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CONTENTSShift Miner Magazine

6

4

10

4

5

NEWS 4: ANCAP

Court Case

4: Norwich reopening?

8: Leasing business goes under

REguLARS 15: Cut & Paste

15: Puzzles

14: Frank the Tank

16-18: Miners Trader

19: Baitshop Banter

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18th May 2015 3

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4 18th May 2015

News

Parliament House, George Street, Brisbane Qld 4000www.parliament.qld.gov.au/committees

Fly in, fly out and other long distance commuting work practices in regional Queensland

The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee is calling for public submissions on the impacts of fly-in, fly-out work practices in regional Queensland.

The inquiry terms of reference, timetable and guidelines for making a submission are available on the committee’s website.

Submissions close: 4.00pm, 25 May 2015Email: [email protected]: www.parliament.qld.gov.au/ipnrcPhone: 3406 7230

Have your say…

SubmissionsPlease note that submissions to inquiries become committee documents and are made public only after a decision of the committee. Committees reserve the right to not accept a submission in whole or in part. Persons making submissions must not release them until they have been published by the committee. The prior publication of a submission will not be protected by parliamentary privilege.

Submissions can also be posted to the relevant committee at: Parliament House, George Street, Brisbane Qld 4000.

Information and enquiriesFor general information and enquiries about parliamentary committees visit: www.parliament.qld.gov.au/committees or phone 1800 504 022.

THE single biggest change to light vehicle standards on mine sites in Queensland remains in limbo today.

Three years ago, BMA flagged changes to its light vehicle policy that would mean from January next year only vehicles with the 5-star ANCAP rating would be allowed on site.

However that deadline and plan all hinges on a ruling by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission on the legitimacy of the new vehicle standard.

A spokesperson for BMA said they were not commenting on the planned roll-out

while the matter was in front of the courts.Last year, Goonyella Riverside

mine was the first BMA site to see the introduction of 5-star ANCAP vehicles, but it was met with resistance by mining union the CFMEU.

The CFMEU said the decision to strip vehicles of extra roll over protection (ROPS) and other ancillary equipment like bull bars was a cost cutting exercise, and left workers vulnerable on site.

Some estimates put the cost of adding this equipment to a new car at between $10,000 and $15,000 per vehicle.

CFMEU safety representative Greg Dalliston said the safety of the ANCAP vehicles had not been proven for off-road use and he was particularly concerned about the strength of the roof given ROPS were not allowed to be fitted to the vehicles.

On several occasions last year Mr Dalliston issued a directive to stop the use of the new vehicles until safety standards could be proven, and the Mines Inspectorate was called in to investigate.

However, in July last year a notice was put up at Goonyella Riverside mine to inform workers they risked being sacked if they refused to drive the new ANCAP rated vehicles.

The directive [sighted by Shift Miner] said that if a worker refused to drive the new ANCAP vehicles because of safety concerns they should be told the chief inspector had confirmed there were no safety issues and that they risked disciplinary action and even termination should they not comply.

The CFMEU’s Greg Dalliston then to the matter to the Queensland Industrial Relations Court to adjudicate.

After a six month wait, those proceedings began in December and ended last Friday, but the Commission is yet to set a date for its ruling on the matter.

ANCAP deadline in doubt

New financial year for Norwich?

SPECULATION in the town of Dysart has reached fever pitch as expectations grow about the reopening of Norwich Park mine.

While no-one is willing to go on the record about what they know, Shift Miner understands 350 rooms have been booked

from July 1 to accommodate a workforce, and another business providing services to the mine said they were working towards that date as well.

However in a statement, BMA told Shift Miner “there would be no restart of Norwich Park in the immediate future” although at the start of the year BHP did confirm that it was exploring opportunities for the site.

Until BMA confirms what time frame “immediate” refers to, speculation continues to mount about whether the site will be run by contractors or BMA employees at some point in the future.

However sources close to the site have told Shift Miner it will be run using a contractor workforce, most likely HSE Mining or Downer.

It is almost three years to the day since the mine was first shut in April 2012, meaning enough time has lapsed for BMA to no longer be required to give first preference to the 400 workers who originally lost their jobs.

At the time of the closure the CFMEU mining union argued it was simply about de-unionising the site.

Locals get $300 million CSG contractGAS company, QGC, has awarded nearly AU$300 million worth of ongoing operational work to four local companies in a sure sign that there are still opportunities in CSG.

The contracts were awarded to Mike Jones Earthmoving in Wandoan, Ostwald Brothers in Dalby, Amcor Excavations in Moura and Corbet’s Timber Haulage in Gympie.

Each contractor will be responsible for the construction, maintenance and rehabilitation of well sites and their supporting infrastructure like roads.

However, the announcement is not all good news for local business, because the four businesses involved will be doing work currently done by nine different operators.

All nine companies had the opportunity to tender for the work, but the five unsuccessful businesses will now finish up in June.

Consolidating the number of contractors is a well tried cost cutting technique in the resources sector and works on the principle that through scale, a small number of contractors can work more cheaply.

The work is expected to keep around 100 people in work for the next three years.


18th May 2015 5

News

A MINING industry veteran with more than 30 years experience says his decision to speak out about safety on a Central Queensland mine has cost him his job.

Tom Wharton was recently engaged in a backfilling position related to site safety and was casually asked after a safety incident whether he thought all incidents were being reported.

He says his answer cost him his job and tarnished an otherwise unblemished career.

“ My answer was no, which wasn’t convenient as I used to be the [full time] safety advisor on site,” he told Shift Miner.

“He asked why did I say this, and my response was that if you work for a small contractor and report a small incident, then most times you are not required next round.

“The safety super agreed with this, but some days later I was informed I was not allowed back on the mine site.”

While reluctant to identify the mine, he says there has been a large spike in high potential (HPIs) and reported incidents at the site, which he says is largely due to a systemic culture of fear.

“This company that I refer to has a great workforce - second to none - with some very good front line supervisors, but they are being let down by a very bad system,” he said.

“The system is developed by people with no or very little mining experience, and it rules by fear and intimidation.

“It works on people dobbing and writing people up, and above all, encourages people not to say anything against the system; just say what the company wants to hear.”

Mr Wharton says he is not seeking any compensation or wanting reinstatement to his former role since he is in retirement anyway.

However, he is concerned the incident has put a black mark against his otherwise clean record in the local mining industry.

He has since written to mine management to explain his position and disappointment and says it is incumbent that people who can, need to speak up about safety issues on site.

“As we know, only dead fish go with the

flow,” he added.“As I have said before, I blame the

system before the people, and the system lends itself to a great big bum covering exercise, where people are looking over their shoulder all the time.

“I have spent many years in the mining industry, and unfortunately, I have not learned to do this - nor do I want to - but it has come at a cost.”

Mr Wharton’s comments come hot on the heels of similar concerns raised by industry bosses.

In a frank, productive and open discussion at a Mackay safety conference, mining and industrial bosses voiced alarm at how safety messages are being distorted on mine sites and putting lives at risk.

In the difficult cost environment confronting the entire resources sector at the moment, management is concerned that directives on safety and maintenance are being misinterpreted, and people are not speaking out about safety issues for fear of losing their jobs.

In one illuminating example, BMA’s asset president, Lucas Dow, explained a crisis averted on a mine site in the Bowen Basin, when a young engineer named Tom told him he was no longer working on structural integrity maintenance because there was no money for it in the budget.

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Four mines up for sale?BRAZILIAN miner Vale has appointed a global bank to assess whether to sell off its four Central Queensland coal projects.

Being considered for sale are its two operating mines - Carborough Downs and Isaac Plains - as well as its half-built underground mine, Eagle Downs, and the undeveloped Belvedere mega-project near Moura. All but the Belvedere project are within 50 kilometres of Moranbah.

Given the current coal price and its location, the Belvedere project seems the most likely to be put up as part of any full or partial sale.

In 2012, Vale indicated the cost of developing the Belvedere coal project to be around $2 billion with an initial production of two million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of coking coal and full production of 10Mtpa for 30 years.

If built the behemoth project would generate around 1000 jobs.

Vale is a global diversified mining company with more than 139,000 employees and contractors worldwide and 1000 in Australia.

However, its main commodity is iron ore, with the coal business a relatively late addition to its portfolio assets.

Talk of a possible sale has been around for some time, generally in the same context as Anglo American flagging the sale of its coal assets.


6 18th May 2015

BMA’S underground development team will finish up work at the Crinum mine near Emerald at the end of this month after nearly 20 years of operation.

The underground development team has been preparing roadways and underground access so that final coal can be longwall mined at the site before it is put in care and maintenance until prices improve.

The closure of the mine has been flagged for some time and follows the closure of the adjacent Gregory open cut mine in 2012 after it became unviable.

When built in the late 1990s, Crinum mine was considered a new generation underground mine, and the longwall’s 156 face supports gave it the highest yield load capacity in Australia at 950 tonnes.

For many of the miners finishing up work there, it is the only place they have ever worked, and development superintendent, Wayne Barnes, said he had spent most of his working life at the mine.

“I started with BMA in the beginning of 1984 as a 16-year-old junior miner at Moura No.2 mine and worked there until the explosion in 1994,” he said.

“At that time, Crinum was starting to kick off, so I applied for a transfer and commenced there on 21 November 1994.”

Deputy Clive Russell said he had spent 20 years at the mine.

“I have been working here pretty much since the mine started.

“BMA has been a really good company to me.

“I don’t think generations of today will be with a mining company for as long as some of us blokes here,” he said.

“ I don’t think people stay with the one business anymore, but in an underground environment people look after people.”

Matt Cooper, General Manager at BMA’s Crinum Mine, said it was an important milestone.

“BMA’s Crinum Mine has a long and proud history operating in the Central Highlands, with many of our employees having been here for the entire life of this mine,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to personally thank all the development team for their efforts over the last twenty years we have been operating here and wishing them all the best in whatever the next twenty years might bring.”

BMA prepares for final coalNews

Clive sharing his knowledge with the team.

Clive Russell in the Lamp Room at Crinum, still heading underground with the team every day.

Underground at Crinum Mine with the Development Team

Wayne Barnes and his team during the early years of BMA’s Crinum Mine.

Wayne is now in a Development Superintendent and believes going underground with his team is critical in maintaining a strong team culture.

Underground Crinum Mine


18th May 2015 7

News

End of coal a “romance”A CHIEF economist has labelled increasing media hysteria about the end of coal as a source of power as uninformed and based on “romantic scenarios” about the future.

At the same time, cost cuts at Queensland coal mines have seem them push back down the global cost curve, with 43 per cent now in the lowest quartile, compared with 19 per cent a year ago, according to the Queensland Resources Council’s latest State of the Sector report.

It is possibly one of the enduring phenomena of Australia’s mining industry that in a boom not many can see the downside, and in a bust not many can see an upside.

In the avalanche of dire warnings about the future of coal and CSG in Queensland, comments by the chief economist for the Department of Industry, Mark Cully, that the boom is far from over are a rare ray of sunlight.

According to Mr Cully, Asian countries are almost universally expanding their demand for coal, even at the same time as they look to compliment it with increased investment in renewable energy sources.

“We believe coal market forecasts are being increasingly made on romantic scenarios of the future rather than through an informed process of evaluated investment in electricity generation,” Mr Cully said.

“The reality is the emerging economies of the world are increasingly investing in coal-fired generation to provide reliable supplies of electricity.

“India’s coal consumption is projected to increase rapidly over the medium term as its economy grows, and Prime Minister

Modi has announced the government’s intention to ensure all Indian villages have 24 hour access to electricity.

“Coal-fired generation is a key component of this plan, and there are 118 gigawatts of coal-fired capacity under construction or approved to start construction.

“Japan is increasing its coal-fired generating capacity following the shutdown of its nuclear power industry, and South Korea and Taiwan are also increasing their coal.

“Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand are increasing their use by even more, and countries that have previously had low or no coal use in their energy mix in Asia have started to invest in new generators.

“Australia’s coal is likely to play an important role in meeting this demand growth due to its higher energy content, which makes it more suitable for use in the advanced generators that have higher thermal efficiency rates.”

However, in the short term the QRC has warned that businesses failing to get costs under control remain significantly at risk.

“The pain of cost cutting has certainly paid dividends for many of our companies; however, the proportion of operations in the top two cost quartiles has increased from 19 per cent to 28 per cent, putting these operations at risk,” QRC chief executive, Michael Roche, said.

“It shouldn’t be forgotten that at current spot prices, 43 per cent of Queensland’s thermal and five per cent of coking coal production is loss-making.”

Work starts at Central Queensland’s newest mineUK listed miner, Richland Resources, has commenced mining operations at what will be one of the largest open cut alluvial sapphire mining projects in the Southern Hemisphere.

Richland moved first dirt at its Capricorn Sapphire project West of Emerald last month and has announced a schedule of operations that would be the envy of every coal miner in the country.

According to Richland, overburden removal has started, with drilling and open cut mine planning work happening at the same time.

Concurrently, a processing plant

has been built, and the company is preparing for first sales in June.

First dirt to first sales is just under three months.

CEO of Richland Resources, Bernard Olivier, says they will be bringing something fancy to the surface.

“Mining has started, and we are now readying Pit 1 for commercial production of sapphires in May 2015 and expect to start sales of sapphires in June,” he said.

“This is a significant milestone for Richland as we bring our experience in gemstone mining to Australia.

“Richland is approaching full mine

start in a structured manner, and following reports submitted by independent mining consultants, we are undertaking infill drilling to help us finalise pit design.

“The Capricorn Sapphire mine is an exciting opportunity and we look forward to supplying gemstone buyers with consistent quantities of certificated blue and fancy stones.

The purpose-built alluvial processing plant is capable of treating up to 200 loose cubic metres (LCM) per hour, and the Capricorn Sapphire mine consists of two new mining leases comprising of about 490 hectares.

The mining leases contain a JORC (2004) measured Sapphire resource of

approximately 21.6 million grams (109 million carats) of sapphire.

Fancy coloured sapphire has traditionally been recovered from the project, but the board believes the value from Capricorn Sapphire comes from the consistent production of standard stone types sought in the manufacture of mainstream jewellery.

According to Richland, the supply of global natural Sapphires is generally artisanal, small scale, fractured and in some cases declining.

However, they are expecting to see growing demand from both China and the US to continue into the future.

DESPITE a 20 per cent improvement on last year, one in 10 explosion protected diesel engine systems (ExDES) underground in NSW coal mines are failing.

That is the alarming conclusion from a state government survey and means that miners are routinely being exposed to the risk of an underground disaster.

Despite mining companies and mine contractors each having half the total number of operating machines, the report found that more than 75 per cent of failures reported were from machines owned by mining companies themselves.

However, that may also be due to a reluctance of contractors to report all safety issues.

The highly combustible atmosphere in an underground coal mine requires that all combustion engines are specially engineered to ensure they do not ignite the surrounding gases.

However, the explosion prevention systems are failing due to a combination of design and maintenance issues.

Pneumatic/hydraulic control system failures accounted for 40 per cent of all failures, and nearly half of these failures were attributed to valve or sensor faults with circuit contamination also a significant factor.

There were four reported electrical

control system failures, and fixed connections accounted for 29 per cent of failures.

On a more positive note, the results continue a clear trend of improvement in the NSW coal industry, where just five years ago more than a third of ExDES were failing.

To manage the issue, miners have recommended a large number of design and maintenance improvements; although, the report itself points to a cultural change in the approach to managing the machines.

“Control measures in ExDES broadly fall into two categories - safety components and safety functions,” the report said.

“While safety components include the likes of positive flame traps and open and closed joints, typical safety functions would be a wet flame trap scrubber and coolant temperature control.

“Both safety components and functions are required to be subjected to safety management regimes such as control and avoidance of systematic failures, configuration management, version control and documentation requirements.

“The functional safety management regimes and, more importantly, the culture is to be set up and implemented at both the OEM and the end-user domains for enhanced effectiveness.”

Explosive report into engine failure


8 18th May 2015

News

Moranbah gas project gets a leg upAT LEAST one obstacle to the development of the Bowen Gas Project by Arrow Energy has been removed following Shell’s AU$90 billion bid for the BG Group.

If the bid is successful - and it appears likely it will be - Shell will become the owner of the first operating LNG plant in Gladstone as well as half owner of Arrow Energy and the vast gas reserves it has across Queensland.

Arrow is currently working on the Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) of the Bowen Gas Project - which could unlock vast reserves of coal seam gas from an area north and east of Moranbah.

However, the future of the project has been under a cloud due to low gas prices and the absence of a CSG processing facility in Gladstone.

The Shell takeover of BG would solve that second problem.

Despite there being no way that Shell would not have seen this opportunity, they are nonetheless non-committal about taking the BGP forward in the future, instead preferring to highlight other opportunities in the BG portfolio like Lake Charles in the US and projects in Africa.

Shell CFO, Simon Henry, says the major issues in Australia is cost.

“The challenge, Queensland versus North America, is as much the upstream cost as it is the LNG train costs,” he told analysts last week.

“It’s probably a lower LNG train cost in North America, but you have to look back into the upstream as well as to which would be more attractive and I can’t give an indication at the moment.”

Getting costs down echoes the thoughts of Arrow Energy CEO, Mike Grieve, who recently told business in Moranbah the CSG sector needed to innovate.

“The margins are not there in coal seam gas and so, how we handle continuous improvement is what will differentiate us from the conventional oil and gas companies,” he said.

“We need to be better, we need to be quicker and we need to be more cost effective.

“I think there is a bit of a tussle going on between the world’s oil producers at the moment and it is a delicate dance, and where it goes in the future is anyone’s guess.

“But what people are looking at are the long-term price projections of between $80 and $100, and that’s where you need the prices to be for unconventionals in Australia to commence.”

LOCAL mining vehicle leasing and maintenance business Sargent has been entered into receivership.

The company has a head office in Brisbane with depots in Dysart, Mackay, Gladstone, and Moranbah and further facilities in North Queensland and Western Australia.

The receivership is being handled by McGrath Nicol, but they are yet to release any information regarding the future for employees and creditors.

However, the Sargent business, along with all its mine-ready vehicles were advertised for sale over the Easter break.

According to Sargent, since its small

beginnings with two vehicles more than 40 years ago it has expanded to more than 3000 vehicles for lease Australia wide, servicing the resources and infrastructure sectors.

During 2013 Sargent undertook major local expansions buying Dysart Engineering, acquiring the Gladstone Bridgestone tyre centre, and supplying specialist vehicles to the CSG sector.

At the time Sargent’s CEO Grant Chugg was optimistic about the future.

“Demand for commercial maintenance has always been strong in the Gladstone region,” he said at the time.

“With the developments in the Wiggins Island (Coal Export Terminal) and the Curtis Island LNG projects the requirement to support major projects with maintenance services has increased significantly.

“The establishment of a full branch and associated services in Gladstone will solidify our presence in the Bowen Basin and meet increased demand.”

However, the collapse in coal, iron ore and CSG prices and the consequent collapse in contract and construction work have slashed Sargent’s revenues, forcing creditors to sell part or all of the companies.

Another week, another business


18th May 2015 9

News

CHAIRMAN of the Resource Industry Network, Tony Caruso, says the freeze on maintenance spending in the coal sector has ended.

However, he is quick to point out that while there is finally some work starting to flow, it is not a tsunami and there is still a relentless focus on cost.

“Yes we are starting to see some maintenance work starting to come back on,” he told Shift Miner.

“I think it’s just a function of the fact that machinery does not run forever; it needs to be maintained, and there does come a time when there are no other options other than maintenance if you want to keep an operation going.

“However, coal prices are still low and miners are still very focussed on their cash

costs, so the general consensus seems to be that there won’t be huge changes to the current state of things for the rest of this year.

“But certainly the lower exchange rate has helped.”

The wave, although small, has been a long time coming.

Back in late 2013, industry veteran Allan Ruming who runs Group Engineering in Mackay said the post-boom period was unlike anything he had seen.

“In my 38 years in the industry, a big spike in demand for maintenance has accompanied every production phase of a mining boom,” he said at the time.

“What is different between this boom and others is that when the coal price fell and we entered the production phase, spending just fell off a cliff.

“This time there has been a total stop on all maintenance spending, but with record production at some point we will definitely see a big escalation in spending.

“Will it be in a controlled fashion or will it all come at once?

“I would have to say that, based on past experience, it will probably come in one big wave.”

While the work coming through is more akin to wash than a wave it is nonetheless welcomed, especially for those businesses servicing the open cut mining sector.

Mr Caruso says for some underground businesses, work has never been busier as miners reach record production.

“Underground is very different to above ground; activities are not linear,” he said.

“There is still heaps of work associated with supporting a longwall operation - work that cannot be avoided - which is very different to open cut where there has been a strategy to defer gear maintenance where possible.”

“But there is no doubt there has been a big rationalisation in the mining support sector.

“A lot of high cost opportunistic businesses have disappeared.

“But there still remains a strong body of long-term businesses that have flexible costs structures that can react and adjust to lower revenues.

“Paget still has the capability to support the mining sector into the future.”

New mining lease west of Blackwater?ACACIA Coal has applied to the State Government for a mining lease over its Comet Ridge project in Central Queensland.

The proposed mine is adjacent to Aquila Resource’s Washpool project and is surrounded by the existing Ensham, Jellinbah East, Blackwater (BMA) and Curragh coal mines.

According to Acacia’s Managing Director Gavin May, the mining lease is to support a 350,000 tonne a year open-cut coking coal mine, and follows years of work on the tenement.

“After three years of exploration, dry coal processing studies and environmental assessments at Comet Ridge, it is pleasing that Acacia can crystallise this effort and expenditure into a mining lease application,” he said.

“Acacia is on track to secure an approved project and mining lease which will be a tangible asset of the company.”

However, despite the application, there are still significant hurdles to overcome before the site could become a productive mine.

The project requires final environmental approval from both the State and Federal Governments, and it has significant logistical issues to overcome after its preferred shared rail out option was upended when Bandanna Energy went into administration.

Small tsunami registered in Mackay


10 18th May 2015

News

A perceived uneven playing field is causing a major rift between motel operators and CSG companies in the Surat Basin.

Motel operators in Chinchilla became so disgruntled recently about what they saw was as double standards in temporary accommodation that they held a meeting with council to voice

their complaint. Since that time nothing much

has changed except that business has gone from bad to worse - pushing some to the brink.

At the heart of the argument from motel owners is that accommodation camps with “temporary” approval on nearby gas and petroleum leases, were

in fact “permanent” and sucking business out of nearby towns.

Further, they said these temporary facilities had a massive unfair advantage because they were able to avoid a whole suite of approval and establishment costs on account of being a “temporary” facility under the Petroleum and Gas Act.

“During the boom times it wasn’t a problem because there were more people than beds and in that environment government and council were happy to extend the temporary leases,” one accommodation owner told Shift Miner.

“But now that the construction boom has passed, there is lots of vacant accommodation on tenements close to town, that has been paid for during the construction phase.

“With limited options to sell it - much of it is being offered as a very cheap alternative to staying in town, which would be fine if they had to meet the same standards for approval that businesses in town do.

“But they don’t, they get temporary status under the Petroleum and Gas Act, and their EIS is approved on that basis, but with the construction phase passing no-one is out there checking that temporary hasn’t become permanent.”

Rob Hart has a foot in both camps.

He is President of Chinchilla Community, Commerce and Industry and an employee of Origin Energy.

He says there is no doubt that motels and other town-based accommodation providers are having a particularly difficult time at the moment, but the reasons for that are many and complicated.

One factor is that many motels in Chinchilla were so consistently booked out during the last few years that the old reliable tourist trade just started to bypass them. Now that the worker demand has stopped, there is nothing left to fill the void.

On top of that, accommodation providers have put their prices up and in some

cases over capitalised, making the lean times even more difficult to navigate.

“There is no doubt that the increased supply, coupled with the reduction in demand as we move from construction to production has made things very difficult for moteliers,” he told Shift Miner.

“For a long time tourists just couldn’t get a room and just started to look elsewhere and I do think rates are an area that moteliers need to reconsider.

“So far as gas companies are concerned, we are seeing a lot of consolidation happening.

“QGC has moved a lot of their people into town in Chinchilla, and Origin is consolidating its operations as well, but the situation differs from place to place.

“For some companies their operations are just too far from town to reasonably expect people to commute out each day.

“But I think overall maybe we are passed the bottom and you are going to see a greater number of the people in CSG sector living in town during the operational phase.”

Fair play in the bed business?

A ROMA-based engineering business remains optimistic about the future despite the downturn. However, he acknowledges they need to adapt.

Businesses based in the Surat Basin are embarking on the long and often difficult challenge of reinventing themselves in the face of major changes in the CSG sector.

Back in mid 2014 Peter Sharpe from

Sharpe Engineering whose family business repairs and manufactures drill stem elements for the gas industry, was celebrating a strong period of growth.

“We saw an opportunity here and came back to Roma in 1994 after an overseas stint,” he told the GasFields Commission at the time.

“We didn’t know the coal seam gas industry was going to fire up at that stage but of course in the year 2000 that’s when it all took off.”

From an initial staff of five, Sharpe Engineering grew to employ up to 60 people across two locations including Roma and Brisbane.

They were servicing all four major CSG proponents and a number of shale and deep gas explorers in the Cooper Basin.

Today, Peter says many local businesses in the Maranoa region have noticed a significant downturn in the level of work coming from the onshore gas industry.

“They [the gas companies] are definitely looking at every possible way to cut costs at present and certainly some of the biggest costs include both drilling and people,” he says.

“The slowdown or delaying of proposed well drilling programs has impacted on our

business, but I believe that when one door shuts, another one opens.

“For us we are looking even more closely as to how we can add better value to our gas industry customers including through the use of new technology.

“In trying to better understand our customer’s needs, we recognised that instead of simply punching more holes (gas wells) in the ground which is an extremely costly exercise for this industry, our customers are also wanting to get better productivity out of their established wells.

“There is lots of technology available to increase the productivity of gas wells such as work overs, well intervention techniques, horizontal drilling and the like.

“So we’ve also taken a closer look at our own products and services to see how they can fit or be adapted with these other technologies.”

Peter reckons local businesses like his have a lot to offer the onshore gas industry now and over the longer-term operations and maintenance phase.

Despite the gloomy outlook at present, he says it is also a great opportunity to try and further cement key relationships and position themselves for the next phase of drilling.

Jobs lost as business shuts its doorsEIGHTEEN jobs have been lost with the Dysart-based mining communications infrastructure business Hoban Smith Industries (HSI) shutting its doors.

The company, which specialises in mine site communications and security technologies, took the unfortunate step into voluntary liquidation just over a month ago.

It’s understood all operations have now ceased.

The liquidation process is being handled by Rob Humphrey’s from BRI Ferrier in Townsville; however, Shift Miner has not been able to contact him about the future of the business.

The winding up of the once strong locally built business is yet another sad story for the Central Queensland mining support sector that has battled to remain viable through one of the biggest spending freezes in the history of coal mining in the region.

Among the suite of other businesses to collapse over the past 12 months are: miner Bandanna Energy; quarry business Crushing Industries Australia; car rental business Sargent; and drilling outfit Nitro Drilling.

Commodity cycles keep engineering firms on their toes


18th May 2015 11

News

Upstream CSG keeps Surat Basin business positiveBusiness confidence remains strong, despite a general downturn in operating conditions in the Surat basin over the past six months.

That’s the stand-out finding of a new survey conducted by the Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE).

The survey, a first for the region, aimed to better understand local issues affecting business profitability and growth and to get a perception of the likely economic climate ahead.

Business conditions in the western regions of Chinchilla, Roma and Dalby have been less than favourable in the last six months, with the construction, manufacturing and mining sector taking the biggest hits.

However, business expectations for the next six months remain strong, and the outlook for next three years is even stronger again.

Industry wise, businesses from the agriculture sector registered the most optimism in terms of past and future business conditions, with respondents expecting above average conditions in the coming months and years.

TSBE CEO Shane Charles said the results of the survey should reinvigorate

a sense of optimism in the region.“We really wanted to be able

to provide local businesses and the community with an accurate snapshot of business confidence in the Toowoomba and Surat Basin region,” Mr Charles said.

“We all know that times have been tough recently with a slowing down of the oil and gas industry and our local businesses are feeling it.

“However, there is also plenty to be excited about.

“Particularly in terms of the opportunities that the region is now being presented through the development of major infrastructure, such as Wellcamp Airport and the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing, and the prospects this brings to a number of industries including agriculture.”

Meanwhile TSBE’s Enterprise Evening in Toowoomba a fortnight ago, attracted a large crowd [pictured below].

The honourable Dr Anthony Lynham minister for state development, natural resources and mines said he thought the Surat Basin region would be an economic powerhouse for Queensland’s growth into the future.

(L-R) Geoff West IOR PETROLEUM, Andrew Souter & Kale Munster A&J COMMUNICATIONS

(L-R) Kevin Mills CMC, Gary Davis DUST A SIDE, Bruce Holmes SURAT BASIN PROPERTY GROUP

(L-R) Cassandra Lawler & Paul Kelly from TRAFFICGROUP AUSTRALIA,Aaron Wilson DMW INDUSTRIES

(L-R) Kate Reardon TSBE, Michael Murray & Adam Kay COTTON AUSTRALIA, Kelli White QUEST TOOWOOMBA

(L-R) Cassandra Woodward and Hamish Martin from AMVL MIGRATIONS , Michael Tolshmakoff & Anthony Collins from TPM BUILDERS

(L-R) John McCormack and Les Crump MCCORMACK INDUSTRIES, Suzanne Doyle SAFE RESOLUTIONS

(L-R) Amanda Thomas GASFIELDS COMMUNICATION, Lesley Stumbles ORIGIN ENERGY,Martin McVicor MCVICAR & ASSOCIATES

(L-R) Mark Crampton TSBE,Scott Templeman TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL COUNCIL Lauren Crampton CRAMPTON AUTOMOTIVE

Nick Stebbings HB RECRUITMENT & TRAINING , Naomi Wilson FOCUS HR

Clayton Meryweather DOWNS GROUP TRAINING, Tanya Codd from SWQ TRAINING PTY LTD

Who would have thought it?

THERE are more than 3000 vacant positions in the mining sector, and wages are still growing at more than double the inflation rate, according to figures just released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The somewhat surprising results, however, make more sense when put in perspective.

According to the ABS there were more than 10,000 vacant mining position nationally in 2011, but that number has fallen to around 3000 today.

Wages for an average miner increased 22 per cent between late 2009 and 2012 reaching a peak of nearly $2400 a week - or more than $100,000 a year.

In the last two years that growth has crashed to around 6 per cent.

However, averaging across regions

and commodities does hide the more acute highs and lows in the sector. For example, Mackay has suffered terribly at the hands of the crashing coal price.

Unemployment has leapt in Mackay reaching a high of 10.3 per cent in January before easing slightly to 9.5 per cent in February- not far off double where it was at the end of last year.

Not surprisingly, the region now has more than 3000 houses on the market and has become a hotspot for mortgage default. More than a third of houses are selling at a loss.

Encouragingly, however, a straw poll of business confidence by the Mackay Chamber of Commerce has found most businesses have moved to a sustainable profit environment.


12 18th May 2015 Holding a social event you want photographed? Call the Shift Miner office on 4921 4333 to let us know. You can also give our office a bell if you’d like a copy of any of the photos in this edition.

Around Town

LEST WE FORGET100 years of ANZAC was marked across the Coalfields, with Bluff and Blackwater both paying tribute with dawn ceremonies and marches. [Photo credit: Jeannette Fletcher]


18th May 2015 13

www.shiftminer.comBuy this and many other images at

Shift Miner magazine – bringing the mining community closer together

Around Town

CITY VERSUS COUNTRY IN THE COALFIELDS Highlands league extravaganza enjoyed by the Blackwater community [Photo Credit: Jeannette Fletcher]

Nick, Oliver and Angela

(L-R) Sahy Lyall, Jennifer Huxley,Breeana Weight and Stevie Zeith

(L-R) Jessica Donnelly, LeeannBrennan and Emma Eastley

Guiliana and Jemima Johnson

(L-R) Kaylah Brown, Bronte Lancaster and Tayla Grant

Gemma Hopes and AmandaO’Neill

(L-R) Mariah, Peyton and Rebecca Stokes

(L-R) Miranda and Tegan Davidsonand Rebecca Stokes

(L-R) Jesse Beak, Hayden Latchford, Keinysha Ellis and Yasmin Black

Trevor Williams

(L-R) Chantelle McIntosh, Nickyand Sophia Dalton

(L-R) Curtis O’Donoghue, ClaytonSmith and Karl Broadhurst

(L-R) Tracy, Koby and CameronUpton and Megan Smith

Luke Giess and Sharni ScottThe Emerald” Cowgirls” team

The Blackwater Crushettes

Ashley Pocock and KayleneCrook

Dicko and Daniel


14 18th May 2015

Dear Frank,I am a 27-year old woman and I have met this really nice bloke - who I secretly hope to marry. However, I come from a large rural family, and last week while we were celebrating Beef Week (that’s our business) it was revealed to me that he was a vegetarian! I don’t know what to do? How can it possibly work? Lisa

Dear Lisa, Well if I am honest about it - it

probably can’t work.People who become vegetarians

invariably arrive at that point because of a whole lot of traumatic events that have left them in a state of semi mental retardation.

However, since you clearly like this fella, I am going to deal out some of my tonic. I can’t say it will definitely cure him of his sickness, but it will make him a better man.

Typically, the type of trauma that can lead a man to becoming a vegetarian are things like very early exposure to films within the “romantic comedy” genre and or being forced to accompany his father at a young age to ante-natal classes with a midwife who has a particularly opinionated view of a man’s role in the world (read hates men).

Both these types of events rob a man of the basic male instinct to pursue - hunt - kill - eat (It’s all part of the natural cycle of things and it just works).

I once knew a bloke who by accident found himself one hour into “Bridget Jones’s Diary” , arguably the most harmful (and utterly pointless) film ever to be shown to grown humans. All he heard from his girlfriend at the time was “do you want to watch a comedy?”

It was the word “romantic” that he missed, and last I heard from him, he

was living somewhere near Byron Bay, living what he called a wholesome Buddhist lifestyle.

As I said - hopelessly lost.My guess is that you need to

effectively “man” your bloke up, you need to extract the poison that has pushed him to this demented state.

I can’t say all these tricks will work for you - but I have definitely seen it have an effect on mice in a laboratory environment.

•Go to wikipedia - there is a list of every romantic comedy released by date. Chances are his problem started in the last 15 years, so make him watch every “rom com” released in that time. But he must watch them in reverse. There is a slight chance he will pick up some satanic messages in the process, but on balance I think that is the lesser of two evils.

•Find out where your nearest ante-natal class is, and ask around for who is the most “man-hating” midwife involved. Book him into that class, but make sure he wears a shirt that has a picture of a couple in the labour ward with the words “I would rather be at the pub” beneath it. Get ready to rumble.

•Next time you are marking cattle down at the yards with the rest of your family, make sure he gets the job of cutting the testicles out - except make him do it old school with a pocket knife and his teeth. Then it’s Paroo muscles for lunch.

If these cures don’t re-assert the carnivore in him, well yes things are probably lost and you should have him executed using the crushing method.

Frank the tank’s “Streakin” good love advice

LISA,

Why even worry about it? Surely

love is the most important thing, and

despite what Frank says, not eating

meat is not a sickness. It has no effect

on your health, and some say it even

improves it.

My advice is talk to him. Get to

the bottom of why he doesn’t eat

meat, because people have all sorts of

reasons for making this choice. You

might find out his experience can

really help your family market its own

meat in the future. Susan

sensIBLe sUsan

Off Shift

Hoping a tax cheque will save you?Many have been out of work in 2015,

some forced, some choosing to take a VR offered during the downturn. After a holiday period, and a few purchases, reality kicks back in.

Money gets tight, bills come in, kids keep growing and we all have to eat.

The cost to apply for new jobs is crazy! There’s a whole industry based around training and induction processes that are prerequisites for working on mine sites. Standard 11, coal board medical, and various extras like BMA inductions.

Your first week’s pay is to get back your own expenses - still at least they are tax deductible.

Many jobs have shorter hours, rosters and pay rates. If you have gone from salary wages with

regular income, sickies and holidays, to labour hire paid weekly, you will notice the change.

Perhaps you are now on a “Mummy Crew?” (Crib Staggers) The hours sound freakin awesome, but less hours equals less money.

Do you have any toys you can sell? Look in your shed, and ask yourself

these questions:“How often do I use this?” “Do I NEED it?” “How much could I sell it for?” “Can I buy another one when I’m a rich

miner again?”I sold my prized ride on mower to

get through some tough times. It was heartbreaking until I

answered those questions. I bought it with a coal bonus a few years ago

anyway! (Did you know how fit you can get actually pushing a mower?)

Who is yelling the loudest? Pay them first, keep your credit rating

intact, and believe there will be a light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s not “another bloody train!”.

I have realised how much money I wasted, how over rated gourmet food is, and how much I threw out to the chooks!

I don’t need ice coffee every time I drive to town, I can drink cask wine and I don’t need a counter meal when I go shopping.

Have you ever felt like your kid’s bank? When “the bank” gets de-funded the whole tribe struggles too. Who pays for the counter meals now?

A great site for help in tough times is www.FIFO Families.com, many groups are based in Qld. You can connect online, or go to meetings. DIDO and BIBO comes under the FIFO Families philosophy.

Founder, Nicole Ashby, was invited to take part in the WA inquiry into FIFO lifestyle mental health and suicide

issues. There are financial tips, webinars and guest bloggers like Mad Mumzie, discussing the ins and outs of our lifestyle.

I also personally recommend www.Bantacs.com.au for all your tax needs. You may have seen Julia Hartman from Bantacs in Central Qld during Tax time? Well known as a co-author with Noel Whittaker, she takes off with her 3 dogs and big van on a yearly sabbatical to help us miners get our act together, even writing a booklet just for us.

As we draw to the end of the 2015 Financial Year, I am hoping Julia can weave her magic with me again. A tax return will pay for the V8’s overdue service, and pay back some money to a special person who helped me in my tough times. How about you?

Yours in mind, body, spirit and money in mining.

Mad MumzieGoogle “Madmumzie” to go to my website.

MadMumzie.com

Finances. it’s coming up to that time oF the year again taX time!!


18th May 2015 15

Off Shift

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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10

11

12 13

14 15 16

17 18

19 20 21

22 23

24 25 26

27 28

29 30

57 #MUIDEM

5 6 8 47 2 8 3 1 9

3 7 4 22 8

5 2 9 4

8 1 4 5 2 73 2 9 8

ACROSS 1. Wishful thinker 5. Ungainly 9. From the menu (1,2,5) 10. Cuba’s capital 12. Overmuch 13. Savoy or Hilton 14. Very eager 16. Entertainers 19. Arise (from) 21. Had prior knowledge 24. Aggravated 25. Unmodified 27. Goes on all fours 28. Deeply touching 29. Igloo dweller 30. Influenced

DOWN 1. Endorsed 2. Roofing grass 3. ... & groans 4. Taking (exam) 6. Abhorrent 7. Dining hour 8. 12-month-old horse 11. Salesmen 15. Series of tennis comp wins (5,4) 17. Second-rate 18. Listeners’ forum, ... radio 20. Large Australian birds 21. Start of match (4-3) 22. Shocked 23. Revised (text) 26. Quarrel

SHIFT MINERHandy Cross 1872 - (15A grid)ShiftMinerHandy100s. pdf© Lovatts Publications 27/10/2010

C L A M B E R S A B O A R DO I A O R L IB A R O N E S S D A H L I AW M A E T Z I LE P A U L E T T E I N A N EB N T C L N C

T R U E H A I R C U TS J E A E SH O A R D E D N I N OI P H I E A IP L A Z A P L A Y A C T E DM N N S T W T LA G E N D A L E G A L I S ET S E S R R SE M E N D S S T E E P E S T

# 74 4 1 6 2 5 7 8 9 39 3 8 1 6 4 5 2 75 2 7 9 8 3 4 6 16 7 1 5 2 9 3 8 43 9 5 6 4 8 7 1 22 8 4 3 7 1 9 5 68 5 3 7 1 6 2 4 91 4 9 8 3 2 6 7 57 6 2 4 9 5 1 3 8

laSt EDItIoN’S SolUtIoNSPUZZLES

CAR FOR SALE

2009 TOYOTA HILUX DUAL CAB

69,000km plenty of extras on the big rig. 33 x 12.5” Micky Thompson MTZ’s 17” Moto metal mags Monster ride sump and engine bash plates. Monster ride custom flares. Buds custom side steps.

$ 28,000Call: 0439 716 531

CAR FOR SALE

2008 TOYOTA HILUX

Dual cab ute, mine specd, 4x4, a/c, roadworthy, diesel

$ 25,000Call: 0437 258 313

CAR FOR SALE

2008 NISSAN PATROL UTE

Nissan Patrol ute , was a work ute , but been private vehicle for 3 yrs now , tray needs a tidy up , 24 volt jump start kit , new tyres Can deliver depends on area

$ 13,000Call: 0457 599 461

CAR FOR SALE

1970 MORRIS COOPER S MK 2 REPLICA

Fully refurbished, classic Morris Mini Cooper S replica. New paint, all body work done, big motor, disc brakes. Can truck it to you (More in stock)

Price on applicationCall: 0299 382 242

CAR FOR SALE

2002 TOYOTA HILUX 4x4

150xxx km, 2.7L petrol, 2 way radio, steel tray with carpet and 3 waterproof lockable toolboxes, 4x4 with low range and hub locks, bullbar and tow ball, LN150 SR5 headlight upgrade

$ 9,999Call: 0450 561 244

CAR FOR SALE

2007 3L TURBO DIESEL RANGER

Solid reliable ute (2WD) used around town. A/c, Manual, new tyres, Airbag man suspension, Steel Tray

$ 9,900Call: 0428 154 653

CAR FOR SALE

2006 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER

125,000 kms, UTE, 2-door, Manual, Diesel, 4WD, 6-cylinder, Ext: White Rego Exp: 03/15, Air Con, Tinted Windows, HZJ79 Diesel 125000kms Water tank, tool box, winch, tinted windows, 2inch lift kit, full service history. Heaps of extras, good condition.

$ 32,000Call: 0428 461 803

CAR FOR SALE

2001 FORD COURIER UTE

2001 Ford Courier Ute as is. Cruise Control XL Service Body 180000kms Well Maintained & Serviced Bull Bar Work Light UHF Radio Tinted Window Vice High Clearance Lights.

$ 6,000Call: 0427 965 058

CAR FOR SALE

2005 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 3

This Land Rover Discovery 3 HSE SUV has a powerful 4.4 litre V8 engine with sports exhaust system, seating for 5. Full service history, 3500kg braked and 750kg unbraked towing capacity. Rego paid until July 2015. Selling to down size.

$ 28,000Call: 0427 511 226

CAR FOR SALE

1985 CHEVROLET CORVETTE COUPE

Chevy Corvette 350 4+3 Manual Transmission, Complete R/H Conversion Kit, Orange in Colour

$ 18,000Call: 0417 338 229

CAR FOR SALE

2001 FORD F250 UTE

Ford F250, good condition, wooden tray, 4WD

$ 33,000Call: 0419 726 140

CAR FOR SALE

2011 TOYOTA HILUX SR 4x4

Toyota Hilux SR 4x4 white single cab ute 118,000km, in excellent condition, has been a managers vehicle. Please note it will be sold with full length side boards and without toolboxes. BMA mine spec with 2 way, long range fuel tank.

$ 250,000Call: 0419 238 184

CAR FOR SALE

GT FPV 2013

6 Speed Manual GT Falcon, immaculate condition, leather interior, 11000ks.

$ 69,000Call: 0417 433 442

CAR FOR SALE

HIGHWAY CRUISER

Pacemaker headers X force exhurst full flow cats Corvette shift kit new wheels, tyres 4 new rotors ac compressor evaporator oil change every 5000 new hood lining.

$ 8,000Call: 0400 306 202

CAR FOR SALE

MINI PANELVAN

Formally our work “run-a-round” Van. Whole car was re-built about 5 years ago with our famous “Sports 1100” power units... so it goes like the clappers!! Transport available!


CAR FOR SALE

LEYLAND MINI MOKE

Fully refurbised by us 3 years ago, This is a very sought after ONE OWNER Mini Moke. 2 pac paint in A1 Cond, No rust. 4 seater. Transport available.


NOW ABSOLUTELY FREE FOR SUBSCRIBERS at www.shiftminer.com

TRAILER FOR SALE

LARGE TANDEM TRAILER

4.5m in length x 2.4m wide. Draw bar can be extended a further 1.3 metres. 3 Tonne rating Electric brakes Brake away on trailer which can be fitted to any vehicle Cages and high sides are fully detachable.

$ 8,900Call: 0427 116 011

TRAILER FOR SALE

4.8M TRAILER

4.8 x 2.45m heavy duty trailer electric brakes on all 4 wheels tool box on drawbar rated to 3.5 tonne. Located at Collinsville.

$ 10,000Call: 0408 293 251

TRAILER FOR SALE

TRADE TRAILER

Full galvanised and compartments inside.

$ 5,000Call: 0427 723 987

CARAVAN FOR SALE

SPACELINE CARAVAN

40ft Spaceline. Caravan. Only used for staff housing. Great condition. Bedroom has full size double bedBathroom has laundry (Washing Machine and Dryer) Split System Air Conditioner Microwave, Fridge, TV etc Tri Axle all been rebuilt.

$ 35,000Call: 0458 895 823

TRAILER FOR SALE

ARMADILLO CAMPING TRAILER

2010 Armadillo ARMA-X Camping trailer.All Australian made, heavy duty canvas.2, 80lt water tanks, 2 burner stove, running water to sink, solar panels. 2 add on rooms.All tent poles ropes and pegs.In good condition.

$ 14,000Call: 0409 144 541

ATV FOR SALE

2013 KAWASAKI KVF 750

V twin, eps, electric 4wd switch and front diff lock, high and low range, independent front and rear, has led lights on the front, cigarette lighter plug, tow ball, very very good condition only little under 700km.

$ 7,000Call: 0447 184 677

ATV FOR SALE

CAN-AM MAVERICK RS 1000X

2013 model. Low hours. 880klm Lots factory fitted options. Can-am Doors. Roof. Bash guards. Half screen.front and rear bars. Factory fitted Two brothers pipes. Cv tech clutch.

$ 17,700Call: 0417 545 677

ATV FOR SALE

CAN-AM XTP 1000

Have for sale can am xtp 1000. Still have 8 months warranty left no beach work. Reason for selling bike moving over seas.

$ 14,000Call: 0409 260 139

TRUCK FOR SALE

HINO FD 4x4 FUEL TANKER

Hino FD, Model GT3HHKFDINS, 4x4 Fuel Tanker· Date of Manufacture 8/1995· GVM: 13000kg· GCM: 21000kg· Odometer Reading: 25,0981km· Transmission: 6 Speed Manual· Suspension: Spring· Engine: Hino 6 Cylinder.

$ 25,000Call: 0417 771 642

KAWASAKI NINJA 300 SPECIAL EDITION

2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300 special edition with ABS. As new perfect condition, only has 2139kms on it. Learner Approved, registered till Oct 2015.

$ 5,500Call: 0428 888 902

MOTORCYCLE FOR SALE

TRUCK FOR SALE

TRUCK, BOBCAT AND ATTACHMENT

02/2009 Mitsubishi Fuso Truck 19544kms, Bobcat S185 Turbo 2197hrs showing 4 way bucket.

Price on application

Call: 0408 690 416

TRUCK FOR SALE

VOLVO TIPPER & AXLE DOG TRAILER

01/2000 Volvo NH12 6x4 Tipper Truck. 779980kms showing Cummins 525hp 6 cylinder diesel 18 speed Road Ranger air bag suspension.


Call: 0408 690 416

TRUCK FOR SALE

FORD TRADER TRUCK UNREGISTERED 1989

4 cyl diesel, 3 seats, white, 2600 tare, GVM 5835. Cattle crate, ramp, rear half-slide door, full swing door for hay. Solid steel tray. Rust in body needs fixing. Needs new indicator stick and steering wheel centre. Motor needs work. Was registered until recently.

$ 2,000Call: 0749 584 601

ENGINE FOR SALE

TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 1HDT FE ENGINE

1 Toyota Landcruiser 1HDT FE Engine for sale. Been in accident, but supplied with replacement parts, wiring loom and computer..

$ 5,500Call: 0429 348 344

BOAT FOR SALE

12FT TINNY

12 ft tinny,5 months rego, boat only, good condition.

$ 500Call: 0422 108 128

BOAT FOR SALE

2008 NITRO 640

90hp Mercury Optimax engine with under 90hrs, skeg protector and 4 blade stainless Trophy plus prop with Mercury Smart Craft gauges, 80lb 24V Minn Kota electric with foot pedal and remote control.

$ 23,000Call: 0408 493 393


2005 Caterpillar D9T Dozer. Machine hours 15000. Engine hours 0 hours new engine. Transmission hours 4000. Converter hours 4000. RHS final drive hours 1300. LHS final drive hours 1300.


Honda E U inverter 10i very good condition.

$ 650Call: 0499 387 879

HONDA GENERATOR INVERTER

BUSINESS FOR SALE

EMERALD HOME BREW SUPPLIES

This affordable thriving home brew supply business is for sale. WIWO. It has excellent, loyal & steady clientelle with new customers arriving daily.

$ 120,000Call: 0428 340 634

ALVEY REEF KING DECK WINCH

This Alvey deck winch came with a boat i purchased 6 years ago. I havent used it so it has to go! Spooled with monfilament. Around 200lb. Comes with 2 seperate gunnel mount holders. These sell for over $1000 new.

$ 350Call: 0427 524 975

SKI ROPES FOR SALE

SKI ROPES, WAKEBOARD ROPES & HANDLES

Ski ropes for sale, 1 never used spectra wake board rope, another used spectra rope, towing⁄tube rope and ski rope. 1x wake board handle and 1x single ski handle all great condition Kidder single ski VGC.

$ 250Call: 0429 003 442

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

GRANNY FLAT 12Mx3X

2 bedroom grannyflat with custom kitchenette, full ensuit and is insulated and lined with gyprock, set on a super strong i beam base.

$ 39,900Call: 0407 881 978

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE

SMALLER CATTLE FOR SMALLER ACREAGE

Australian Lowline registered purebred or unregistered commercial, fully vaccinated, from good bloodlines, very quiet, naturally polled, easy to handle, great with kids, great lawnmowers, taste terrific, delivery negotiable. Crediton via Mackay.

$ 440 per headCall: 0749 584 601

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE

MEAT ON FEET

Angus/Lowline finished steers, pasture fattened, great condition, great taste, ready for your farm butcher to process, then straight into your freezer, 3 available, $770 per head, delivery negotiable. Crediton via Mackay

$ 770 per headCall: 0749 584 601

CAMPING EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

ACCOMODATION CAMP FOR SALE

48 MAN ACCOMODATION CAMP

48 Room Transportable Accommodation Camp comprising of: 12x 4 Room Ensuite Accommodation Units - 14.4 mtr x 3.3 mtr - Each room complete with ensuite reverse cycle split system air conditioning single bed wardrobe fridge television desk and chair.


EARTHMOVING EQUIP. FOR SALE

Total frame hours 24766. Engine hours 3130. Pump drive 5100. No1 pump 7000. No2 pump 5100. No3 pump 5100. No4 pump 5100. Front swing box 6936. Front swing motor 5200. Rear swing box 7276. Rear swing motor 5200. Right hand side final drive 50.


KOMATSU PC1100 EXCAVATOR


HITACHI EXCAVATOR 3.5T

Hitachi Excavator 3.5t Great little machine, recently serviced.. 3800hr’s Comes with 3 buckets (1 mud & 2 trenching) Currently Registered.

$ 16,500

Call: 0424 244 444


Cat D9T DOZER

Call: 0408 690 416

TOOLS FOR SALE

DIESEL AIR COMPRESSOR

30 cfm diesel air compressor, dimensions are 960H x 1180L x 480W. A1 condition, less than 300 hrs use. Was purchased 3 years ago for over $5000.

$ 2,500Call: 0429 355 456

SPORTS & HOBBY EQUIP. FOR SALE

BOAT FOR SALE

TABS BOAT

5.1m TABS Boat 90hp Suzuki Outboard Plumbed live bait tank 120L under floor fuel tank Chart plotterColour sounder VHF 2way radio EPIRB Avall safety equipment. Large deck space. Trailer in excellent condition 7 months Rego.

$ 24,000Call: 0447 600 706

BOAT FOR SALE

SKI BOAT V8 WAKE BOAT

V8 ski boat v drive runs very smooth and throws a good wake, sounds good always turns heads. New wake tower 4x board racks cd ipod x4 speaker’s interior been redone, good solid hull and gell coat.

$ 14,500Call: 0405 624 522

BOAT FOR SALE

TWIN 1998 MODEL JOHNSON 60HP

Pride 6.2m half cabin with twin outboard, 2 strokes very reliable and well serviced 2 lowrance gps, depth sounders, bilge pump 280l under floor fuel marine radio Full offshore safety gear Solid dual axle trailer Will swap for smaller boat around 5m.


Call: 0412 199 700

BOAT FOR SALE

KIANNA 30FT RIVERIA FLYBRIDGE CRUISER

Stored under cover in Gladstone Marine Centre shed. (Paid to Oct 2015), engine 200hp Volvo turbo diesel, (reconditioned by Volvo 2013) Low hours, fuel consumption 28-30 litres/hr @ 15kts, Lowrance HDS9 (Gps, Sounder, Scanner) ready to go, Good condition.

$ 87,000Call: 0407 580 998

Cat D9T DOZER



18th May 2015 19

Off Shift

IN YEPPOON - Anglers have had almost a fortnight of near perfect weather for fishing, with almost no breeze and very little swell. Adrian from Secret Spot Bait & Tackle in Yeppoon says it’s starting to get windy again, however last week there were some great Red Emperor caught in deeper water near the islands. He has had good reports of Mackerel off the Pinnacles and on the Lisa Jane shoals, as well as some good Nannygai. Whiting, Dart, and Bream are all being caught off the beach with yabbies and prawns, as well as Blue Salmon off Farnborough. A friend fishing in Coorooman Creek also got a surprise 1140 Barramundi on live bait last week.

IN GLADSTONE - Monica at the Compleat Angler in Gladstone says the short answer is the wind’s blowing it’s backside off, making fishing difficult. However she says they can’t complain as they had a nice week leading into it. When the weather permits Monica said there are fish around but you have to work for them. She suspects the unusually long summer meant the summer fish hadn’t quit disappeared and the winter fish were not yet active. Her advice was that if it’s not working in one spot - try another. That seems to be the feedback from people in her shop. Salmon are starting to run in places like the Narrows, and there are still a few crabs around which is unusual for this time of the year.

IN MACKAY - Nathan at Tackle World Mackay says the shipping channel is fishing well when the weather permits, with plenty of Nannygai and Sweet lip. Also a few Spanish Mackerel are starting to show up as temperatures drop. In the creeks and estuaries Whiting are going after fresh Yabbies and Blue Salmon are being caught on slab Mullet. However crabs and prawns are quiet with the cooler weather. Kinchant Dam is fishing OK for Barramundi with soft plastics in the shallow warmer water.

Sent in by Ian at The Secret Spot in Yeppoon is Cayle with a Barramundi Cod (safely returned as they are a protected species), Adam Stewart with a top notch Nanny, and an impressive Mackerel.

BaIt shop Banter

If you have a good photo or fishing yarn

send it through to our resident bait chucker- [email protected]

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

Around Town

MAY DAYLabour Day might be officially on the calendar in October in Queensland, but in the Coalfields tradition reigns. In Blackwater, the day of the worker was marked with a union march and family fun day - including joy rides for the kids and a car show. [Photo credit: Jeannette Fletcher]


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