The Coal Face
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MINETEC G4 EASY TRAY MINING PARTS makes transportation and assembly easy HUNTER INDUSTRY, COMMUNITY, SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT FREE PAGE 22-30 THE CANDIDATES FOR THE MEET THE UPCOMING UPPER HUNTER BY- ELECTION ON MAY 22 SHARE WITH US WHY THEY SHOULD BE CHOSEN CANDIDATES TO REPRESENT OUR REGION. Vol 5 No 4: May 2021 Available online @ thecoalface.net.au MT ARTHUR COAL BEGINS THE APPROVAL PROCESS TO CONTINUE CONTINUING TO PAGE 8-9 OPERATIONS AND ENSURE THE FUTURE OF THEIR 2000 STRONG WORKFORCE. CONTRIBUTE The Future of Haul MINING PARTS Truck Trays has Arrived MINETEC G4 EASY TRAY P 0455 552 200 M 0476 308 093 E [email protected] www.brauntell.com.au @ THE COALFACE General Manager Adam Lancey to talk about their approval process PROUD AS to continue operations and what it will mean for the local community. PUNCH And after almost two decades with BHP, Adam has seen Mt Arthur Coal MINING HAS PLAYED MINING PARTS evolve to become the successful AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN operation you see today. THE UPPER HUNTER FOR MANY DECADES, AND WE We also share the news of an ARE PROUD AS PUNCH incredible Australian-first live TV The Future TO SEE OUR INDUSTRY broadcast from an underground CONTINUOUSLY STRIVE mine with Sky News host Chris FOR IMPROVEMENT Smith broadcasting his weekly IN OPERATIONS, ALL show from inside Centennial’s WHILE GIVING BACK TO Airly Coal mine. This event was not of Haul Truck OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. only some great TV content, but it was also recognition for our miners and their hard work to keep our It’s no secret that the mining mines operating safely, especially industry has come a long way during the pandemic. over the decades, especially in the has OPINION Trays And one thing our industry has Upper Hunter. Our miners rarely, if ever, give themselves a pat on always been a champion at is the back for the huge leaps forward supporting our local sporting clubs. they have come over the years to We share the story of Mangoola’s create a safer workplace, create latest donation, one of many recent Arrived donations to support the Singleton, THE COAL more local career opportunities, increase diversity, embrace Greta Branxton, Denman, Merriwa new technologies, improve and Muswellbrook local rugby MINETEC G4 EASY TRAY rehabilitation and so much league football clubs. more. This month, as we do every To everyone who shared their month, we proudly share some stories this month and championed of the amazing things our local our local mining industry, COAL MINERS AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE NEVER FELT mining industry does. give yourselves a pat on the VOTESO APPRECIATED BY POLITICIANS IN NSW. We sat down with Mt Arthur Coal’s back. You’ve earned it! With thousands of mining votes ARE PART OF THE LOCAL up for grabs in the critical Upper MINING SUPPLY CHAIN. Hunter by-election there have been Indirectly, the coal industry also strong declarations of support supports thousands of other for coal mining from the Liberal/ Nationals Coalition, the Labor related local jobs too. Party, the Shooters, Fishers and It all means that while support for Farmers Party, and One Nation, mining is not the only issue in this and a range of others. by-election, it will be one of the key It’s great to see such a strong factors that determines who wins, display of broad political support along with other local issues too. Makes transportation and for the NSW coal sector, but how Hunter coal miners and their assembly easy. long will it continue? Is the love families are resilient and tough. Publisher Shane Davey genuine, or will our sector suffer They also know that most of the [email protected] the political equivalent of being current political love for coal is 0408 759 088 dumped by text message once the Fastest delivery time from because a by-election is coming and Editor Rebecca Connolly by-election is over? purchase to assembly. mining votes are up for grabs. [email protected] The contribution of coal mining to The real test of genuine support will 0408 769 699 the Upper Hunter is undeniable. come once the by-election is over Journalist Ashley Grogan High productivity, ACCORDING TO OUR ANNUAL and there are no votes up for grabs, [email protected] ECONOMIC IMPACT SURVEY, lightweight and super at least until the next election due in 0402 348 341 OVER 7000 PEOPLE IN THE less than two years. Those politicians strong dump trays. UPPER HUNTER ELECTORATE Design CarrollMel Design that dump coal once the by-election ARE EMPLOYED IN THE MINING is over will not be forgotten SECTOR AND OVER 1000 by voters next time. @ THE COALFACE LOCAL BUSINESSES FROM Shop 10, 157-159 John Street, Singleton NSW 2330 SINGLETON, MUSWELLBROOK Stephen Galilee, CEO, www.thecoalface.net.au AND SURROUNDING TOWNS NSW Minerals Council Minetec Dump Tray can be shipped inside 3 High cube containers. Field mounting can be fast, secure and clean. Manufacturing Mobile Milling Fabrication On-site Machining Design & Drafting Service Exchange Components Contact Rick Adams to arrange your appointment today to see Line Boring Liquid Nitrogen Service & Supply a Minetec Easy tray being assembled at Brauntell. P 0455 552 200 Engineered Solutions that get it done morganengineering.com.au 02 6572 2032 M 0476 308 093 www. E [email protected] brauntell.com.au @ THE COALFACE | MAY 2021 3 @ THE COALFACE IN THE NEWS @ THE COALFACE OPINION MORE FEMALE NEWS ANNOUNCER JESSICA ROUSE FROM RADIO HUNTER VALLEY HAS THE LATEST NEWS STORIES PUMPED ABOUT PUMPED BYPASSING THE ISSUE But it still won’t be dual carriageway. HYDRO IN MUSWELLBROOK It’s an announcement that Results from a preliminary feasibility The Government also AS THE NATURE OF WORK CONTINUES TO EVOLVE ACROSS AUSTRALIA’S MINING REGIONS INCLUDING will make anyone who wanted study into a pumped hydro project at a full interchange for the committed to work towards TRADIESTHE HUNTER, WORKERS WILL NEED A DIVERSE RANGE OF NEEDEDSKILLS AND CAPABILITIES THAT ARE a concept design for the Muswellbrook are “promising”. Singleton Bypass with the ADAPTABLE, TRANSFERABLE AND RELEVANT TO THE NEEDS OF THE FUTURE ECONOMY. Muswellbrook bypass, that will Energy giant AGL and Idemitsu Australia Putty Road very happy. Resources have announced the preliminary include connections to Coal The NSW Government has Diverse teams are more productive, innovative industry to secure existing and future talent pools, Hunter can’t afford to wait four years to phase of the feasibility study for the proposed Road and wil co-fund with announced the bypass will Council local road upgrades to and creative, so it’s no surprise the Australian deliver inclusive leadership and showcase mining produce a tradesperson. 250MW Bells Mountain pumped hydro project GREEN LIGHT FOR MANGOOLA have the full interchange that support that connection. minerals industry has made diversity and as an industry of choice. We need to find new ways of producing quality is nearing completion. EXPANSION inclusion a priority. the community and Singleton Work on both bypasses With demand for skilled workers growing across tradespeople and technicians faster. The study began in 2019 to determine The Independent Planning Council has been calling for. will begin next year. Companies in the Hunter Valley are actively Australia, the MCA has long advocated for more MSOP will contribute significantly to this through whether the project is technically feasible, Commission has approved the seeking a larger talent pool that gives the sector flexible, higher quality and responsive trades designing and testing ways to boost levels of provide cost estimates for both construction expansion of the Mangoola access to a broad range of skills from across training and workforce development to build the and operation, and assess the required enrolment in apprenticeship commencement NEIGHBOURS NOT HAPPY ABOUT NOISE mine near Muswellbrook. Australia and the globe. minerals workforce of the future. and training programs and modernise how the planning and approval processes. An Upper Hunter mine has been fined for exceeding The Glencore mine sought approval In 2021, women make up only 17.4 per cent of the Supported by the Australian Government and industry produces skilled tradespeople. Once this study is done, the companies noise limits, at night. to establish a new open cut mining mining workforce. Tradespersons and technicians coordinated by the MCA, the industry-led Mining We’re also working to unlock the value and scope plan to compete a full feasibility study that area to the north of the existing account for nearly 30 per cent of the workforce, Skills Organisation Pilot (MSOP) is working to of skill sets through ‘stacking’ them to achieve includes targeted geotechnical drilling The NSW EPA has fined Wambo Pty Ltd mine near Singleton operations that would provide and only three per cent are women…so there’s secure mining industry access to the skills it needs nationally recognised qualifications while getting - The full feasibility study is the next $15,000 for exceeding the noise limit by three decibels, at night, in access to approximately 52 million plenty of room to do better! now and into the future. more digital and technology related content more phase towards potential completion of September last year. tonnes of additional coal resources GETTING MORE WOMEN INTO THE INDUSTRY MSOP has activated four project hubs quickly into Australia’s training product library. the project in 2027. The EPA said follow up monitoring showed the mine continued to which would also extend the exceed the limit two nights later and didn’t take sufficient steps to mine life until 2030. IS A PRIORITY. BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE WORK (apprenticeships, digital transformation, If Coalface readers who work in mining are asked FUTURE OF COAL MAP ALTERED ENVIRONMENT – ONE WHERE EVERYONE FEELS qualifications reform and, attraction and about how to get into a trade in the industry, shut down equipment to mitigate the noise.