Demand for these cargoes remains high with global natural gas production tipped to increase by 40 per cent by 2040. The Surat Basin has a strong operational gas workforce that will remain in place for decades to come. Gas companies continue to spend on local procurement. One company alone spent $4.5 billion in Queensland last year with 700 suppliers located in eight regional local government areas. The Western Downs Regional Council and Toowoomba Regional Council areas attracted the biggest share. Gas infrastructure is in place to take advantage of the next upswing. Surat Basin community leaders, agricultural representatives, business and community groups have worked hard with gas companies on projects which many thought unachievable seven years ago. As a result the Surat's future remains bright.
PLACES & FACES
TSBE Evening at Parliament House THE Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise held their first Enterprise Evening of 2016 with Michael Roche, Chief Executive of the Queensland Resources Council, Ian Davies, Managing Director and CEO, Senex Energy Limited, and Shane Stephan, Managing Director, New Hope Group as guest speakers. All three were aware of the challenges facing the resource industry but were optimistic about the year ahead.
Susan Moore, Fraser Power and Libby Beath at the TSBE evening at Parliament House this month.
Marg Bradbury and Rebecca Delahaye at the TSBE evening at Parliament Stephen Morley, Steve Peters at the TSBE evening at Parliament House this Ian Davies and LNP MP Tim Nicholls at the TSBE evening at Parliament House this month. month. House this month.
Michael Daniel, Byron Wooden, Darren Da Costa at the TSBE evening at Parliament House this month.
Nigel Kruger, Jim Wagner, Scott Cox at the TSBE evening at Parliament House this month.
Surat Basin NEWS Thursday 25 February 2016
PAGE 25
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IN THE NEWS
Dr Ben Lyons presenting at the recent Ag in the Asian Century Conference Welcome Drinks event.
TSBE opens new Shanghai office
Chinese take-away on Surat menu
M
ining opened China’s door to the Surat region – but it’s food exports that will take the cake. And worrying about China’s slowing growth is a waste of energy, according to Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) CEO Ben Lyons. Lyons, who took up the TSBE reins last July,
Toowoomba/Surat regions (www.foodleadersaus.com.au). It’s not all plain sailing though. “It’s a challenge; we can’t do it with individual companies,” Lyons says. “And the old ‘me and my neighbour’s’ approach is not enough. It’s a vastly different business culture – but there are very
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“Brand Australia has never been so strong, especially in food, and we have some of the highest food standards in the world.” Ben Lyons congruent goals. “Demand is fast and fierce – but if we can’t do it, they’ll go elsewhere.” China is culturally diverse, with 32 provinces representing a range of demographics and languages in a nation of nearly 1.4 billion people. “They’re all different – it’s like dealing with Europe,” Lyons says. But one advantage we have in food exporting is our reputation. “Brand Australia has never been so strong, especially in food, and we have some of the highest food standards in the world. “[And] food scares in China are an every-day occurrence.” TSBE now has an office in Shanghai and partners with another in Beijing, to liaise with department of agriculture staffers there, Lyons says. “Many of them received education in Queensland,” he says. As for 2016, Lyons says with Wellcamp’s airport freight services developing and China being a mere eight or so hours’ flight from here, things are looking good. “We have three conferences lined up and we will be taking companies across to China in 2016,” he says. “It will be a cracker of a year.”
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should know. The trade specialist who grew up on his family’s mixed livestock and farming properties at Augathella and Glenmorgan has spent the last eight years in Shanghai, with previous experience in other Chinese cities including its capital, Beijing. “Regarding growth in China, we worry too much,” he says. “Even if it’s zero per cent, it’s good news for Australia.” Why? Because ‘Brand Australia’ is at its highest recognition ever – especially for food. “The Surat resources story put us in a good place [regionally],” Lyons says. “But overall our [region’s] long-term future in China is in food. “And based on agriculture, Australian food awareness is already there – we’re about ‘how’ now.” It won’t be raw food that wins Chinese markets, it will be value-added, shelf-ready food products to meet the rising Chinese middle class, which by 2020 is estimated to grow to 600 million people. “China’s middle class is now the world’s middle class,” Lyons says. “They’re setting the agendas, the trends.” TSBE has also partnered with Food Leaders Australia to promote food exporting from the
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IN THE NEWS
Heavy vehicle operators given another option to stay clean
Washdown facility officially opened State-of-the-art complex at Dalby Saleyards to prevent spread of disease, weeds
VIEW THE BACK EDITIONS ONLINE Read all of our back issues www.issuu.com/suratbasinnews
THE LATEST NEWS ONLINE Keep in touch with the latest news with just a mouse click www.suratbasin.com.au KEEPING CLEAN: Wiley business operations manager Michael Matthewson, mayor Ray Brown and councillor Greg Olm cut the ribbon at the official opening of the washdown facility in Dalby. .
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EAVY vehicle operators can now take full advantage of the washdown complex at the Dalby Regional Saleyards after its official opening. Since its opening late last year, the facility has been utilised by all Western Downs trucking organisations, ensuring they are pesticide and disease free. In January, the community gathered with Mayor Ray Brown, councillors and joint project partners to officially cut the ribbon. Cr Brown said the facility marked a significant achievement for the council in meeting the objectives of its Regional Washdown Strategy through the completion of washdown facilities at
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“The facility has helped to protect good-quality agricultural land and reduce livestock manures... on roads” Cr Ray Brown Chinchilla, Wandoan and now Dalby. “The facility has helped to protect good-quality agricultural land and reduce livestock manures and effluent spillage on roads, including entry and exit from the Dalby Saleyards,” he said. He said the multi-million dollar complex
was a godsend to the Western Downs region and would objectively help to utilise early detection of many diseases. “We had been in huge consultation with trucking organisations and through Biosecurity Queensland to bring this state-of-the-art complex to the region,” he said. Cr Brown said the substantial development would benefit the region, which had lacked suchfacilities. “We have installed what they call ‘eye in the sky’ camera security systems to heavily monitor the complex,” he said. “It is specifically different to normal weed inspection and washdown sites because of the organic matter that would be coming through from cattle.”
SURAT BASIN NEWS Published by Chinchilla Newspapers Pty Ltd, 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413 Printed by APN Print Warwick Kennilorth Street Warwick Q4350 2013 General Manager – Erika Brayshaw 12 Mayne Street Chinchilla Q4413 PO Box 138 Chinchilla Q4413 Phone 07 46672 9921
LCR GROUP
INDUSTRIAL & MINING SERVICES
• Mobile Cranes • Bulk Material Handling • Heavy Haulage & Transport • Mining Services • Maintenance Services • Labour Hire
www.lcrgroup.com.au
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BRISBANE - CHINCHILLA - ROMA - BLACKWATER - MIDDLEMOUNT - MORANBAH - BOGGABRI - PNG
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