ISSUE 12 | SUMMER 2018 $4.95 - where sold
Inside:
The yellow metal fi nds favour
Liquid gold in Flinders Shire
Agripower fertiliser project takes root
Robots used to detect structural faults
Pajingo ramps up The projects, the people, the progress IN THIS ISSUE
Cover image: courtesy of Budd Photography Open-cut drilling and explosives preparation, Pajingo gold mine, IT’S LEARNING Charters Towers. IN ACTION
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‘PAJINGO 2.0’ All material is copyright and cannot be produced in part or in full by any means without written permission of 14 the managing editor. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. "Cost Savings By Rationalisation"
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RTO #31444 CRICOS #03494D Tec-NQ Ltd NEWS | Gold
Market’s golden ticket for Australian miners “We’re seeing gold Exploration activity at the Golden Mile project in north-west Queensland. producers looking Gold exploration in Queensland underground production stream. to expand their rose 21 per cent last year as Resolute is continuing to progress its $300million-plus Ravenswood Expansion mines” High-grade fi nds excite Cloncurry explorer resource companies looked to Project, which has seen the company cash in on favourable market establish a 13-year mine life for local gold gold. We have 8km of this gold mineralised tonne plus, and copper and cobalt. Ian Macfarlane Ausmex believes it is sitting conditions. operations based on a return to large-scale structure on the surface.” “We started drilling them and they are on ‘an absolute bonanza’ at open pit mining at the Nolans East, Buck Ausmex came to north-west good, high-grade gold mines and there Queensland Resources Council chief its Golden Mile project near Queensland with its purchase of a majority are so many of them and they go for Reef West and Sarsfi eld deposits. Cloncurry. interest in the Mt Freda and Gilded Rose kilometres and kilometres. executive Ian Macfarlane said the amount Among other movements in gold this gold projects and some exploration “It’s like a dream come true for a junior.” spent on gold exploration statewide in year was the start of production at the Managing director Matt Morgan says the tenements. Mr Morgan said Round Oak had already 2017-18 was $61.7 million, compared with Lorena gold project near Cloncurry, while ground is riddled with high-grade workings, Mt Freda included a low-grade ore constructed a haul road in the area for its $51 million in 2016-17, in the face of strong Round Oak Minerals kicked off the Wallace abandoned since the late 1930s. stockpile which Round Oak Minerals operations. demand for the precious metal overseas. South gold development after investing in “There is a string of nine former mines, wanted to feed its newly refurbished Golden Mile gold would be processed “Currently the gold price is around upgrades at its Cloncurry processing plant. plus unmarked ones,” he said. Cloncurry processing plant during at the Round Oak Minerals Cloncurry $US1200 an ounce, which means Fat Prophets resource analyst David “We’re just focusing on a small area and commissioning work. processing facilities, providing an Australian producers would receive an Lennox said Australian gold miners had it is proving to be super high grade. In return, it paid Ausmex $2.5 million and opportunity for quick cash fl ow with extra 30 per cent on the spot price with benefi ted from a weak Australian dollar “This has the potential to be a huge made it an 80 per cent benefi ciary of two minimum start-up costs for Ausmex. the currency difference and this is one against the US. province. EPM sub-blocks containing the Golden Mile Mr Morgan said Ausmex had been of the reasons why we’re seeing gold “That has helped our gold mining “The most exciting part is that project. conducting targeted drilling of nine reefs producers looking to expand their mines,” industry no end,” he said. “What we are underneath the whole area at depth is “We believed there was potential to and planned to carry out resource drilling in he said. seeing is that gold production in Australia a large geophysical anomaly that Exco expand Mt Freda and these sub-blocks 2019 to prove up a JORC estimate. Evolution Mining announced in October has improved and that is primarily because Resources identifi ed in 2012 as an IOCG adjoin the mining lease,” Mr Morgan said. “In the New Year we’ll be gearing up that it had the green light from its board for it is still worthwhile for Australian gold (iron oxide copper-gold) potential source.” “Then we did some exploration work and again. We will need four or fi ve rigs,” he pressures to push gold prices higher in a $60 million underground development, pit producers to mine gold.” The high-grade gold shoots at Golden it’s riddled with old workings and gold. It’s said. 2019. cut-back and relevant plant modifi cations Gold prices in United States dollar terms Mile and nearby Mt Freda appeared to amazing. The push comes amid a bullish “The other thing you need to look at is stem from this large, deep source – which “We got out and walked and every environment for gold and Mr Morgan said at the Mt Carlton gold operation in North have held steady around $1200-$1250 the cost of production and miners have put had the potential to be a world-class ridgeline, every hill, has got historic the sort of success being experienced Queensland. per ounce this year after an early 2018 a lot of effort into getting their costs down. deposit, he said. workings and there are tools that people at Golden Mile could help reinvigorate Meanwhile Minjar Gold is planning to peak of about $US1355, but with the In Australian dollar terms the margin has “We think we are sitting on an absolute have just walked away and left near these exploration investment in the area. develop a new decline at its Pajingo gold Australian dollar sitting around 78 cents probably improved as they have reduced bonanza,” Mr Morgan said. “It will probably shafts. “It’s a big one,” he said. mine near Charters Towers, where it has against the US, that means prices topping costs and have a better Australian dollar take us another 12 months to drill out. “We went through and sampled on the “I think it could be a game changer for recently brought a number of small open- $1600 per ounce in Australian dollars. price,” Mr Lennox said. “Everywhere we are drilling is gold, gold, surface and got gold results of 30-40g/ Cloncurry and the North West.” pit operations online to add to its main Fat Prophets expects infl ationary
2 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | SUMMER 2018 www.i-Q.net.au 3 NEWS | Gold
Long, wide loads to meet heavy demand
National Heavy Haulage recently heavy equipment in the Queensland mining “We’ve seen a general upturn in industry in the last 12 months. commodity prices and in the industry, which “There are all-weather roads to the mine, a completed a massive delivery to It was adding to its rental fl eet at the rate has underpinned this increase in activity.” deep-water port and twice-daily fl ights to BHP’s Peak Downs mine, with of about one piece per week, but still found The group’s work to date had primarily Cairns,” said Alice Queen managing director fi ve ultra-class Liebherr T 282 C most of the fl eet was fully utilised and some been focused on the Bowen Basin, however, Andrew Buxton. dump trucks transported from areas of demand could not be fi lled, he said. it was also seeing increasing demand in Mackay. The Ernst and Young 2018 Australian North Queensland, he said. yellow goods and mining services report iSeekplant chief executive offi cer Sally Alice Queen confi dent it has ace in the pack But the rental deal for the 260-tonne shows the Australian mining fl eet value McPherson said that group had seen index has risen 7.5 per cent since December demand for civil plant and equipment start A punt on an old gold mine on In a statement to the ASX on October Buxton, a former managing director of mining trucks is just part of a bigger picture, as equipment suppliers face increased 2016. Analysts found that supply was tight to grow in areas south of Bundaberg and 31, Alice Queen said Horn Island had the Kidman Resources, said he was always a Torres Strait island looks like and it was diffi cult to fi nd quality low-hour west to Toowoomba and surrounds about potential to rival, “major past and present demand from a pumped-up resources confi dent of its potential. and late-model yellow goods, particularly 24 months ago with the establishment of paying off for a Melbourne- multi-million-ounce gold producers of sector in Queensland. “When I fi nished with Kidman Resources ultra-class units. several major infrastructure projects. based mining company. north-east Queensland, such as Kidston, “Mining companies are trying to get more I had a fair bit of time on my hands and Centurion general manager Heavy “The market had contracted prior to that, Mt Leyshon, Ravenswood and Mt Wright.” production so it does create a void for more an opportunity to look around for another equipment to pull the tonnes out of the Haulage East Corey French said that group with the downturn in the mining industry, The Alice Queen company formed a “Age dating has confi rmed that Horn project,” he said. ground, and if mines are going to buy new had seen an increase in heavy haulage causing several larger plant hire companies joint venture with the Kaurareg Aboriginal Island is of the same broad age as “I had a strong technical team looking at the lead times are sometimes up to two activity over the past year. to close in the market,” she said. Land Trust in 2013 to mine for gold on these deposits,” Alice Queen said in the Horn Island and their belief was that there years,” National Group managing director “This has been driven by both new She said anywhere north of Bundaberg Horn Island after previous exploration statement. was certainly real potential there.” Mark Ackroyd said. equipment being ordered and delivered as had been consistently fl at, with only a few work there had been unsuccessful. “Structural studies of the Horn Island Mr Buxton said the future looked bright Mr Ackroyd said his company had seen well as older equipment requiring off-site major projects keeping the industry alive in Alice Queen managing director Andrew pit mineral resource area have shown a 30 per cent increase in demand for maintenance,” he said. central and northern Queensland. Buxton said the results from initial that the gold is contained in a large for gold as a commodity, while one of exploration work had been extremely tension vein array setting with signifi cant the advantages of exploring on Horn positive. probable extensions away from the Island was that it had well-established “Drilling in and around the open pit resource area which have had only very infrastructure. has come up with an initial resource of limited drill testing.” “There are all-weather roads to the 492,000 ounces of gold,” Mr Buxton said. While the most recent attempt at mine, a deep-water port and twice-daily “We’re hoping to get to 1 million ounces.” mining the site had ended in 1989, Mr fl ights to Cairns,” he said. mount margaret Agreement recognises traditional owners Mount Margaret has been named as the most popular place for families to live in Townsville. Alice Queen managing director of the islands which make up the Torres been upset at the lack of respect shown to Andrew Buxton is proud of Strait. them in the past. He also wanted to put a mechanism in “During our talks, one of the traditional Here’sH Why..... the strong relationship the place to ensure the Kaurareg people could owners said it was the fi rst time a ‘white share in any profi ts from the mine. fella’ had ever asked permission from them company has developed with the Before the superficialities of the home itself, the land your property sits on traditional owners of Horn Island “What we came up with was a joint to do something on their land and, because will be your greatest asset. In a good location, the land’s value will only venture with the traditional owners of Horn of that, their answer was yes,” Mr Buxton continue to rise, while the building itself will age and require maintenance. in the Torres Strait. Island,” Mr Buxton said. said. Buildhome Magazine “We explained to them that we wanted “It meant so much to him that he had When deciding to go ahead with mining to establish an agreement that meant both tears running down his face. On site wastewater treatment systems for gold on the island, Mr Buxton wanted money and jobs for their people. “We think what we are doing with the Having outdoor space to play is not allow you to recycle all your household to ensure he had permission of and co- only good for children’s physical health but “We were determined to put something Kaurareg people is a fantastic example of water on to your gardens. Cheaper rates operation from the Kuarareg people, who also vital for their mental wellbeing. in place that helped their community.” how black and white Australia can come and better gardens and landscaping. are the traditional owners of a number Mr Buxton said the Kaurareg people had together.” Ecocity World Summit
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4 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | SUMMER 2018 www.i-Q.net.au 5 “Our focus is to NEWS | Agripower get through our pre-feasibility Power play under-realised study” The current high price of material, but of vanadium fl ow batteries. vanadium, being led by traditional Chief executive offi cer Shaun McCarthy Shaun McCarthy told a recent IMARC conference in demand sources into record Melbourne that the company had a 493Mt territory, is likely to fi rm in the JORC compliant resource at 0.3 per cent long term as the metal develops vanadium pentoxide. into one of the solutions to the That represented 1.38Mt in recoverable metal from its St Elmo’s lease near Julia 21st century’s energy demand. Creek in North-West Queensland. To put that in perspective, global At least that’s what’s bolstering the consumption in 2017 was 180,000t. confi dence of emerging junior miner, Agripower’s new fertiliser Mr McCarthy said the North Queensland Brisbane-based Multicom Resources. manufacturing plant is expected play had created a lot of excitement The price of vanadium pentoxide in to be commissioned in 2019. “I guess having a locally-based company China had topped out at a 13-year high of that’s in a project development phase $US33.90/lb at the time of writing. looking to bring some onshore production A big boost in demand has resulted from of vanadium to Australia, yes, we’re quite New Year celebrations for fertiliser plant new building standards set by the Chinese happy with feedback,” he said. government for rebar, the vanadium The company is working on a pre- additive which is used to strengthen steel. feasibility study to confi rm its approach, “Those are the milestones for the in April/May,” he said. The company has to start hiring operators for the new plant Agripower’s new $52 million Those changes came into effect in including a target production rate of company and then we’ll really assess been operating a pilot facility to produce a from about February in the lead-up to fertiliser manufacturing plant is November. Despite the highest price 10,000t/annum over 20 years. where we’re at in the early part of next granular form of silicon fertiliser. commercial production. nearing completion at Charters seen since 2005, it seems the impact of This included the prospect of an initial year and how we take this forward in terms The planned step-up to commercial “We have about 24 people employed at Towers, with commissioning vanadium’s place as a principal component public offer, Mr McCarthy said. of fi nancing the next phase of works.” production follows more than 500 grower the moment – that will go to 55-60 people in larger-scale energy storage is yet to be “Our focus at the moment is to get The potential of the project has been planned in the fi rst quarter of trials in 14 countries. including logistics and transport personnel fully realised. through our pre-feasibility study and recognised by local authorities, including 2019. Mr Prentice said the construction had as it ramps up in the fi rst year,” he said. Multicom Resources is positioning itself get an environmental impact statement McKinlay Shire Council and Townsville City supported about 85 jobs including the on- The plant has been designed to be as a regional supplier, not only of the raw submitted in early 2019,” he said. Council, as well as the State Government. The company plans to engage a site work and those involved in fabrication relatively easily scaled up through the contractor to carry out campaign mining and engineering in Charters Towers and addition of extra process lines. at its Greenvale site to provide the Townsville businesses. “In 2019 we’ll have the new plant amorphous silica ore for processing at the Key contractors have included commissioned, we’ll be delivering into sales facility. Mineforce Australia, SMEC, FortisEM, TEM contracts, we’ll be growing the demand for Agripower managing director Peter (Townsville Earth Moving), ICS Electrical Prentice said the new 250,00tpa-capacity Contractors, Wulguru Steel and AECOM. plant was nearing mechanical completion Amorphous silica mined at Agripower’s and that electrical completion was Greenvale site will be screened at the “Ultimately we expected in January/February. new complex, milled and processed in a SOLD “The granulation plant should be see the project SOLD mixer to create a product with a rough ball SOLDD commissioned in March (2019) and we are shape. This is then smoothed to a sphere HOLD expanding quite SOLD simultaneously building a smaller liquids to mirror the shape, size and weight of the HOLD plant with capacity of 750,000 litres per more common N:P:K (nitrogen-phosphate- signifi cantly in the annum, that will be commissioned probably potassium) fertiliser granules, so the years ahead” products can be admixed without problems such as separation. - Peter Prentice Mr Prentice said Agripower would SOLD be seeking a contractor to mine an initial 100,00-150,000 tonnes of ore HOLD commencing in May. the product nationally and internationally SOLD The campaign mining stints were – and it wouldn’t surprise me, as we get expected to ramp up as the operation to early 2020, if we’re starting to look at SOLD grew, he said. further expansion of the operation,” Mr “Eventually we’ll be getting to the point Prentice said. NOW SELLING FROM ONLY$200,000 where we want to mine monthly and “Ultimately we see the project expanding at that point we will look at buying our quite signifi cantly over the years ahead. Call Craig Currie 0428 149 000 own plant and equipment (for mining at “I think it’s going to take us the next Greenvale),” he said. three years to bed down the international The company has established a JORC and Australian market for the product, but resource of 1.8 billion tonnes of ore at the I would like to think that in the next three More than 80 jobs were created during mine site. to fi ve years we’re out there producing and construction. Mr Prentice said Agripower would look selling in excess of 1 million tonnes a year.”
6 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | SUMMER 2018 www.i-Q.net.au 7 “Nickel no longer COMMENT | Nickel has a prime dependency on Battery metal fi nds stainless steel” North’s new take on nickel processing Ross Louthean A band of nickel enthusiasts Construction is expected to create up helped push them toward Townsville as their market comfort zone hopes to have a new Townsville to 1000 jobs and about 150 people would preferred location and, with the capital cost be employed in ongoing plant operations, of establishing a HPAL plant in the billions, By Ross Louthean project developer is Clean TeQ, which has processing plant up and running in addition to logistics and transport roles they also turned to a different process. one of the world’s most prominent mining within three years, with an created by the development. Mr Downie said QPM sought out The question of where the entrepreneurs, Robert Friedland, as its output geared towards the Mr Downie would not reveal the expected technology that would use less acid, that principal and a major Chinese partner keen burgeoning battery market. capital costs of the plant. would produce less tailings and that would erratic course of the nickel on entering the EV market. The company The QPM team has a long history with recover some of the co-products usually market is heading now was has the Sunrise nickel-cobalt project in Queensland Pacifi c Metals has identifi ed nickel, having all been involved at high levels lost in nickel-cobalt refi ning. raised at the recent Australian NSW and is advancing testwork for a an effective processing route to produce with Queensland Nickel and Gladstone QPM is considering sites at Bluewater, Nickel Conference in Perth. nickel-cobalt sulphate plant, specifi cally for battery-grade nickel and cobalt sulphate Pacifi c Nickel. Townsville and Woodstock for the the EV market. from ore supplied from New Caledonia. Mr Downie was managing director of processing plant. Gladstone Pacifi c Nickel, which had won Mr Downie said a factor in site selection The answer by this writer, co-author At the nickel conference Independence The method they are studying has the State approval to develop a HPAL plant at would be the ability for satellite businesses of Australia’s Nickel Adventure, was that Group chief executive Peter Bradford added benefi t of a greatly reduced tailings the metal is in a comfort zone rarely seen told delegates decreasing stockpiles and stream compared to HPAL (high pressure Gladstone before being acquired by Clive to locate near the refi nery. before. growth in global stainless steel demand acid leach) technology or the Caron Palmer. “The plant will produce about 230,000 Nickel no longer has a prime dependency would move nickel prices higher as the process used at the existing, mothballed When Queensland Nickel shut down in tonnes of haematite (iron oxide) and 10,000 on stainless steel because of the onset of commodity became the big winner from the nickel refi nery at Yabulu, according to QPM 2016, he said the QPM founders could see tonnes of alumina and a similar quantity of the electric vehicle (EV) revolution. EV demand ‘disruption’. executive director John Downie. the likelihood of a shortfall in the market magnesia in addition to the nickel and cobalt and decided to revisit the idea of developing sulphates,” he said. This year’s conference was perhaps the Not only will that demand spurt require plant, airstrip and camp at the project, QPM plans to utilise the DNi process a processing facility in Gladstone. “We think there is an opportunity for most vibrant this decade, with the blue sky an additional 300,000 to 900,000 tonnes which is expected to cost $A299 million. to produce a mixed hydroxide precipitate seen for sulphide nickel and for lateritic of nickel within seven years, but it will also Managing director Dan Lougher made (MHP) and will take advantage of a CSIRO But the LNG and coal developments that satellite businesses to use the co-products nickel-cobalt deposits. underpin a much stronger outlook over it clear that the impetus for this major pilot plant in Western Australia to test the had taken place there in the meantime from the plant for further value adding.” The latter scenario brings Queensland FY19 for IGO’s Nova nickel-copper mine in re-development was the opportunity approach. back into the picture, for there are WA’s Fraser Range. The company, also a for producing nickel sulphate for the EV “We plan to put about 80 tonnes of ore exploration and research programs major gold producer, has a budget for the market. through the pilot plant over a three-month underway on several laterite deposits, coming year of $A50 million for exploration. One of the companies pushing the nickel program and just fi rm up the operating including Sconi, and also on similar nickel- “EV lithium ion battery cathodes with supply side for EV’s, BHP’s Nickel West, parameters using the ore from New cobalt deposits in New South Wales. higher nickel content are the key to showed the physical progress being made Caledonia that we will be using in the full- Sconi, owned by Australian Mines, enabling higher energy density, and that on building a multi-million dollar nickel scale commercial plant,” Mr Downie said. is being promoted as a nickel-cobalt- broadens our opportunity for Nova to sulphate plant at its Kwinana nickel refi nery The proposed Townsville plant would scandium project – all metals earmarked for emerge as a stable supplier of minerals in Western Australia. process about 600,000 wet metric tonnes the battery industry now being developed critical to clean energy storage,” Mr Head of integrated operations for Nickel of nickel ore per year with the intention QPM plans to globally for EVs. Bradford said. West, Karl Stokes, said the nickel sulphate of producing about 25,000tpa of nickel test its process Sconi is in the hinterland west of On the eve of the conference, major plant, stage 1, should see structural, sulphate and 3000tpa of cobalt sulphate. Townsville, which already is an approved nickel miner Western Areas announced it mechanical and pipe work start in the fi rst QPM plans to complete its bankable through a pilot export port that was used by the now- was to start $32 million in early site works quarter of next year. Nickel West is also feasibility study by mid-2020 and be up plant in Western mothballed Yabulu nickel plant. on the Cosmos Odysseus to revive mining undertaking laboratory tests to produce a and running by 2021 subject to government Another eastern Australian nickel by the end of 2022. There are established battery-grade cobalt. approvals. Australia.
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How would you like to really see what’s the complex interaction of gas and water going on in your coal seam gas production fl ows within CSG wells. In order to extract well? CSG from the coal seams, groundwater needs to be removed to reduce the fl owing New laboratory infrastructure has been bottom-hole pressure (FBHP) to allow gas built at The University of Queensland’s to fl ow into the wellbore. Centre for Coal Seam Gas to investigate Prediction of the FBHP – the pressure at the base of the well - is key to forecasting and optimising well production and tracking well capacity. “UQ researchers A range of mathematical models are available in industry software which enable have constructed prediction of the FBHP. However, these models are designed for a laboratory fl ow conventional wells, which are signifi cantly different from CSG wells. simulator” Unlike conventional wells, where gas and liquid fl ow co-currently in a pipe, in CSG wells water and gas are produced into an Mahshid annulus (the gap between two pipes). The wellbore fl ow simulator at UQ. Water and gas are separated by allowing Firouzi the water to fl ow downwards towards the with a casing (external pipe) diameter of intake of a pump at the base of the well 170mm and tubing (internal pipe) diameter while gas is allowed to fl ow upwards to the of 70mm, which is the same size as typical CSG wellbores. The acrylic material allows Lead scientist Paul Breuer holds a one-ounce commemorative gold surface. Employing the correlations for ingot from the fi rst gold pour using CSIRO’s cyanide-free process. conventional wells may not be appropriate researchers to observe the fl ow behaviour for CSG wells and may lead to unreliable at varying gas and water rates; up to 1200 prediction of fl ow pressure and well litres per minute of water and 8000 litres production. per minute of gas. To resolve this issue and better Mathematical models developed from understand the wellbore gas-water fl ow, this work will be tested and validated Cyanide-free processing is regulatory gold UQ researchers have constructed a using laboratory and fi eld data. The project laboratory fl ow simulator that closely fi ndings have provided a clear insight into The CSIRO has produced the Minerals Research at a demonstration innovation has already had commercial mimics the production zone of a CSG well. the fl ow behaviour in a CSG well, which is a country’s fi rst gold using a non- plant in the Western Australian goldfi elds success with another tailored cyanide- This wellbore fl ow simulator, hosted by key in wellbore control and optimisation. town of Menzies. free gold solution developed with Barrick UQ’s School of Chemical Engineering, is More information at www.ccsg.centre. toxic extraction process free Cyanide is used in more than 90 composed of an 8m high acrylic annulus uq.edu.au Gold specifi cally for their Goldstrike Mine from cyanide. per cent of global gold production, but producers are facing increasingly tough in Nevada, where it has been used for And it hopes to take its alternative regulations that prevent or restrict its use nearly four years to maintain production process technology direct to mine sites due to environmental and health concerns. rates. via a mobile service that could help make The ‘going for gold’ technology replaces The $2.1 million demonstration project cyanide with thiosulphate, a non- Performance “stranded” gold deposits viable. was made possible through $860,000 PowerP Grip Grinding Mill Clutches are the toxic alternative and a simple process Early industry trials of the technology in funding from the Science and bestb heavy duty option for ball, pebble, fl owsheet. have been conducted with miner Eco For Your Mills rod,r AG and SAG grinding mill applications. It could be a game-changer for Eco Industry Endowment fund and a Federal HighH inertia loads are brought on line quickly Minerals Research, which has its sights Government Innovation Connections anda smoothly where controlled starts are set on becoming the fi rst Australian grant. required.r That’s why major mineral pro- producer to go cyanide-free. To reduce economic barriers to entry for cessingc OEM’s trust our products in their “The fi rst gold is a major milestone in our small producers and help turn stranded applicationsa to optimize durability and progress towards becoming one of the gold deposits into production, CSIRO’s iimprovempm production world’s fi rst green gold producers,” Eco rrates.ates. WhetherWhW it’s standard, vision is to deliver the alternative process Minerals Research managing director Paul modified or custom products, Hanna said. technology direct to mine sites via a WPT delivers controlled power for “In close collaboration with CSIRO we’ve mobile service. your high inertia applications. gone through the design, engineering and A typical cyanide-based processing fabrication stages and set up a processing Put your trust in WPT Power. plant costs about $30 million, whereas facility in Menzies, delivering the fi rst gold the new technology has a lower capital pour in just 10 months, which is a fantastic Contact us to learn more! CSIRO’s cyanide-free prcessed gold achievement.” investment, costing as little as $2- 940-761-1971 | www.WPTpower.com The CSIRO research team behind the $2.5 million to build.
10 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | SUMMER 2018 www.i-Q.net.au 11 iPILOT | Advertorial ‘Big Doors’ the new black in structural steel WORKING AT PAJINGO
Pre-empting an infrastructure and mining has exposed the iPilot team to contractors to fi ll specialist gaps in Pajingo Gold Mine is owned and operated • Good workforce tenure Pajingo is set to embark on an exciting boom coming off major the most complex construction, operations operational, construction and maintenance by Minjar Gold and is located 70km • Pajingo also offer its employees year for 2019 we hope you will be a part and maintenance processes. capabilities. south of Charters Towers in North autonomy and the ability to be of this journey and consider Pajingo as a investments in defence, Queensland. Pajingo currently operates potential employer in the future. “Energy is the biggest, most dangerous “We can also design, procure, install/ innovative. an underground mine, open cut operation maintenance and construction, • Our career progression opportunities construct and commission targeted non- and a processing plant. Pajingo vision If you are interested in job opportunities iPilot Holdings managing director are available to all staff and are truly process infrastructure. for the future is to grow its business and at Pajingo and if you believe that you outstanding offering mentoring, Anthony Squire is pitching 2019 will be an exciting year as it aims to have the necessary attitude and skills “Our NPI capability extends to water training and development and we also his team’s skills at bespoke achieve this. to work in the mining industry, visit our “We have a treatment, where we leverage the have a study assistance program. website and review the jobs we have engineered solutions. capability of a trusted partner.” WHAT MINJAR OFFERS YOU available or submit your CV to our talent YOU CAN BE HOME EVERY NIGHT OF particular capability Many years’ experience in the pool. Perth-based iPilot is entering the EPC(M) • Great culture and team on site THE WEEK construction of rail-mounted machines, market in Queensland with its ‘Big Entry’ regarding • One Team - Work in a supportive, • Pajingo offer residential and FIFO http://www.minjargold.com.au/ among others, had equipped the team diverse team environment. system offer which is like no other. opportunities on flexible family working-minjar-gold/ with expertise in sustaining capital works The company can design, procure, structural steel” • High Performing – A workplace that friendly rosters inclusive of even time processes – including the application of lives and breathes a strong safety construct and maintain its BIGDoor® 7/7, 5/2, 4/3 and 8/6 rosters allowing market-leading technologies, Mr Squire culture our personnel work life balance. We automated entry systems to suit any said. • Career Development - Genuine career employ locally from Charters Towers, industrial requirement from ports to and demanding of all extractive industries. “We also have a particular capability development opportunities. so personnel are home every night warehousing and maintenance facilities. The lesson you take from this is that you • We offer good salary and with their family. Work in progress includes commissioning regarding structural steel – whether do it once, do it well, and do it safely. it be design, outsourced fabrication, entitlements, our EBA staff accrue three 900sq m automated entry systems 13 weeks long service leave upon “The consequences of failure can be procurement, or erection,” he said. – and early works on one of 2520sq m. completion of 10 years’ service. “The company’s BIGDoor® offer is part catastrophic and so there is a day-to-day “We are keen to expand our value-added of our value-added services capability,” Mr demand for bespoke engineered solutions. services into Queensland through new Squire said. “We offer full EPC(M) services or clients and new partners.” “Many years in oil and gas, construction can collaborate with your team and Find out more at www.ipilotholdings.com AVOID THE HASSLE @ ONLINE
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12 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | SUMMER 2018 www.minjargold.com.au PAJINGO | Feature 1983 Discovery ‘Pajingo 2.0’ on the near horizon Battle Mountain Gold Company discovers the Minjar Gold’s Pajingo operation is heading winds down and the new one winds up we have a buffer Pajingo goldfield. down a new path to what is being dubbed there to smooth out production.” As well as drawing on 1986 these small pits to boost mill operations, Pajingo has been ‘Pajingo 2.0’. Production lining up third-party ore agreements to process material First gold production from from other gold projects in the region. A key element of the transition is a plan to sink the site’s open-pit mines. Mr Payne said that for much of its recent history Pajingo fi rst decline in 20 years, providing access to a host of had only had a short horizon in terms of mine life, with 1991 known gold deposits beyond the Vera-Nancy system that various owners failing to invest in a longer-term vision. Joint Venture has been the mainstay of Pajingo production. But that has changed. Battle Mountain Gold and “It is a stepping stone to developing a brand new mining “It’s a very exciting time,” he said. Normandy Mining Limited go region,” general manager – Pajingo operations Kerry Payne into joint venture. “It is really good to see that Minjar Gold has backed us said. “We’re looking at targeting not just the Lynne deposit 2001 on our growth strategy and that the operation is fi nally but least fi ve other ore bodies from that single decline. getting strong support in developing that longer-term Aquisition “It enables us to establish a brand new mine almost Newmont Mining separate to the old Pajingo - that’s why we’re calling it potential.” Corporation acquires Battle The impression people may have held of Pajingo as Mountain Gold. Pajingo 2.0.” 2002 The ‘old Pajingo’ has a mighty history, operating for more an operation on its way out was a challenge in terms of 100% Newmont than 30 years and producing as much as 320,000 ounces attracting people to Charters Towers and giving the local Newmont takes over Nor- a year at its peak. community, including suppliers, confi dence, he said. mandy to gain 100 per cent It currently employs more than 355 people, including “One of the key things is for us to demonstrate, not just of Pajingo. 2007 contractors, compared to about 245 people two years ago. to Minjar and the industry but to the community, that we Recent numbers have been swelled by a new focus on a are here long term,” Mr Payne said. Pajingo sold string of surface mining opportunities to make the most of “We are at a very interesting point in the life of the North Queensland Metals and operation. Strategically we are thinking beyond the 2-3- Heemskirk Consolidated mill capacity at the site, 50km south of Charters Towers. purchase Pajingo. “We have spent a lot of time and resources developing year window and if our key objectives are delivered upon 2010 open-cut opportunities and we’re having some reasonable then the full potential of Pajingo 2.0 should be realised. I Conquest owned success,” Mr Payne said. “We know they are not going to wouldn’t be surprised if in 10-plus years’ time there is still Conquest acquires Pajingo via be as big as the underground operations. They are intended a mining operation here given the opportunities we see in its takeover of North to be part of the transition - so as the old underground front of us.” Queensland Metals and 2011 purchase from Heemskirk Consolidated. The Pajingo operation, 50km south of Merger Charters Towers, is moving into a new era Evolution acquires Pajingo via Catalpa Resources and after operating for more than 30 years. Conquest Mining merger. 2016 Photo: Roslyn Budd Minjar acquistion Minjar Gold completes the acquisition of the Pajingo gold mine and surrounding exploration tenements.
Oz Mining is augmenting the mining process Instant reporting is improving the accuracy and precision of mining in north west Queensland
14 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | SUMMER 2018 www.i-Q.net.au 15 PAJINGO | Feature Intense drill program paves Broader package to explore
The area immediately around Mr Circosta said Minjar was applying fresh way for further opportunity Pajingo mine may have been ideas and modern geochemical work to the site. And while Wirralie is based on a major abuzz with drilling activity this epithermal gold system, the exploration year, but Genesio Circosta has team has homed in on a breccia system on sights on further horizons. the tenements. “The sort of things we are coming up with, Minjar Gold holds more than 1000sq km the target we are testing now is something of exploration tenements in the Pajingo completely different - so that’s the exciting region as well as a 774q km package about thing about it all,” Mr Circosta said. 100km to the south-east centred on “We’re only just drilling it now and it’s a Wirralie. different style of mineralisation. A breccia “We’d like to bring It is that under-explored ground, system. It is something that has not been particularly at Wirralie, that has Minjar’s previously recognised in the area. on another two exploration manager for Queensland “There’s a long way to go, but it’s looking excited. very interesting.” pits next year” “Next to Pajingo, the Wirralie mine At the same time work on the Pajingo historically is the second largest gold regional tenement package is picking up. deposit in the Drummond Basin and the “There hasn’t been much expenditure on Andrew Beaton area had been unexplored for much of the the more regional prospects in the last 12 Roslyn Budd last 20 years,” Mr Circosta said. years or so,” Mr Circosta said. Mr Circosta personally worked on the “It has just been ignored essentially and
Photo: application for the permit to explore the we intend to start looking at that a bit more.” Wirralie ground while Pajingo was still under Regional exploration has recently Geologist Tav Bates checks the diamond Evolution Mining ownership. focused on the Wahines prospect, and Mr drill core at an exploration site. “So it’s good to see some work being Circosta said a drill program was planned done there,” he said. there next year.
Photo: Roslyn Budd Eagle Drilling NQ invests in: Top shelf capabilities More than 65,000m of drilling “It’s expensive to drill from surface, so is expected to be completed once we can justify getting down there Partnerships with stakeholders ENQUIRIES (by developing the decline) that will open potential targets, so we’d like to bring on at the Pajingo mining lease this up the rest of the Lynne structure - plus Specialist regional knowledge another two pits next year and keep the calendar year as the geology things like Voyager and Io and Moonlight. PHONE: 07 4787 1677 open-pit mining going.” “They are all structures that we know Developing local expertise team builds the picture that will On the underground front, recent drilling Email: [email protected] about that have a few holes from surface determine the operation’s future. work had focused on pushing into a new P.O. Box 1576, Charters Towers, 4820 out there, but once we’re underground deposit for mining known as Camembert, there is a much shorter drilling distance Six surface rigs and one underground he said. and it’s much cheaper to drill them out.” rig were hard at work at the peak of Mr Beaton said Charters Towers-based Mr Beaton said the operation hoped contractors Eagle Drilling NQ had ramped activity, geology manager Andrew Beaton to start developing the decline in the up to provide the surface rigs Pajingo said. fi rst quarter of 2019 and be drilling had required as drilling intensifi ed while A major thrust of that work has been underground by the last quarter. Mitchell Services had been carrying out building the case to develop a decline to “The other thing we’ve done from a the underground drilling. mine the Lynne deposit. resource development point of view in the This move would pave the way for last 18 months is to really focus on some “Congratulations to the Pajingo operation and everyone associated further underground drilling that could shallow open pit-able targets on surface,” with Minjar Gold on your on-going commitment to the Charters Underground diamond drilling open up a raft of exciting economic he said. Towers region. You are a valued client and corporate citizen” operations at Pajingo mine. deposits to extend the life of the mine. “We’ve had a rig here pretty much all “We’re immediately targeting of last year and from April 1 this year SALLY FORGAN - General Manager 50-60,000-ounces on the Lynne (focused on that task). Eagle Drilling NQ structure - there is already an inferred “We spent a fair portion of last year resource of over 200,000 ounces on that drilling out three main open-pit targets - structure,” Mr Beaton said. Janine, Janine North-West and Orchid. “We’re just drilling out the better grade “We have now fi nished mining Orchid www.eagledrillingnq.com.au vein and we know there are other high- and we are still mining the others. grade shoots on that structure as well. “That rig has been drilling out other
16 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | SUMMER 2018 www.i-Q.net.au 17 Photo: Roslyn Budd PAJINGO | Feature Blast from World-class the past in ore body news print discovery
Confi rmation of another major gold Many miners would have discovery in North Queensland walked past the tell-tale quartz called the Pajingo prospect outcrops of the Pajingo deposit headlined in 1985. The story hit the press in the during the 1880s gold rush fi rst edition of the Gold Gazette years in the Ravenswood and published for the Resource Charters Towers area. Information Unit. Driller assistant Damien McGrath with diamond drill core. Photo: Roslyn Budd Battle Mountain took up It took a Kiwi to recognise their true Pajingo and other Australasian value in the 1980s, according to Pajingo Battle Mountain Gold. It was the fi rst and he found the outcrops and that’s how projects in a north American geology manager Andrew Beaton. epithermal discovery of its type in they discovered Scott lode - the fi rst ore fl oat. “Those old timers would have walked this province and it was actually a Kiwi open-pit mined here by Battle Mountain.” The publication later across this country and they would have geologist, Ralph Porter, who discovered it. Mr Beaton said the fi nd, on the merged with Minerals Gazette seen that quartz but because the gold “Epithermal (gold systems) are quite northern end of the Drummond Basin, was to be Gold and Minerals is so fi ne they couldn’t have seen any of common in New Zealand and the quartz undoubtedly a world-class ore body. Gazette before dying about the gold in there and their gravity-type has unique textures. four years ago. methods of dollying up or panning would “He recognised those textures in the “The fi eld has now produced around not have revealed it,” he said. rocks at one of the local stations when he the 4 million-ounce mark – so it really is a “(The Pajingo system) was discovered was there - a rock in their garden. spectacular deposit. It’s a great place for in the mid-80s by (Duval Corporation’s) “They pointed him in the right direction geos to work,” he said.
W W W . J A S - A N Z . O R G / R E G I S T E R
Contact us on 07 4722 4800, or [email protected] or visit us at 91 Hubert Street, South Townsville. www.nsspl.com.au
18 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | SUMMER 2018 www.i-Q.net.au 19 PAJINGO | Feature Boost for processing plant as open-cut material rolls in
Minjar has ramped up processing “We grind to 38 micron - which is quite operations at Pajingo after fi ne for a gold operation,” she said. “That boosting its mill feed from two is basically because our material is grind sensitive – we have to grind it quite fi nely to new sources. liberate the gold.”
The site has been bringing a string of small open-pit operations online to supplement feed from the Vera underground workings, “Having the which has been the main feed source for more than two decades. open-cut material It is also encouraging small gold miners from around the region to make the most has allowed us to of spare capacity at the mill by entering toll treatment agreements. go full-time again” Mill manager Laura Logan said the site began full-time processing in August, requiring the recruitment of a further eight Laura Logan operators and three maintenance personnel. “We were operating from 6am Monday to 6am Friday and shutting down over the weekend,” she said. “But having the open-cut material has allowed us to go full-time again for the fi rst time since September 2013.” The processing circuit has the capacity to process about 700,000tpa and Pajingo operations alone are able to provide enough feed for 650,000tpa at this stage. It is a conventional crush-grind-CIP processing circuit that produces gold-silver doré. Ms Logan said one novel part of Pajingo’s processing regime was the grinding. Third party ore option to help fi ll the mill Backing locals brings two-way benefi ts Minjar is opening up its Pajingo processing plant to is ‘why don’t we open this up to other parties?’. “It enables us to get our unit costs down and to help develop the Winning work at Pajingo gold mine has acted as had a practice of choosing local suppliers fi rst where it was third parties, making the most of spare capacity and economically viable to do so. The benefi ts went both ways, she region as one of the only processing plants in NQ.” an anchor for Charters Towers business Eagle giving regional miners the chance to convert otherwise said. Cannindah Resources has been the fi rst company to take up the Drilling NQ through industry ups and downs. “Small businesses in small towns need to be supported. They ‘stranded’ gold resources into cash. offer, entering an agreement for Minjar to purchase and treat ore from employ people in the community and that brings dollars to the the Piccadilly gold project – 60km north of Charters Towers. Eagle Drilling is in its 13th year as a contractor at the mine, Pajingo operations – general manager Kerry Payne said taking third community and keeps it viable,” Ms Ryan said. GBM Resources has also reached an agreement to truck ore from its successfully tendering for a string of drill programs. party ore was a plank in the site’s strategy as it transitioned from “Supporting other businesses in the region pays forward. Mt Coolon gold project for processing by Minjar and a private company But this year saw a spike in activity as the fi rm operated six traditional workings to the new Pajingo 2.0. “It helps the community remain a good size and that means with a project north of Pajingo has also been in discussions about using rigs around the clock during a major surface drilling campaign “During that transition period there’s an opportunity for us to leverage (maintaining) good government services, council services, the processing facilities. from May to October. off some of the other assets in the region that have been stranded doctors and dentists, for example.” Small quantities of Piccadilly ore have already been successfully “(The Pajingo work) has always been important to us - that’s without a processing facility,” he said. She said local industry had proven capacity and capability, why we always strive to win the tenders,” Eagle Drilling business “There’s an opportunity here for the next one or two years for other processed this year and Mr Payne said additional opportunities for having long supported an active mining sector in the region. manager Sally Forgan said. Businesses interested in winning work at Pajingo could speak miners to get a leg up and get some cash fl ow into those assets without other companies would made available in 2019 and 2020. “It’s in our backyard. We’re a family-owned company in to the relevant technical experts or supply the purchasing them having to invest in a processing plant themselves. “We have had other expressions of interest and we are also trying to Charters Towers, so for us to service clientele around us in department with information about the goods and services they “At the moment the Pajingo underground operations can’t fully utilise encourage people who may not have thought there was an opportunity the region and to do a good job of it is very important to our could offer, she said. the capacity in that plant and until recently the plant was run on a (to develop their gold project) to look at the asset and consider working business.” Potential suppliers can contact procurement superintendent campaign milling basis. with another company,” Mr Payne said. Pajingo’s commercial manager Trevlyn Ryan said Minjar Gold Eddie Connor at [email protected] “That is not the best way to run a plant and it is not the best way to “For a small company or one with limited funds it’s a very strategic optimise the capital that you have invested - so the question that I had way of developing and moving their assets forward.”
20 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | SUMMER 2018 www.i-Q.net.au 21 “Our culture PAJINGO | Feature promotes a positive Golden career opportunity workforce” Pajingo gold mine offers career who started his career at Pajingo as a Penny Stratford progression for its employees trainee ‘nipper’ and progressed his career to mine superintendent. and a great work-life balance, “Pajingo fosters a strong commitment according to human resources to leadership and we pride ourselves on manager Penny Stratford. effective performance management, supporting our workforce to truly succeed The Charters Towers district gold and achieve our business goals and operation employs more than 355 people objectives,” she said. including contractors. That approach is part of a workplace Ms Stratford said Pajingo had a good culture at Pajingo that aligns with the fi ve record of promoting within its ranks and core values owner Minjar Gold promotes; fostering people’s leadership qualities. Leading Pajingo operations “Our culture promotes a positive and 1. Integrity engaging workforce, offering career 2. We care progression and training development 3. One Team through exciting times within the mining industry,” she said. 4. Leadership “We offer our employees autonomy and 5. Commitment to Excellence the ability to be innovative. Roslyn Budd “Our career progression opportunities The Pajingo operation offers residential work-life balance as they are home every are available to all staff and are truly and FIFO opportunities on fl exible rosters. night with their family.” “What people were Photo: outstanding - offering mentoring, training These include even-time rosters with She said Pajingo offered competitive and development, and we have a study seven days on/seven days off as well as salary and entitlements above the industry looking for was assistance program.” 8/6, 9/5 and 4/3 options. award standards. “Then, when I came up to Pajingo I career. “You get asked different things Ms Stratford said one in fi ve employees “The site recruits from Charters Towers “Our entitlements include a bonus stability” found that they were looking to divest the about what your interests are and your experienced career progression during and the North Queensland region wherever scheme and our EBA staff accrue 13 operation as part of a restructure towards strengths and I went through that process their time at Pajingo. possible,” Ms Stratford said. “Locals from weeks’ long service leave upon completion longer term assets.” and one thing that came out for me was She shared the example of an employee Charters Towers experience the best of 10 years’ service,” Ms Stratford said. Kerry Payne Minjar Gold acquired the Pajingo the mining industry,” he said. gold mine and surrounding exploration “So I learnt more about it and the more tenements from Evolution Mining in I understood that role the more I thought CoreStaff has proudly partnered with September 2016 for up to $52 million in that suited where I wanted to be as a Minjar Gold Pajingo Mine since 2014 cash and royalties. profession.” Mr Payne faced the challenge of leading Mr Payne completed his degree as a the Pajingo team through the transition to mining engineer through the University of Minjar ownership. South Australia and did his early work in “What people were looking for was base metals mining in Tasmania. stability - so that was a key thing I was From there he moved to Kalgoorlie trying to maintain through the transition – in 2000 and worked in the Western ‘business as usual’,” he said. Australian gold industry, including stints “It was important for people not to get as general manager of the Southern Cross distracted, so to make sure that the safety and Gwalia gold mines under St Barbara. and also the performance culture was Mr Payne believes the key to good maintained where it needed to be.” leadership in the mining industry is to make At the time Minjar Gold, a private sure the business plan is well developed, company, only had one operational site in well understood and then well executed. Australia and the Pajingo workforce knew General manager – Pajingo And he says it is an exciting time to be in little about the new owners. operations Kerry Payne has a leadership role at Pajingo as it enters its Minjar Gold now operates the Southern found himself at the helm at an Cross mine and Golden Dragon mine in next big transition. exciting time for the Charters Western Australia, where it also holds “One of the things I want to achieve here Towers gold mine. other exploration tenements. is to have Pajingo realise its full potential,” he said. It has clear ambitions to be a mid-tier CoreStaff would like to congratulate But the events that have unfolded were Australian gold producer. “It has been going for 30 years and I not exactly what he signed up for when he Mr Payne said the transition at Pajingo think it has been (seen as) shutting down Minjar Gold on the continued growth took the role more than three years ago. had been incredibly smooth. for 27 of those 30 years. and support to the local community. After working a stint as a mining “Normally you would expect some “It is a hard asset for companies to fully consultant on the Gold Coast, where bumps in production and possible safety grasp and to understand. he still lives, Mr Payne was attracted to records, but we in fact improved on both “What I want to do for the people who CoreStaff Townsville Evolution Mining. those in that transition period - so I’m quite work here and the local community is to (07) 4771 8200 “Evolution had an interesting and proud of the way we did that,” he said. really get out to a fi ve-year life so people 458 Flinders Street, Townsville City QLD, 4810 dynamic business model that I thought It was a humble high school careers can really start seeing this as a long-term www.corestaff.com.au would be good to be part of,” he said. day that steered Mr Payne into his mining operation.”
22 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | SUMMER 2018 www.i-Q.net.au 23 “We spend quite PAJINGO | Feature a lot of money in local business and Focus on community local sponsorship”
Minjar Gold’s Pajingo mining Charters Towers Charity Ball. “One program we started this year was Tony Shearman Minjar Gold’s operation provides about to provide a fresh fruit scheme for the Pajingo site $60,000 to support community Charters Towers Central State School, for near Charters groups and events in the example,” he said. Towers. Charters Towers area each year, “We were looking for something in addition to employee wages different to contribute and thought we would provide fresh fruit three times a and spending on local goods and week - and that is sourced from the local Local lifestyle a selling point services. Foodworks.” Mr Shearman said recruitment efforts Mill superintendent Matt Lowe came to “Other than that It is part of an approach that embraces centred on the local area and included a Pajingo 16 years ago with experience from a they don’t do much the operation’s role as a pillar of the local focus on involving people from the Kudjala for me. In big string of gold mine jobs under his belt. economy. and Birriah native title groups. places the life has “Pajingo celebrated 30 years of “We specially employed two people nowhere near the operation in November last year and we from these Indigenous groups in our Among the greatest selling points for him is Pajingo’s freedom we have are a big part of the Charters Towers location near Charters Towers – the town he has called geology area as fi eld technicians and here. community,” HSEC manager Tony home since he was fi ve, apart from a ‘miserable’ two- advertise (Indigenous) scholarships each “That said, Shearman said. and-a-half-year stint of big city life in Canberra. year,” he said Charters Towers “We spend quite a lot of money in local “To some people out there living in Charters Towers “Forming a relationship with these “The mine’s proximity to Charters Towers is a fully serviced business and local sponsorship.” may not seem an attractive option, but for those local to groups is not only a legislative provides local employment and allows town of 10,000. I The majority of the mine’s workforce the area it’s a good little town and it’s a really attractive requirement but we wish to do extra to local suppliers, the transport industry and lives in Charters Towers and travels to proposition to work here,” Mr Lowe said. think about the only ensure we work together.” construction industry to all benefi t from He enjoys the freedom and community benefi ts of thing you can’t get and from the site by bus for shifts. Charters Towers Mayor Liz Schmidt Pajingo’s operations,” she said. living in an area like Charters Towers. here is Kentucky Fried Mr Shearman said Minjar Gold acknowledged the importance of mining to “These benefi ts also have a fl ow-on Being able to light a fi re in the backyard and host a Chicken!” sponsored sporting groups, school region and said the Pajingo mine had been effect into other industries such as retail bunch of friends and neighbours for a barbecue. Mr Lowe said he had worked programs, the PCYC, and events as a major contributor to the local economy and tourism as mine staff and contractors Being able to jump on a motorbike and go for a ride in at the Mt Leyshon gold mine, Wirralie, Mill superintendent diverse as rodeos, markets and the annual since it began gold production in 1986. visit our town.” the bush. Yandan and at Citigold’s Charters Towers Matt Lowe. Throwing a ‘tinnie’ on the 4WD and spending a few days gold mine before taking a role as mill shift supervisor at camping and fi shing on the Burdekin River. Pajingo. These are examples of the options the Charters “If you are a resident of Charters Towers to not think Towers region offers that a big city cannot match. about working here as an option might be a mistake,” he SHELTER STATION “In the city, yes, you have the convenience of being said. able to buy any brand of any product you want because “I’ve worked in fi ve different gold mines and it’s the www.shelterstation.com you have a multitude of shops,” Mr Lowe said. best one I’ve worked at so far.” Roster a cut above others
The lifestyle benefi ts of Pajingo’s days. Also, the people out here are great. I roster are crystal clear for have a really good crew, which makes work 21-year-old trainee process life enjoyable and that is important.” plant operator Majella Mara. Ms Mara got into butchery after experience with livestock growing up and a Ms Mara is a qualifi ed butcher who was school-based training opportunity. 8m Container Shelter working six days a week at a Charters $4,550 She started her new role at Pajingo Galvanised Frame – Towers business before taking a job Dimensions: W8m x H3m x L6m in June, but said she had always been opportunity at the gold mine. (also available in 40ft option) interested in the resources industry and End Panels optional extra “Here (at Pajingo) I’m on seven days on- $5,500 seven days off - it’s a great lifestyle roster the opportunities it offered. 6m Container Shelter INCLUDES FREE W12.12m x H5.3m x L6m for me,” she said. “When I did my interview, I asked them $2,800 Dimensions W6m x H4.59m x L6m END PANEL WHILE (End Panels optional) “Previously I was working six days a if there were career options to go forward (also available W6m x L12 - $4,550) STOCKS LAST week every week, with Sunday off. and they explained the different parts of 12m x 20ft Compact HD Container Shelter “This is much better for my social life, the mine you can get into and the training Freight charges may applypply • Available NationNationwide and my family lives away from Charters *Prices current as at 11/2/18 they offer,” she said. Towers (Mum is in Townsville) - so it’s Free Call 1800 199 060 Nationwide More models available – go to “This gives me the opportunity to gain www.shelterstation.comtion.com better to be able to visit them more often “Suppliers of Container Shelters and freestanding shelters, Nationwide” Newcomer Majella Mara at Pajingo’s Email: [email protected]@shelterstation.com processing plant. and for good amounts of time, and you can skills that I can take with me if I want to have a good break after working seven travel within Australia or overseas.”
24 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | SUMMER 2018 www.i-Q.net.au 25 FLINDERS | In Focus “There is potential there The Hann catalyst to economic diversity for hydro (power I r r i g a t i n g t h e N Q i m a g i n a t i o n Flinders Shire Council is Flinders Shire Council’s plan for an is expected to require minimal land clearing. generation)” irrigated agricultural development was Cr McNamara welcomed recent He praised Member for Kennedy Bob “It would only enhance projects like developing a new industrial Katter, a long-time advocate of the the meatworks proposal and the planned recently declared a coordinated project. progress on Hughenden Irrigation Project area at Hughenden to foster project, for exercising his balance of grape cropping.” This project is estimated to cost Corporation plans for a local dam. transport and manufacturing $47 million, including transport and logistics power to win the funding support. Open downs country in the area lent There was no doubt it would complement Shane McCarthy infrastructure, and is tipped to generate 70 HIPCo has been driving the push for itself to uses including hay growing for business as the sealing of the and enhance other planned developments to 100 full-time jobs. the dam for about two years, including drought mitigation, he said. Hann Highway progresses. in the region, she said. “This is a pilot project that the Flinders carrying out a State–funded study to The $180 million promised for the “This project will do for Hughenden Shire Council is developing so that we can collate previous reports on the viability of scheme would go a long way to realising At the same time it has been what the Fairbairn Dam did for Emerald... instrumental in advancing an irrigation prove to people that the Flinders River is a such a scheme and revisit the idea with it, but may not cover the full project because when you add water and you project hoped to pave the way for viable and economic area for agriculture,” the benefi t of local knowledge. depending on how it evolved, Mr can grow things it creates all sorts of new increased agriculture in the region. Cr McNamara said. “What we wanted out of it was to see McCarthy said. “It would see about 100ha of table grape industries,” she said. The council has been focusing on A/ if it was possible to do it and B/ to “There is potential there for hydro and vineyards, organic horticulture and citrus With the Kennedy Energy Park already opportunities for economic diversity since choose the right dam site,” Mr McCarthy if we look into that we would be taking on trees planted. under construction 20km east of Aurizon took away train driver jobs from said. other investment as well,” he said. “As a council we decided that we really Hughenden, the council was keen to tap Hughenden in December 2016. The study had a favourable outcome “At the moment we have the Kennedy Mayor Jane McNamara said the wanted this project to succeed and into more opportunities in the renewable and set the scene for a dam development Energy Park just completing Stage 1 sealing of the Hann Highway (Kennedy develop into a new industry for the Flinders energy sector as well, Cr McNamara said. capable of irrigating about 5000ha. nearby and there is another solar farm Development Rd) would open up new Shire.” “The Flinders Shire is open for business “There is potential to harvest more (Beon Energy).” opportunities as the area became a key The project will use shallow bores to and economic development,” Cr McNamara inland crossroads. draw water from old river bed sands and said. water into the dam and then exponentially Among the options was for excess “We have an industrial estate in increase how much cropping you can do,” energy from the proposed Stage Hughenden of about 20 blocks and Mr McCarthy said. 2 development of Kennedy Energy some of those blocks have commercial There was potential to boost capacity Park to help power a pumped storage businesses on them, but Hughenden A planned 205,000 megalitre to 440,000 megalitres quite easily, he hydroelectricity project at the dam, he doesn’t have any heavy industrial dam outside Hughenden is said. said. blocks, so we are looking to open up an expected to act as a stepping The selected site is about 15km north Mr McCarthy is Flinders Shire area for heavy industrial activities,” Cr stone to further opportunities, of Hughenden in the upper catchment of landholder, but is based well south of the McNamara said. “We’re hoping to attract the Flinders River. project and will not directly benefi t from manufacturing and transport industries, not just in agriculture but It is across the river from Flinders Shire the dam. with the Hann Highway getting closer to through spin-offs including Council’s proposed 15 Mile irrigation He became involved while on the being fully sealed from Hughenden to the renewable energy generation. scheme and a parcel of land earmarked Flinders Shire Council and, with family Atherton Tablelands.” for a potential meatworks. ties to the area that stretch back to at Meanwhile, Cr McNamara said the shire’s A raft of projects Hughenden Irrigation Project Corporation planned 15 Mile Intensive Irrigation Project is in the pipeline “The dam would only catch about least 1893, says he simply has a strong would see the establishment of cold store (HIPCo) chair Shane McCarthy said the an eighth of the water that is in that interest in the future of Hughenden. to enhance and loading facilities in Hughenden that group was awaiting more details after a catchment reach and it would not “I don’t want to see it go backwards. could serve primary producers throughout Hughenden’s pledge of $180 million for the project from detrimentally affect any water licences I want my kids to be able to live there if the region. economic diversity. Prime Minister Scott Morrison. downstream from it,” Mr McCarthy said. they want to,” he said. NATIONAL Delivering Civil AWARD Engineering Services 2018 Small Firm to the North and 2018 Award for of the Year WINNERS North West Business Innovation
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26 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | SUMMER 2018 www.i-Q.net.au 27 MARKWELL | Advertorial Workshop staff and operators line up in front of a few vehicles Markwell boss ‘homes’ in from the large Markwell fl eet at the company’s Ingham Rd on good idea headquarters
What do you do when business is quiet and your fl eet of earthmoving and crushing “I didn’t want equipment is underutilised? to run the risk of losing any You acquire property and put your heavy equipment operators to work. operators” The Global Financial Crisis spread across the world a decade ago devastating economies and Australia wasn’t immune. Gavin Markwell The Markwell Group’s managing director Gavin Markwell was able to ride out the crisis relatively unscathed, but in 2014 he decided to diversify his business into the housing estate sector as the coal mining industry in Central Queensland slowed. and the trees that had to be cut down to “Quality heavy equipment operators are accommodate the roads and house pads a vital part of my business and I didn’t want were mulched to improve the soil quality on Equipped to handle technological advances to run the risk of losing any of them,” Mr the site. Markwell explained. Opened in early 2016, seven blocks The rise of technology in virtually In the past fi ve years he has embarked range of equipment well suited to crushing The solution was the creation of the have been sold and homes built or under every area of business presents on a major upgrade of his hire fl eet, which at quarry and mine sites, rock breaking, innovative Pinnacle Views Estate, which construction. features 57 pieces of equipment and loading, hauling, demolition work and in specialises in large blocks from 2000sq m Pinnacle Views Estate is close to exciting opportunities and accessories worth around $12 million. more recent times, environmental services to 9000sq m. the Townsville Hospital, James Cook daunting challenges in equal His latest acquisition, a $1.1 million in decommissioned mining sites. Never one to miss an opportunity, Mr University, Lavarack Army Base, schools, measure. Kleemann crusher imported from Germany, The Markwell Group has a team of Markwell saw a gap in the market that estate features the fi rst roads in the city shops, medical centres and community came online in May. 20 equipment operators, half of whom hold multiple tickets to operate different would appeal to families already in their approved by the Townsville City Council centres. For many, just keeping up is enough, but “It’s specifi cally designed to crush machines. They are also trained in the use own homes. and the Queensland Department of The fully serviced blocks, which start at for others it’s an opportunity to prosper. recycled concrete and is 40 per cent more of GPS technology, which now comes Mr Markwell said the 52 lots were ideally Transport and Main Roads to use recycled about $200,000, have both town and bore Managing director of the Townsville- effi cient than other crushers,” Mr Markwell standard on a number of brands. suited to families with young children who materials for both sub-base and base water available and most importantly are said. based Markwell Group, Gavin Markwell, All operators are well versed in safety needed more space. course directly under the bitumen roads. NBN ready with fi bre optic cable right to sees technology as an express elevator to With 30 years of experience in the hire and equipment start-up procedures. An innovator by nature, Mr Markwell’s Most of the natural bushland remains the home, not copper from a nearby node. new and exciting opportunities. division, the Markwell Group has a wide A well-equipped workshop run by Paul Blackman, who has been with the company for 20 years, ensures that all the Pinnacle Views offers equipment is in tip-top shape. open-space living but “Over the years we have also fabricated is still close to a host of equipment for specifi c purposes in the amenities. workshop if we can’t buy it on the market,” Mr Markwell said. Gavin Markwell describes himself as a person who thrives on a challenge and is continually learning in a changing business environment. And what’s a clear indicator of his eagerness to thrive in the 21st Century? “I’ve been able to quietly boost staff numbers from around 35 to 45 people in the past few years,” he said.
Michael Markwell (left), son of the Markwell Group’s founder, Gavin, congratulates Mick Theodore and Leane Behne on being the fi rst couple to purchase a block on the Pinnacle Views Estate, which opened in 2016.
28 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | SUMMER 2018 www.i-Q.net.au 29 BIG PICTURE | Metro Mining
Shipments have been made to fi ve different Chinese customers.
Metro Mining barges loaded with bauxite are towed out of the Skardon River to Ultramax ocean-going vessels moored at sea.
Around 35 per cent of the people employed at the Bauxite Hills mine are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage.
Bauxite is mined by front-end loaders and trucked to port facilities. Bauxite Hills blossoms for Metro
Metro Mining is heading into 2019 with plans to wet metric tonnes (WMT) of bauxite for the 2018 boost production at Bauxite Hills on Cape York in calendar year, with plans to boost that quickly to Metro is planning to mine and ship at least 3.5 million WMt in 2019. the face of strong demand from China. 3.5 million WMT through expansion works in the Mining began in April this year at the site, 95km next few months. north of Weipa, which only operates during the A defi nitive feasibility study for Stage 2 region’s ‘dry season’. expansion to lift production to 6 million WMT per Free-dig bauxite is mined by front-end loaders annum is being updated and is expected to be then trucked to the port facilities, where it is completed in the second quarter of 2019. screened, fed into the Barge Loading Facility (BLF) Metro is now Australia’s largest independent and into barges. bauxite producer. Tugs tow the barges down the Skardon River and Metro executives told the Annual General out to an anchorage point beyond the river mouth Meeting in November that 201 people were where ocean-going vessels are loaded. employed at the Bauxite Hills mine, with 35.3 per Metro is on track to produce about two million cent being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait heritage.
30 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | SUMMER 2018 www.i-Q.net.au 31 SENIOR SCHOOL | TRAINING | SHORT COURSES | BOARDING | INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT | Feature
The Resources Awards for Women is part of a drive to improve industry participation while recognising achievement. Winning ways to foster female participation In the 13 years since the roles—such as engineering, earth sciences, Excellence in Diversity Programs and introduction of the Women in trades and operators—by 2020. Performance “The economic and social benefi ts of South32 Resources Action Plan, the better gender balance for our sector are WorkPac Group Queensland mining industry has clear and we believe that women should made clear gains in attracting have equal access to the rewarding and Exceptional Young Woman in Queensland female employees. high-paying careers it offers,” he said. Resources The Queensland Resources Awards for Alicia Hurkmans - Santos GLNG Women fi nalists for 2019 were announced The proportion of women working in Lauren Keleher - BHP recently and winners will be revealed at non-traditional roles in the Queensland Jennifer Ross - Hatch resources sector has risen from just six per an awards presentation during the QRC’s annual International Women’s Day breakfast Exceptional Trade/Technician/Operator ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION AUTOMOTIVE cent in 2006 to 14 per cent in the latest survey data. on March 8. Alanna Dennien - Komatsu MEM30305 Certificate III CPC30211 Certificate III in AUR30616 Certificate III in The drive to improve the gender balance The winner of the 2019 Exceptional Carly Doncila - Thiess Woman category will take home an MBA in Engineering Fabrication Carpentry Light Vehicle Mechanical in the industry is highlighted by the annual Florence Drummond - Rio Tinto Resources Awards for Women. scholarship from the Australian Institute (Boilermaking / Sheetmetal) Technology Gender Diversity Champion CPC32413 Certificate III in The awards, run by the Queensland of Management. The breakfast, hosted MEM30205 Certificate III Plumbing AUR31116 Certificate III in Resources Council (QRC) and Women by BHP, will be followed by the annual Rob Jackson - South32 in Engineering Mechanical Heavy Commercial Vehicle in Mining and Resources Queensland Inspire!Convention hosted by South32. Robert Mancinelli - Shell (Maintenance - Diesel Fitting) ELECTROTECHNOLOGY (WIMARQ), recognise leading women, as The 2019 fi nalists are: AUR31216 Certificate III in Heidi Uytendaal - Rio Tinto Exceptional Woman in Queensland MEM30205 Certificate III in Mobile Plant Technology well as the work of men and women who Exceptional Woman in Exploration UEE30811 Certificate III in promote gender diversity in the sector. Resources Engineering Mechanical Kylie Carre - Shell Electrotechnology (Electrician) QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said Carmen Letton - Anglo American (Maintenance -Fitting and/or the QRC and its members had a goal of at Sussanah Osborne - Thiess Sue Slater - Ray Slater and Associates Turning) least 20 per cent women in ‘non-traditional’ Jennifer Purdie - Adani Renewables Kim Wainwright - Xplore Resources
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Automotive Specialist Courses (new for 2019)* * Non Accredited Training Mackay 2018 Town of the Year CONTACT the industry team for more information about Tec-NQ training programs in Townsville, Mackay and Cairns. 32 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | SUMMER 2018 www.i-Q.net.au 33 TSV CAMPUS 54 DISCOVERY DR DOUGLAS Q 4814 [email protected] 07 4779 2199 WWW.TECNQ.COM.AU “Regrettably it is RECRUITMENT | Feature either a ‘feast or famine’ in regional Labour challenge in regions areas” The time has come for $800 million in works associated with governments to take a closer the Australia-Singapore Military Training Neil Lethlean Initiative. look at their project scheduling Major roadworks projects include the and consider incentives to Rockhampton Northern Access Upgrade help regional communities ($121 million), Capricorn Highway – attract workers in the face of Rockhampton to Gracemere Duplication ($75 million), and the Rockhampton Ring a skills crunch, says a Central Road project (about $1 billion). Queensland industry leader. CPB Contractors this year started construction on the $200 million Capricorn Enterprise regional expansion of the Capricornia Correctional economic development manager Neil Centre, while the $352 million Rookwood Lethlean acknowledged the issues were Weir project and the $800 million Clarke complicated, adding there was a need Creek Wind and Solar Project are on the Ichthys LNG plant, Darwin. to think outside the box particularly in near horizon Photo: INPEX Australia respect to projects and their skilled labour Add to that the potential labour force requirements. requirements for the massive China Stone Options included further tax incentives and Carmichael thermal coal projects in plus relocation rebates to live in the the Galilee Basin, and Mr Lethlean said the Targeted promotions to tap key skills pools a regional workforce forum in early regions to meet the labour force demands region had a very complex and challenging December to help respond to the of major project work, he said. period in front of it requiring strategic Mackay’s Resource Industry to their experience with heavy machinery challenges of meeting the labour demands “The construction phase of projects solutions. and high-risk environments, as well as a of a string of infrastructure projects in the Network is targeting workers – irrespective of their size – requires a He questioned who was considering “We’re trying willingness to relocate, Ms Rourke said. region. coming off the $55 billion skilled labour force and when projects industry and labour capability as projects RIN has been focusing on the regional Minister for Employment and Small overlap or compete for this labour, fulfi lling came online. Ichthys LNG plant construction to make sure recruitment space for about two years Business, Training and Skills Development the resource requirements becomes a “Regrettably it is either a ‘feast or project in Darwin as part of a raft due to growing concerns about a skills Shannon Fentiman said the government also that we are signifi cant local issue,” he said. famine’ in regional areas, requiring of strategies to address Central shortage. wanted to help businesses plan for their Mr Lethlean was commenting as the commitment of government (all Queensland’s skills shortfall. retaining people in “When the mining downturn hit, a lot Capricorn region gears up for a raft persuasions) to take a closer look at future, ensuring they have the skilled of people left Mackay as they lost jobs of major construction projects, many project scheduling and resource incentives workforce to continue to grow. The Darwin plant was offi cially opened the region” or contracts or their work fi nished,” Ms containing local industry participation of to support our communities,” he said. This was one of the reasons Premier on November 16 and a construction Rourke said. “So we did lose a signifi cant between 65 per cent and 80 per cent, on Mr Lethlean, a member of the Annastacia Palaszczuk hosted the Future top of a general ramp-up in the local coal Queensland Local Content Leaders of Work – Industry and Skills Summit in workforce of about 2500 remains to amount of people and we could see that industry. Network, said the regions required November, she said. fi nalise works, down from a project peak of Adrienne once work picked up we would not be able Among the many projects that have consistent strategic investment. “We have recently released various about 10,000 workers. to fi ll those roles.” just kicked off or are coming online in the This would assist in encouraging reports with Jobs Queensland on the RIN general manager Adrienne Rourke Rourke The organisation has worked closely foreseeable future include the $135 million investment, innovation and skills future employment needs of our growing said that group had been working with the with the Mackay Regional Council to Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area development, he said. economy so we can help businesses to Department of Jobs and Small Business to promote the lifestyle advantages of remediation project and more than Capricorn Enterprise was holding plan for the future,” she said. get Mackay’s message out to that massive Central Queensland. labour pool. This year they launched ‘case study’ “It’s probably a bit cheeky, but with any videos, such as a promotion involving a major project like that the government has young man who moved to Mackay for staff working in that space to assist people work and was able to buy a house, which CAUTION to look for their next move,” she said. he could never have afforded in Sydney, All types of diabetes can harm your heart, blood “There is a one-page fl yer we did up where he originated. vessels,ves nerves, eyes and kidneys. for the people in Darwin. We are probably “We’re trying to make sure also that not the only ones being promoted on that we are retaining people in the region,” BeingBe informed and diagnosed early can help prevent site, but we are trying to be as helpful Ms Rourke said. “Some people have the thesethe complications. as possible and providing them with impression that in some roles, to progress, information they can give to people so that they have to go to a capital city - so we To find out if you are at risk of type 2 diabetes and people coming off the project can look at are trying to look at some ways to help our whatwh to do next, go to: Mackay as their next option. membership lift the retention rate as well, “We want to be front of mind for the for, so people don’t have to approach each so there is a range of career development diabetesqld.org.au people that are fi nishing there and looking individual organisation,” Ms Rourke said. work we are doing.” for other work opportunities.” Ms Rourke said part of the challenge in “We are trying to make it easy and People are pointed towards a jobs page encouraging someone to relocate for work convenient for both sides.” on the RIN website allowing them to submit was having job options for their partner as their CVs on a platform that reaches RIN has taken similar measures to reach well. out to ex-Defence personnel seeking jobs. Helpline: 1300 136 588 multiple RIN members with job vacancies. She said there were opportunities “Members have listed their HR contacts Many were suitable candidates for work across every sector in Mackay, but people and the types of roles they are recruiting in the resources and METS sectors due needed help making those connections.
34 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | SUMMER 2018 www.i-Q.net.au 35 NEWS | Regional round-up
WEIPA GLADSTONE The Amrun Chith export facility has won a major project category at Queensland’s Coordinator-General has approved the $1.2 billion Hummock Hill Island resort project, 30km south- this year’s Civil Contractors Federation National Earth Awards. KARUMBA east of Gladstone, paving the way for works to start in 2020. The awards recognise excellence in civil construction projects New Century Resources has achieved its fi rst shipment of zinc concentrate from the State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and across Australia and this year featured fi nalists from 42 projects. restarted Century operations in North-West Queensland. Planning Minister Cameron Dick said the decision provided Rio Tinto, Bechtel, Jacobs and McConnell Dowell won the category The shipment was fully loaded and sailed from Karumba in early November 2018, delivering certainty for the job-creating Pacifi cus project and stood as a for projects with a value of more than $75 million with the Chith facility 11,000 tonnes to Guangdong Province, China. huge vote of confi dence in Gladstone. – part of Rio Tinto’s new $2.6 billion Amrun bauxite project near Weipa. The export was hailed as a major milestone for the company just 15 months after listing “This $1.2 billion project will support 190 construction jobs The Chith export facility comprises a 650m access jetty and 350m New Century Resources on the ASX. per year over 17 years and will deliver a tourism boom for the wharf, which will serve as a berth for ships while in port once the “New Century has now demonstrated the viability of the operation’s entire logistics chain Gladstone region, supporting up to 700 ongoing operational bauxite mine becomes operational. from hydraulic mining to tailings reprocessing, slurry pipeline operations, port operations and jobs,” he said. The CCF said the project reformed the design concept by moving concentrate transhipment,” New Century Resources managing director Patrick Walta said. The developer plans tourist accommodation, holiday units away from a traditional stick-built design to a modularised facility, with New Century has procured a bulk export vessel for arrival in Karumba in December for its and camping grounds for about 2700 people, as well as the wharf split into seven jackets, incorporating berthing and mooring second concentrate shipment. dolphins and six topside modules. potential permanent housing, and facilities including a boat ramp, cultural centre, an 18-hole golf course, and a 200m bridge to the mainland. GREENVALE Australian Mines has announced positive results from a bankable feasibility study into the Sconi cobalt-nickel-scandium project, 250km north-east of Townsville. The operation is expected to cost $US974 million – about $1.3 billion – to develop. Economic modelling in the BFS demonstrated construction of three open pits and a 2Mtpa processing plant at Sconi would deliver long-term benefi ts to TOWNSVILLE shareholders and the regional Queensland economy, Australian Mines said. The $215 million Haughton Pipeline Duplication Project is advancing, with the fi rst pipes Construction is expected to create up arriving in port in October and NQ Excavations and CivilPlus Constructions appointed to begin to 500 jobs from 2019 to 2021, followed installation. by more than 300 full-time positions once The 1.8m diameter glass reinforced polymer pipes will be installed over 36km to build the the mine, processing plant and associated pipeline between the Ross River Dam and the Haughton Channel to improve Townsville’s infrastructure are in steady-state water security. operation. This Stage 1 upgrade will allow 234 ML to be pumped per day – up from the current The BFS proposes that 90 per cent of the pipeline’s maximum capacity of 130 ML per day. ongoing annual operational expenditure at Stage 2 involves extending the pipeline through to the Burdekin at Clare, which would the Sconi project be with North Queensland increase the capacity further to 364 ML per day. businesses. The Federal Government recently committed $195 million to fully fund Stage 2 of the Haughton Pipeline extension and $5 million to compile the project’s business case. CLONCURRY Mining and processing operations have been suspended at the Rocklands copper site in north-west Queensland while owner CuDeco undertakes a restructuring plan. The suspension began on August 31 and in a statement to the ASX in mid-October the company said the formal remedial program was expected to take a further two months to implement. SURAT BASIN CuDeco said it had completed an Civil works have started on the Roma North gas project, with commissioning of important preventative maintenance GALILEE BASIN the facility targeted for the second quarter of 2019. program that it believed would provide more Queensland’s Coordinator-General has approved the $6.7 billion China Senex awarded the contract to build the Roma North gas processing facility and consistent and reliable production from the Stone coal project in the Galilee Basin. an associated pipeline to Wasco (Australia) following a competitive tender. processing plant into the future. MacMines Austasia proposes an open-cut and underground thermal Roma North, about 30km north of Roma, is part of Senex’s Western Surat Gas It has also identifi ed signifi cant coal operation 300km west of Mackay and 190km west of Moranbah. Project. improvements in operating effi ciency for The project would produce up to 38Mtpa of coal for export to the Senex expects to create about 150 jobs and invest more than $200 million in small capital outlay that will be completed Asian market at its peak and the mine life is expected to be about 50 construction of its foundation gas developments Roma North and Project Atlas, with the available funding. years. 20km south-west of Wandoan. In addition, it told the ASX that directors It is expected to create up to 3892 direct full time equivalent jobs at These developments involve the construction of a combined 110 wells initially, two had completed a comprehensive review the peak of the fi ve-year construction and early works phase, while gas processing plants and associated pipelines and facilities over about two years. for restructure of the project’s operations, ongoing operations would require up to 3391 people. About 60 wells will be drilled in the initial development phase for Project Atlas, and of the company’s long-term funding The proponent has committed to recruit workers from regional towns which is centred on Queensland’s fi rst tenement dedicated to domestic gas supply. framework. like Charters Towers and Clermont, where possible. Jemena will build, own and operate the Atlas processing plant and 60km pipeline that will transport natural gas to Wallumbilla, a major domestic supply hub.
36 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | SUMMER 2018 www.i-Q.net.au 37 INDUSTRY LEADERS | Mitch Hughes INDUSTRY LEADERS | Hari Boppudi
Helping workers is the real Indian engineer keeps the reward for union’s Mr Fix-it wheels turning for council
Fixing things is a motivating force for Mr Hughes worked there for BHP until As a boy growing up in India, Hari University in 2006, he decided to union leader Mitch Hughes. he was elected into the CFMEU senior Boppudi had his sights set on becoming come to Australia for further studies Mr Hughes was elected senior vice- vice-president role in 2012. either a doctor or a civil engineer. and completed a Masters in Structural president of the CFMEU Queensland Multiple factors had contributed to his Circumstances propelled him towards Engineering at the University of district mining and energy division in interest in the work of the union, he said. the latter and he is now responsible for Southern Queensland in 2008. 2012 at age 28 and, in addition to those “There was a signifi cant dispute when I multimillion-dollar roadworks and a range Mr Boppudi said he had worked for duties, has been acting in the role of was in primary school. Dad and the other of other projects that keep the Flinders various companies while studying to state secretary for the past year. miners were all on strike for weeks. That Shire in North-West Queensland running cover his day-to-day expenses and help His union position means the qualifi ed was probably my fi rst exposure to it,” he smoothly. improve his communication skills. diesel fi tter no longer gets to work with said. “Then, when the mechanic I was Mr Boppudi started work with the “In 2009, I started my engineering his hands as much as he would like. working for in Dysart shot through owing Flinders Shire Council in 2010 as a career with Ipswich Water as a graduate But he says he enjoys the chance me some super, I started to dig around project engineer and has been the shire’s trainee. Later on, I was promoted to a CFMEU representative Mitch Hughes to apply strategy and fi x members’ about what I could do. Hari Boppudi loves the challenges director of engineering since 2016. project offi cer for pressure and water problems when they come to the CFMEU “When I got to Saraji, we were probably He said he was attracted by the leakage management,” he said. enjoys being able to help union members involved as director of engineering with diversity of the role and the multitasking He worked there until securing his for help. a couple of years from our next dispute skills it demanded. Flinders Shire Council role. deal with workplace issues Mr Hughes grew up in Dysart in central where it turns out I went on strike. the Flinders Shire Council “When accepting the position with the As director of engineering his duties Queensland, where his father worked at “It was probably a combination of all council, I had a choice to go to Melbourne include operational and capital works the Norwich Park and Peak Downs coal those things that led me down the path or to come to Hughenden,” he said. delivery on buildings, roads, water supply, mines. But he was not specifi cally drawn I’m on now.” “I chose Hughenden as I felt this role wastewater, parks and gardens, and to mining – beginning a mechanical A key part of his role now involved was challenging compared to the other he is also responsible for council fl eet apprenticeship with a business in Dysart improving conditions for labour hire one.” management. when he fi rst left school. members, Mr Hughes said. Mr Boppudi is from Andhra Pradesh in Mr Boppudi said more planning was “I just wanted to do something with my “Whenever our guys and girls come southern India and says his native place required to complete any specifi c works hands,” Mr Hughes said. across an issue I like to be involved in the is Guntur. on time in a remote location and skills “I was probably about three-quarters strategy and fi nd the most effi cient way “My parents always encouraged and availability was often an issue. of the way through my fi rst year when for us to win the argument and make supported me to pursue higher studies,” “(There are) many challenges, but the myself and a couple of guys rocked up sure they get their entitlements and their he said. extent depends on how the individuals to work one morning to fi nd the place rights are protected at work,” he said. With good academic results, he deal with them. I mean the perception locked up and the boss had shot through. And the best part of the job? says his two favoured options were to and the outcomes mainly depend on “In terms of timing, the mines had just “It’s the people to be honest,” Mr become a doctor or a civil engineer. how we adapt, how we plan and how we started to call for apprentices and I was Hughes said. “I know that sounds a bit “My fi nancial prospects didn’t implement,” he said. lucky enough to be accepted as a diesel of a cliché, but we have some great encourage me to become a doctor, but He said he enjoyed a challenging fi tter apprentice at Saraji mine.” members out there. the environment around supported role, job satisfaction, a good working He fi nished his apprenticeship in early “We do meet some great people and encouraged me to become a civil environment and being part of a friendly 2007 and worked for a local contractor and I think probably the best thing is if engineer,” he said. community. in Dysart for a year before winning a someone comes to you with an issue After fi nishing his Bachelor of Civil “Most importantly, my wife and kids permanent position back at Saraji. and you have a win for them.” Engineering at Acharya Nagarjuna like this place,” he said.
38 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | SUMMER 2018 www.i-Q.net.au 39 MINING HERITAGE
Two miners use a sluice box across a small stream to fi nd alluvial gold at Kidston. The photo was taken some time between 1902 and 1909 by the Reverend Frederic Charles Hall.
Gold in treatment, and the government helped out by supplying a state battery in 1922. Kidston wasn’t “Not even this could stop company mining “Kidston was discovered becoming uneconomic by 1925 and the fi eld reverted to small miners, while the town established until 1907, declined to a handful of people. The battery surprisingly late” but the mine closed in 1950 and is now heritage-listed.” Queensland has Kidston’s fourth mining stage began in 1979 when Kidston Gold Mines took up the area, had a rich and with production beginning in 1985 on a scale Jan Wegner varied history. that dwarfed the earlier open cuts. “It was one of the earliest mines in Australia to use the fl y in-fl y out system,” Dr Wegner Gold rush worth the wait for Kidston miners said. “The mine closed in 2001 and is now the fi rst former gold mine in the world to become a In many ways Kidston has had prospectors Charles Mack and William Barry Even stranger, she said, was the fact “By that time the ‘formation’ that the leaders source of non-polluting energy, using the pits and dam for a pumped storage hydro project. an unusual history, according to to report fi nding gold in the gullies draining that the majority of the miners were pro- were in was also being crushed, ushering in the the hills. They had been working the area for temperance. third stage of Kidston’s mining history, open- “True to form, Kidston is still unusual.” James Cook University historian around a month in secret until Mack went on “There were no ‘grog shops’ until April 1908 cut mining by small companies.” Jan Wegner. a ‘drunk’ at the nearby mining town of Lucky and the residents actively campaigned against Dr Wegner said Kidston’s geology was • Historic images presented with this story Creek and showed off his gold.” allowing pubs on the fi eld, delaying their unusual for the Etheridge area. are from the Reverend Frederic Charles Hall Not surprisingly, Mack’s haul of gold set appearance until October,” Dr Wegner said. “Instead of large quartz reefs, Kidston Photographic Collection, accessible from the “Kidston was established surprisingly late,” tongues wagging. “There was a progress association by had a breccia pipe containing small veins of James Cook University NQHeritage@JCU Dr Wegner said. “A rush set in to the ‘Oaks’, named for the February 1908, also unusual for a gold rush. mineralised quartz, so that it paid to take out website. JCU Library gratefully acknowledges the “The three gold-bearing hills later known nearby Oaks outstation of Carpentaria Downs “It helped the town get a school by July as all the rock hosting the veins,” she said. support of Kenwyn Arthur Hall (grandson of the as Wise’s, Mack’s and North’s Knobs, a few station,” Dr Wegner said. “This was alluvial gold, miners brought their wives and children to the “The ore was low-grade and needed cheap photographer). kilometres from the Copperfi eld River, are part and excitement was intense about the ‘best fi eld. As the town settled down after its rush of the Etheridge goldfi eld which began in 1868. little rush since the Palmer’. days, it became more respectable, with stores, “Yet it took until September 1907 for “Miners fl ooded in from all parts of the north halls, a telephone service, an ambulance and a and by May 1908 there were 1400 people on dam to improve the water supply. CFMEU WHEREVER WORK TAKES YOU the Oaks rush and an estimated 430,000g of “This did not stop its many passionate gold had been won. Labor party supporters getting into fi ghts at WE’RE LOOKING OUT FOR YOU “As usual, the newspapers warned miners elections, ‘even the ladies getting into holts’, or against coming, as the area was too small some of the town dodging the census collector to support many, and the gold-bearing dirt for fun in 1911.” The CFMEU Mining and Energy Division represents workers in the mining, oil, gas, port and power industries. We are the principal union in the black and brown coal mining industries, representing the needed to be carted to the river for washing. Dr Wegner said while the alluvial gold didn’t vast majority of workers employed. “As usual, the newspapers were ignored. last long and the population declined, some John Campbell Miles, the later discoverer miners were already working small veins, or of Mount Isa, rode a bicycle 2400km on leaders, and crushing their stone by hand in Why join? punctured tyres stuffed with grass, and ‘dolly pots’. Because union members get better pay and conditions than non members. many others struggled over the steep range “Rich results caused a second, smaller rush They win that through using their collective bargaining power to get a better deal. from the nearest port of Cardwell, with their to peg claims on more leaders,” she said. A union’s greatest strength is always its members and there is no better benefit for members than the possessions in wheelbarrows.” “The fi eld badly needed a crushing battery mutual support offered by fellow members. According to Dr Wegner, within a few months but the only possible place for a mill was the the fi eld was dependent on dry blowers, used river bank, which the shire council had declared JOIN to extract gold particles from the soil without a sanitary reserve to protect the town’s water using water, the fi rst time these machines had supply from miners’ camps. NOW! Three miners stand with a dry blower on the been used extensively in Queensland. “Sense eventually prevailed and by the end JOIN US TODAY Call: 07 3839 8588 or visit www.cfmeu.com.au Oaks goldfi eld. This photo was taken by the “One witness said they were ‘almost as thick of 1909 there were two small stamp batteries Queensland District Branch Reverend Frederic Charles Hall. as fl ies in a sugar basin’,” Dr Wegner said. working.
40 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | SUMMER 2018 www.i-Q.net.au 41 NEWS
The Moura Miners’ Memorial was offi cially opened in November. Photo: Ian Langton Fitting tribute to region’s mining casualties As a long-time maintenance They were at the forefront of his mind local mine accidents and are honoured at Cannington mine takes a fi tter and Australian again on November 10 as he and hundreds the memorial. of others paid tribute to them at the Mr Hempseed hopes the memorial also Manufacturing Workers Union opening of the Moura Miners’ Memorial. helps to bring a sense of closure for so shine to renewable energy representative, John Hempseed About 600 people attended the opening many people affected by the tragedies. got to know and socialise with of what Mr Hempseed hopes marks “I think it can help with, fi rstly, that many of the men who risked a fi tting tribute to every single Moura sense of closure, but also in keeping their lives on a daily basis as district miner who went to work but never alive the memory of those who died,” Mr returned. Hempseed said. “All families have felt that Moura mine workers. Mr Hempseed hopes the memorial will go sense of loss over the years and I think the South32 is upgrading its accommodation village, with plans to South32 has commissioned a new 7200-panel solar some way towards recognising a part of memorial recognises that.” Some of those men went to work farm to help power its Cannington mine in North- spend about $2 million this year as part of a three-phase project, the town’s history which, while incredibly Mr Hempseed said the committee but didn’t come home, dying in mining West Queensland. and updating some electrical infrastructure. sad, still needs to be remembered and deserved a huge amount of praise for It completed the installation of a new crusher underground in accidents that rocked the tight-knit honoured. bringing what was, at times, a massive The project is among a raft of capital investments for the site the fi rst half of this year, using Dawsons, Ashbar Constructions, Central Queensland community. “You can’t erase history, but I think it’s project to fruition. Mr Hempseed, now retired and living on this year, including a tailings dam extension and $28 million crusher Palminco, Engineering Industries and TEI as subcontractors. important to recognise it and learn from it,” “The committee members deserve a installation. the coast near Rockhampton, still thinks “We also are in the process of building a tailings dam wall Mr Hempseed said. great deal of credit for what they have The 3MW solar farm, built over 6ha, will hybridise the gas power often about mates he lost in the mines. “Whenever someone dies in a mining achieved,” he said. extension – a project involving about 100 people and using the station and provide electricity for the mine’s accommodation accident it’s obviously devastating for that “It was a big job and they had to do it village and airport, with any extra power going to mining and earthmoving company QBirt,” Mr Jackson said. person’s loved ones. properly, and they have certainly done processing operations at Cannington. The project involves the movement of 379,000 bank cubic “But it’s a death that affects everyone in that. Cannington vice-president operations Rob Jackson said meters of material and is expected to be fi nalised in the fi rst different ways.” “They have created a wonderful space South32 had used contractors already working with Cannington quarter of 2019. While three major mine disasters in the where people can come and refl ect on for the project. These included JR & LM Trackson, Dawsons Engineering, Rivet “This is part of our long-term life-of-mine plan,” Mr Jackson said. district in 1975, 1986 and 1994 claimed 36 those miners who have died, but it is also a Mining Services, Burton Power, Elrose Plant Hire and Townsville “We have three dams and we’re raising one at the moment.” lives, 50 men in total have lost their lives in place where people can fi nd solace.” fencing contractor DW and DN. He said Cannington was also making a signifi cant investment “A signifi cant amount of the construction activities were in fl eet this fi nancial year, purchasing a 2900 Caterpillar loader, undertaken by local people,” Mr Jackson said. a Volvo L20F wheel loader, two Minerunner utes, two drill rigs Meaning drives organisers “On average we have had around 80 people working on the (Sandvik DD421 and Epiroc E7), and 13 light vehicles. project.” It seems appropriate that both John known how much a memorial to him, and The project, delivered by Energy Developments and SunSHIFT, is “It is all about ongoing investment to keep the mine running at an Hempseed and Moura Progress every other miner killed at work, would the fi rst solar installation at a South 32 operation. optimum level for Cannington’s mine life,” Mr Jackson said. Association president John Walker worked mean for their families,” Mr Hempseed said. Mr Jackson said South32 was committed to reducing its impact “We want to ensure that it’s in good shape and good condition so closely on seeing the vision for a “It’s kind of appropriate then that John on the environment. memorial to Moura mine workers become (Walker) has been such a massive part of and as competitive as it can be. “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a big part of that, so for reality. the whole project. “A big part of that is investing capital to keep it fi t and healthy South32 this solar installation is leading the way,” he said. Mr Walker’s father, Ron, was killed in an “He really has been the driving force “Personally I’m hopeful that we will put in more of them across - and that extends beyond structural and mechanical elements accident in Moura’s No.2 mine in 1979. behind it all. the business.” like the mill and the crusher to things like making sure we have John Hempseed was Ron was a great mate of Mr Hempseed, “Once the suggestion of a memorial was The solar farm was just one of the signifi cant recent projects at reasonable camp facilities so people actually want to come and instrumental in establishing who worked for about 40 years in Moura made to the progress association, John Cannington, Mr Jackson said. the Moura Miners’ Memorial. as a maintenance fi tter and was also a knew straight away that the committee work for us.” “Cannington is like most mines in that you have to continue to long-time AMWU representative, before he had to make it happen. invest capital in the business to stay in business, and on top of South32’s 2018 annual report indicated a reserve life of 13 retired in 2012. “He simply said, ‘yes, this town can do that we have capital to stay competitive,” he said. years for the Cannington silver and lead mine. “I knew Ron very well and I have always this’.”
42 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | SUMMER 2018 www.i-Q.net.au 43 “The data we OZ MINING | Advertorial gather improves a mine’s productivity” Stefan Hrabar
3D point cloud map of a mine Emesent’s Hovermap in an stope created with Hovermap. underground mine. Deep and meaningful data
Drone technology to gather data in underground type and quality of mining operations is at the centre of a venture that data collected to unlock new insights,” has raised $3.5 million to commercialise its fi rst Emesent co-founder product, Hovermap. and chief executive offi cer Dr Stefan Queensland-based Emesent is a spin-out from CSIRO and its Hrabar said. Hovermap technology automates the collection of valuable data in “This includes underground areas too dangerous or diffi cult for people to survey or comparing the stope navigate, such as stopes or ore passes in mines. design to the actual post-blast shape to detect over-break and Drones installed with Hovermap can be deployed in GPS-denied under-break, identifi cation of geotechnical structures and accurate environments without a human controller to create 3D maps and post-blast volume reconciliations. record gas readings, videos and images. “The data we gather improves a mine’s productivity and provides a The technology draws on a decade of research by CSIRO’s better understanding of conditions underground, all without sending Robotics and Autonomous Systems group and 3D LiDAR-based surveyors and miners into potentially hazardous areas.” simultaneous localisation and mapping (3D SLAM) techniques. Emesent’s Hovermap system is already being used commercially “Hovermap enables the mining industry to safely inspect for a variety of applications by early adopters in Australia, the US, inaccessible areas of underground mines, while improving the Canada, China and Japan. Vegetation
An Oz Mining Caterpillar 6040 loading a Caterpillar 785 dump truck. Instant feedback is being used at Pajingo by the contractor to monitoring improve KPIs, including production and safety. takes off Mining companies are able to Oz Mining apps monitor operational needs gain a birds-eye view of how well plants are growing in their As principal contractor on to varying levels through the entire and broadcast it across the team, keeping rehabilitation areas with drone Minjar Gold’s Pajingo mine near business. all abreast of the progress while keeping technology from a Central “This gives the client the transparency records for future use,” Mr Lines said. Queensland business. Charters Towers, Oz Mining is that was required to make the decisions “This also allows other Oz Mining augmenting the mining process needed to ensure the project was in line projects, including corporate, to share CQG Consulting (CQG), with its business with their deliverables.” with a series of apps. safety alerts and opportunities aligned partner Dynamic Spatial Solutions (DSS), The apps covered Take 5s, safe act with the business direction.” has stepped it up a notch by using observations, audits and inspections, In the pre-planning phase, a lot of effort The operating system accounted for a drones to capture normalised difference safety data sheets, pre-starts, leave and was spent in understanding the client’s fi nancial dashboard for leadership to track vegetation index (NDVI) data. travel requests, hazards, full production drivers in order to help them deliver what costs and forecast revenue, which was This can measure live green vegetation, data including trucking and hourly hire, as they committed to, Oz Mining business a strong focus for the client to maximise determine coverage and identify early well as production reports, safety alerts, return, he said. warnings of plant health issues. development and technical projects expenses, supervisor logs, maintenance The data is analysed by GIS (geographic manager Logan Francis said. requests and work orders, Mr Francis said. “The system allows the project to Queensland Resources Council’s State of Some mines use drones to capture aerial information system) and remote sensing “Oz Mining customised the operating Oz Mining project manager Robert provide the client the data they need to the Sector forum in Brisbane in November. imagery, but our team is taking it to the specialists and can be overlaid with future system for the project to encompass Lines said the client also had a strong ensure a transparent view of the operation CQG Consulting director/founder Patrice next level, capturing spectral data of the surveys to monitor the rehabilitation every process in the business into one focus on communication among multiple while maximising profi tability to the Brown said the fi rm’s latest offering was plants,” she said. program. platform,” Mr Francis said. contractors and owners. contractor,” Mr Lines said. particularly relevant given the increasing The team began investigating the The business was among those “Every detail can be reviewed via “A safety alert chat and shared blog “It means we get the best possible onus on mines regarding site rehabilitation. potential to capture NDVI data for a highlighted at a regional innovation dashboards from the computer through to site was customised, which allowed any results without the need for any “It would be expensive for people on pastoral company looking for tools to help showcase held in conjunction with the phone and iPads. This can be customised person to take a photo or publish a chat administration staff.” the ground to capture this level of detail. ensure its land wasn’t overgrazed, she said.
44 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | SUMMER 2018 www.i-Q.net.au 45 CONSTRUCTION Structural fault detection steps up a notch
Technology being developed will be the fi rst gold-standard structural scanning system deliver better results, by a Whitsunday company in inspection system for both terrestrial and it will also be more cost-effective and underwater applications,” Dr Trakic said. circumvent the tedious and inaccurate partnership with a Queensland “Not only will an automated and robotic manual inspection. university researcher has the “The applications are almost endless, and potential to revolutionise the this technology will be able to be used to detection of structural faults in detect rust and cracks in concrete in roads, “The technology buildings, tunnels, bridges, mining facilities buildings. and marine areas including pylons, ports will be able to and vessels.” In fact, Whitsunday Moorings and Marine Mr Foster said the technology involved Construction managing director Darren deliver 50-times was ground-breaking. Swinburne University Foster believes the partnership could result “It works by utilising an energy wave Centre for Sustainable in a world-fi rst. more accurate length that allows us to see into the Infrastructure director Mr Foster’s company and University of detection” structure in much the same way as an MRI Professor Jay Sanjayan. Queensland’s Adnan Trakic are working can see into a human,” Mr Foster said. on developing a robotic system to detect “This is really a world fi rst, as we can now structural faults in buildings. Adnan Trakic measure density and structural defects Their research was assisted recently down to .5mm in size.” with a $300,000 innovation grant from the Mr Foster said, once developed, the State Government. technology could have an immediate 3D print construction revolution on its way Dr Trakic said the funding would enable application on large buildings around the him to develop a robotically-assisted world. While it might once have seemed with seven other Australian universities Prof Sanjayan said as long as challenges inspection technology that would penetrate “Straight away there is a need to like something out of science in a $1.3 million project to develop the 3D could be overcome, 3D concrete printing structures with microwave signals to be concrete printing technology. had the potential to revolutionise start testing much of the world’s large fi ction, a Melbourne academic able to deliver 50-times more accurate and infrastructure, a large proportion of which “We’ve set up a centre at Swinburne to construction. 300-times faster detection of deep-interior was built through the late ‘60s and well into believes 3D concrete printing continue extensive research into how we “As an example, I know architects are structural defects in tunnels, buildings, the ‘70s,” Mr Foster said. has the potential to revolutionise can make 3D concrete printing a reality,” very excited about what 3D concrete roads, bridges, mining infrastructure and “Most of this infrastructure had a design construction around the world. Prof Sanjayan said. printing could mean,” he said. sea facilities. life of 30 years, so it is now at a stage He said one of the main issues was “At the moment, architects aren’t “This technology, which combines where people and organisations need to Swinburne University’s Centre for developing a way to ensure that concrete inclined to experiment too much with microwave systems with cutting-edge make decisions around repair or replace Sustainable Infrastructure director, didn’t set too quickly within the printer. complex designs for buildings because it is robotic technology and artifi cial intelligence (and) our new technology will allow that to Professor Jay Sanjayan, is excited about “We need to look at how we can ensure too diffi cult and cost-prohibitive. algorithms, has great potential because it happen with a greater degree of certainty.” the possibilities offered by 3D concrete the concrete doesn’t go hard while it is still “However, 3D concrete printing would printing in construction, but admits within the machine,” Prof Sanjayan said. make things like curves on buildings much there is a lot of work to be done before it “We don’t want it to set inside the easier to achieve. becomes a reality. printer, but we do want the concrete to go “For example, a complex building like “There is certainly a lot of potential hard within a few minutes of being poured, the Sydney Opera House would be much Whitsunday director’s ‘lightblub’ moment with 3D concrete printing, but there are so we have to look at how that can be easier to build with 3D concrete printing. problems to overcome before it actually achieved. “Successful 3D concrete printing A lightbulb moment about fi ve years ago set Whitsunday last year. During the course of that study we found a huge happens,” Prof Sanjayan said. “Really we have to come up with a opens up a world of opportunity and Moorings and Marine Constructions managing director difference between what is currently available with regards to Thanks to an Australian Research new type of cement and that is the real I’m confi dent we can have it working Darren Foster on the path to developing the ground-breaking concrete inspection and what we were theorising we would be Council grant, Prof Sanjayan is working challenge.” successfully within fi ve years.” research into structural defects in buildings. capable of. “Whitsunday Moorings is predominantly a commercial diving “In the end we found that we may have just revolutionised company and we have specialised in the inspection of large the inspection of non-conductive structures.” infrastructure,” Mr Foster said. “About fi ve years ago, I became aware that there was a CConcreteoncrete ffoundationsoundations forfor a ccareerareer need to be better able to inspect the ports we were working at as we were really only returning less than one per cent of the With more than 30 years spent working with concrete, there “It looks deceptively simple, but there are so many things overall information available. isn’t much Professor Jay Sanjayan doesn’t know about the that can go wrong with concrete.” “I then designed our very fi rst piece of inspection robotics, material which is used in construction all over the world. The 3D printing of concrete would take its use in that is used to inspect large steel piles (and) it was at this point “It’s fair to say I’ve got an interest in all things concrete,” construction to another level and some of the world’s we knew that we required a way of inspecting concrete and Prof Sanjayan said. foremost experts in the fi eld converged on Melbourne from Whitsunday timber and began exploring new sensor options.” Part of the attraction, he says, is how diffi cult such a November 26-28 to discuss the subject. Moorings Mr Foster said the company was forming a close working seemingly simple material can be to work with. Among them was Professor Behrokh Ksoshnevis, from the relationship with University of Queensland researcher Adnan and Marine “I think more than anything I was attracted to concrete University of Southern California, who Prof Sanjayan credits Trakic, however, it was earlier research with his colleague Yifan Constructions because of its complexity,” Prof Sanjayan said. with pioneering the concept of using 3D printing technology Wang that got the ball rolling. managing “In construction you can use steel and timber, for example, in concrete about 15 years ago. “Yifan and I spent about a year defi ning the scope of our director that are already made and ready to build with, but concrete “It’s only a small community of researchers in the world original feasibility study and then put that project into action Darren Foster has to be poured, compacted and cured on site and that is looking at 3D concrete printing technology, so to have most always a challenge. of them at this conference is fantastic,” he said.
46 iQ INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | SUMMER 2018 www.i-Q.net.au 47 SUPPLY CHAIN 2019 Conference Series
Contractor shares tips for Defence wins AusIMM delivers world-class technical conferences to thousands Barracks, road rehabilitation and be aware that Defence required a local Targeting Defence work has of resources professionals each year. proved a smart move for maintenance at Lavarack Barracks, and industry capability plan for all contracts. building a new waste transfer station at “We’ve always done it, but now it is Shamrock Civil. the Townsville Field Training Area, Herveys mandated in your tender documents,” he Visit ausimm.com/conferences to Range. said. The company has increased its access more information about our Mineral Systems of the Mr Huff said Shamrock Civil had also “You have to complete a plan or Townsville business from about $15 million 5FHNܪH7NR(TSLWJXX been involved in civil works for an air schedules saying what you are going to HTSKJWJSHJXJWNJX worth of work each year to $30 million traffi c control project and the Land 121 do to involve local industry and capability since establishing a base in the city fi ve project as a subcontractor to Lendlease, Auckland | 3–5 April - where you purchase materials, who years ago. as well as subcontracting to BADGE for you employ, how you can be delivering Operations manager NQ Clinton Huff the Land 155 Enhanced Gap Crossing economic and social benefi ts back to local said the steady stream of Defence Capability Project at Lavarack Barracks communities.” contracts it had landed in that time had “Over the last two years we’d have done Mr Huff said the Defence works provided a good foundation for that in the vicinity of $40 million of work for program moving forward in North growth. Defence up here (in NQ),” Mr Huff said. Queensland was signifi cant, and attracting Recent projects have included 7.5km “We deliberately targeted Defence as a an increasing amount of competition. of new security fence around Lavarack key client around 12 years ago, and were doing work at Amberley and Enoggera in “There are a lot more companies trying the south-east corner. We commenced to establish within the Townsville region operations in Townsville in 2013.” because of the Australia-Singapore Sustainable Development .WTS4WJ(TSKJWJSHJ Australian Mine “We deliberately The strength and recognition the Military Training Initiative,” he said. in the Minerals Industry ;JSYNQFYNTS(TSKJWJSHJ company had built through its involvement “That’s a signifi cant spend, about targeted Defence in Defence projects had helped it to $800 million up here, and you have the Sydney | 27–29 May Perth | 22–24 July Perth | 26–28 August broaden its footprint, with recent clients mid-term refresh program of $120 million as a key including AIMS and a solar farm, he said. to kick off in 12 months’ time - so there is client around Mr Huff said the key entry point a lot of interest in Defence works up here to Defence projects for civil works currently. 12 years ago” businesses was through an established “The level of competition is increasing, prime contractor. but the volume of works is also increasing “Subcontracting to them in the fi rst - so it’s an attractive market.” place helps you to gain an understanding Clinton Huff of all the security requirements, what you have to do to get access on to a defence base, the requirements of dealing with defence decision-making and regulations,” 2JYFQQZWLNHFQ5QFSY)JXNLS NOW SERVICING QUEENSLAND Works in progress include entry systems from 900m2 to 2520m2 CONTACT: Allan Thompson - 0449 935 813 For more on iPilot, refer to page 12 in this edition of iQ Industry Queensland Level 3, 21 Kintail Road, Applecross, WA, 6153 ipilotholdings.comipilop Phone:Pho (08) 6148 5801 Email: [email protected]