queensland industry advocate january 2015

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January 2015

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10 Our Mining Heritage

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16 Equipment Review

17 Living Remotely

18 Drones

21 Water feature

22 Electricity feature

24 Invest-FNQ

tel: (07) 4755 0336 fax: (07) 4755 0338

Managing editor: Robert Dark 0417 623 156

Sales: Michelle Silver 0439 536 466

Client Services: Marion Lago 0414 225 621

Journalist: Dominique Kimber 0414 371 966

Graphics: Jim Thorogood 0418 790 745

Email: [email protected]

Postal: PO Box 945, Townsville, Q, 4810

Queensland Industry Advocate

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3 Solar resurgence Ratch Australia outlines its redevelopment of the old Collinsville

power station site from coal to solar photovoltaic generation. It

means more reliable power delivery for the north.

5 Roadbase revamp Th e brakes have been taken off quarries in supplying substrate

material for road building. See how Th e Department of Transport

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18-20 Drones take-off Leaps in technology are addressing reliability issues which have,

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2 Queensland Industry Advocate | January 2015

NEWS

Sales: Michelle Silver

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w: www.industryadvocate.com.au

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Get more ACCESS to Civil Engineering

Th e Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) will follow through on a ten point policy plan covering funding programs for transport, water and fl ood mitigation infrastructure presented to the major parties in the lead up to the state election.

Included in the plan is a call for continued support of the Queensland Water Regional Alliance Program (QWRAP).

Th e program was launched in 2011 and encourages councils to work together to fi nd solutions to water quality and supply.

All parties and candidates contesting the next election should get on board with the policy plan said LGAQ President Margaret de Wit.

“Th e State will reach its true economic potential only if there is genuine co-operation and collaboration between the state and local governments,” Cr de Wit said.

QWRAP includes four pilot regions: the Remote Area Planning and Development Board (RAPAD), the Wide Bay Burnett Regional Organisation of Councils (WBBROC), the Far North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (FNQROC), and the Whitsunday Regional Organisation of Councils.

Th e RAPAD group of councils was the fi rst to sign up establishing the Outback Regional Water Group (ORWG) alliance comprising

we think the alliance will benefi t greatly in joint purchasing, resource sharing where we can and just having a conduit to allow the technical and political levels of the organisation to talk.”

Th e North Burnett Shire council, member of the WBROC pilot region, has seven water schemes and fi ve sewerage schemes that were installed in the 1960’s and will reach end of life at the same time.

Th e QWRAP program helped councils in the region come together and fi nd solutions to such issues said Acting Mayor Faye Whelan said.

“Th e continuation of QWRAP, at least for the immediate future, is important for consolidation of the advances made in the

Councils to stay top of mind for projects funding writes Dominique Kimber

Ten policy points to be put to new government

the Barcaldine, Longreach, Barcoo Shire, Boulia Shire, Diamantina Shire and Winton Shire Councils.

QWRAP had provided the funding and support to get the councils working together said Longreach regional council director infrastructure services, John Roworth.

“Without QWARP this region was very unlikely to ever form an alliance,” Mr Roworth said.

“ORWG has already had success with joint initiatives such as shared training with more projects on the cards.

“We identifi ed our risks, gaps, strengths and weaknesses and also got a better understanding of our fi nancial capabilities and sustainability.

“Discussions to date are that

four project areas as well as establishing at least another project area,” she said.

Th e LGAQ is seeking

continued support from the State Government for QWRAP at $600K a year for the next three years.

Biggenden Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) Lagoons (before modification).

John RoworthLongreach regional council infrastructure services director

Downer EDI reported to the Australian Stock Exchange it received two Letters of Award from Adani Mining.Th ey advise of Adani Mining’s intention to enter into contracts to provide both mining services and the construction of mine infrastructure at the Carmichael lease near Clermont.

Th e contracts are expected to have a combined value of more than $2b over seven years.

Under the fi ve-year mining services contract, with two additional one-year options, Downer will be responsible for statutory management and mine operations, drilling and blasting and load and haul of waste and coal.

Under the mine infrastructure contract, Downer will be responsible for the engineering,

procurement and construction of on-site

infrastructure and preparatory civil works.

Th e capital for the major fl eet for the mining

services contract will be provided by Adani.

Both Letters of Award are subject to

the parties executing binding contracts

which would be followed by pre-production

and planning early this year with mine

infrastructure construction commencing in the

fourth quarter of 2015.

Th e fi rst mining activity is scheduled for the

second quarter of 2016 and fi rst coal in 2017.

Th e Adani mining services contract would be

one of the largest of its type signed in Australia

in recent years said Downer Chief Executive

Offi cer, Grant Fenn.

Offer made to mine Carmichael

Southern Queensland companies are benefiting from the systems and processes developed by Townsville-based training company Worksafe Connect.

Worksafe Connect is a registered training organisation servicing all industries including resources, construction, infrastructure and manufacturing.

Client led demand has led to a recent expansion of WorkSafe Connect’s Brisbane operation located at the Construction Training Centre, a world class facility in the inner southern suburb of Salisbury said WorkSafe Connect’s commercial manager Tony Lattin.

“The ongoing expansion into the Brisbane market strengthens WorkSafe Connect’s ability to offer accessible, flexible and professional training throughout Queensland,” said Mr Lattin.

“We have identified an increased demand in southern Queensland from our construction and infrastructure clients and with new courses such as Certificate 3 in Civil Construction Plant Operations now available we are looking forward to working with and supporting our clients.”

“This is on top of our full suite of over 100 courses including Standard 11 Coal Induction, Working at Heights, Confined Space, Friable and Non-Friable Asbestos removal, QMS 123, Certificate IV in WHS and High Risk Work Licencing Training and Assessment, all of which we offer on a regular basis.”

Worksafe Connect was investing in its staff to

accommodate the expansion said managing director, Des Smith.

Most recently, Vicki Anziliero who has 15 years experience in the RTO industry has joined the team as commercial manager with a focus on North Queensland.

Ms Anziliero joins a growing business that has also seen two additional fulltime trainers join the WorkSafe Connect team in the last 6 months.

Trent Elcoate, former Ernest Henry Mine operator and trainer and Paul Ambrose, a highly decorated high risk trainer/assessor have added even further strength to an award-winning training team.

“At WorkSafe Connect, we have identified that it is critical to have an experienced team who can not only provide great service and high quality training to our clients but also add value through years of experience in both industry and the RTO sector,” he said.

“We are passionate about setting a benchmark in each of our training products – partnering arrangements, onsite training, qualifications, short courses and high risk work licences.

“To this end we are driven to help make a difference to Australian workplaces and provide career pathways for each of our clients – employers and employees alike, said Mr Smith.”

For more information and our latest training calendar refer to the websitehttp://www.worksafeconnect.com/.

3Queensland Industry Advocate | January 2015

NEWS

Weekly

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An independent power

generation company is

forecasting that a shift to

alternative energy will underpin

bulk power supply in the next

ten to 15 years.

RATCH-Australia is

progressing with plans to meet

forecast demand with solar

photovoltaic (PV) generation

from the site of the old

Collinsville Power Station.

Th e 500ha area has water

supply, grid connection and a

supportive local community

said general manager-business

development, Geoff Dutton.

Th e utility has a proposed

capacity of 36MW and

estimated generation of 80GW

a year. Th at’s equivalent to the

annual power consumption of

11,300 homes.

Th e project is on track to begin

a 66 week construction period in

June 2015 with a locally-based

workforce peaking at around 40.

Commercial operations are

planned for the end of 2016 with

two permanent onsite staff .

Th e company considered a

number of other options for

the Collinsville power plant

including solar-thermal, coal,

and gas.

None were as viable as solar

PV, Mr Dutton said.

While the company was now

monitoring how the government

moves on renewable energy

targets, there was a lot more

potential for solar PV projects,

he said.

“Th ere is no shortage of power

in Queensland if you look at

the capacity to generate,” he

said. “Th ere is a shortage of new

things of being built.”

“It (solar PV) only became

economically viable in Australia

probably two years ago but I

think you will start to see a lot

more solar PV coming online

in Western Queensland and

Western NSW. It’s very, very

suited to dyer inland areas.”

Th e company has held

discussions for power purchase

agreements with two types of

buyers he said.

“One is the retailers (who) by

law have to be using some aspect

of renewable energy in their

mix.”

“Another group is the heavy

industry (which) sometimes uses

renewable energy to compensate

for the dirty energy they’re using.

“Some users like gas producers

have to compensate for the

greenhouse gasses they produce

so they may look to renewable

energy.”

RATCH-Australia owns the

Windy Hill Wind Farm near

Ravenshoe on the Atherton

Tablelands which, with other

assets around the country,

generate a total of 815 MW/year.

RATCH-Australia is majority

owned by the Th ai power

generation company, Ratchaburi

Electricity Generation Holding

PCL.

Dominqiue Kimber reports on the revamp of the old Collinsville Power Station site.

Solar project to start mid-year

Ratchaburi Thailand solar plant.

Worksafe Connect trainer Sally Jupp and new commercial manager Vicki Anziliero on WorkSafe Connect’s custom designed ‘working at-height/confined space’ simulator in Townsville.


NEWS

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Townsville QLD 4810

Election Priority Round-upIt’s election season in Queensland and all eyes are on the commitments to major

projects made by the LNP and ALP. Peak representative bodies from across regional

Queensland described their top priorities to Queensland Industry Advocate.

Advance Cairns chief executive Mark

Matthews said the big-ticket items for Far

North Queensland include:

• Integrated resort development license for

the proposed Aquis project in Cairns

• Roads

• Cairns and Hinterland Hospital &

Health Service (CHHHS) Funding

• Continued assessment of Nullinga

Dam, southwest of Mareeba

• Cairns Shipping Development Project

“Th ese priorities are the key economic

enablers required to support the

government’s strengthening of the four

pillars of the economy in Tropical North

Queensland,” Mr Matthews said.

Urannah Dam highlighted as a

priority for Whitsunday Marketing and

Development. See page 21.

Mount Isa to Townsville Economic

Development Zone (MITEZ) chief

executive offi cer Glen Graham said roads

and economic development were at the

top of the list for the North-West.

Some of those priority projects include:

• Construction of the Eastern

Access Rail Corridor to the Port of

Townsville.

• Sealing of the remainder of the Hann

Highway as an alternative route to the

Bruce Highway.

• New capital investment for 70km

of the Flinders Highway between

Cloncurry and Hughenden.

• Investment in the O’Connell Creek

off -stream water storage facility

located west of the township of

Richmond to create opportunity for

irrigation farming in the area.

• Investment towards new infrastructure

to increase current water storage

capacity for Cloncurry and Mount Isa.

A key focus for the Fitzroy region is the

proposed Convention Centre Stadium.

Capricorn Enterprise chief executive

offi cer Mary Carroll said the group

would be lobbying for $35.5 million

in State Government

funding for stage 1

of the $50.5 million

project.

“Projects of this

nature are critical to

grow the economic

and social benefi t to

this destination,” Ms

Carroll said.

Looking further south, Toowoomba

Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) chief

executive offi cer Shane Charles said the

organisation was seeking Government

support rather than a dollar fi gure.

Its priority projects include the

Rail Precinct

Redevelopment and

the establishment of

Toowoomba as an

‘inland logistics hub’.

“Toowoomba is

indeed set to become

a powerhouse

economy not only for

Queensland, but for

Australia. However in

order for the region to

reach this potential,

while dollars are

always helpful, we

need government to

get out of the way and

remove the roadblocks

that often slow down

development and

progress,” Mr Charles

said.

Far north MITEZ Capricorn South west


NEWS

Researchers are examining the cost of fl awed assessments of material quality on road building.

CQ University civil engineering traffi c and transportation lecturer Jerome Egwurube is leading a study into the economic costs of variations.

Recent fi eldwork in the Mackay area showed road designers both under and over-estimating subgrade strength.

“For now the focus for us here is what is the economic cost?” said Dr Egwurube.

Th e Department of Transport and Main Roads promoted the initial research work as a result of the major road repairs that needed to be undertaken a short period after the 2011 fl ooding throughout Queensland.

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Glencore’s Lady Loretta underground zinc, lead, silver mine recently welcomed neighbouring landowners and key local stakeholders to site 140kms north west of Mount Isa.

Th e operation is currently ramping up production to around 90,000 tonnes per

month to reach 935,380 tonnes in 2014, before

achieving a full annual production rate of 1.6

million tonnes a year by the end of the second

quarter of 2015.

In July, Lady Loretta reached one million

tonnes of ore mined.

to estimate the strength of the subgrade, Dr Egwurube said.

“One of the things that had been observed by another research body (Profi ciency Testing Australia) was that if you give the same soil to diff erent laboratories, there’s a lot of variability (in the CBR value they return),” he said.

In 2013, a CQ University team collected data by using bag analysis of 24 road sections in the Mackay Regional Council area.

Th e research was an industry-supported project for a fi nal-year student, Joseph Commer, who was undertaking his industrial placement with Main Roads, Dr Egwurube said.

“We applied load to compute the actual strength of material from the fi eld with strength assumed during road design,” he said.

A study shows most testing of subgrade strength falls short.

Th is work showed strength had been underestimated in 50 per cent of the sites and overestimated in 21 per cent, while the remainder “had it just about right”.

It could be assumed that road surfaces would last longer when

designers underestimated the underlying strength ..., however the cost of laying such thicker, stronger pavement needed to be looked at, Dr Egwurube said.

Dr Egwurube said many factors could impact on reliability of results coming from

NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities) accredited soil labs.

“Handling is a factor, for example, as material will lose moisture before testing if not kept in the right environment,” he said.

Costs hidden beneath bitumen

Lady Loretta neighbours day


NEWS

Poor old granny will be forced to hand over her false teeth and apparently the people in the pubs won’t swallow it.

Th ese are just a couple of the comments made by some of our favourite industry commentators following the recent signing of Australia’s Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China.

Shock jock Alan Jones was quick to interrogate Prime Minister Tony Abbot over the issue live on air and accused him of failing the ‘pub test’.

“To win an election – and you’re not worth two bob in opposition – to win an election, you’ve got to pass the pub test … Prime Minister I’m telling you out there, they are on fi re, in the pubs, they don’t swallow this,” he said.

Katter Australia Party leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter wasn’t far behind in voicing his opinion on the matter.

“Th e last report I saw said Australia is 11 per cent foreign owned. 52 per cent of our land in Australia is designated desert. Over 25 per cent of Australia is reserved for our First Australians. Of the 33 per cent left, 11 per cent is foreign owned,” Mr Katter said.

“Let there be no doubt this will now be increased.

“We have already gifted them the Ord, the biggest irrigation project in the nation, we’ve sold them cubby station, the biggest farm in the nation – I’m sure if they want to buy grandma’s false teeth that poor old granny will have to hand them over,” Mr Katter said.

Th e response to a Facebook post by Minister for trade and investment Andrew Robb was not much more positive.

Andrew Robb AO MP “Th e landmark China-Australia Free Trade Agreement will add billions of dollars to our economy, create jobs and drive higher living standards for Australians.”

Jono Heck “Chinese buy the farms and export all the produce and keep the profi ts from the farm, not good for Australia.”

Vanessa Muller “Newpolls results out tonight Labor 55 LNP, 45 Morgan poll Labor 55.5 LNP, 45.5 Bill Shorten preferred PM, tell you something guys”

It wasn’t all bad news though with organisations such as the Minerals Council Australia and the National

Farmers’ Federation showing their

support for the agreement.

Business Council of Australia“Th e agreement opens an

unprecedented level of access for our

key sectors into Chinese markets,

builds on Australia’s existing

strengths and opens new avenues for

growth and job creation.”

National Farmers’ Federation“Th e agreement is an outstanding

achievement that will build on

Australia’s important trading future

with China and provide signifi cantly

improved international market

access for Australian agricultural

goods.”

Meat and Livestock Australia“Th e Australian red meat and

livestock sectors will benefi t by

$11 billion from the elimination of

tariff s negotiated under the China-

Australia Free Trade Agreement.”

Minerals Council of Australia“Th e agreement is a watershed

achievement in Australia’s

relationship with China…the

free trade agreement will further

strengthen a minerals and energy

trade already worth more than $80

billion annually.”

Th e deal has been in the works since 2005 and covers a range of agreements on everything from agricultural tariff s to manufactured goods and services.

• 14 commercial agreements were signed, as part of Australia’s Free Trade Agreement with China, covering projects potentially worth more than $20 billion.

• Among the big winners will be the mining sector, dairy farmers and wine exporters.

Th e Government has put together a top ten ways you can benefi t from Free Trade Agreements including:

• Increasing goods exports to a market.

• Commencing new goods exports to a market.

• Achieving effi ciencies through cheaper imported inputs.

• Harnessing new or more secure access to services markets.

• Deepening engagement in global value chains.

• Investing with enhanced protections and certainty.

• Travelling for business more easily.

FTA Facts

Cairns is the world’s most livable tropical city and a world class tourism destination – the only place in the world where two world heritage sites meet. Cairns is ‘perfectly positioned’ in the Asia Pacific Rim.

The region has developed building standards for the tropics which provide for safety and resilience for our built environment. These standards have been proven and are being used in other countries for their own developments. As cyclone patterns change, and extreme weather events increase around the world, these standards will become mainstream for all new buildings.

The Tropical North Queensland region has many levels of expertise and knowledge uniquely developed over time in health and medicine, architecture and engineering design, sustainable tourism, world class sustainable environmental management of sensitive areas, and disaster management. Many of these elements have developed from the traditional knowledge of our ancestors in this region, passed down through generations.

Tropical North Queensland leads the world in research that impacts tropical economies across agriculture, medicine and health, building design, construction and disaster recovery.

Our tropical expertise and tropical knowledge is something often talked about but not always understood. A simple way of explaining this is the knowledge and expertise unique to our tropical world that we apply not only to our life and living here, but also to real world problems, not only in the tropics but also for the entire world.

Cairns Perfectly Positioned

The Cairns region is perfectly positioned for innovation, business and lifestyle. It is a great place to live, work and work from. Many companies base their staff, back office, procurement or other operations in Cairns because it delivers everything that business and families look for.

Cairns is well connected to Australia and the rest of the world through flights to 13 international and 44 domestic destinations.

The region has a skilled and experienced workforce. Safe and secure communities, excellent value for money in housing, an enviable lifestyle, and world class health

facilities make Cairns a great place for families.

We have well established world class port infrastructure and marine repair and training facilities, all with expansion capacity.

Two universities, a range of other vocational training institutions, high achieving secondary schools, including boarding schools, offer exceptional education for everyone.

Proven logistics and well developed supply chain capability to serve your needs.

No matter what your business needs, Cairns is ‘Perfectly Positioned’ to support you.

See Invest-FNQ feature page 24.

Cairns is ‘perfectly positioned’ in the Asia Pacific Rim.

by Mark Matthews Advance Cairns ceo


REGIONAL ROUND-UP

TownsvilleA community-based bid for the lease of the Port of Townsville and the

Townsville to Mount Isa rail line has received support from more than 1500

people, the Townsville Bulletin reported.

It follows the LNP’s announcement that the assets would be leased upon

re-election.

Th e bid, run by Th e Northern Australia Community Ports Corporation,

will invite local companies and organisations, port users and private residents

of North, North-West and Far North Queensland to participate in a future

share off er.

Comm-Port chairman Harvey Parker said an unsolicited proposal for

consideration had been submitted to the Premier.

“We have had constructive discussions with the Premier in relation

to the proposal and are encouraged by the positive and open-minded

response from the government,” he said.

“A mandate at the next election will enable the

government to proceed with the leasing of state-owned

assets, and through this proposal the community is

getting ready to take advantage of this important

opportunity.”

More information: www.ourport.community.”

Cairns An $8 billion casino resort project in Cairns could see the city increase its numbers by almost 95,000 if it goes ahead.

Owners of the Aquis initergrated resort had recently signed an option over the core site at Yorkeys Knob and would push ahead to address regulatory requirements assocaited with the environmental impact assesment Chairman, Tony Fung said.

Aquis had elected not to pursue the purchase of the Cairns based Reef Casino and Hotel Mr Fung said.

Instead, the group would concentrate on the purchase of the Canberra Casino which would facilitiate the Queensalnd project, he said.

According to an EIS supplementary report the ten-year, two stage Aquis project will create 20,000 direct employment opportunities and 35,000 indirect job

opportunities that will help boost population numbers to almost 340,000 by 2036.

Lead consultant and AQUIS project director of the Aquis EIS, Pat Flanagan told an industry breakfast in Townsville Aquis off ered a 3750 peak construction workforce and around 20,000 operational jobs.

MackayIsaac Regional Council has been recognised at the Mackay

Engineers Australia Engineering Excellence Awards for

its Natural Disaster Relief Recovery Arrangements

(NDRRA) Flood Restoration Program.

Th e initiative won the evening’s Project

Management Award, which judges described as

the most competitive category in the program.

Th e IRC’s Flood Restoration Program

is the largest in the region’s history

and is funded under the NDRRA; a

joint federal and state government

initiative.

To date, the program has

involved approximately 4,700

discreet projects comprising

restoration of 180 roads and 26

fl oodways, at a total value of

approximately $70 million.

Th e program was

implemented as a result of

several severe weather events

from 2010 – 2014, which caused

widespread damage to the region’s

roads and drainage infrastructure.

ToowoombaTh e major onshore gas proponents in the Surat Basin provided information on their future

workforce numbers and local content policies at the GasFields Community Leaders Council

meeting held in Toowoomba.

QGC Managing Director, Mitch Ingram was one of four major onshore gas proponents to address

the gathering of local and state government, community, business and landholder representatives

attending the forum organised by the GasFields Commission.

Commission Chair, John Cotter said in gross terms the onshore gas industry is transitioning from

a construction peak of around 40,000 jobs to 12-14,000 jobs over the next 18 months, however most

of those long-term production phase workers will be based in the Surat Basin.

“Th e proponents advised that during this next phase they expect to drill in total around 900 wells

per year over next 30 years which will also provide additional opportunities for local business in the

supply chain.

“Th e proponents also indicated an ongoing commitment to utilising local businesses that can meet

the stringent requirements of the companies and the onshore gas industry.”

Mr Cotter said the Commission is currently liaising with onshore gas proponents, Toowoomba

Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) and Chambers of Commerce about how best to communicate this

information on future opportunities to the Surat Basin business community.

BlackwaterTh iess has been awarded a $250 million contract by Jellinbah Resources to

operate the Jellinbah Plains open-pit, part of the Jellinbah East coal mine

near Blackwater in Central Queensland.

Th e 39-month contract, commencing 1 January 2015, follows the

completion of the existing contract with Leighton Contractors.

“We are delighted to extend our partnership with Jellinbah Group and to

continue our focus on bringing cost effi ciencies and innovation to the mine

site,” Th iess managing director Bruce Munro said.

“Th is contract win demonstrates that there are still strong opportunities

for clients and their partners to deliver exceptional value in the coal mining

industry.”

CloncurryStage 2 of the Cloncurry weir development has been

fi nalised.

Th e completion of the weir means council can now

harvest eight days worth of town water usage per day.

Stage 2 involved the construction of a fi sh passage

way and scour protection works, costing $450,000,

partially funded ($150,000) by the state government’s

Local Government Grants Subsidy Program, and

allows for fi sh to have a safe passage upstream.

Acting Mayor Bob McDonald told Th e North West

Star that the weir captures water that would have previously run

past the town enabling council to harvest 35 megalitres per day into

Chinaman Creek Dam.

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Two million hours of manpower has lead to the provision of a cleaner source of power generation for businesses and community in Mount Isa.

Th e Diamantina and Leichhardt Power Stations were offi cially opened late last year and have lower emissions and higher plant effi ciencies than traditional coal fi red power plants.

Th e Diamantina Power Station (DPS) is a modern high effi ciency power station comprising 242-megawatt power generation from combined cycle gas turbines, with 60 megawatt back up power supply available from the Leichhardt Power Station open cycle facility.

Its capacity is suffi cient to supply eco-friendly electricity to local mines operated by Glencore and to the domestic market.

Th e objective was to provide the region with a reliable and fl exible power supply that could grow and adapt as energy needs were required in the region, DPS chairman Mike Moraza said.

AGL supplies the natural gas fuel source for DPS which is delivered to site by fellow joint project owner APA Group’s Carpentaria Gas Pipeline.

Siemens was responsible for the overall plant design, and also provided technical advisory services during the construction and commissioning phases of

A plan that has been ten years in the making is fi nally becoming a reality for James Cook University’s Cairns campus.

A $30 million, 300-bed accommodation facility is set to attract an infl ux of new students to the Far North Queensland campus from the fi rst semester of 2016.

Plans for accommodation facilities in Cairns have been on the JCU agenda for the last decade but the deal has now been signed, Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Robyn McGuiggan said.

“It’s really important because International students need somewhere to stay and we haven’t been able to off er them any accommodation on Cairns Campus,” she said.

“We also get students on study abroad exchange. Many of those universities will not sign an agreement unless you can provide on campus

accommodation which means we have been restricted to only taking those students into Townsville.

“By having those 300 beds here we will be able to bring some of those students to Cairns which will be wonderful. It will make us a lot more attractive to a lot of our markets.”

Th e accommodation is part of $74.5 million investment in expansion planned for JCU Cairns .

$25.5 million in funding has been earmarked for the Australian Institute of Tropical medicine.

Th e institute will provide a place for research on tropical diseases such as dengue, tuberculosis and leprosy and is scheduled to be opened in 2016.

“Construction should start in the fi rst half of next year,” Professor McGuiggan said.

Another project on the

JCU Cairns books is the Tropical

Sustainable Futures complex

which will provide a mixture of

natural and fenced agricultural

land for teaching and research

purposes.

While only at concept stage,

$2 million has been allocated

to the project and a staged

development has been suggested.

“Th e research will be

ecological environmental

research in the tropics looking

at management conservation

and sustainable use of tropical

- both terrestrial and coastal eco

systems,” Professor McGuiggan

said.

“It will also attract PHD

students and allow our students

to complete on campus

fi eldwork.”

See our Invest-FNQ feature on pages 24-28

The Diamantina and Leichhardt power stations come on line.

the project. Th e Diamantina

Power Station is set out in a

confi guration of two 121 MW

power blocks.

Th e Siemens scope of supply

encompassed two power islands

each comprising two SGT-800

gas turbines, two heat-recovery

steam generators(HRSG) with

diverter dampers – both supplied

by NEM Energy b.v. – as well

as one SST-400 steam turbine

connected to the local grid via

132kV electrical switchyard.

Siemens will also provide

maintenance for the SGT-800

Gas Turbines, SST-400 steam

turbines, generators and the

related control and auxiliary

systems under a Long Term

Services Agreement.

Aerial shot of the Diamantina and Leichhardt Power Stations.

All power to the Isa

JCU’s $30m incentive to study in Cairns


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I was educated at a boy’s school, studied

engineering in a majority male class and

spent most of my career on remote mine

sites with few women workers … I think

that I can speak with some credibility and

authority when I say that many men fi nd

it diffi cult to relate professionally with

women in our industry. And while some men might have no

issues having females as team members or as peers, they might feel diff erently if they had a female boss.

Another male might also feel comfortable with a female leading a functional area like HR or fi nance but have diffi culties dealing with a female leader in operations.

So there is no one answer or quick fi x. Th e issue is multifaceted and complex.

But we knew that in order to make progress we needed to increase the numbers of women in our workforce and in our leadership teams.

Th ere’s a real and pressing business case for diversity and in this context gender diversity….we’re not going to be able to attract the talent and leadership needed to be globally competitive if half of our population aren’t in our future talent pool.

But personally, as a father, leader and role model for three young boys, I just think it is the right thing to do.

Over the past two years through our Women in Resources Program we’ve increased female participation rate overall, but we’ve been the most successful in increasing the number of our female

leaders. One immediate and noticeable

diff erence I’ve observed is that the females have leadership conversations around ‘meaning’ and ‘why’’ while our male leaders tend to communicate in a more direct style about ‘doing’ and ‘what’.

Having a diversity of styles in our leadership team is strength by itself; however, our female leaders are also ‘messaging’ in a manner consistent with a better informed, empowered and engaged

workforce – which is what we need if we

are to remain competitive and sustainable

in the longer term.

Despite these successes, the majority

of our female leaders continue to work

in functional areas and operational

experience is a pre-requisite for a lot of

leadership career paths in our industry.

If I was asked to pinpoint the most

successful component of the program – I

would point to formal mentoring.

The why and what in leadershipCraig McCabe, Qld Resources Council ’s 2014 Diversity Champion and

General Manager Wesfarmers Curragh coal mine, discusses his personal

experiences of championing gender diversity on a coal mine ...

Craig McCabe Wesfarmers Curragh coal mine general manager.


OUR MINING HERITAGE

JOIN US TODAYCall: 07 3839 8588 or visit www.cfmeu.com.au

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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 vast majority of workers employed.

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A union’s greatest strength is always its members and there is no better benefit for members than the mutual support offered by fellow members.

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At the heart of Collinsville’s mining history is the story of the town’s beloved pit ponies who worked alongside the underground miners, were at the centre of a union strike and even saved the life of one of the town’s locals.

Former CFMEU Collinsville lodge president, Mike Brunker tells of the day that his father, ‘Sugar’ Ray Brunker escaped the 1954 mine disaster while he tended to one of the pit ponies.

“My father was taking supplies into the face and it’s only that the horse got jammed up and he was unhooking the horse when the explosion happened that he survived. If it weren’t for that horse, he wouldn’t have survived and I wouldn’t be here today,” he said.

In later years Mr Brunker had personal experiences with the ponies through his role with the CFMEU.

Mr Brunker said the ponies were made honorary union members in an eff ort to protect their rights and keep them employed with the mine company for as long as possible.

“Th ey actually even had 5 weeks annual leave at the end of the year and there were some

strict rules surrounding the use of the ponies because they were such a precious commodity for the workers,” Mr Brunker said.

In the 1980’s this union membership gave power to a worker’s strike when Mount Isa Mines looked to retire the ponies.

“Th e boys went on strike, it was simply just them trying to hold onto the horses for as long as possible. We all knew they had to go eventually, it was just so sad when they did because they were like a symbol of mining in Collinsville and how it was done,” Mr Brunker said.

February 2015 marks the 25th anniversary since the ponies were offi cially retired and the Collinsville community is now looking at ways to highlight the town as the pit pony capital of Australia.

Coordinator and manager of the Collinsville Connect telecentre Sue Clark says one of the plans is to build a Bronze pony at 17 hands high as a symbol of the town’s history.

“By organizing that we’re really hoping that it will bring back some of the identity. Th ese ponies were the last underground ponies in Australia.

A pit pony with miners at No.2 mine. Back - Adrian Morrissey, Theo Janssen-Groesbeek, Col King, Bob Cuff, Jeff Davies and Wally Nisbet. Front - Peter Fell, Brian McPherson and Robert Harding. Photo: courtesy of Wayne Munro

Collinsville seeks pit pony recognition

We want to use that as a tag to hang our hat on and bring back some of the stories from those days,” she said.

“It’s all still in the works

but hopefully it will be built somewhere prominent as you come into town so people can come to town and have their photo taken with it.

“Hopefully too, we’ll have some smaller ponies scattered through Collinsville and have a digital interactive element to provide a little bit of history.”


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Th e lift on the ban of uranium mining in Queensland could

see the ghost town of Mary Kathleen brought back to life.

In 2012, Premier Campbell Newman announced

that the Queensland Government would support the

recommencement of uranium mining in Queensland.

Since then new regulatory framework for uranium

mining in Queensland has been introduced and six mineral

development licences (MDL) have been granted.

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Andrew

Cripps said an MDL would not allow the holder to mine

and produce uranium, and that commencement of any

commercial production would require a mining lease.

“An MDL allows the holder to undertake geoscientifi c

programs (e.g. drilling, seismic surveys), mining feasibility

studies, metallurgical testing and marketing, environmental,

engineering and design studies to evaluate the development

potential of the defi ned resource,” he said.

To date, there have been no applications for mining leases

lodged with the Department of Natural Resources and Mines

(DNRM) under the new uranium regulatory framework.

A competitive public tender, seeking expressions of interest

to explore for rare earth elements and other minerals at the

former Mary Kathleen mine site, closed in November 2014

and applications are currently under assessment.

“Th e department is not in a position to say how many

“conforming applications” have been received until the

assessment process is complete,” Mr Cripps said.

• To fuel commercial nuclear power plants

• Depleted uranium is used in helicopters and airplanes as counterweights on certain wing parts.

• Ceramic glazes where small amounts of natural uranium (that is, not having gone through the enrichment process) may be added for colour.

• Addition of uranium makes fl uorescent yellow or green coloured glass.

• Estimating the age of the earliest igneous rocks and for other types of radiometric dating

• Uranium is converted into plutonium in breeder reactors. Plutonium can be used in reactors, or in nuclear weapons.

• Some lighting fi xtures utilise uranium, as do some photographic chemicals (esp. uranium nitrate ).

• Uranium metal is used for X-ray targets in making of high-energy X-rays.

Source: http://www.australianuranium.com.au/

Between the years 1956- 1963 and 1974- 1983 Mary Kathleen was a bustling mining town and popular social spot. Now all that remains is bitumen road and the concrete slabs where car ports once were.

Th e once thriving uranium town, was founded by Clem Walton and Norm McConarchy in 1954 during a time when everyone was searching Queensland for the mineral.

Th e ore was to be sent to Great Britain for its nuclear program and so Mary Kathleen Uranium Limited built up the infrastructure including the mine, treatment plant and township.

Th e town’s fi rst uranium stint ended in October 1963 after the contract tonnage had been produced and so the plant was ‘mothballed’.

Author of Angor to Zillmanton, stories of North Queensland’s deserted towns, Col Hooper tells of how the mine was later re-started.

“Late in 1974 the town was re-habilitated and the mine and plant commenced work again and the concentrate started fl owing again in 1976,” he said.

“But then in October 1983 the last production was completed and in 1984 the town and plant were sold off . Nowadays, there’s very little left, it’s been cleaned and re-habilitated.”

Cloncurry Unearthed Visitor Information Centre & Museum manager Gail Wipaki said during its times of operation, Mary Kathleen was a popular weekend destination for residents from the nearby

A melancholic look at Qld’s Uranium heritage

Cloncurry.

“It was just a lovely little

community and I used to go out

there quite a lot, a lot of people

did. Mary Kathleen at the

time had ample water whereas

Cloncurry always had a shortage

of water,” she said.

“Th ey had beautiful gardens,

they had an orchard out there, a

hospital, a school, two churches,

everything was there that the

community needed and there

were picnic tables and a BBQ

so a lot of times people used to

go out from the ‘Curry to have a

picnic there.”

Although the town now sits

dormant Ms Wipaki says there

are still those who drop in to

reminisce about what once was.

“We get a lot of people driving

through that either their parents

lived there or maybe they lived

there when they were young and

we get some tourists that just go

to have a look and say that it’s

eerie,” she said.

“When I go and see it today

I like to remember it how it

was because it was a lovely, very

community minded town.”

Col HooperAuthor

Final product drumming.

Twice back to the future for Mary K Uranium

Uranium - what is it used for?


INDUSTRY LEADERS

As the son, the grandson and the great grandson of builders it was almost inevitable that Robert Row would join the industry.

Now he sits as the National and Queensland Civil Contractors Federation chief executive offi cer.

Mr Row began his construction career with an apprenticeship in carpentry at the age of 21 and then moved into the family business of residential and light commercial construction.

In later years Mr Row found his true passion in the training and up skilling of others in the industry.

“I got involved in the training side of things working with the Queensland Master Builders Association and I helped them set up their original apprentice training school in Inala in Queensland,” he said.

Master Builders in conjunction with the CFMEU, Master Painters, Master Bricklayers and some other industry bodies then went about setting up their own training organisation which Mr Row became chief executive offi cer for 13 years.

“At the time it had about 120 apprentices

Mount Isa Deputy Mayor Brett Peterson is a copper man.

From the age of 19 and his fi rst day working hand to shovel underground with Mount Isa mines he was grabbed by the industry Brett Peterson said.

Mr Peterson was born and bred in ‘the Isa’ and he said he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“For me Mount Isa is home, I fl y home for a weekend if I’m away. I love the place to bits,” he said.

“I went underground at 19 which was a soon as I could go under. I fell in love with the industry and the mates I’ve made in this industry are my mates for life.”

Mr Peterson spent ten and a half years working underground before he branched off into the ventilation industry repairing ducting for mines.

Th at led to the establishment of Mount Isa Mining Supplies in 2003 which now supplies some of the largest mining companies in Australia with ventilation ducting.

At the top of his agenda within both of his current

positions is developing and servicing Mount Isa as the world’s richest mineral province, Mr Peterson said.

“What we need to do is look at how to service that mineral province as a business community. People need to realise what they have on their doorstep and what’s here for them,” he said.

“With the province that surrounds us, there will be new mines that open and we have to be able to service them. We still service the old ones too, don’t get me wrong but the new mines are the future. I see Mount Isa Mining supplies as being a part of that too.”

Mr Peterson has seen many new mines and projects commence over the years. One of those key projects was Cannington mine.

“Cannington mine, was only about 100m long when I fi rst went there, there was six or seven dongas out there and a few shipping containers,” he said.

“To actually see it develop from a hole in the ground to what it is today is incredible.”

Building in his blood Robert Row

Mt Isa to the core Brett Peterson

and didn’t really do training, it was more apprentice

hire. I set up the registered training organization

and over time it morphed into have about 1000

apprentices on the payroll and around 4,000 students

in the RTO,” he said.

In 2007 Mr Row was appointed chief executive

offi cer of the Queensland branch of the Civil

Contractors Federation and has subsequently taken

on the dual role at national and state level.

From day one in his position with CCF Mr Row

set his mind to training and has since helped the

organisation to open two new training centres in

Brisbane’s Eight Mile Plains and in Townsville.

“I certainly changed the focus within CCF to

workforce and skills development,” Mr Row said.

“Th e vision is to make sure that the industry is

suffi ciently skilled into the future.”

“We have the two centres now and the board

have now set a goal of three more to be built in

Queensland.”

His proudest career achievement was the training

opportunities he had provided for apprentices across

Australia, Mr Row said.


LOCAL GOVERNMENT


m: 0439 536 466 p: (07) 0747 550 336

f: (07) 0747 550 338


Get more ACCESS to Local Government


Th e Queensland Department

of Transport and Main Roads

(TMR) has devised a new way

to ensure the quality of the

pavement material used across its

33,532km road network.

Th e current system sees TMR

spend more than $60 million

annually on quarry material

testing, an approach that deputy

chief engineer, pavements,

materials and geotechnical,

TMR Peter Evans said was

excessive.

“It was accepted this was

not an optimal approach,

since source rock quality and

consistency, quarry management,

and product consistency varies

markedly between quarries,” Mr

Evans said.

“In this environment, it was

obvious some quarries were

required to undertake excessive

testing to maintain their quality.

Other quarries may still not have

been doing enough testing. Our

challenge was how to address

this issue.”

In collaboration with

the Cement and Concrete

Association Australia (CCAA)

TMR has developed a new set of

guidelines for quarry registration

system (QRS) so that quarries

can self-assess their frequencies,

Mr Evans said.

“Quarry managers and

operators will need to review

test results from their ongoing

quality control measures,

the consistency of their

rock, and their management

capabilities,”he said.

“Th ey will nominate their own

testing frequencies, based on

these new guidelines.

“Our principal geologist will

review their submissions, and

based on their knowledge of the

quarry, negotiate an agreement

on what testing frequencies

TMR will allow.”

Th ere were many benefi ts

the market,” he said.

“From January 2015, we’re

looking at rolling this out and

making it mandatory in our new

standard specifi cations.

“It will then apply for all

quarrying material used in our

work.”

Road cleared for pavement supply

for quarries and TMR in

adopting the new system and

that by avoiding ‘excessive and

unnecessary’ testing, there was

the potential to increase quarry

productivity and increase savings,

he said.

“If we get enough quarries

using lower testing frequencies,

they’ll be able to lower their

costs to be more competitive in

Above - Routine inspections of quarries by TMR Geologists as a part of Quarry Registration System.

Right - An

example of poorly

performing

pavement with

weak nondurable

sealing aggregates.

An ex-NRL star is currently serving his fi rst term as Mayor of the Banana Shire council in Central Queensland with a strong focus on moving the bush forward.

Ron Carige says there are three key attributes that he used during his days with Sydney’s Penrith Panthers and Brisbane’s Redcliff e Dolphins that he now applies to his roles as Mayor and Chair of Central Queensland’s Regional Organstion of Councils (ROC).

“My view is that you need to have the right attitude, the dedication and you need the ability to go with change. “Whether you’re playing sport back 40 years, sport today, or doing something like this, without those things you’re unlikely to achieve,” he said.

Mr Carige’s passion within his positions is to get all of the towns within the shire and all of the councils operating in Central Queensland working together towards similar goals.

“We have 13 towns in our shire and six councils in Central Queensland and getting everyone to pull in the same direction is a bit of a challenge,” he said.

“I’d like to think that as a community leader, I take a lot of time and pride in meeting with people.

“You need industry, councils and community all to come together to make things work.

“I’m not superman and nobody can do it all on their own.”

Banana Mayor rallies his teams


BETWEEN SHIFTS

James Coutts (DSDIP), Victoria Parker (UDIA Qld) with Jess Grant (UDIA Qld) and Peter Browning (The Hornery Institute) at UDIA Awards for Excellence Gala – Brisbane.

Stacie Saltner (Sundown Group), Mick Prien (Townsville CBD Electrical) and Peter Smith (Sundown Group) at MoU Best Practice Forum on Procuring from Indigenous Businesses - Townsville.

John McVeigh, Ryan Jones and Sean Cummiskey (all Careers Australia) with Gavin Walton (TSBE) at TSBE Executive Influences evening - Brisbane.

Jacob Cassady, Joe Sprouts, Mary Stevenson (all One Spirit Australia) at MoU Best Practice Forum on Procuring from Indigenous Businesses - Townsville.

Craig Hill (Cater Care) and Zane Branche (FNQ Civil Group) at MoU Best Practice Forum on Procuring from Indigenous Businesses - Townsville.

Katie and Chris Gould (Clarke Kann Lawyers) at UDIA Awards for Excellence Gala – Brisbane.

Belinda Kelly and Melissa O’Sullivan (Devine) at UDIA Awards for Excellence Gala – Brisbane.

Vanessa and Chris Davis (Devineat) at UDIA Awards for Excellence Gala – Brisbane.

Brad Howe (Howe Contracting) and Stewart Morland (IOR Petroleum) at TSBE Enterprise Evening - Roma.

Steven Raine (USQ), Jo Sheppard (TSBE), Julie Cotter (USQ) and Mick Keogh (Australian Farm Institute) at TSBE Innovation in Ag – The Key to Global Competitiveness event - Toowoomba.

Scan this

code with

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see more

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these and

other events


Cannington chooses blue

An aquatic weed harvester is one of the community projects to be funded in the latest round of the QGC Sustainable Communities Fund.

Th e grants include $336,732 to ten groups in Gladstone and $357,191 to ten groups in the Western Downs.

Th e Fund had delivered more than $6 million to 185 projects during the main construction phase of the Queensland Curtis LNG Project from 2011 to 2014, said QGC Vice President External Aff airs Joanne Pafumi.

Th e latest round of recipients ranged from schools, show societies and social services to environmental programs. said Ms Parfumi.

“Th ey also range in size with just fi ve of the 20 receiving the maximum grant available under this fund of $50,000.”

A $50,000 grant would help fund a dedicated aquatic weed harvester to remove the noxious Salvinia molesta weed from Dogwood Creek south of Miles said Western Downs Regional Council Spokesperson for Environmental Health Cr Greg Olm.

Th e Council has been working since October 2013 to remove the nationally declared weed from the creek at the Gill Weir, which is the main water supply point for the town.

In the Boyne Valley, south of Gladstone, Kym McLachlan from the Ubobo Progress Association said a $50,000 grant would mean the town’s memorial hall would have a new roof for centenary Anzac Day celebrations in April 2015.

“It is a central meeting place and displays the honour board with the names of the soldiers from the region who fought in both world wars as well as the Korean and Vietnam wars,’’ Mrs McLachlan said.

QGC funds 20 town and bush projects

Hail Creek support

Cannington employees celebrating the launch of 2014’s charity campaign which raised $100,000 for the Brainchild Foundation. The mine’s 2015 charity is Beyondblue. Photo: John De Rooy

Rio Tinto’s Hail Creek Mine has announced $450,000 in support for community partners in central Queensland over the next three years.

Mine general manager operations and Community Development Fund (CDF) chair Rowan Munro committed the funding for projects that help build a more sustainable future for Mackay, Sarina, Mirani and Nebo.

Hail Creek Mine was committed to a long-term future in the Mackay region, Mr Munro said.

“We’re proud to extend our

funding to support further projects that address issues in the community related to health and well-being, education, environment and land management and economic development and diversifi cation in the Mackay region,” he said.

“Th e Hail Creek Community development fund has invested more than $1.3m so far to support over 110 diverse projects to strengthen communities.

“Th e tremendous outcomes from this investment simply wouldn’t be possible without our community partners and I would like to thank them.”

The Hail Creek Mine Community Development Board Members alongside successful 2014 funds recipients.

Isaac arts funding boost

A northwestern Queensland mine has given Beyondblue a resounding vote of confi dence.

Th e national mental health advocacy group is this year’s charity of choice for around 60 per cent of staff at Cannington.

Beyondblue works toward building an Australian community that understands depression and anxiety.

Th e charity was one that was close to the hearts of employees and well aligned with BHP Billiton’s commitment to staff health and well-being said Cannington Corporate Aff airs

Specialist-Improvement, Simone Sullivan.

A blue CAT AD60 underground truck would also be brought on site early this year as part of the campaign and will act as a constant reminder of the cause, Ms Sullivan said.

Th e initiative follows on from two previous years of annual fundraising. In both years a fundraising target of $50,000 was set and each time it was exceeded.

Last year’s eff ort raised the bar markedly. Th e 2014 charity of choice was the Brainchild

Foundation and saw more than

$100,000 collected.

Th e Brainchild Foundation

supports families of children

who have been diagnosed with

brain and spinal cord tumors and

raises money for research.

Th e fundraising target was

complimented by combination

of raffl es, gala dinners, ticketed

events and a silent auction.

A yellow excavator was also

brought on site to highlight

the color gold that represented

childhood cancer.

Skate park art murals, photography workshops,

short stories and the Anywhere Festival are set

to brighten Isaac communities with support

from eight arts grants awarded by Isaac Regional

Council.

Th e Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF)

grants would help bring a major cultural attractions

to the region said Mayor Cr Anne Baker.

“Th e Anywhere Festival is an innovative and unique theatre-style festival with Brisbane origins,” Cr Baker said.

“Th e festival takes theatre to all sorts of places and enriches those communities with an experience like never before.

“It breaks the rules of how and where you expect to enjoy an arts performance, like listening to poetry in supermarkets and watching productions in boxing rings.

“Isaac Regional Council and the RADF are very proud and excited to help bring the festival to our region.”

Th e RADF is an Arts Queensland and Isaac Regional Council partnership to support local arts and culture.

Th e RADF grants give individuals, community groups and organisations the opportunity to run or attend arts activities, workshops and events and can contribute towards creative workers attendance at professional development conferences.

RADF Round Th ree is open until February 13. To apply visit Council’s website at www.isaac.

qld.gov.au, pick an application form at an Isaac Regional Council offi ce or phone 1300 472 227.

Cannington

Proudly supporting mining communities

BUILDING MINING COMMUNITIES SUPPORTED BY BHP BILLITON CANNINGTON

The ‘Anywhere Festival’ is coming to the Isaac region with support of a Regional Arts Development Fund Grant, Isaac and Mackay Regional Councils.


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of your fi nances

and get the most

favourable outcome.

Company Banking

Arrangements

An easy way to

test if you have the

best lending facility

in terms of interest

rates, covenants

and security levels is set up a brief meeting

with one or two banks and provide some

basic fi nancial information. Let them pitch

for your business.

Or get an experienced fi nance broker

to act as your advocate. Th e service off er

ranges from a single piece of equipment

to an entire new whole-of-banking

arrangement.

Th e broker will either re-negotiate

your current position with an existing

lender or help migrate your business to an

alternative lender.

Th is small investment in time will

confi rm that your present facilities are

working for you or give you the knowledge

to negotiate a better outcome.

Either way, it has the potential to save

you thousands over the longer term.

Home Loans

On a personal basis, I became aware by

accident that the home loan provider I was

using was off ering a lower interest rate on

an identical loan.

When I rang, they confi rmed the lower

rate was, ‘an off er to new clients’.

Upon expressing concern that being an

existing client with fi ve years of loyalty

simply meant I was paying a higher rate,

they informed me they would provide

the lower rate as a part of their, ’client

retention program’.

Th is leads to my second tip to get the

best out of home loan lenders.

Th at is, make a note in your diary every

three months to compare (via a simple

internet search) what your home loan

lender is providing to new clients to ensure

you continue to get the sharpest rate.

Alternatively contact your fi nance broker

to do the legwork on your behalf to ensure

the best outcome.

Five minutes of your time every now and

then can save some real dollars.

One fi nal comment, it may be time to

look at fi xing the interest rate for three to

fi ve years on a portion of your home loan.

Although we are still in a low rate

environment, when the economy improves,

home loan rates are the fi rst thing to go up

and the fi xed rates go up quickly when it is

about to turn.

So it is worthwhile considering locking

in some of your debt at these historical low

rates.

Food for thought.

Finlease Australia broker Phil Horton

Two really easy stepsto get the best out of your bankand home loan lender

Nissan launches the 12th generation of the Navara pick-up truck in Australia early in the second quarter this year featuring two new high-tech diesel engines.

Th e 2.3 litre diesel engines earmarked for the Australian market feature single and twin turbo variants producing 118kW/403Nm and 140kW/450Nm respectively.

Nissan’s chief planning offi cer, Andy Palmer, was upbeat about the prospects of the new model as both a recreational and tradie vehicle in 2015.

“Th e all-new Nissan NP300 sets new benchmarks for performance, toughness, versatility and running costs, all the qualities that are critical to pick-up users,” he said.

“While life onboard is comfortable and convenient, the Navara has been designed and developed to easily and comfortably handle heavy loads, while allowing ease of loading and unloading.”

Navara has gained a reputation for toughness since the fi rst model appeared in 1933 and Mr Palmer said the new model was no exception with the high-strength chassis and suspension engineered to take punishment under intense daily usage.

Nissan engineers have delivered a tighter turning circle, often the bane of other vehicles in the class.

Th e Navara will be off ered in three cab styles - single, king and dual cab - all with the option of a pick-up body or cab chassis version.

A petrol model featuring a 2.5 litre, four-cylinder engine will be off ered with outputs of 118kW and 231Nm. It will be off ered on the 4x2 single cab and 4x2 dual cab.

Gone from the new range, but featured in the current ST-X models, is the turbo diesel V6 which has power outputs of 170kW and 550Nm which will see the company relinquish the title of selling the most powerful vehicle in the class.

Nissan Navara chief engineer, Takashi Fukui, told media at the launch of the new vehicle in Th ailand that there would be no V6 and that any plans for a more powerful version of the twin turbo are yet to be confi rmed.

Gen 12 Navara due for Q2 release

Nissan Navara pick-up.

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Plan and prepare early, that’s the advise from the experts coming into the business end of the wet season.

Mackay Regional Council Emergency Management Coordinator Anthony Lee says it’s particularly important for those who work away leaving empty homes behind.

“Even though the home might be vacant, people still need to be prepared,”he said. “You need to clean around your house, trimming trees, cleaning gutters and all those types of things. “Secure loose items around the home and don’t forget that even if you’re away you may still need to have an emergency kit in place for when you get home.”

“It’s the same thing when maybe mum is at home with kids and dad is away at the mines, mum still needs to have a plan in case something happens.”

He had seen fi rst hand the result of people who have been unprepared for the season, Mr Lee said.

“When people haven’t prepared properly they’re left short. It’s then a mad rush trying to get things done. I know that in Cyclone Ului in 2010 we had a lot of trees down, which caused damage to homes and to vehicles too,” he said.

“Th en there’s issues around insurance ... these are things that people probably don’t want to have to go through so it’s just a case of doing that tidying up and preparation in advance and there

Traffic edges past fallen trees in Victoria St, Mackay’s business centre in the aftermath of Cyclone Ului in 2010.Photo: Daryl Wright

Heads up alert for mid-storm season preps

will be less chance of things going wrong.

“We can’t predict Mother Nature, we can only have the best-laid plans in place.”

Rio Tinto Alcan Weipa health, safety and environment manager Melissa Winks warned that the Cape York region can experience severe storms and advised workers and residents to prepare early.

Her advice is:• Cyclone emergency kits

should include a torch, portable radio, spare batteries, non-perishable food items, bottled water for three days, medical and sanitation supplies, personal hygiene items, cash, clothing and footwear.

• Familiarise yourself with

storm warnings and how to access vital information and updates in the event of a severe weather event.

• Assume fallen power lines are live and dangerous, and

report them immediately by phoning 000.

• Keep car regularly fuelled.• Check and restock your First

Aid Kit and ensure someone in the family has been trained in

CPR and First Aid.

• Have a good stock of tinned

food.

• Have a list of important

phone numbers.

Th e Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting below-average tropical cyclone activity for Australia this season.

Th e Australian tropical cyclone season:• Runs from 1 November to 30 April.• Averages around eleven tropical cyclones.• Sees an average of four tropical cyclones cross the coast (though

coastal impacts can be felt when tropical cyclones remain well off shore).

• Has always had at least one tropical cyclone cross the Australian coast each year.

Th e tropical Pacifi c Ocean is currently in an El Niño-like stateIn El Niño years:

• Australia typically sees fewer tropical cyclones than usual with

fewer land crossings

• Th e fi rst tropical cyclone of the season to make landfall typically

occurs in mid-January, later in the season than normal; in a

neutral year the fi rst coastal crossing usually occurs in late

December.

*El Niño refers to the extensive warming of the central and

eastern tropical Pacifi c that leads to a major shift in weather

patterns across the Pacifi c.

Source: http://www.bom.gov.au/

Cyclones-2015 by the BOM numbers

DRONES


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w: www.industryadvocate.com.au


Get more ACCESS to Civil Engineering

Th e Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) ultimate aim is to reach a point in the future where remotely piloted aircrafts can be introduced into the same airspace as manned aircraft, allowing for increased applications of the technology.

But concerns surrounding reliability and safety could mean that the goal could be some way off yet, CASA spokesman Peter Gibson said.

“It’s probably a long way off but people talk about freight fl ights between capital cities with unmanned aircrafts, he said.

“So there’s lots of potential there, it’s come a hell of a long way but these machines have a long way to go too.”

Mechanically, remotely piloted aircrafts still tend to malfunction relatively regularly so CASA has a set of commercial and recreational rules for UAVs as a way to ensure public and aviation safety.

Th e rules were introduced in 2002 and include a set of operational restrictions and training standards.

“So we have to have rules in

Cargo role seen as part of a big future for UAVs

place to protect people on the ground and property as well as the damage and danger to other aircrafts,” Mr Gibson said.

“Th ere was a rescue helicopter pilot returning to base in Newcastle earlier this year and luckily he saw it (the UAV) out of the corner of his eye and took necessary action,” Mr Gibson said.

“Th ere was also a woman injured earlier this year where a quadcopter was fi lming the end of a marathon race and it fell out of the air and cut her head open.”

Mr Gibson said that Australia was one of the fi rst countries to introduce rules surrounding remotely piloted aircrafts, beating countries like the United States of America.

“Th e rules are in two parts; one is commercial operations the other is for residential,” he said.

“For recreational operations you don’t need any approval, licence or registration but there are a set of rules to follow.

“For the commercial ones you do need an approval, an operation certifi cate from CASA, and people who fl y them need to have a controllers certifi cate.”

“It’s probably a long way off

but people talk about freight

fl ights between capital cities

with unmanned aircrafts

Peter Gibson

Australia is leading the world in UAS technology with UAVs that have the capability to fl y for 500 kms at a time and expose us to parts of the world that were once out of reach.

While most UAV operators in Australia are required to keep their UAVs within the line of sight, below 400ft and away from heavily populated areas, additional approvals are available from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to operate across longer distances.

URS Regional unmanned aerial systems lead for Australia, Dr. Catherine Ball describes Australia’s use of UAV technology as groundbreaking and says the potential is even more exciting.

“We’re able to fl y for over 10 hours and during that time we can collect information on everything you can possibly think of from an aerial data capture perspective,” Dr Ball said.

“We can produce 3D models, undertake vegetation mapping, count koalas or kangaroos, look at where people might be building or digging up something they shouldn’t be, and complete linear infrastructure assessments.

“For someone on the ground that might take a

month but with UAS technology we can do it in a day so that’s where it’s innovative.”

Australia’s resources industry is likely to lead the way in implementing the new technology due to its heavy monitoring requirements and vast and remote areas of operation, Dr. Ball said.

“Th e long-range capability URS has is a unique off ering to save time, money and keep people out of harm’s way,” she said.

“Th e safety aspects are clear, we are able to remove people from dangerous situations entirely. Eliminating the need to put people at risk in aircrafts during dangerous weather conditions is just one example.”

Australia’s position is unique in its ability to test and use UAV innovation compared to places like the United States and Europe that have much tighter airspace restrictions, Dr Ball said.

“It might change in the next few years, but at the moment Australia is the only place that can do this,” she said.

“What a unique space we are in, here in Australia. Everyone else in the world is watching to see what we do.”

“The safety aspects are clear, we are able to remove people from dangerous situations entirely.” - Dr. Catherine Ball.

Drone conducting power line inspection.

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QUARRY EBEE NDVI ORTHOMOSAIC

Ex-chopper pilot Paul Martin used to spend his days in the sky but now his feet are fi rmly on the ground with a UAV controller in hand.

Th e Aerial Photography Specialists chief executive offi cer turned his eyes to the technology when he began to see the potential it had for improving safety, effi ciency and cutting costs on traditional aircraft monitoring and inspection techniques.

“I looked at helicopters as a fairly old technology so I started looking around at what would be the next big thing.

“I recognised that micro

Drones a stand-out substitute for ‘copters

Drone conducting pipeline inspection. Photo: AEON Verlag & Studio

electric UAVs would be the next big thing in the technology sector so I shifted my aviation career from full size to miniature,” he said.

APS now works across a number of sectors including mining and resources, civil engineering and construction, emergency services and power line inspections.

“We do a bit of work with the Australian Federal police, we’ve done a bit of work with the fi re brigade,” Mr Martin said.

“We’re not an emergency services provider but we do provide technology and services to aid those agencies to do it themselves.

“Th e most memorable experience was the mock up terrorism activities in Canberra a few years ago.

“Quite a few diff erent police services from Australia and overseas had a big mock up activities to practice real life scenarios so that was certainly an exciting few days.”

Th e micro-drones are able to withstand temperatures of up to 55 degrees and can travel at speeds up to 60 kms an hour down to a hovering position.

Th eir versatility makes them

ideal for the monitoring and inspection of Australia’s vast power line network, a job traditionally done by full size helicopters.

“Some areas can’t use full size

craft for inspections and there are access problems. It’s also a lot less disturbance to use a small UAV to a full sized helicopter,” Mr Martin said.

“It’s an important service to

ensure that these power lines get

inspected. It allows us to get

up and close to these important

assets and there are a lots and

lots of power lines to monitor.”

Drone used by emergency services.


DRONES

Territory Iron bought its SenseFly eBEE UAV system roughly two years ago for less than $60,000, and over that time it has saved about half a million dollars in man hours and has increased surveying capabilities.

Investing in the technology was straight-forward said company chief surveyor and chief UAV controller Darryn Dow.

“Effi ciencies were the biggest driver for us because they have the dollar value attached to it which is the easiest message to see when you’re looking for capital,” Mr Dow said.

“Th ey basically replace 80 per cent of our data capture.

“Methods we would have

previously employed was people on the ground using GPS but now we’re using UAV to do wholesale larger areas in a 25th of the time in much higher details so it’s really proved itself from a surveying perspective.”

Th e benefi ts of the BEE had spread throughout the various departments of the company, Mr Dow said.

“Th e environmental teams are getting much higher detailed data in areas that they’re concerned about, in much shorter time frames than going to a third party and because it’s now all done in-house their costs are down.

“Th ey’re getting much better records regularly, and really it’s

the same with other disciplines such as heritage, mine planning, and the exploration guys.”

Safety was also a big driver in the purchase.

Working in the mining industry people are exposed to a number of risks including heat exposure, fatigue and machine accidents.

Th e UAV simply eliminated risk to the workers, he said.

As part of the UAV integration process, Mr Dow was required to undergo offi cial training to operate the new system. Th is included sitting a Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) exam alongside budding commercial plane pilots.

“It didn’t make me want to

Remote area operation reports high ROI on eBee

Darryn Dow with the SenseFly eBEE.

learn how to fl y a commercial plane or anything, I much prefer to be sat in the back being served drinks but it certainly does give you a bit of a broader perspective on things,” he said.

Mr Dow said the benefi ts of UAVs in the mining and resources industry was undeniable but that he could also see another niche market for the devices.

UAV technology has a critical

role to play in search and rescue

and disaster management

according to Queensland

University of Technology

professor of robotics, Jonathan

Roberts.

As it stands regulations

UAV search and rescue advances by Challengesstate that UAV devices must remain within the line of sight of the controller. Without those limitations UAVs had the potential to off er invaluable support to emergency services, Mr Roberts said.

“Th e great example of how this type of use could be applied was in the Brisbane fl oods where lots of people were stranded on roofs, cars (and) buildings,” he said.

“Obviously emergency services need to lift people off but they also need to fi nd people.

“In those situations it would be great if the helicopters could be used just for lifting people off and other vehicles could be used higher than the choppers and search. UAVs are the perfect vehicle for this.”

Mr Roberts has been involved with UAVs since 1999 when he worked with the CSIRO on fl ying robotic helicopters. Th e devices had come a long way since then, he said.

“All the small technologies we have now like the small GPS units, camera systems, and computers like you fi nd in your phone, well that type of thing just didn’t exist,” he said.

“It’s really been an improvement in the autopilot technology and in the camera systems.”

Mr Roberts has seen fi rst hand how UAV technology has advanced over the years and it’s capabilities in search and rescue.

He is the co-founder and head judge of the international

UAV Challenge, a competition that tests UAVs from around the world in a search and rescue scenario.

Th is year the competition was held at the Kingaroy airport in Queensland where teams were tasked with fi nding Outback Joe – a 50kg mannequin lost and in need of water.

It marked the fi rst time, since the competition was launched in 2007 that any of the participating teams managed to fully complete the challenge.

“Th e fi rst couple of years not a single team that entered was even allowed to fl y their aircraft away from the airport because they hadn’t demonstrated that their systems were safe enough,” Mr Roberts said.

The 2014 challenge was a great success, lots of teams completed the challenge and got their aircraft back without incident.


WATER


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Future industrial development in the Whitsunday region depends on a 1.5 million mega litre dam project, according to peak industry body Whitsunday Marketing and Development (WMDL).

Th e proposed Urannah Dam, site, around 60kms southwest of Proserpine, was a key to unleashing the potential of the north said WMDL economic advisory committee chairman, David Nebauer.

Th e dam could satisfy all of the current and future water needs of the region, Mr Nebauer said.

Immediate demand would come servicing mining in the Bowen and the Galilee Basins, he said.

Th e project would promote the development of a 30,000ha irrigated agricultural industry along the Bowen River valley to west of Collinsville.

“Th e reality is that water

infrastructure and the availability of water for industry lies right at the core of many of the future economic development opportunities within the broader Whitsunday and North Queensland region,” Mr Nebauer said.

Initial assessment work for the project has been completed under the state government’s Burdekin basin water resource planning process.

In 2009, construction costs for the project were estimated at about $170m which translated to roughly $400m in current terms, Mr Nebauer said.

“It is reasonably cost eff ective and it would make the Urannah dam the cheapest water infrastructure, cheapest dam project in Queensland based on a cost per mega litre stored basis,” he said.

Th e dam has been identifi ed as one of the 27 key water projects by the Federal Government’s

Th e answer to water security for the Abbot Point State Development area (SDA) north of Bowen, could lie in the proposed Elliot Main Channel project.

Th e 16,000-hectare SDA has the potential to be one of the major industrial zones on the east coast of Australia but currently there is no available of water to support it.

Th e Elliot Main Channel would run from the Claire Weir area in the Leichardt section of the Burdekin River Irrigation Area, down the coastal plain through Inkerman, Gumlu, Guthalungra, past Abbot Point and onto Bowen.

Whitsunday Marketing and

Mackay Regional Council

is turning its eye to green

infrastructure for the region

with a $4m upgrade of the

Mirani Water Recycling

Facility.

Th omas and Coff ey

QLD has been awarded

the contract for the design

and construction of a new

Preliminary Treatment Area

(PTA) including an air

treatment facility.

Water and Sewerage

portfolio councillor Frank

Gilbert said the $4 million

upgrade would meet all

Workplace Health & Safety

requirements.

“Th e new Preliminary

Treatment Area (PTA) is

part of a staged upgrade

to cater for the growing

community in Mirani and

Marian and reduce levels

of hydrogen sulphide

emissions,” Cr Gilbert said.

“Hydrogen sulphide levels

tend to increase during

hot weather and the new

Preliminary Treatment Area

, fi tted with an air treatment

facility, will keep emissions

below Australian standards.”

Cr Gilbert said the works

would be carried out over

two fi nancial years.

Th e design and

procurement will be

completed this fi nancial year

and construction will follow

in 2015-2016, he said.

Dam leading Whitsunday’s projects push

Proposed Urannah Dam wall location.

agricultural green paper.

It is currently being assessed

by the federal government’s

Joint Parliamentary Committee

on Northern Australia as a key

development opportunity.

“In the last 12 to 18 months

the political view of water

infrastructure.

“So now that the political

momentum has swung in

behind the construction of water

infrastructure the opportunity

that is Urannah, we believe, has

taken a big step forward.”

While it was too early to

comment on who some of the

‘key players’ in construction

and water usage might be, Mr

Nebauer said the next six months

would be about identifying ways

to make the project happen.

“For me the next step in the

process is to convene a joint

federal, state and local regional

development body, involving the

Whitsunday Regional Council

and WMDL, that will accept

the task of driving the project

through to development,” he

said.

infrastructure has changed,” he said.

“We now have Queensland and federal governments that are advocating for the construction of dams and for water

Green infrastructure

Development (WMDL) is an

advocate for the project, and

is currently seeking interest

from industry members for its

development.

Th e project was not necessarily

driven by the existing coal port

developments at Abbot Point,”

said Whitsunday Marketing and

Development economic advisory

committee chairman, David

Nebauer.

“...more of the needs of a

future industrial player at the

Abbot Point State development

area,” Mr Nebauer said.

“At the moment there is no

proponent for the development

area but it remains a future

opportunity.

Add water for Abbot Point industry Abbot Point State Development Area.


ELECTRICITY

Especially when the recommended treatment is football! This is just one of the treatments children can experience at Camp Quality. Camp Quality is a national charity that is committed to bringing hope and happiness to every child living with cancer, their families and communities through ongoing quality recreational, educational and financial support programs.

At Camp Quality, children can participate in activities like canoeing, horse riding, skiing, abseiling, crafts, face painting, tug of war, archery, field trips, in fact anything that can make a child forget about their illness for a few days.

Each child on camp is also assigned a companion - an adult who then becomes the camper’s friend and most importantly, makes sure they have a great time together.

At the end of the camp, children leave feeling rewarded and much more positive.

In the words of one camper, Michael; “Camp Quality has been unreal in helping me see that there is hope. I don’t think I would have gotten so far without them. I think of all my friends

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Living with cancer can be a little rough.

Rising power costs across Queensland have forced service providers to take a hard look at their off er.

Townsville-based multi-faceted electrical business, Minelec, has invested heavily in its workforce and equipment to create energy-saving solutions for big power end-users, namely mines and industry.

Th e company focused on existing and new technologies to provide solutions based on longevity and return on investment, said Minelec Managing Director Matt Richardson.

“Our solutions include the use of energy effi cient products combined with monitoring, automation and control of electrical systems to reduce energy,” he said.

“We will continue to develop this sector of our business to assist our clients with rising operational costs and monitor new technologies and products as they come to market.

“Even basic automation coupled with energy effi cient products and general end-user education

delivers superior outcomes for clients.

“Sometimes there are no upgrades required -

it is surprising what can be saved once clients

understand the energy costs of operating

equipment.”

Th e company invested heavily in its operations

during 2014 embarking towards accreditation

in Quality (ISO9001), Safety (AS4801) and

Environment Systems (ISO14001).

Minelec has also gone through a major

rebranding program this year to better refl ect the

company image after 23 years in business.

Minelec has partnered with government, defence

and major mining companies and was heavily

involved in the recent Port of Townsville Expansion

which included street lighting, cathodic protection,

fuel-monitoring systems, CCTV, low and high

voltage reticulation plus landscape and architectural

lighting.

Large energy users have been aff ected by ‘exorbitant’ network costs and it’s all to do with the Queensland and NSW government’s attempts to boost their income according to the Energy Users of Australia Association (EUAA).

EUAA chief executive offi cer Phil Barresi said all state treasuries have had a reliance on high rate of returns from networks to boost stressed state budgetary positions.

“On one hand they own the assets but they’re also deriving a return from them and that return increases with each year,” he said.

“For many large energy users, network costs can represent over 55–65 per cent of their total energy bill whereas the common fi gures for the domestic user is around the 45 per cent mark, which is still too high.”

Network determinations are currently before the Australian Energy Regulator and will set the scene for what consumers will be paying for their electricity for the next fi ve years.

As part of the network determination process, Queensland electricity Distributors, Energex and Ergon Energy have submitted regulatory proposals to AER setting out the revenues

they propose to collect from

electricity consumers through

distribution charges from 2015

to 2020.

Ergon’s proposal fl agged

a reduction in distribution

network charges for 2015-2016

and increases over the next

fi ve years below the Consumer

Price Index (CPI).

Energex said it would be

seeking approval for $8.4

billion in total revenue for the

2015-20 period.

A preliminary determination

will be published in April

2015, and further submissions

will be invited at that time.

Final network determinations

will be made by October this

year.

Power grid cash grab used to prop up budgets

Phil BarresiEnergy Users of Australia Association ceo

Minelec opts for energy efficient solutions

Service provider Minelec prompts users to study their consumption patterns for savings in the current high cost environment

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ELECTRICITY

“Our primary role with Jamestech has been electrical labour hire, plus utilising their electrical

equipment to ensure it is operating correctly.

“Jamestech can be relied on to provide reliable electrical and instrumentation labour, even on short notice”

CST has used Jamestech’s electrical contracting division to do electrical installation work in a remote area.

“They were extremely accommodating and did the job very well,” Mr Jolly said.

explained that both companies have maintained a strong working relationship over the years.

“Although we have not used Jamestech for training courses in the past we had received positive reports and have decided to bring them on site, to conduct high voltage training in November,” Mr Jolly said.

training is pretty common for Jamestech.

labour hire, but once they see the attention to detail of our staff and the other services we provide, they engage us for either contracting or training courses,” he said.

“CST and Jamestech have always been able to come up with an economical agreement, even when there’s been a bit of a downturn in the industry,” Mr Jolly explained.

“Our team is always pleased to assist and happy to go out to Lady Annie, whether on or off site,” said

Mr Jolly would recommend Jamestech to anyone requiring their services.

CST MINING GROUP HAS BEEN A LONG-TIME CLIENT OF JAMESTECH, FOR GOOD REASON. MR ALAN JOLLY, SENIOR ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR FOR THE COMPANY’S LADY ANNIE OPERATIONS IN QUEENSLAND, SAID, “WE HAVE BEEN USING THE SERVICES OF JAMESTECH SINCE 2007.”

CST VALUES JAMES TECHNOLOGIES

Another important point for CST was Jamestech’s willingness to negotiate a fair deal, especially during slower times for the mining industry.”

“

CASE

STU

DY

ACCOUNTABILITY INTEGRITYHONESTY

JAMESTECH.COM.AUJAMESTECH.COM.AU

Th ose opposing a government plan to lease state electricity assets are ‘peddling a myth that doesn’t stack up’ according to Energy Users of Australia Association (EUAA) chief executive offi cer Phil Barresi.Th e Queensland government has taken its asset privatisation plan to the election which will includes the leasing of CS Energy, Energex, Ergon, Powerlink and a range of non-core business activities currently run by government-owned corporations.“We fully support and encourage the Newman and Baird Governments in their respective plans to lease a pool of assets,” Mr Baressi said.Opposition to the plans were mostly based on the idea that network prices would go up once they were privately operated, said Mr Baressi. “Th is is not the case,’’ he said.“If you look at Queensland government owned networks, they’ve increased prices since

1996 by around 140%. “If you look at the privately owned networks in Victoria and South Australia over the same period, we have minus 18 per cent and minus 17 per cent respectively.” “It’s time to get behind the asset sales for the benefi t of all energy

consumers.”Organisations including the Electrical Trade Union (ETU) have slammed asset privatisation as an answer to lower power costs.Th e ETU said that

privatisation would inevitably lead to increased prices and described the EUAA’s statistics as derived from an ‘obscure measure’.“Th e residential retail price provides a far more comprehensive picture and is recognised and reported by 99 per cent of industry analysts,” an ETU spokesman said.“In SA (South Australia) the state privatised their network through long term leasing arrangements and residential

retail prices are the highest in Australia, some more than 15 per cent greater than Queensland.”Th e ETU said that proposed privatisation through leasing of Queensland’s generation, transmission and distribution assets would, in turn, fl ow on to small and medium businesses. “It is a fallacy that asset sales

will reduce costs because private companies will invest in what is essentially a monopoly with a view to maximising profi ts for their shareholders at the expense of the public,” the spokesman said.“We may well fi nd ourselves in a situation where we, as a state, hand over by long - term lease

an operating, profi table, income generating and sustainable electricity network to private profi teers who will run it into the ground to maximise their profi ts knowing full well that when it’s falling apart they can hand it back and all Queenslanders will pick up the tab.”

An Ergon Energy initiative in Central Queensland is looking to help keep electricity costs down.

Th e Mackay Empowerment program off ers incentives to businesses in the Paget region of Mackay to optimise their electricity use during peak periods.

Under the Mackay Empower program, three types of incentives are available for business customers deemed demand, reduced demand and demand response.

Ergon Chief Executive Ian McLeod said the Empower Mackay program was part of a suite of initiatives being undertaken by Ergon to put downward pressure on rising electricity prices by off setting or deferring expenditure on high cost infrastructure.

“Rather than looking at the traditional poles and wires solution to load growth and demand, Ergon is increasingly looking to alternatives and demand-side management options,

where it is appropriate, to address customer

requirements” he said.

“A key aspect of Empower Mackay is market

facilitation for private sector businesses to

deliver products and services to our customers

to manage their electricity needs. We have had

quite a few local fi rms register to work with

Ergon in this regard.”

Th e Mackay Regional Council (MRC) is

among the organisations participating in the

program by synchronising three of its diesel

generators.

“With electricity costs projected to rise from

13 to 15 per cent annually in the short term,

it is imperative to pursue energy-effi ciency

programs and alliances such as this,” Mayor

Deirdre Comerford said

“Th is project alone is anticipated to save

council in the realm of $40,000 a year.”

Power retailer encourages less use

Owners and unions let loose over lease

“We fully support and

encourage the Newman and

Baird Governments in their

respective plans to lease a

pool of assets

Phil Barresi

Safety, Quality & Performance

Family Owned & Operated

07 4035 1506www.csfsteel.com.au

Est.1979

Now Specialising in Supply & Installation of Roofing & Cladding

Specialising in... Steel Fabrication & Erection

Industrial Coatings

Design & Construction

Invest-FNQ

Things are looking up for Far North Queensland.

There’s investment in building, infrastructure,

tourism and processing and a recent northern

Australia conference focused the policy

commitments of federal and state governments to

potential developments in the region and viable

funding models.

One of the standout areas is the emergence of FQN

as a centre for education and tropical research.

Queensland Industry Advocate is highlighting

prospects in the current to medium term in this

Invest-FNQ feature edition.

Industry solutions and out-of-the-box thinking are required if subcontractors are to get a slice of the action when major projects come on line in Cairns.

That’s according to Cairns Steel Fabricators (CSF) director Sean Adams.

“There’s huge potential for all organisations, but to be involved we will need to make sure that the relevant parties know what we can offer,” he said.

Some smaller businesses should consider working together in consortium-style groups so that they can cater to the needs of the larger projects, Mr Adams said.

“I think Cairns is really quite capable and has huge potential to offer what projects need,” he said.

In an attempt to boost its own capabilities, CSF recently diversified to offer more services to industry including the start up of its roofing division to compliment its steel supply services.

“The two trades interact quite significantly,” Mr Adams said. “We have increased our skills in terms of roofing and our project managers and we are trying to value add to make it easier for our clients.”

CSF’s past projects include the Manus Island re-development, the Cairns base hospital re-development and the Redlynch Shopping Centre expansion.

Manus Island proved to be particularly challenging, Mr Adams said.

It involved transportation of about 900 tonnes of steel from the workshop to the port, he said.

“There was a lot of steel and we had to load that out of Cairns. That was challenging from a logistics perspective liaising with the Cairns port, liaising with the stevedoring company and basically getting all of the steel complete and down to the ship on time.”

Mr Adams said CSF was buoyant and optimistic about future opportunities involving major projects.

“From the local supplier perspective, I hopefully see us being heavily involved in the structural steel component of the projects,” he said.

“We all really want to hear some of these projects announced as proceeding so we can all know where we’re heading.”

Cairns Steel Fabrication blast booth.

Industry

leader

promotes

unity

Artist impression of the proposed Aquis resort.


INVEST-FNQ

Th e contribution of mining to the far north Queensland economy is forecast to increase.

Th e variety of minerals sourced in the region is more diverse than in any other according to principal owner of Cummings Economics, Cairns-based Bill Cummings.

And while mining production declined from a 2010-2011 high of $970 million to $750 million in 2012-2013, Mr Cummings said it was expected to rise over the next couple of years.

Mr Cummings gave QIA a breakdown of the key projects making a mark.

• Consolidated Tin and Snow Peak Mining continues to operate the former Kagara zinc and copper processing plant at Mt Garnet with employment back up to 130. Th ey have

proposed the development of tin/magnetite deposits at Gillian Pinnacles in the Mt Garnet area.

• Carbine Tungsten Limited secured funding from Mitsubishi Corporation Japan in September 2014 to commence the fi rst phase of its 12 million metric tonnes per annum Hard Rock Tungsten Project in 2015.

• Vital Metals, having completed a Defi nitive Feasibility Study and through agreement with Japan’s JOGMEC group, is ready to commence project development in 2015 subject to fi nance at their Watershed development north of Mareeba.

• Almonty Industries is proposing to use improved processes to expand Wolfram Camp operations and extend mine life to ten plus years.

• Mungana Goldmines is promoting the development of the high grade King Vol zinc deposit west of Mungana to meet a looming defi cit in the global zinc market. Th is involves using the partially completed processing facilities at Mungana formerly owned by Kagara.

• Mantle Mining continues to seek to develop the Mt Mulligan coal and gas project north west of Mareeba.

• Cape Flattery Silica Mines continues their mining operations with product being shipped to Japan.

• A Metallica Minerals subsidiary, Oresome Australia Pty Ltd has a joint venture agreement with Chinese investor Orezone Pty Ltd to develop the Urquhart Point mineral sands project and continue exploration

on the west coast of Cape York. Orezone is committing $7.5m to the project.

• Rio Tinto’s bauxite mine at Weipa continues its steady stream of shipments. While aluminium prices in 2013/14 were down on their peak of 2011, the past six months has seen a rebound. Rio Tinto’s chairman Sam Walsh indicated in a recent statement that the planned major expansion of operations at Weipa was back on the company’s agenda for a decision in 2015.

• Cairns and the Tablelands’ major role in FIFO and other

mining services beyond the

immediate region continues with

air services to Moranbah, north

west Queensland, Gove, Groote

Eylandt, the Freeport McMoRan

operations in Indonesia and

Tabubil, and Moro, Mount

Hagen and Lihir in Papua New

Guinea.

• Other minor minerals

production in the area includes

limestone, marble, slate, perlite

and gemstones. Th ere is a wide

range of other prospects in the

region including hot springs for

power generation, coal in the

Laura Basin and diatomite.

Many minerals make mining matter more

The Port of Cape Flattery handles the world’s largest production of silica sand.

Th e ‘enormous’ potential of the far north Queensland education sector has driven CQUniversity to consider opening its own campus in Cairns.

Associate vice chancellor, far north region, Jodie Duignan-George said CQUniversity was weighing up the possibility.

“I’ve been meeting with the businesses and industry stakeholders to try and fi nd out what are the goals of the far north, what are the current gaps in markets, and what do they see as the opportunities for future growth,” Ms Duignan-George said.

“We have an ambition that we’ll try to have a campus by maybe next year… but that is completely dependent on the market and a range of other external factors.”

Th e plans come on the back of the success of CQUniversity’s distance education centre in Cairns.

Th e centre was the fi rst of CQU’s distance education models and student numbers are up to

550 and since opening in 2012.

Th e centre has been replicated

in Townsville, Charters Towers,

Perth and Karratha and there are

plans in the works for fi ve more.

“We do distance very, very well

and there is enormous potential

to boost the numbers and for

growth in Far North Queensland

possibly with a larger centre in

Cairns in the near future” Ms

Duignan-George said.

Th e Cairns growth plan is

part of a larger plan to broaden

its student catchment areas and

boost student numbers from

about 35,000 to more than

50,000.

Th e most popular distance

education degrees undertaken in the Cairns

region are nursing, paramedic science, STEPS

(preparatory), accounting, business, law, psychology,

medical science, engineering, learning and teaching,

and building design.

Campus considered by CQU Distance education students accessing facilities at the CQUniversity Cairns Distrance Education Centre.

A fi ve-year construction drought in Far North Queensland could be ending with proposed projects lighting up the horizon.

Master Builders regional manager Ron Bannah said the industry had been doing it tough with some contractors struggling to stay afl oat.

During the fi rst half of 2014 the number of building starts in the far north region peaked at 92 in March but then dropped to 55 in April, Mr Bannah said.

“Th ose numbers are nowhere near the numbers in Central Queensland. Mackay in particular over the last couple of years, its numbers have been sitting up in the hundreds,” he said.

Projects such as the $8.15 billion Aquis resort development could be the shot in the arm that that the region needs, Mr Bannah said.

“Th e days of having eight or nine months of work ahead of you disappeared and the guys have been stringing along on eight, nine, 12 weeks at a time,” he said.

“So things have just been bobbing along. But the tide is turning and some guys are now looking at six to eight months ahead of them which has been unheard of in recent times.”

Th e central project that has everyone talking is Aquis.

Signs of life in a moribund industry

CQU Distance Education Centre, Cairns.

While still at proposal stage, at

peak construction the project is

expected to employ about 3,750

full time jobs with an additional

2,825 indirect jobs generated in

the regional supply chain.

Other major projects in the

region include the $35 million

Cairns Aquarium development,

and Aspial Corporation’s

$200 million Central Park

development.

“Confi dence is slowly

returning and if at least one of

these major projects cracks and

starts work it will have a huge

impact on the whole economy

not just on the construction

industry,” Mr Bannah said.

Ron BannahMaster Builders regional manager


INVEST-FNQ

Aquis Resort

Re-development of 343 hectares of

rural land into a large scale integrated

tourism resort. Estimated total cost

$8.15 billion.

North Queensland Airports Group

Re-development of Cairns Airport.

Staged development over a 20-year

period - scoping studies underway.

Estimated total cost $1billion.

Department of Health, Cairns and

Hinterland Hospital and Health

Service

Cairns Base Hospital re-development

- staged development due for

completion 2015. 2014/15 funding

program $81.4 million. Estimated

total cost $453 million.

Ratch-Australia Corporation and Port Bajool

Mount Emerald Wind Farm located a 15-minute drive south west of Mareeba. Estimated total cost $400 million.

AspialCentral Park development 81-83 Spence Street, seven towers (six residential; one commercial). Estimated total cost $200 million.

Botanica Property Group An integrated residential precinct. Estimated total cost $200 million.

James Cook University - CairnsVarious developments and expansions including new campus accommodation, Australian Institute

of Tropical Health, and the Tropical

Sustainable Future Complex.

Estimated total cost $74.5 million.

MSF Sugar Ltd

Expansion of South Johnstone

Sugar Mill. Staged project over fi ve

years. Estimated total cost $40 - $50

million.

Department of Infrastructure and

Regional Development Bruce Highway

Cairns Southern Access Corridor

Stage 2 – Robert Road to Foster

Road, National Projects - widening of

the Bruce Highway between Robert

Road and Foster Road from four

lanes to six lanes. Th ese widening

works are the next stage of the

upgrade of the southern approach to

Cairns and build on the current works between Sheehy Road to Ray Jones Drive. Th e Australian Government has committed $46.4 million to the project, in partnership with the Queensland Government.

Cairns Aquarium and Reef Research Centre

Located on 4003 m2 development site on corner of Abbott, Lake and Florence Streets, Cairns. Th e project is a three level, 7500 m2 gateway tourist attraction featuring 70 live exhibits representative of the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics eco systems, a 150-seat restaurant and function space, retail venues and corporate offi ces. Estimated total cost $50 million.

Project list shows a diversity of opportunity

A 20-year, $1 billion development vision for Cairns Airport will work to meet the future needs of the Asian tourism industry.

Cairns Airport welcomed more than 4.5 million passengers last fi nancial year, and those numbers are set to increase in line with regional growth projections.

Jetstar gave the Cairns tourism industry a vote of confi dence in 2013 with the introduction of 787s on their Cairns-Tokyo and Osaka routes.

North Queensland Airports (NQA) chief executive offi cer, Kevin Brown said increased routes to Asia would lead to new opportunities in the tourism source market.

“Cairns Airport continues to work closely with tourism, travel and government partners to secure new routes from mainland China and other Asian countries such as Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia and to open up additional Japanese routes,” he said.

As well as international tourism expansion, opportunities in the Asia Pacifi c resources sector were also growing for Cairns Airport, said Mr Brown.

“As an airport servicing international tourism destination aviation, export opportunities through Cairns Airport can be expected to grow in line with the introduction of more wide body international passenger services,” Mr Brown said.

“Th is will facilitate the movement of more northern Australian produce such as beef, dairy, seafood and horticulture to meet the high demand of Asia’s growing populations.”

Part of the NQA vision is its purpose built Aviation Enterprise Precinct.

“Th e development will support a diverse range of high demand aviation related activities,” Mr

Brown said.Th at includes engineering

and maintenance; international training and business centres; commercial fl ight simulators; avionics and component services; aerial surveillance and seismic survey; helicopter precinct; freight and logistics base and aviation catering.

A Commercial Enterprise Precinct will also off er opportunities for retail and commercial developments such as medical and tropical health facilities, hospital hotel, e-commerce, an Asian business centre, supermarket, homemaker centre, duty free and tax free shopping, restaurants and tourism and leisure developments.

An artist’s interpretation of how the Aviation Enterprise Precinct will look.

Airport development caters for growth

A $5.3 million upgrade of the James Cook University Daintree Rainforest Observatory (DRO) will help consolidate far north Queensland’s position as a world class tropical research centre.

Th e JCU facility includes a 47 metre crane which provides students and researchers a sky-high view of the oldest

surviving rainforest in the world. Th e crane has a radius of 55 metres

and 360-degree rotation capabilities and holds a gondola that swings out over the rainforest giving its driver and up to two passengers an above-canopy view of one hectare of rainforest.

Th e DRO was offi cially opened recently

following more than a year of construction upgrades.

Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Robyn McGuiggan said the DRO would now be put to good use as a way of monitoring the eco-system.

“Th ere are only 12 cranes in the world and this is one them and they share

information about canopies and eco systems,” she said.

“Th e Daintree Rainforest has the highest bio diversity of anywhere in Australia. It’s in the wet tropics world heritage area so it’s in the perfect spot. Th ere are also lots of opportunities for on-the ground research too.”

JCU researcher accessing the rainforest from the gondola of the canopy crane at the Daintree Rainforest Observatory. Photo: Cassandra Nichols

An emerging tropical research centreAn emerging tropical research centre


INVEST-FNQ

Th e Australian sugar industry harvested over 32 million tonnes of cane last year. Estimates from Canegrowers show that the Far North Queensland region accounted for almost one third of that.

Sugar production from the region (Mossman-Herbert River) amounted to around 1.5 million tones with 100 per cent sent to export through the ports of Cairns, Mourilyan, Lucinda and Townsville.

Th e FNQ sugar industry grew by 14.95 per cent over the last two years and further ‘modest growth’ was expected in the coming year said Canegrowers head economist Warren Males.

Th e general manager of the South Johnstone Sugar Mill, Phil Miskin, is one of the far-north Queenslanders driving industry expansion.

Mr Miskin is currently overseeing a fi ve-year strategic

plan to increase capacity which has a forecast investment of between $40m and $50m.

He describes the upgrade of the plant as a high point in his career. As a key industry to the north, investment in the sugar sector is vital, Mr Miskin said.

Th e company plans to increase processing at the South Johnstone mill from about 1.2 million to 1.75 million tonnes per year over the fi ve-year program.

Major works for 2015 include the replacement of No.5 mill and installation of an additional mud fi lter.

It was about redeveloping and growing the industry after many years of low sugar prices, Mr Miskin said.

“We now have a renewed interest in the industry and we’re going through a growth period,” he said. “I’m extremely passionate to see the important

agricultural industry enter a growth phase.

“Being part of the renewal and reinvigoration of the industry has been a real highlight of my career.

“I’m where I want to be and in my role I plan to follow through on the growth and expansion phase we’re in now.”

Mr Miskin grew up in the sugar town of Tully and is the second generation in his family to work in the industry.

Since entering as an apprentice electrician in 1979, Mr Miskin has worked at fi ve diff erent sugar mills and has developed quite a sweet tooth.

“It’s a great industry and a great place to live. Coastal places in North Queensland are great and the sugar mills provide a very interesting and diverse range of people and work,” he said.

“But they’re also of a size that an individual can leave their

mark, he said.

“I get to build relationships

with landholders and existing

growers and at the other end

of the scale I lead the teams in

crushing cane,” Mr Miskin said.

“It’s the ability to work and be

involved from end to end. I’m

able to cover the whole spectrum

of the whole sugar growing and

processing operations. I get to

see it from start to fi nish.”

FNQ’s boat rises on an expected higher sugar tide

South Johnstone mill.

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INVEST-FNQ

An innovation in Cairns more

than 20 years ago has allowed

tourists from across the globe to

catch a rare glimpse of Th e Great

Barrier Reef.

In 1984 Cairns-based English

Engineering was responsible for

building the country’s fi rst semi-

submersible boat. Since then

the company has had a hand in

building more than 50 vessels.

“Our design was unique,”

company director Pat English

said. “Our patent approval lists

the combination of three main

factors covered by patent – the

angle of our windows, the use

of water ballast and outboard

motors in an aluminium hull

viewing vessel.”

“Th is equates to a lightweight

aluminium vessel of about four

tonnes empty (when the water

ballast is dumped out) and about

15 tonnes with ballast.”

Mr English said innovation

had been a key driver for the

last 20 years and following the

success of the semi-submersibles

the company expanded its work

to reef pontoons.

Th e pontoons act as a service

centre out on the reef and have

a 500-passenger capacity, Mr

English said.

“We designed them with large

underwater acrylic windows and

underwater observatory and we

have also designed them in a way

that they are segmented and they

can be pulled apart to be shipped

somewhere,” he said.

Mr English’s grand ideas are

not water bound; he also came

up with the idea to create a kit

for full size Spitfi re replicas.

Th ere are only two of the

original iconic World War 2

fi ghter aircrafts left in Australia

and about 20 worldwide so Mr

English decided he would create

his own.

“I’m a pilot and I was thinking

about buying a plane. Now I

have my own Spitfi re replica and

I fl y it most weekends.

“I just thought, ‘why not add

another string to our bow’ and

people are so interested in the

Spitfi res because they’re so iconic

of the War.”

English Engineering is

currently busy working on new

projects behind closed doors.

“Yes, we are working on

something new now but I can’t

really say what it is yet ... expect

to see something new from us in

the next couple of years,” he said.

Cooktown is shaking off its ‘single-man town’ label to make way for more families.

One key attraction in the pipeline is the six million dollar Waterfront Activity Precinct said Cook Shire Mayor Cr Peter Scott.

With an area close to the size of Victoria and a rate base of just 4,500 growth is a priority Cr Scott said.

“About eight years ago we went down the path of building the infrastructure to attract more people,” he said.

“We have a sewerage treatment plant, a water

It’s a truism that the further north you go in Australia, the better the fi shing. Combine that with anglers and you have a market.

When it happens to be in one of Australia’s most pristine areas, home to endangered dugong and numerous turtle species, you have eco-tourism.

Th at, in a nutshell, is part of the economic plan for the future of Mornington Shire in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Th e local council has responsibility over 22 islands making up the Wellesley Group with the main population base located in Gununa, on Mornington Island northwest of Karumba.

Mayor Cr Brad Wilson and four councillors are leading the implementation of ambitious plans to increase the quality of life for residents following an investment, jobs, opportunity and growth model.

Th e locals are original ‘saltwater people’, so “any long term solution needs to embrace the sea in a sustainable fashion”, explains Mornington Shire Council Grants and Communications Coordinator Layla Kirchhoff .

“Council has called for master plans for a revitalised jetty and foreshore precinct,” Ms

Engineering high and lowDirector of Cairns based English Engineering Pat English and co-pilot Steve Green infront of Pat’s Spitfire replica.

be underestimated, she said.

“If you want to make a

diff erence, you have to be

forward thinking and start

conversations.”

“Th e project is expected

to generate signifi cant local

employment. Th e benefi ts fi lter

right through the community.

Th e ultimate outcomes are

training, education and local

work opportunities.”

Mornington Island is the

residential centre of the shire

with approximately 1,500

residents and 100 visitors daily.

treatment plant, sealed road all

the way from Cairns, daily fl ights

from Cairns, maternity services,

the water front development and

it’s all designed to attract more

people.

“We can cater for a town of

fi ve to six thousand no problem

at all.”

Th e project, due for

completion mid-next year, has

received $3.5m in Royalties to

Regions funding and a further

$500,000 Local Government

Infrastructure Subsidy grant.

Th e remaining $2m will come

from council.

Th e area around the riverbank

had been struggling with erosion

issues Mr Scott said.

“We’ve gone out 40 metres

from the bank and built a rock

wall about 500 metres long by 40

metres wide,” he said.

“As part of that there was a

harbor dredging and we put the

spoil into the lined rock wall

and it’s created a mini Cairns

esplanade, or Townsville Strand.

“Th ere’s going to be a tidal

pool, kids’ waterpark playground,

amenities block, cycle track,

barbeques (and) exercise tracks.”

Kirchhoff said. “Th e jetty desperately needs

to be replaced following damage by multiple Cyclones including Yasi, as well as being struck by a barge. A new structure will ultimately allow for safer evacuation procedures in the event of future cyclones as well as provide moorings for vessels (commercial or leisure) needing to replenish supplies.”

“Improved infrastructure will encourage a more competitive market while providing real social and economic benefi ts.”

Employing locals creates pride, provides skills, nurtures education and improves the quality of life in remote regions.”

“Th e upgrades will encourage a culturally appropriate eco-tourism industry while providing services from fuel, fi shing supplies, welding and maintenance - even cafes.”

Ballpark fi gures for the investment are coming in at between four and eight million dollars.

Council has drafted application for funding through the National Stronger Regions Funding program with commercial interests approached to help facilitate council’s commitment, said Ms Kirchhoff .

Th e return on investment in terms of job creation could not

Frank Mills Mornington shire council CEO with the remains of the jetty structure on Mornington Island.

New jetty to improve access to tourism, industry and growth Family led growth

Th e Mareeba Shire Council has big plans to service economic expansion in far north Queensland.

Council is currently marketing 16 lots across 300 hectares as an industrial park.

It plans to leverage off the existing agriculture sector and accommodate opportunities for fruit and vegetable processing, small-scale meat processing, sawmills and service industries said senior engagement offi cer Lisa Macalister.

“Agricultural production in the wider Tablelands’ area totalled $400m in 2010-2011, (the) Gulf region totalled $377m (mainly of beef cattle turnoff ), and a further $50m of beef cattle turnoff in the Peninsula,” Ms Macalister said.

“Th e Industrial Park is a ‘cradle’ for the development of new industries which will broaden the shire’s economic base.”

Th is year will see a drive for new investment beginning with a focus on the development opportunities of the four larger industrial park lots, ranging from 9,400m² to 17,000m², through a tender process.

“Th e Mareeba Shire Council is focused on a fresh, new marketing approach,” she said.

“Council is now working together with its economic development partners, Advance Cairns, the Tablelands Futures Corporation, the Kuranda Chamber of Commerce, and the Mareeba Chamber of Commerce on new economic development opportunities.”

Mareeba shire has recorded an average 1.2 per cent annual growth rate over the last 20 years.

Mareeba attracts industryTender kickstart for Mareeba Industrial Park with large blocks sale.

At CQUniversity we can help you engineer your future, now with more ways to shine.

Our Bachelor of Engineering degree (with built-in Honours) is now available four years full-term on-campus in Bundaberg, Gladstone, Mackay and Rockhampton.

We’ve also made it easier to balance study with work and family. With a strong commitment to providing quality distance education – and a QS fi ve star excellence rating to prove it – you can study at home, at your own pace, while enjoying the latest in online learning and supportive lecturers.

Open up a whole universe of possibilities with specialisations in areas including civil, electrical, mechanical, mechatronic and mining.

Whether you’re from a trade or technical background seeking to advance your skills, looking to commence a career as a professional engineer, or an industry professional in search of further education or research opportunities, we’ve got plenty of options to help you reach for the stars, from associate and bachelor degrees right through to postgraduate and research degrees.

Our Engineering programs are accredited by Engineers Australia, and you’ll benefi t from:

Project-based learning – undertake real-life engineering tasks

Up-to-date industry relevance – programs developed and refi ned in consultation with industry experts

Professional networks – we’ve formed strong partnerships with leading private companies and public organisations that offer support through scholarships and work-integrated learning.

Explore the CQUniverse today at cqu.edu.au.

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