17 November 2016
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ISSN 1833-1831 Tel: 08 8672 5920 http://cooberpedyregionaltimes.wordpress.com Thursday 1 December 2016 STATE GOVERNMENT THROWS COOBER PEDY A SHORT LIFELINE At the Country Cabinet Morning Tea held at the Italian Club in Coober Pedy on Tuesday 22 November, Regional Development Minister Geoff Brock announced a boost to local employment. “More than 60 jobs will be created in the state’s Far North through a new mining and processing operation near Coober Pedy, supported by a $397,306 State Government grant through the Regional Development Fund (RDF)”, Mr Brock told guests at the Country Cabinet presentation. The Cairn Hill operation, owned and managed by Cu-River Mining Australia Pty Ltd, will focus on extracting and processing high grade magnetite iron ore containing residual copper from the Cairn Hill Mine, 55 kilometres south of Coober Pedy. The processed ore will be exported under agreement to China. The operation will use innovative extraction and processing techniques to optimise the mineral extraction process, whilst minimising risks associated with commodity prices by targeting the more stable-priced commodities of magnetite and copper. The grant will assist in establishing the Regional Development Minister Geoff Brock infrastructure required for the operation announces funding to support the Cairn Hill including the processing plant, road upgrades Iron Ore mine, with Minister John Rau for heavy vehicle traffic, bores, water lines, and electrical supply. In response to community queries that FIFO workers may also be brought in from China, Cu-River Mining Australia Pty Ltd is a privately the spokesperson said, “Local employees will owned exploration and mining company which be preferentially sourced. Where additional purchased the Cairn Hill mine near Coober Pedy employees come from is a decision for the in 2014 after Termite Resources went into company.” administration. Minister. Brock said, “The project will enhance That the life of the mine is only 14 the economic prosperity of Coober Pedy and months, is not 100% confirmed yet. It is improve the social wellbeing of the town and its generally understood though, that the surrounding areas.” operation at Cairn Hill will focus on sifting through the overburden left by the Mr Ning Liu, Corporate Service Manager, Cu- previous owner Termite Resources. River Mining Australia Pty Ltd said, “This infrastructure project will invest $1.5 million into 14 months work at Cairn Hill may be better the region and we thank the State Government than nothing, should Coober Pedy workers find for its contribution through the Regional themselves unemployed due to the financial Development Fund”. crisis at the DCCP. Council’s recently produced Business Plan stated that all capital works “Economic development is critical for the future projects would cease for 3 years. Although not of Coober Pedy – our mining operation will conclusive, this could be an indicator of imminent assist in addressing challenges such as declining jobs cuts at the council. population and unemployment in the community,” he said. Regional Development Minister Geoff Brock said, "This project [at Cairn Hill] is expected to “We aim to employ locally where possible and create 61 ongoing full time jobs in addition to 20 are committed to providing local Indigenous jobs during construction, which will have a people with long term sustainable employment significant, positive impact on the community opportunities,” said Mr. Ning Liu. and the state.” The Camp that was used by the Exact Mining Further to this a State Government company at Crowders Road in Coober Pedy is spokesperson told the Coober Pedy Regional currently unoccupied. Workers that come into Times on Monday that the creation of at least town for business at Cairn Hill are staying 61 positions is a condition of the funding. elsewhere. SERVING THE OPAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD SINCE 1982 7 DAYS WEATHER - Mild wind - warming Editor - Margaret Mackay Coober Pedy Oodnadatta Tarcoola Andamooka * PO Box 275 Coober Pedy SA 5723 * Ph: (08) 8672 5920 Email: [email protected] * Next Newspapers DUGOUT Thursday 15 Dec 2016 HOLIDAYS Thursday 26 Jan 2016 Advertising Rates Summer Solstice Black & White * 21 December 2016 Display $6.50 per cm/col Autumn Equinox Classified $8.00 per cm/col 20 March 2017 Colour on Application * Inserts on Application Bookings by Wednesday prior Material must be in Fri prior DISTRIBUTING to South HOW to send -Welcome to Australia, NT and the Far North Communities articles to CPRT Coober Pedy - The Coober Pedy Regional Times - “Your Outback Communities Newspaper”, became DISCLAIMER: Opinions and letters published in The Coober a FREE Newspaper in 2006 and increased its distribution to 4,500 hard copies + digital An underground town, built Pedy Regional Times are not necessarily the views of the online download, promoting news, events and distributing advertising to our regional Editor, or Publisher. 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The owner of the collective work is the Coober Pedy Regional SUBMISSIONS not received by Friday, prior to printing *Over 40 Nationalities living together Times Newspaper. are unlikely to appear in that edition CROSSWORD Please Drive Carefully Coober Pedy is a lizard friendly town Page 2 Coober Pedy Regional Times Thursday 1 December 2016 RATEPAYERS MEET WITH MINISTER TO DISCUSS TOWN FINANCES ETC BUSINESS ASSOC In the months preceding Country Cabinet, community members were invited to meet with MEET WITH cabinet minsters to discuss their concerns. Business owner Angelo Gountounas and other ratepayers met with Minister for Local Government Mr. Geoff Brock. MINISTERS DURING “The Minister listened to our concerns about the severity of the town debt and it’s impact on the community”, said COUNTRY CABINET Mr. Gountounas. “Issues of transparency and financial mismanagement were raised regarding the perception of $7.2 million Amongst those who sought meetings with Ministers during borrowings vs the $9.1 million debt, leaving $1.9 million the Country Cabinet Tour, were the Coober Pedy Retail not itemised. Mr. Brock’s advice to us was to take the Business and Tourism Association. Treasurer Deb Clee matter to the Office of Public Integrity,” said Mr. said, “Last Monday night we were able to have a meeting Gountounas. Mr. Angelo Gountounas and Minister Brock with Minister Leon Bignell the minister for Tourism, Mrs looking at rates notices and financial papers Ruth Sibley, Chief of Staff to Minister Bignell & Mr “A majority of residents believe, that if the debt crisis is Rodney Harrex CEO South Australian Tourist Commission. not managed carefully there will be a long term devastating Attended by Thomas Hammermeister, George Russell, Paul effect not just on home owners and their families, but on Athanasiadis & Deborah Clee.” the viable existence of Coober Pedy as a 100 year old opal mining town”, he said. After Tuesday morning’s meeting with the Minister and his staff Mr. Angelo Gountounas said, “I would like to thank Minister Mr. Geoff Brock and his advisors for taking 90 minutes of their time in Coober Pedy to listen to community concerns regarding the management of our town, inconsistencies in council's rates/charges and communication issues.