SM147_Shift Miner magazine

SHIFT MINERMonday 8th October 147th Edition 2012The Queensland mining community’s best source of local news

M A G A Z I N E

All accidents and personal injury claims:

Darren Sekac*

Call 4944 2000www.macamiet.com.au

*Personal Injuries Law Accredited Specialist (MACKAY)

PERSONAL INJURY EXPERTS

MACKAY

NewsNew Gladstone shipping channel announced » page 4

NewsUnions and BMA to settle old score » page 5

NewsWorkers walk away from leases » page 11

NewsOpen cut training gets an overhaul » page 12

SportTriathlon to be a beauty » page 26

Money MattersClever and cautious get best bargains » page 30

Locally Owned and Operated - www.shiftminer.com

A WAVE of fear is sweeping through the coal fields as the correction in coal prices triggers a widespread cost cutting campaign by mining companies.

Industry sources say the focus on costs “happens about every four years” as mining companies try to unravel cost blowouts that were not worth correcting when the price for coal was very high.

However, one miner who rang Shift Min-er says all sorts of “dirt files” are surfacing on sites across Central Queensland so that work contracts can be broken.

“I know of lots of good hardworking peo-ple, who have never done anything seriously wrong and are being hauled in and given the sack over really trivial things,” the miner said.

“I mean there are whole dirt files from years ago surfacing now, and all these little breaches are being raised so they can end a contract.

“I wouldn’t mind it so much if it was across the board, but I know for a fact that two experienced company employees unsuccessfully tried to cover up a LV HV [Light vehicle, Heavy vehicle] accident, and all they got was a slap on the wrist.

“Meanwhile contractors are losing their job for failing to do a pre-start check on their light vehicle two years ago or pissing in the wrong direction.”

» continued page 12

Skatepark is coolest holiday

hangout » More pictures page 16

HEAVEN IS A HALF PIPE

Cultureof feAr

Page 3 - Shift Miner Magazine, 8th October 2012

5

12

9

15

7

Queensland mining community's best source of local news

SHIFT MINERM A G A Z I N ELocally Owned

and Operated

Numbers YouCan Count On*

*When audited by the CAB

For more information visit www.auditbureau.org.au

Proudly Audited by

www.shiftminer.comM A G A Z I N E




Proudly Audited by





Proudly Audited by





Proudly Audited by


NEWS

4 New Gladstone shipping channel

5 BMA and union still wrangling

7 Innovators dominate awards

14 Mounties advise on FIFO

CONTENTS

Phone: (07) 4921 4333 Fax: (07) 4922 6908 [email protected]: Greg Sweetnam Advertising: Angus Peacocke 0428 154 653

Published fortnightly by Fitzroy Publishing Pty Ltd A.B.N 72122739879 PO Box 1440, Rockhampton Q 4700www.shiftminer.com

Regulars 18 Stuff to the Editor 19 Frank the Tank 20 Miner's Trader 22 Weather & Tides 25 Money Matters


“It’s expected to require a workforce of up to 100 people during construction over 20 months from 2014-2015 and an additional 20 people as part of

the on-going maintenance dredging program.”

A PROPOSED new $400 million ship-ping channel in Gladstone Harbour has been declared a significant project by the Queensland Coordinator-General.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Plan-ning Jeff Seeney has called for the public to comment on the project’s draft terms of reference about to be released by the Coor-dinator-General.

This will help form the basis of its envi-ronmental impact statement.

The project, if it goes ahead, will open up a second channel in the harbour, allow-ing two-way traffic and more efficient and effective use of the harbour.

It will duplicate the existing Gatcombe and Golding Cutting shipping chan-nel from the outer harbour, around East Banks, to the western side of Facing Island.

“The Gladstone Ports Corporation has identified this as a key component of a 50-year strategic plan to safely and sustain-ably accommodate future shipping require-ments,” Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said.

As well as building the new channel the proposed project involves disposal of dredge spoil and constructing new channel navigation aids.

It’s expected to require a workforce of up to 100 people during construction over 20 months from 2014-2015 and an addi-tional 20 people as part of the on-going maintenance dredging program.

Coordinator-General Barry Broe said the EIS process marked the beginning of a comprehensive assessment process which would look at the environmental, social and economic impacts and benefits of the project.

“I encourage the community to partic-ipate in shaping the outcome of the EIS and provide input to the draft terms of ref-erence,” he said.

The draft terms of reference are avail-able for viewing from this week until November 5.

They can be viewed at www.dsdip.qld.gov.au/gladstonechannel, or in person at:• GladstoneRegionalCouncilLibrary,39

Goondoon Street, Gladstone• 1StateLibraryofQueensland,Cultural

Centre, Stanley Place, South Bank, Bris-bane. All public submissions should be made

in writing and received by the Coordina-tor-General by 5pm on November 5.

Gladstone to get another shipping channel

GLADSTONE Ports Corporation has two new board members.

Chris Greig and Bill Moorehead have been named as new GPC directors.

“Chris Greig brings to the board a vast experience in project management with a particular emphasis from an engineering and resources sector perspective,” Chair-man Mark Brodie told Shift Miner.

Mr Greig has served as chief execu-tive and project director for ZeroGen as well as being chairman for a family-owned group of companies with business in civil construction, agriculture and quarrying.

He also has experience as a management consultant in the engineering and resources sectors and as a company director of both private and ASX-listed companies.

Mr Brodie said the appointment of Bill Moorehead would ensure the inter-

ests of the Port of Bundaberg were well represented.

Mr Moorehead is currently a director of a privately owned property develop-ment company based in Bundaberg.

A Fellow of the Urban Develop-ment Institute of Australia, Mr Moore-head is a foundation member of the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute and Birdlife Australia.

He has served on various committees in the region including the Regional Advi-sory Group for the sugar industry.

Meanwhile, the GPC has donat-ed $10,134.50 to Gladstone’s Mission toSeafarers centre. The money was raised through the Botanic to Bridge event.

The Mission to Seafarers and Special Olympics Gladstone Region were joint beneficiaries from the event.

New GPC directors named


147th EDITION. 2012

GE Mining calls Brisbane homeGENERAL Electric is to base its mining division in Brisbane. GE Mining’s new chief executive Geoff Knox has told media the new business will help mines address critical power, water and productivity issues. There are more than 170 mining companies with offices in Brisbane already, according to Brisbane City Council figures. GE has indicated the establishment of GE Mining Global followed its recent mining sector acquisitions of Queensland manufacturer Industrea and the US-based Fairchild International. ..............................................................................

Imports downFEWER machines were imported to Australia in August but they had more value than the previous month. The Shelbourne Shipping data for the month shows machinery import volumes decreased by 9 per cent overall to 2256 units but at $747million these were worth more than 15 per cent on July’s imports. The increase in the average value of the machines indicates despite mine closures that mining equipment import volumes remain solid, the company said...............................................................................

Flood threat easesRESOURCE towns can expect a hot summer with severe thunderstorms but it is unlikely there will be the widespread flooding of recent years. That’s the view of the Bureau of Meteorology that has provided its official briefing on the weather outlook to Cabinet. Queenslanders should enjoy a tropical summer, but expect periods of severe weather, forecasters say. Temperatures are expected to be warmer than normal throughout spring and summer and the fire risk remains higher than normal, particularly in the southern inland...............................................................................

Origin identifies leaksORIGIN Energy has identified several sites where gas is leaking near the Condamine River as it investigates a leak earlier this year that caused widespread community concern. At the time landholders near Chinchilla reported gas bubbling up through the river bed. The company says its early tests have shown there are no links between its coal seam gas wells and the bubbling gas. Initial findings by government have also suggested the gas seeps are also naturally occurring. Investigations are continuing.

FAST NEWS

QR National is angry that motorists are continuing to risk their safety and the safety of rail staff at level crossings after a coal train collided with a truck at Emerald recently.

Somehow the driver of the truck escaped serious injury after his vehicle was dragged 70 metres by the coal train at the airport crossing.

Both QR National train drivers were uninjured but badly shaken.

The incident prompted a stern warning from QR National.

QR National senior vice president of safety, health and environment Neil Backer said the driver was lucky not to

have paid the ultimate price and become another road statistic.

“This is a yet another shocking reminder that motorists continue to risk their lives and those of other people, including train drivers, despite warnings, the obvious dangers and continued safety campaigns,” he said.

“These events are extremely traumat-ic for our train drivers, who can’t swerve or dodge motorists that ignore the signs and signals at level crossings.

“These trains can weigh in excess of 10,000 tonnes and it is impossible to stop them suddenly, even with the application of emergency brakes.”

The level crossing has stop signs and oth-

er warning signs. QR National staff and the truck driver are assisting police with investi-gations into the early morning incident.

Coal movements in the Blackwater sys-tem were not affected by the collision.

QR National wants drivers to take more care

WIDESPREAD media reports that Queensland’s most powerful mining union is being sued by 10 Central Queensland coal mines for almost $2.4 million is really a case of old news.

According to regional newspapers, the CFMEU’s mining and energy division was facing allegations from mines, either owned or part-owned by BHP Billiton, that one of the union’s safety representatives unlawful-ly forced the mines to halt operations.

However, a spokesperson from BHP Bil-liton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) told Shift Miner that these reports are out of date.

“Some media reports yesterday included out-of-date details of legal action between BMA and the CFMEU,” the spokesperson said. “The legal action relates to mine shut-downs in 2010.

“We are pleased to advise that the CFMEU and BMA are in amicable discus-sions to resolve this outstanding legal action in the near future.”

Documents were submitted to the Fed-eral Court in December, with BHP alleging the CFMEU industry safety and health rep-resentative had unlawfully shut down the mines, believing a new fatigue plan from BHP was unsafe for its workers.

Safety representatives are endowed by

the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act with the power to immediately stop work for a “safety and health purpose”.

The role of safety representatives has become a bone of contention, with the CFMEU insisting the role be filled by union representatives.

The state government is in the process of updating the state’s mine safety laws to take account of the work of the National Mine Safety Framework.

The Queensland Resources Council, along with other stakeholders in the mining industry, was invited to make a submission to the government.

The organisation has made it clear that decisions to halt operations at a mine on safety grounds should be exercised by an independent regulator, not by paid officials of the CFMEU.

QRC’s chief executive Michael Roche said the organisation based its position on instances where safety inspectors, employed by the CFMEU, had potentially used their ability to halt operations to pursue industri-al agendas.

“The QRC is aware of instances where these CFMEU paid officials have been offi-cially reprimanded for such past abuses,” he said.

“The fair outcome is that if anyone has a concern about safety at a mine site they immediately contact the independent Mines Inspectorate which can then make an objec-tive determination.”

At their Queensland District convention last month, union delegates passed a reso-lution to fight any attempt from industry or government to tamper with the state’s best practice safety regulations, including lessen-ing the powers of safety inspectors.

The union said it was dangerously naive to take away the powers of safety inspectors at the coal face in favour of entrusting them to company executives in an office.

Contract ManagementTraining

Contract Control InternationalCall Mary on +61 7 3236 1936

[email protected] www.ccintl.com.au

Mackay 23 - 26 October

Experienced industrypractitioners who will

answer your questions

News

BHP to sue unions over stoppages: old news

QR National has been angered by continued crashes at Central Queensland level crossings

and wants drivers to heed safety messages.

QRC chief Michael Roche says decisions to stop work on safety grounds should be done by independent officials. BMA and the CFMEU are still sorting out legal action surrounding 2010 stoppages at sites.


147th EDITION. 2012News

RESOURCE companies are set to domi-nate the Queensland Safe Work Awards with multiple nominations from the industry.

The awards highlight innovation and commitment to workplace health and safety.

Mackay’s Zemek Engineering and Xstrata Coal Newlands Northern Under-ground Mine at Glenden are both finalists.

XStrata’s team were nominated for developing a machine to reduce manual handling of waste.

Award spokesperson, Attorney-Gener-al Jarrod Bleijie, said the tool, known as a trickle duster, can hold four tonnes of stone dust, which means a difficult task previously done by three workers can now be done by one machine.

Zemek Engineering developed a new system for workers using electrical shovel dipper handles.

“The dipper handle rotation system has led to fewer mobile cranes in the workshop,

improved traffic management and a reduc-tion in fumes,” Mr Bleijie said.

“Most importantly, it has reduced the risk of workers being hit by falling objects.

“Workers no longer need to work at dangerous heights and there is less call for potentially hazardous manual tasks.”

Garbutt’s SafetyCulture and Queensland Nickel’s Palmer Nickel and Cobalt Refinery have also made the finals.

Queensland Nickel has developed a sound enclosure to significantly reduce noise levels in its dust extraction system.

SafetyCulture made the finals with the release of its iAuditor – a free mobile appli-cation enabling safety audits, inspections and checklists.

The app has more than 2000 templates that can be customised with photos, dia-grams and other features and generates a report, which can be emailed directly from the device.

Within one week of the application’s launch it had been used 12,056 times and was downloaded by 1218 people and is now used 3000 times a day across the world.

The awards are run by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and the Electrical Safety Office.

Winners will be announced on October 23.

Innovators dominate safety award finals

“Within one week of the application’s launch it had been used 12,056 times and was downloaded by 1218 people

and is now used 3000 times a day across the world.”

Accidents happen in every worksite. Several resource companies have made the finals of the Queensland Safe Work

Awards by innovating to reduce mishaps and potential injuries.


147th EDITION. 2012

Santos lightens footprint with new Roma hub

“It took eight months to build and two weeks of road movements, but all of our drilling and

maintenance equipment from our office in Currey Street has been moved to the logistics hub.”

News

RESEARCHERS are to investigate dis-putes surrounding coal seam gas in the Dar-ling Downs.

Professor David Trigger and Dr Kim de Rijke from the University of Queensland’s School of Social Science will look at a range of issues including relationships to land and water, the politics of community alliances and the cultural significance of agricultural production in the region.

Dr de Rijke told Shift Miner the inde-pendent study aims to engage the full varie-ty of social groups involved in disputes.

“Coal seam gas extraction is currently

one of the most contested issues in Austral-ia – we’re exploring the social and cultural aspects of a range of perspectives regarding these natural resource extraction projects,” Dr de Rijke said.

“We intend to gain responses from farm-ers, environmentalists, government repre-sentatives, scientists and industry personnel and residents in the rural towns of the Dar-ling Downs and surrounds.”

Focused on resource contest and rela-tionships to land in Australia, the study will address a significant issue in environmental anthropology.

“It is likely to have policy implications for Australia and other countries in which unconventional gas extraction, including the use of controversial hydraulic fracturing or fracking techniques, is subject to intense disputes,” Dr de Rijke said.

As part of the work in-depth qualitative research will be done and will look at how coal seam gas disputes can be understood in

the context of competing visions of land use, nature, agricultural production and rural life.

Dr de Rijke said ideally the outcomes will be of benefit to everyone impacted on by the industry.

Research will also be done in northern New South Wales which is in trench warfare with the industry while networks with over-seas researchers will also be established.

Researchers out to probe community tension

SANTOS GLNG has opened a new logis-tics facility outside Roma to house all of its coal seam gas and maintenance equipment.

The hub, located 10km from the CBD to avoid trucks driving through the township, comprises 1600 standard pallet spaces and an area of 8600 square metres of concreted

laydown area for large components, such as engines, pipe assemblies and generators.

The company’s vice president Queens-land Trevor Brown said the development of the logistics hub enabled Santos GLNG to lighten its Roma footprint.

“It took eight months to build and two

weeks of road movements, but all of our drilling and maintenance equipment from our office in Currey Street has been moved to the logistics hub,” Mr Brown said.

The facility is the equivalent of 11 Olym-pic swimming pools in size and is already operating at 60 per cent capacity.

Mr Brown said the hub has office space with rest and fatigue management facilities for truck drivers which formed an impor-tant part of the company’s commitment to prioritising safety.

Meanwhile, construction has com-menced on Santos GLNG’s 420km under-ground gas transmission pipeline from its gasfields to Gladstone.

Saipem Australia is constructing the pipeline and it should be completed in less than two years.

Work is underway in Arcadia Valley with fencing, clearing and grading started and

Saipem will begin burying the pipe in ear-ly November.

Ground has been broken on about 20kms of the pipeline route and the team is now stringing and bending the pipe.

Stringing involves laying the pipes end-to-end next to the pipe alignment. The pipes are placed on padded bags that are raised on blocks of wood to protect the pipe.

Next comes bending, which involves the use of specialist machines to bend some pipe sections to adjust for minor variations in the route and terrain.

Pipeline work will head north from Arcadia Valley and then turn north-east to cross the Expedition Range.

Temporary camps have been built along the pipeline route to accommodate workers and take pressure off housing and accom-modation in the region, according to the company.

“Coal seam gas extraction is currently one of the most contested issues in Australia – we’re exploring the social and cultural aspects of a range of perspectives regarding these natural resource extraction projects.”

Santos has opened a new logistics hub in Roma as construction starts on its GLNG’s 420km underground gas transmission pipeline from its gasfields to Gladstone.


147th EDITION. 2012

Santos lightens footprint with new Roma hub

Four deep at the bar - gas is burning brightAROUND midday in the small community of Injune in the Surat Basin there is hardly a soul to be seen. But come dinner time gas industry workers are four deep at the Injune Hotel.

It’s partly to do with the attraction of the $20 steak meal, but mostly it’s just a reflec-tion of the fact that small agricultural com-munities like Injune are hosting a growing gas workforce.

Unlike the tentative pessimism that seems to be gripping the Queensland coal industry, the gas industry remains as optimistic as ever.

Mayor of the Maranoa Shire Coun-cil Robert Loughnan said this is presenting some predictable problems.

“Most of our towns are filled to capaci-ty,” he said.

“Although we are expecting this to ease a bit when the flood re-construction work-force comes off the boil.

“We are starting to see some very big rentals - $800 a week and higher - and cer-tainly industrial land is in short supply and becoming more expensive.”

But like the Bowen Basin, the main area of concern for council is the supply of

affordable accommodation for locals not engaged in the mining sector.

Among the range of measures to help with the problem are the establishment of a 1000-room accommodation complex at Roma, and a number of specific affordable home schemes.

“Yes residential is the issue, and we are talking to people like mayor Peter Maguire in Emerald about how they have approached the problem,” Mr Loughnan said.

“We have worked pretty closely together on the Royalties for Regions program, and while I don’t expect us to be the first cab off the rank, we do hope we get some royalty assistance.

“Roma has had a longer association with the gas industry than anyone else.

“For over 100 years agriculture and gas have been co-existing (here) and I think we are better prepared.

“We just have so many people working in the gas sector now. Twenty years ago if there wasn’t room on the family farm, and you didn’t want to be a stock agent, you had to leave town.”

“The structures change the behaviour of the water flow over time creating pools, flow rate changes and channel re-alignment

as well as recreating diverse in-stream fish habitats.”

News

Researchers out to probe community tension

COULD mimicking the habits of a beaver have a positive effect in Queensland?

A new research project is investigat-ing the use of man-made log structures to improve water quality and fish habitat in the O’Connell River, south of Proserpine in the Mackay Whitsunday Region.

The engineered log jams involve position-ing logs into the river bank to reduce erosion and provide a safe habitat for native fish.

The aim of the project is to deter-mine how effective the structure and the cost of using engineered log jams is in the O’Connell River, and whether it enhanc-es stream bank stability, waterways and fish habitat and species diversity.

Reef Catchments Healthy Waterways coordinator Sal Gray said the structures change the behaviour of the water flow over time creating pools, flow rate changes

and channel re-alignment as well as recreat-ing diverse in-stream fish habitats.

“The primary role of the structures is to stabilise eroding river banks, protecting land used for cattle grazing and sugar cane. The structures offer an alternative to tradi-tional rock structures and use recycled tim-ber from the local area.”

The project has received funding sup-port for the research programme and the construction of log jams as well as monitor-ing support from the Department of Natu-ral Resources and Mines.

“As the O’Connell River is a priority catch-ment of the Great Barrier Reef, we hope that this pilot project will extend to a series of catch-ment management initiatives to help improve the health and quality of our waterways.”

The Department of Natural Resources and Mines is undertaking a two-year mon-itoring and evaluation programme to exam-ine attributes such as in-stream habitat, flow management and water quality all in rela-tion to the engineered log jams.

The department’s project leader Bernie Cockayne said monitoring was an impor-tant element of the work.

“Departmental officers have been involved in monitoring before the construc-tion of the log jams and will continue to monitor after the construction,” he said.

“This is to survey the river bed and bank site and observe the effectiveness of the struc-tures on the rates of bank failure and erosion.”

The Hail Creek Mine Community Devel-opment Fund provided $55,000 to the project.

Beavering away in river beds a fishy business

Griffith University’s Dr Andrew Brooks, Reef Catchments’ Sal Gray, Hail Creek Mine’s Fiona Kruger and Kylie Devine and Reef Catchments’ Will Higham.

Construction of the engineered log jams.

“For over 100 years agriculture and gas have been co-existing (here) and I think we are better prepared.



QGC has opened its new office in Glad-stone after spending more than $1 mil-lion refurbishing the old Observer newspaper building.

Local builder Paul Capuano led a team of 35 tradespeople from the Gladstone area including plasterers, electricians, plumbers, joiners, carpet-layers and air-conditioning experts on the four-month project to reno-vate the 27 Goondoon Street site.

The two-level office, designed for up to 90 people, will support operations at the liq-uefied natural gas plant being constructed on Curtis Island as part of the Queensland Curtis LNG Project.

QGC operations director Walter Simpson said QGC had made a priority of engaging the expertise of local contractors and suppli-ers as much as practicable for the work.

“This is in line with our approach to con-

struction and operation of QCLNG,” Mr Simpson said.

“We’re committed to providing local, Queensland and Australian suppliers with full, fair and reasonable opportunity to par-ticipate in QCLNG.

“This is a commitment embedded in our major contracts and has resulted in more than $1 billion worth of contracts being awarded in the Gladstone region.”

White goods, window fittings and land-scaping supplies were also bought locally.

QGC announced in June 2012 that it had spent nearly $8 billion since the start of 2010 developing QCLNG and its domestic gas business with about 74 per cent of it spent in Australia and 59 per cent in Queensland.

QGC’s main Gladstone office and public information centre will remain at 72 Goon-doon Street.

QGC spends $1 million on Gladstone office



QGC spends $1 million on Gladstone office

Baralaba expansion bankable, Cockatoo Coal crows THE economics are looking good for the expan-sion of Cockatoo Coal’s Baralaba mine, which would see the simple open-cut brownfield devel-opment increase production from 750,0000 tonnes per annum to 3.5 million tonnes.

The company has just completed its bank-able feasibility study showing the mine will have a life of over 20 years and will move to producing only high-quality ultra-low volatile pulverised coal injection (ULV PCI) coal.

Cockatoo’s managing director Andrew Lawson said the increased production, improved product mix, and high yield would position Cockatoo as a significant producer in the global PCI market.

“The finalisation of the bankable fea-sibility study is an important milestone for Cockatoo,” Mr Lawson said. “It highlights the compelling project economics that exist at Baralaba which will enable Cockatoo to successfully navigate the current challeng-ing global environment and position our-selves for better times ahead.”

The comprehensive coal quality drilling and testing program, combined with independ-ent testing and verification, confirmed that the project will have a product yield of 85 per cent and an improved product mix producing 100 per cent high value ULV PCI coal.

Both Baralaba North and South will be run as open-cut, truck and shovel operations, with run-of-mine (ROM) coal from both being processed at the coal handling and prepara-tion plant located near Baralaba South.

All product coal from Baralaba North and South will be hauled 40kms by road to a stockyard and train load out facility on the Moura line near the Dawson Mine.

Cockatoo has secured necessary rail and port capacity for the expected 3.5Mtpa of product coal, which will be exported via the port facilities at Wiggins Island and RG Tanna at the Port of Gladstone.

The bankable feasibility study esti-mates Cockatoo’s share of total outstand-ing development capital expenditure to be $330m (excluding contingency) with further identified potential cost savings.

Cockatoo has submitted the envi-ronmental management plan for Bar-alaba North, and is now finalising the environmental impact statement for Barala-ba South, which the company plans to lodge in the first quarter of 2013.

Cockatoo engaged Behre Dolbear Aus-tralia (BDA) to conduct an independent technical review of the bankable feasibility study.

THE terms of reference for the $2 billion Cen-tral Queensland Integrated Rail project environ-mental impact statement have been finalised.

The project is QR National’s solution to providing an integrated, heavy haul rail sys-tem to link Galilee and Bowen basin mines to Abbot Point and Hay Point.

The terms of reference document shows QR National has removed a 160-kilome-tre section of the greenfields corridor that would have extended from south of the Galilee basin near Alpha to the Galilee Junction west of Moranbah.

Queensland Coordinator-General Bar-ry Broe said 21 submissions were received from the public and advisory agencies on the draft terms of reference.

“The submissions have been taken into

account in finalising the terms of reference, so the way is now clear for the proponent to complete its EIS,” Mr Broe said.

“When I am satisfied that the EIS addresses the terms of reference, the docu-ment will be circulated to key stakeholders, and advertised for public comment.

“The public will have another opportu-nity to provide further feedback on this rail project, once the EIS is released.”

The Queensland Government has con-firmed to Shift Miner it is committed to two rail corridors connecting the Galilee Basin to the Port of Abbot Point.

There are currently half a dozen rail lines being explored by resource companies who are willing to share the line with others if they have ownership and control.

Rail line solution inches closer

LAPSED contracts in resource towns have led to a spike in broken rental bonds as companies and their workers walk away from leases.

The Rental Tenancy Authority (RTA) has confirmed to Shift Miner that there

has been a sharp increase in the number of complaints and investigations the organisa-tion has under way.

The authority is responsible for main-taining the rights of landlords, tenants and consumers.

Moranbah is proving to be a hotspot for complaints.

RTA chief executive Fergus Smith said because of confidentiality he could not comment on specific cases, however he did saythattherehadbeen37requestsfordis-pute resolution lodged from the Moranbah area between August 1 and mid-September.

“This largely involves mining accommo-dation,” he said. “The disputes are mostly about repairs and maintenance and bond disputes.”

Nineteen of the complaints were relat-ed to repairs and the balance payment or return of the bond.

If parties are unable to reach resolution through the RTA’s dispute resolution service they can then apply to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal for a ruling.

For the same period in 2011 there was a total of three disputes for the Moranbah area and four in 2010.

“This is a significant increase in the number of disputes,” Mr Smith said.

The rise in cases is believed to be linked

to contracting companies that have lost work in Moranbah and then moved work-ers out of their homes en masse. This has left the property owners seeking compensa-tion for lost rent.

Tenants can walk away from leases under some circumstances. This includes when a landlord or agent has failed to fix a problem with the rental property, such as a door that won’t lock, after three warn-ings for the same issue. Known as a breach notice, the landlord is then given seven days to rectify the problem or the tenant can seek accommodation elsewhere.

Shift Miner contacted one of the major companies believed to be involved in the walkouts and was asked to email questions. No response has been supplied. The firm has more than 1000 staff and is believed to have recently lost at least one contract in Moranbah.

If employers house workers in a number of resource town homes the total of bonds, usually four weeks rent per home, can be significant.

Spike in bond breakers investigated

Signing is the easy part - paying can be hard. The Rental Tenancy Authority is investigating more than 30 disputes between landlords and tenants in Moranbah.

“The bankable feasibility study estimates Cockatoo’s share of total outstanding development capital expenditure to be $330m with further identified potential cost savings.”


147th EDITION. 2012

“I mean there are whole dirt files from years ago surfacing now, and all these little breaches

are being raised so they can end a contract.”

“We have a huge mining area at Weipa and one of the most disadvantaged Indigenous communities in Australia in Napranum right on its doorstep.”

News

BRISBANE recruitment and training firm One Key Resources has launched Austral-ia’s first animated training program aimed at improving production among open cut machine operators.

The company has released the first of a series of one-hour videos which immerse participants in the mining environment and provide detailed information and familiari-sation with equipment and procedures.

“This is a first in the Australian mining

industry to commercially release an animat-ed video on production mining techniques, and an innovative training solution for excavator and dump truck operators,” One Key Resources managing director Grant Wechsel told Shift Miner this week.

“Using high quality animation, the video trains operators on the sequence of mining operator techniques including exactly where the excavator should dig to where the truck needs to be parked to take its load.

“There’s a lot of talk about Austral-ia being one of the most unproductive and inefficient mining countries in the world. This is aimed at increasing operating mines’ efficiency, standardising processes, moving more material and ultimately making more money for our clients.”

The video was developed by One Key Resources, with company director and min-ing productivity expert Andy Holder work-ing in partnership with an animation studio to produce the content. It is hosted online and can be accessed on any mine site.

Mr Wechsel said such training was usual-ly done in the cab of machinery on site or in simulators.

“In both cases, only so many people can be trained at one time,” he said. “This video can be used anywhere and with any amount of people. It also reduces training costs by providing an ongoing standardisation to the programs our trainers have put in place on mine sites.”

Mr Wechsel said in addition to cost cut-ting, mining companies were now also look-ing to tackle inefficiencies as commodity prices soften and demand falls.

“Many mines have put up with inefficient practices because they were making money during the boom times, however now mines want to do a full review of work practices to ensure optimal efficiency,” he said.

“The mining industry is increasingly realis-ing each piece of machinery has to perform at its peak in the face of softening demand and lower returns. This has seen a boom in our tra-ditional on-site proficiency training programs but also led to the development and release of this animated training program.”

BHP Billiton will be the first to run the training program in its iron ore mines in Western Australia.

Mr Wechsel said Bowen Basin coal mines had also shown interest in the training video, which features a test at the end for operators.

“It can be used at any open cut mine as a majority of the techniques covered are standard in the industry,” he said.

“We are hoping this will be the first in a series of videos which we will make cover-ing different mining machinery.”

Open cut training gets a modern overhaul

Cost cutting leads to “dirt files” on workers

Predictably, it seems to be the explora-tion areas that are being hardest hit, with another miner reporting that the number of exploration rigs operating on the BMA owned Saraji exploration site has fallen from36tonine.

“Each rig has three crew working on threerosters,sothat isabout9peopleperrig that have lost their job, and I think at the Saraji exploration site 80 to 100 contractors have lost their job,” the driller said.

The Australian Drilling Association is not commenting on the current outlook.

Steve Pearce from the CFMEU said it is

not the first time that contractors have had to wear an unfair amount of the burden of cost cutting.

“I have definitely seen in the past where giant multi-nationals will crucify supplemen-tary employees in a downturn, but will turn a blind eye to their own people,” he said.

“What we are seeing is an adjustment in the market, and coal prices are coming back to a sensible level.

“The boom is not over but mining com-panies are just being greedy.”

BMA were unavailable for comment on this story.

Cape Alumina bauxite mine resurrectedTHE controversial plan to develop a bauxite mine within the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve on Cape York has won significant project sta-tus from the Queensland Government.

The latest planned development of the Pisolite Hill bauxite mine, owned by Cape Alumina, stalled in 2010 when the Bligh government declared the nearby Wenlock River a wild river and imposed a 500m buff-er zone around waterways.

The Newman Government now says it will scrap the Wild Rivers laws and impose its own statutory planning regime on the Cape. That move paves the way for 1700 jobs and $1.2 billion for the economy from the project.

Pisolite Hills is one of several significant development prospects for the Cape.

Rio Tinto also has State Government approval for the South of Embley bauxite project, near Weipa, but is waiting for feder-al go-ahead on the project.

Cape Alumina has more than 4000 drill holes for Pisolite Hills which has a resource estimated at 134.6 million tonnes of in-situ bauxite.

This resource has the potential to yield up to seven million tonnes per annum of dry-product bauxite over a 15-year period.

Meanwhile, The Wilderness Society has already questioned the economic benefits of Cape Alumina’s plans.

Speaking to media, Tim Seelig from the Wilderness Society says there will be little benefit for local Aboriginal communities.

“We have a huge mining area at Weipa and one of the most disadvantaged Indig-enous communities in Australia in Napra-num right on its doorstep,” he said.

“Mining proposals like this don’t end up delivering large numbers of jobs to Indig-enous people but they certainly do trash both physical . . . natural environments and cultural heritage.”

FROM PAGE 1

Shots from recruitment and training firm One Key Resources’ animated training program.


147th EDITION. 2012

GROUP Engineering in Mackay said it had no choice but to make changes including redundancies as it grappled with a correc-tion in Queensland mining.

Managing director of Group Engineer-ing Allan Ruming recently sat down with his entire workforce to explain the current downturn and the challenges it presented.

“Across the board in Queensland and the Northern Territory we have seen work wind right back,” he said.

“Our on-site blokes have reduced from 12 people to two, and for a small business like us that is a significant change.”

However, Mr Ruming was quick to point out that this was not the first time the com-pany had encountered and survived a cor-rection in mining.

“We have to get away from this ridiculous boom and bust cycle in mining,” he said.

“Some of the large companies were paying ridiculous prices when things were booming and small operators like us just can’t compete with that.

“We have to adjust our business to the challenges that are presented in the best way we can, which means moving quickly to exploit new opportunities.

“We are not scaling back, we are tak-ing various steps to keep our workforce as long as we can, because I know that at some point in the not too distant future we will need these people again.

“Part of the solution for us will be a refo-cus on what industries we are exposed to and we will probably reduce our exposure to the mining sector.

“But there will be some workforce attrition.”Mr Ruming says he expects most of the

new mining projects in Central Queensland to become a reality but he warned that more of the older mines might be mothballed.

He says the issue is cost of production, and some old mines like BMA Blackwater won’t stack up if the price of coal continues to fall and operation costs continue to rise.

As part of the companies refocus, Group Engineering will soon enter into a joint venture with a like-minded company from southern Australia.

This joint venture will significantly expand their capacity and allow them to take on a broader range of jobs - including in the booming gas sector.

“These corrections are like a kick in the nuts; they hurt at the time, but you know that

the pain will go away eventually,” he said.“And unfortunately we have to make

unpalatable decisions we would not nor-mally make.”

News

Anti-gas protest doesn’t need Jones

Joint venture lands $80m contract

THE sleepy northern New South Wales town of Murwillumbah will host the launch of a national week of action against the coal seam gas industry on October 13.

“The National Week of Action has been called by Lock the Gate Alliance to give local communities a chance to stand up against the rapid expansion of coal and coal seam gas activities,” said the Lock The Gate Alliance member Michael McNamara.

Speakers will include Alliance president Drew Hutton and Annie Kia co-ordinator of

the Gas field Free Communities initiative.A march through the town’s CBD will

take place followed by a rock concert.Interestingly the movements pin up boy

- broadcaster Alan Jones - has been asked to not attend after his recent comments about the death of Prime Minister Julia Gil-lard’s father.

Recently retired Greens Senator Bob Brown is to send a video message of support.

Details of what other activities are planned across the gasfields for the week were not available

QGC has awarded a contract worth up to $80 million for the first stage of natural gas processing facilities in the Surat Basin for the Queensland Curtis LNG Project.

The contract, with a joint venture of list-ed Australian companies Transfield Servic-es and Clough Projects Australia, involves front-end engineering and planning for gas compression facilities, bulk earth works, pil-ing and concrete foundations.

The work, to be done at QGC’s Wolee-bee Creek development block, south-west of Wandoan, and its Bellevue development block, east of Miles, is expected to be com-pleted early next year.

A contract for construction of five field compression stations and a central process-ing plant at Woleebee Creek and three field compression stations and a central process-

ing plant at Bellevue will then be awarded.QGC Managing Director Derek Fisher

said as always QGC and the joint venture were committed to the use of local contrac-tors wherever possible.

“The contract gives local contractors the opportunity to provide associated goods and services and includes a plan for employ-ment of local personnel and contractors,” Mr Fisher said.

“We’re committed to providing local, Queensland and Australian suppliers with full, fair and reasonable opportunity to par-ticipate in QCLNG.”

At June 2012, QGC had spent nearly A$8 billion since the start of 2010 develop-ing QCLNG and its domestic gas business, with about 74% of it spent in Australia and 59% in Queensland.

Diversify not downsize: Group Engineering

“We have to get away from this ridiculous boom and bust cycle in mining.”

Mining doesn’t have to be boom and bust -

Managing director of Group Engineering Allan Ruming

from Mackay says the cycle of ups and downs is “ridiculous”. The firm has

just laid off workers.


THE famed Canadian Mounties are help-ing Australia cope with the pressures of the growing fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workforce.

As part of their investigation into FIFO and drive-in, drive-out work practices, the senators on the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia have visited Canada where the oil industry flies thousands of workers to remote sites.

Inquiry chairman Tony Windsor said afterward that 40,000 of the Alberta city’s population of 100,000 are FIFO workers.

“We had various meetings with the May-or (of Fort McMurray) and some of the var-ious Canadian government departments, even the mounted police,” Mr Windsor said.

“If you don’t get the land and planning issues right and the infrastructure funding right you just end up in a mess because you can’t keep pace with the issues that will arrive and that will force rentals and property values up.”

Fort McMurray, a petroleum industry cen-tre, is feeling the strain of the rapid expansion brought about by a large FIFO workforce.

The town has doubled in size in eight years.“Infrastructure, housing and services are

all feeling the strain in Fort McMurray and our FIFO committee here in Australia is con-sidering if local government is going to need a hand trying to deal with it,” Mr Windsor said.

Meanwhile, the Australian Medical Asso-ciation’s Western Australian branch has pub-licly called for an interim report into the nationwide hearings conducted by the com-mittee to be released.

The AMA WA says the main report is taking too long and action is required now to address the pressures of FIFO and DIDO.

“It’s going to take so long (for the report) that the mining boom may poten-tially be actually coming to an end,” AMA WA president Richard Choong said.

Medical, education and recreation services in major resource towns, such as Moranbah and Mackay, were shown during the hearings to be bearing the brunt of the growth in FIFO work numbers.

The first report is expected next month.

“If you don’t get the land and planning issues right and the infrastructure funding right you just end up in a mess because you can’t keep pace with the

issues that will arrive and that will force rentals and property values up.”

Port backs local youth

Paranoia keeping out good recruits

GLADSTONE Ports Corporation has launched its regional high school bursary program for 2012.

The program is GPC’s annual commit-ment to the youth of the region to encour-age high achieving students to further their education. GPC has been providing bursa-ries to high schools in the Gladstone and Rockhampton regions for over 30 years and more recently in Bundaberg.

Under the scheme, GPC contributes $32,000 to 36 students, including 28 Year 12 bursaries of $1000 each to students who plan to pursue tertiary education, and eight junior bursaries of $500 for Year 10 stu-dents who anticipate going on to Year 12.

“The pressures further education can

have on students and their families can be quite demanding and stressful,” GPC CEO Leo Zussino said this week.

“By providing these bursaries, GPC hopes to provide encouragement and assist-ance to the students who receive them and their supporting families.

“Our bursary program is just one of the many ways GPC supports Central Queens-land’s progress by helping young people further their education.”

Bursary information has been distribut-ed to the schools and includes what students must do to be considered for the program.

Bursary recipients will be presented with their awards at ceremonies in October and November.

WE’RE just too paranoid when it comes to bringing in overseas workers to fill resource sec-tor roles says a leading recruitment firm boss.

Chairman of Talent 2, Andrew Banks, said this week during a roundtable discussion on shortages, such as those in mining, should be eased through specialised immigration, as was done in Norway during the 1970s.

“They allowed thousands of people in on very short-term work permits,” Mr Banks said.

“They got the job done, got the oil out of the ground and they are now the richest nation on the planet -- then they sent eve-ryone home.”

Mr Banks said Australia needs to be more open to short-term solutions to fill the gap.

“In some areas we’ve got to be less para-noid about importing skills and understand that

there is no way any country can train people to meet a need in a short period of time,” he said.

Kathy Kostyrko of Hays Consulting, which recruits for mining, said that many workers may be willing to move to remote locations for jobs they often didn’t have the skills required for the work.

“And because there are so many coun-tries now around the world in this market it’s creating a big shortage of the people at the top that we need in this area in Austral-ia,” Ms Kostyrko said.

“We need to open up our borders and be as accepting and make it very much easier to get this talent into Australia as we need it.”

The skills shortage is expected to push up wages for resource workers in Queensland and Western Australia over the next 12 months.

SHIFTMINERladder

G E T W H E R E Y O U W A N T T O B E

Mounties called to help with FIFO answers

FIFO workers headed to a light plane at Brisbane Airport - the Canadian Mounties have provided insights into handling the surge in FIFO during a fact finding tour to Canada by senators involved with the inquiry into the work practice.


IS Bali the new off-shift destination for fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workers?

This is the question researchers from Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth are pondering, as a growing number of people appear to be choosing to go to Bali between rosters rather than their home towns in Australia.

A team of researchers from ECU’s newly created Centre for Innovative Practice (CIP) are investigating why this shift has occurred.

CIP co-leader and project head Professor Ross Dowling says FIFO workers are capi-talising on new flight schedules, Bali’s lower living costs and reduced taxes all while tak-ing advantage of the relaxed island lifestyle.

“We want to get a deeper understanding of this new development, to learn why work-ers are choosing not to return to their fam-ilies and friends but go off shore instead,” Professor Dowling told Shift Miner.

“Are workers choosing the holiday atmosphere over returning to home or is there more to it than that?”

The Bali study is part of a larger research project which addresses wider aspects of the resources industry.

ECU’s Faculty of Business and Law

have awarded the CIP $50,000 to carry out the project, called The requirements of inno-vative practices in the WA resources sector.

The work is expected to have valuable insights for the Queensland industry as well.

More than 20 researchers will participate in the project working to address key issues affecting the resources sector.

These include sustainability within the resources industry; the recruitment and retention of workers on 457 visas with-in small companies; skills shortages in the sector; creating a future for Indigenous ex-prisoners and improvement in the resourc-es sector productivity.

The investigation into the Bali phenome-na comes at a time when several regional cen-tres compete to attract more FIFO workers. The Gold Coast has been slow off the mark, despite pushing its Australia’s playground as a lure for workers and their families.

The Glitter Strip has one of the highest concentrations of night clubs per square kil-ometre in the world - but Bali might even be able to compete on that score.

The Sunshine Coast recently got a co-or-dinator to assist businesses make more of FIFO for the region.

More resource workers choosing Bali

“Are workers choosing the holiday atmosphere over returning to home or is there more to it than that?”

SHIFTMINERladder

G E T W H E R E Y O U W A N T T O B E

Ah Bali - perfect one day, even better the next . . . researchers are trying to find out

why Aussie FIFO workers prefer to the laid back island’s beaches and tourist lifestyle

to their own home towns when offshift.


147th EDITION. 2012

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

arouNd towN

HEAVEN IS A HALF PIPE Moranbah kids enjoy the skatepark

(L-R) Clayton Christmas, Taylor McPherson, Shanelle Cunningham, Corey Greenhalgh Heet Amin, Jeremy Curren

(L-R) Heino Nel, Joel O’Neill, Joseph Nel

Shanelle Cunningham, Corey Greenhalgh Clayton Christmas, Taylor McPherson

Lucas Doocey, Jesse Emdenburg

Sharon Dempster, Rhames Lee


147th EDITION. 2012

www.shiftminer.comBUY THIS AND MANY OTHER IMAGES AT

Shift Miner magazine – bringing the mining community closer together

arouNd towN

JAPAN BOUND

(L-R) Monica Sidhu, Lynda Connell, Kay Jones,Peter and Theresa Foley

(L-R) Sharon, Isabella, Emma and Tony Fernie

Isabella Fernie, Delaney Beak, RyleighJones, Kimberley Cooke and Connor Guest, with chaperones Mary Ryan and Theresa Foley

Student Ryleigh Jones, with her family Colleen,John and Kelsey.

Julie and Margie

Mary Ryan with Sandra and Bryan Ottone.

Gracie, Deidre, Kirstie and Imogene Beath,Connor and William Guest and Breeannah Barney

Student Kimberley Cooke with her family;Helen, Kevin, Katie and Mitchell Cooke.

Students heading to Japan given a formal farewell from Blackwater


147th EDITION. 2012

Got somethinG to share? send us your text messages or phone photos to

0428 154 653 or email to [email protected]

Is the housing crisis easing in the coalfields? (Moranbah Bubble Bursts, P1 SM146)

What do you mean the bubble has burst? I have been here 26 years and the amount they are charging for rent here is still crazy. I had a look around and couldn’t find anything under $1000 a week! Bill, Moranbah

Finally some payback to all those southern investors who have come into this town and pushed the rental rates up to unfair levels. It’s just pure greed and I hope they learn a lesson from it. Sam, Nebo

People keep whining about all the FIFO and DIDO in the coalfields. I live in Mackay and I hate the drive to work. But why would I move to Moranbah? It’s a good town, but the cost of living is just ridiculous. Daniel, Mackay

LAHFA change no laughing matter. (Law change takes allowance from workers P5, SM146)

I think you might have got the wrong end of the stick on the LAHFA. I am not an overseas worker, but I am pretty certain I am going to lose my entitlements, even though I live more than 200 kilometres from home.

Anonymous

There are a whole heap of us here at Moura who get LAHFA so we share a house in town while on shift to cut costs, but my accountant says we are not going to get the allowance once these changes come in. So we will all

end up back in the Kotti Doon camp and that is going to affect more than just us. Craig, Emu Park

And finally the new “At home” section has some fans...

Finally someone talking about a few of these issues. My husband has been a miner for nearly a decade, and when he first started it was an absolute shock to our marriage and there was absolutely no support or understanding from anywhere. Great work keep it up. Shelagh, Bundaberg

I get the feeling the new at home section is mostly for the wives, but I really enjoyed it as well. Thanks. Wilson, Cairns

The hardest thing is the sleep. My wife never understood why I was so hammered for the first days off shift - but now we have reached an understanding on that, everything is great. Bill, Hay Point

stuff to the editor

SEEN SOMETHING WE HAVEN’T?Prizes for the best mining Photos.Take iT on your phone or camera and send iT in

Text to 0428 154 653 [email protected]

stuff to the editor

The musings of a CQ miner...Redmond’s RantsToday’s NewsRode out to the desertLookin’ for what wasn’t there.

Found Dante in a frozen brine.Read on, I will expose Gan-dhi planting a land mine.

You slack, bug-eyed spectators.Hoping for shit so you can show disgust at the smell.

I dare you to hate your kind.

Damn it and damn youLuke-warm seaStay on the sideline.

A rotten mess you look atRaise your nose.Can’t feel the warmth or good,Discuss or monitor the blessed.

The news - the pressSexual assaultBank defaultToday (no way) TonightIs this news?

The Telegraph’s common viewA medicated child’s play is upA second-hand truck with a dodgy clutchA twit with cameras, script and light.

To that, to this, the sky and moonWe fly this shit into our lounge room.To that, to this, is my reply - although not mine

“Songs interwoven of lights and of laughtersBorrowed from bell-birds in far forest-rafters;So I might keep in the city and alleysThe beauty and strength of the deep mountain valleys:

Charming to slumber the pain of my lossesWith glimpses of creeks and a vision of mosses”*.

* Henry Kendall insert

Who is Redmond?Redmond was born in a cross-fire hurricane and now resides in Queensland. Former Golden Glove champ turned champion shearer, his shearing career was cut short when he entered the adult film industry and made 3467 films in three months. He now enjoys semi-retirement and lives happily on his 100,000 acre property with his seven wives. He has received the annual Golden Pen award from the Writer’s Guild four years in a row in the Truth Telling category...

IT seems old habits die hard in resourc-es with news filtering through from work sites across the state that the purge is on by companies keen to shed workers.

Some have been so distressed that they have taken to calling the media to get atten-tion and action as workers, mostly contrac-tors, are cut from work sites for seemingly trivial matters (see story Page 1).

Human Resources managers and shift supervisors may see it differently and trot out the age old cliche that a team is only as good as it’s weakest members and to be a good team the weak have to be cut loose.

But what would these same people be saying if they were the one to be cut loose? Being shown the door can give an individual a very sharp dose of clar-ity about just how loyal their employer is (believe me it’s happened to me more than once . . . . ).

Workers that are trying to bring to light the pressures put on them and oth-

ers in the workplace have every right to be speaking out. They work in an indus-try that has been promoting itself as short on workers and with large pay packets to go around for those that have jobs. Most workers are loyal.

That loyalty is expected. But when the going gets tough, or slightly tougher than it has been, employers are showing staff the door.

Loyalty doesn’t seem to mean much when you are picking up your last pay from the pay office window.

All firms in the industry need to take a breath and see how they are manag-ing cutbacks and any slowdown and if they are placing too much of the burden on workers. There are many ways busi-nesses can cut expenses and reducing the workforce - either full-time or contract - shouldn’t be the first one chosen as it so often is.

FROM THE EDITOR

commenT orsms 0428 154 653

Greg Sweetnam

Join the conversation at

www.facebook.com/shiftminerSHIFT MINERMonday 24th September 146th Edition 2012

The Queensland mining community’s best source of local news

M A G A Z I N E

The Partners:

John Taylor - LL.B

Sharon Smith - BEc/LL.B Hons

Craig Worsley - LL.B

Greg Carroll

PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS

Mining Accidents

Work Accidents

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Insurance/TPD Claims

CONVEYANCING ESTATE LAW

COMMERCIAL

LAW Phone 4957 29

44 Fax 4957 2016

www.taylors-solicitors.com.au

email: [email protected]

om.au

Level 2/ 17 Brisbane Street

Mackay

TAYLORS

SOLICITORS

NewsCaval Ridge going

ahead » page 4

NewsAllowance laws

changed » page 5

NewsJobs under pressure

» page 6

NewsPark residence off

to track » page 8

@Home

Hold on to love

» page 15

Money Matters

Farm buy up

over » page 25

Locally Owned and Operated - www.shiftminer.com

IF YOU managed to sell your Moranbah

home to an investor six months ago you’d

be laughing yourself to the bank.

But if you were the investor, you may be cry-

ing in your fl at beer (if you can still stomach it).

In just a few short months, the Moranbah

real estate market has plunged from never-

seen-before prices skyrocketing to $900,000

a home, to a situation where more than 260

houses are on the market and not budging.

Where rentals were once fetching up to

$4000 a week and being snapped up almost

before they were advertised, there are now

over 200 rentals with most prices below $1500.

“The market has taken a complete back-

fl ip from last year,” John Wood from Moran-

bah Real Estate told Shift Miner.

“It has been really slow - to put it bluntly.”

Mr Wood said there was very little inter-

est in rentals, thanks to the plunge in the

coal market which has seen contractors

leave the town.

And with no new contracts, supply was

well and truly outstripping demand.

“We’re not panicking yet,” he said. “The

heavy investors are feeling a bit of uncertainty.”

» continued page 10

Farm buy up

over

Outback beauties descend on Black Nugget » More pictures page 16

@Home

Hold on to love

» page 15» page 15»WEST GETS WILDER

Moranbah bubble

bursts HOUSE PRICES

NOSEDIVE


147th EDITION. 2012

Roger,I can understand your frustration.

There’s nothing worse than a meddle-some in-law!

Your best bet in a situation like this is

probably deflection, I think if you come straight out and tell your girlfriend’s father to mind his own business it might cause even more problems.

If he’s hell-bent on giving you advice on how to barbecue, why not let him work the grill?

You can take a load off and have a beer while he does all the work.

If you really want to rub it in you could remind him how you like your steak while he’s cooking.Susan.

Sensible Susan

If you have a question for Frank and Susan Email Us at: [email protected]

fair diNKuM

The musings of a CQ miner...

Dear Frank,

I really like this girl, but her dad is a complete pain in the proverbial.

Most of the time, I can cope with it, but he has one habit that I swear is going to tip me over the edge.

Whenever we have a barbeque, he hovers over me - giving me advice, and reminding me not to burn the snags and that he likes his steak rare.

For the love of God - how do I make him stop?

Roger

I feel your pain, Roger, lord knows I’ve had to endure my fair share of horrible fathers-in-law.

I was seeing this girl a few months ago and her father was a real pain. He was con-stantly pressing me for information: “How old are you, what kind of work do you do, how did you meet my daughter, why are you sending nude photos of yourself to our post office box?”

It’s my own fault though, if I didn’t want to put up with overprotective fathers I should stop dating girls who are still in high school.

As annoying as that was, howev-er, nothing will ever compare to my first wife’s father.

Apparently he got kicked by a horse when he was a younger and he was never quite the same again.

Every time he came over for dinner he’d invariably confuse the linen basket f or the toilet.

Needless to say we spent a fortune on dry cleaning, and my wife had to stop mak-ing curry altogether.

Unfortunately, however, it’s very diffi-cult to get a father-in-law out of your hair.

The reason they do these annoying things is to test you, to see how hungry you are for their approval.

Here’s the thing though: the less the fathers approve, the wilder the daughters go.

I know it sounds cliché, but every girl wants a bad boy, and getting her old man offside is the quickest way to become the bad boy.

There are any number of ways to do this. You just need to pick something that

will particularly irritate your prospective father-in-law.

Personally, if I’m trying to get a girl’s father offside the first thing I do is find out who his favourite sporting team is and then insult them comprehensively in his presence.

If for some reason that fails to do the trick nothing gets a father-in-law more annoyed than repeated and inappropriate complimenting of his wife.

Next time you’re at a barbeque and your girlfriend’s dad wanders over to give you some grilling tips tell him his wife’s got a pair of breasts the same as he likes his steak: ‘rare’.Frank.

Frank the Tank’s

It’s my own fault though, if I didn’t want to put up with overprotective fathers I should stop

dating girls who are still in high school.

“Streakin” good love advice

If you find your face frozen in a rictus smile as your

potential father-in-law tells you what to do with your

barbeque sausage, it is time to take action. Girls like bad

boys, so stop greasing up and start thinking of some

insults to rark him up.


PLOUGH FOR SALE

Grizzly S24 plough very

good condition new

bearings discs about 1/2

worn located near rocky.

$17000 plus gst ono.

Phone 0429 948 198

CAR FOR SALE2006 DODGE RAM 3500

SLT Lonestar Edition Heavy Duty

5.9L Cummins Turbo Diesel Allison auto trans. Wood grain

inserts 5th wheel hitch, tow bar 4 door dual cab

Dula Wheels104000klms

$79 000 onoPhone: 0432 429 264

UNIT FOR SALE100sqm renovated open plan unit with a HUGE

balcony overlooking the Sunshine Coast’s best point break!! Austar,

gym, 150m lagoon pool. Great investment BETTER

lifestyle! More info/pics avail. Be Quick!

Phone: 0424 108 784

HOUSE FOR SALEGRACEMERE, Immaculate 4BR home BIR. 18 solar panels. Fully insulated & A/C. Ceiling fans. 2 bathrooms. 2 Toilets.

Double lock-up garage. Stainless steel kitchen

appliances. Spacious open plan kitchen, dining &

lounge. Potential rental return above $22 000p/a.

$429,000Phone: 0418 796 074

HOUSE FOR SALECoolum Beach 2 bed, 2 bath aptmt for sale

with ocean views, fully furnished, air con, pool

and heated spa.Includes huge double

with surround sound plus satellite. Walking distance

to Coolum Beach$330.000 ono

Phone: 0411 567 244

LAND FOR SALE

BURNETT RIVER FRONTAGE

100acres, 600m of river frontage, 10meg water allocation, ex dairy farm, power at front of block, cleared, dam, cattle yards, 20mins to Gin Gin – 25 mins to Childers

$290K neg.

Phone: 0439 861 946

HOUSE FOR SALE

Gracemere acreage and

residence. Large well

appointed 5 bedroom

home on 10 acres.

Stables, yards, shed,

bore. 3 km from new

shopping centre.

$700,000

Phone: 07 4933 3106

CAR FOR SALE2008 H3 HUMMER Luxury

6.2lt V8 LS3. Auto transmission. Full leather,

BOSE sound, 22” American racing rims.Only known H3 V8 in Australia. Collector’s item. 27000kms. Excellent

condition. Very classy vehicle with performance to match.

$73,000 onoPhone: 0427 189 834

LAND FOR SALE

PROSERPINE

Rural land. 15 min cbd proserpine. 2x200 acre lots. good grazing land

and house sites will sell seperatly POA

$520,000 the pair Phone: 0447 031 588

BUSINESS FOR SALESACK THE BOSS AND

EARN REAL $Dry Ice blasting/cleaning

equipment including website. dry ice unit

only 60hrs! Kaeser air compressor only107hrs! Genuine reason for sale.

cost $96000. can be relocated anywhere!

$69000 onoPhone: 0410 091 105

HOUSE FOR SALE MACLEAY ISLAND

Your own private resortAbsolute waterfront homeRetire or use as a getaway

www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-eay+island-111073031

Phone: 1300 091 773

HOUSE/LAND FOR SALEMOUNT PERRY

” Main Top” Best most usable 40 acres in town.

great mountain veiws, hay shed, machinery shed, dam, House requires

work. Power to house.Plenty of feed, Potential to work 7 on 7 off roster at

mount Rawdon Gold mine. $235,000

Phone: 0488 079 675

CAR FOR SALE2010 TOYOTA HILUX

Mine Spec, BMA Thiess Mac

Maxxis Iron Mud Tires, ADB Bull Bar, Lightforce Driving Light,Twin Battery, Snorkle, Iron-Man Lift Kit, Mine Radio

x 2, UHF, 135 Litre Fuel Tank, Oconners Tray,

Toolboxes, Fire Ext 1st Aid MSDS.

$ 46 500Phone: 0421 000 789

BUSINESS FOR SALE 2 X PRIME MOVERS

With large capacity cranes,4 Trailers, Bundy based,

Soild work contacts, Carrying house frames

and trussestoGladstone,Rocky,Mackayand Central

Highlands.established 1981 T\O approx $380,000

Call for more info and picsAsking $350,000 WIWO

Phone: 0408 988 866

CARAVAN AND CAR FOR SALE

F250 + SIERRA 5TH WHEELER

30ft, both 2006,both reg Oct 12, one bdrm unit on wheels,

rear kitchen,q/bed,2 TVs,solar,

gen 2.4kva,has much more $145,000 neg

Phone: 0413 317 292

BUSINESS FOR SALE

Looking for an investment that drives itself?

Open Taxi Licence for sale in Rockhampton

Currently leased @ $385 inc gst/week

Includes shares in Rockhampton Cab CompanyPerfect sideline income

$320,000 neg

Phone: 0407 373 664

LAND FOR SALE

YEPPOON

Acreage Living, City Conveniences!

4000 sqm North facing, corner premium block, 5 minutes from CBD, schools, transport.

Plenty of space for shed, pool, kids to play.

$300,000

Phone: 0409 391 254

HOUSE FOR SALEYEPPOON

New 4 bedroom 2 bathroom brick home.

Aircon in main bedroom & Media room. Fans

throughout.Double garage elec roller doors. Security screens.

$449,000

Phone: 0421 601 710

UNIT FOR SALE MACKAY

The solution to accommodation in Mackay. Stay a few

days, earn income while you’re away. 1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom Beachfront Resort living, pool and

restaurant onsite.

For More Info Call:

Phone: 0428 227 623

CAMPER AND CAR FOR SALE

Compass slide-on camper on Ford F250 ute.Camper sleeps 2 plus makeup 3rd. Range of accessories incl.F250XL 2001, 4.2L diesel, 190,000km, strengthened springs, UHF, compressor.

Whole unit $50,000 ono. Camper only

$17,000 ono.

Phone: 0407 913 914

BOAT FOR SALE

SAILING CATAMARAN

12.6m Light Cruiser.

Sleeps 3.Auxiliary

motor,dinghy and outboard.

Located at Yeppoon.

Call for full inventory and

inspection.

$150,000

Phone: 0448 874 000

HOUSE/LAND FOR SALE NORTH OF YEPPOON 40ha.Open country,

House,Dam,Bore(1100gl/ph)Submersible pump,Yards &ramp Excellent

garden & views.50ks nth of Yeppoon Turnoff. 1.3ks off highway,bitumen road.

School buses from Highway

$595,000 ono

Phone: 07 4937 3564

CAR FOR SALE2008 TOYOTA

AVENSIS VERSO 68000 Ks, 4 doors 7 seats, 4 cyl. A1 condition. New

tyres. Complied 2009 Rear nudge-bar. Full logs. All Toyota serviced. Always kept undercover. With 7 seats there’s plenty of

space for the whole family.$21,900 NEG

Phone : 0413 913 042

LAMPS FOR SALEGENUINE PROTECTOR

ECCLES MINING LAMPS

Not Reproduction

Varying models and condition in full size working lamps.

Miniature ornamental lamps available.

Phone : 07 4933 6310

CAR FOR SALE

FORD MUSTANG

CONVERTABLE 67

302 V8 Auto. Left Hand

Drive, Disc Brakes.

Excellent Condition,

Fully Restored

$48,000

Phone: 07 4933 7305

BOAT FOR SALE2004 PowerCat 2600 Sports

Cabriolet. Twin 115hp Yamaha 4 stroke engines. Sleeps 4, Toilet, Shower. Road registered tandem

trailer. Always maintained and kept in a shed. All safety gear. Excellent

condition. Registered until September 2013.

Reduced to $108,000 Very Negotiable

Phone: 0409 630 311

BUSINESS FOR SALE

INVESTMENT FREEHOLD HOTEL MOTEL

One hour from Bundaberg 9 year lease with experienced tenant

returning $57,200 p.yr + annual CPI increases.

$540,000

Phone: 07 4151 4500

CARAVAN AND CAR FOR SALE

2010 SOUTHERN CROSS 5TH WHEELER

8mtrs,complete with all upgrades.

FORD F250 V8 deisel w/ gas injection. tow vehicle.Full details on request.Will

pass any inspection.Phone: 07 4162 5730


147th EDITION. 2012

43 #MUIDEM

2 6 46 3 8 2

4 6 7 99

6 1 55

7 6 5 42 7 4 1

4 8 6# 33 3 1 5 6 8 9 7 4 2

8 4 2 3 7 1 9 5 66 7 9 5 2 4 1 8 39 6 7 8 5 3 4 2 12 8 3 4 1 7 6 9 54 5 1 2 9 6 3 7 81 9 8 7 6 2 5 3 47 2 4 1 3 5 8 6 95 3 6 9 4 8 2 1 7

SHIFT MINERHandy Cross 2748 - (15A grid)ShiftMinerHandy113s. pdf© Lovatts Publications 28/04/2011

EASTER

SCOTLAND

N

I

V

H

I

R

R

LADLED

BARBECUE

I

E

R

L

L

I

T

D

SISSY

OPERATING

T

H

T

N

T

C

E

ELOPING

SANK

D

W

M

E

R

E

VERA

HICCUPS

I

U

R

I

T

N

T

GOGETTING

AMAZE

U

L

W

Z

H

R

W

E

ANIMATOR

DISARM

N

E

N

N

N

Y

E

AEROGRAM

TENSED

last editions solutions

off shift

Delivered direct to your inbox every WednesdayTo register go to www.shiftminer.com and follow the link

WHAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM A

MORE- mining news MORE- industrial news MORE- investment news

WINOWEDNESDAY’S INDUSTRY NEWS ONLINE (WINO) BY SHIFT MINER

SHIFT MINERPremium Queensland business and industrial news www.shiftminer.com/news

W E D N E S D A Y ’ S I N D U S T R I A L N E W S O N L I N E

NEWS YOU WON’T GET ANYWHERE ELSE

Shift MinerHandy 15A blank gridShiftMInerHandyblank.pdf©Lovatts Publications 2010

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10

11

12 13

14 15 16

17 18

19 20 21

22 23

24 25 26

27 28

29 30

ACroSS 1. Fluid losses 5. Turns inside-out 9. Empties water from (boat) (5,3)10. South American mammal12. Increasing in depth13. Workers’ body14. Martial art, ... fu16. Heating coil19. Below21. Writes quickly24. Rowing team25. Public referee27. Opinion28. Authoritative (5-3)29. Dwell30. Turnaround

DoWN 1. Sexual drive 2. Crops up 3. Supermarket lane 4. Secreting 6. Pastry delicacy (3-2-4) 7. Caught on 8. Become stale11. Storybook monster15. Not changed17. Protester18. Cosiness20. Sound siren21. Special anniversary22. Spanks23. Infuse26. Cover with cloth


147th EDITION. 2012

YePPooN “NOT too bad at all,” is the verdict from Adrian at Secret Spot Bait and Tackle.

First up on Adrian’s list of hits: there are good barra up the river and around the rock bars at Coorooman. Use live bait and lures.

The run out tide at Coorooman Creek is fishing all right for grunter and the Cause-way is just starting to fire for barra and mangrove jack.

Crabs are starting to get a move along with the weather warming up - go for Corio or Coorooman.

Corio Bay is also doing alright for flat-head and Adrian recommends targeting them by drifting with soft plastics.

Adrian’s top tip: the reef and islands are jumping with lots of juvenile marlin.

“They are not very big but they’re a ton of fun to bring in,” says Adrian.

To take on one of these little big boys try Bar-ren and Child, Outer Rock or The Pinnacles.

Adrian reckons he has even heard of a couple hooked as close in as Findlay’s.

And lastly, to the brag bag: a couple of fellas Adrian gave some pointers to made the most of his advice, reporting back their

exploits off Barren and Child,Both boys notched up personal bests for

grunter and giant trevally.One of the lucky lads originally reached

hisPBbringingina92cmGTbutthentoppedit the next morning by landing one at 122cm.

And their parting postscript: “We got to witness two small marlin being caught at Child, one of which was on a handline!”

GlADStoNe CONDITIONS over the school holidays have been generally kind off Gladstone and the punters have been profiting as a result.

Michael at Compleat Angler’s report reads nicely with plenty of mac at the reef and bot-tom fish doing well with lots of good catches.

In shore around the harbour there are tons of barra and with 50 per cent of catches being over a metre it seems the odds of catching big un are well and truly stacked in your favour.

Michael reckons the tops of the rivers around the upper reaches of the Calliope and Boyne are your best bet.

Good whiting in the 30cm calibre can becaught in the Calliope River and Quoin Island.

The Calliope is also throwing up nice

mangrove jack and Michael says to hone in on Tooloola Bends grunter.

Finally there are handy sized bream getting about around the marina so look sharp, chuck in a prawn and bag yourself some beauties.

MACKAY GREG from Reef Ma-rine says the little bit of dust settling rain Mackay has had is good news for fishing.

Try Rocky Dam and Cape Palmerston for some nice grunter.

There have been some bream travelling around too and Greg reckons he recently caught some round the 28cm mark.

Greg says there are some good whit-ing around and to hook them on yabbies. And there have been plenty of boats fol-lowing the great weather and making a move for out wide.

While it can be a bit patchy, Greg reck-ons if you do hit on a sweet spot there is some good fishing out there with some boats filling up within four or five hours.

With the good conditions and things cranking up to Christmas Greg reports there have been quite a few people in the shop looking at engine upgrades.

While this is obviously all good, Greg just had a word of caution for excited boat owners to check their safety gear before hit-ting the high seas.

BAIT SHOP BAnTER

Gla

ds

to

ne

Ma

CK

aY

Gla

ds

to

ne

Ma

CK

aY

TIDE TIMES OctoberMon 8 Tue 9 Wed 10 Thu 11 Fri 12 Sat 13 Sun 14

Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht

0201 2.49 0343 2.56 0504 2.82 0558 3.15 0031 0.85 0113 0.59 0154 0.38

0754 1.74 0947 1.65 1058 1.42 1154 1.15 0642 3.46 0723 3.75 0804 3.99

1456 3.13 1613 3.27 1716 3.49 1808 3.72 1244 0.89 1331 0.65 1417 0.47

2136 1.66 2251 1.43 2345 1.14 1854 3.91 1937 4.03 2019 4.08

0440 3.21 0009 1.93 0059 1.53 0141 1.13 0220 0.77 0258 0.48 0338 0.25

1032 2.24 0608 3.54 0659 3.98 0741 4.42 0820 4.83 0858 5.19 0938 5.50

1717 4.13 1202 1.94 1258 1.54 1346 1.16 1430 0.85 1514 0.61 1559 0.45

1821 4.48 1909 4.86 1951 5.18 2031 5.41 2111 5.54 2152 5.57

Mon 15 Tue 16 Wed 17 Thu 18 Fri 19 Sat 20 Sun 21

Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht Time Ht

0234 0.24 0313 0.18 0353 0.23 0434 0.40 0517 0.65 0013 3.25 0119 3.04

0844 4.19 0926 4.31 1010 4.33 1057 4.25 1149 4.08 0606 0.94 0712 1.21

1502 0.36 1547 0.34 1632 0.42 1722 0.60 1816 0.84 1250 3.87 1400 3.71

2100 4.06 2143 3.95 2229 3.76 2317 3.52 1918 1.05 2032 1.16

0416 0.10 0456 0.06 0536 0.16 0005 4.92 0057 4.52 0158 4.14 0314 3.91

1019 5.74 1101 5.87 1146 5.84 0619 0.40 0705 0.75 0801 1.14 0912 1.45

1644 0.38 1729 0.44 1818 0.62 1233 5.67 1327 5.39 1430 5.09 1547 4.90

2234 5.48 2318 5.26 1909 0.89 2009 1.19 2120 1.39 2243 1.38

If you have a good photo or fishing yarn

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

Timely spring Thundery showersWeek 1 - Thundery spring showers brought some relief to the Coalfields for the last two days of September. Just enough to settle the dust and lower the bushfire ratings. But not enough soaking for the farmers. Most falls were around 1-3mm with Kellambete 10mm, Woleebee 9mm, Boxvale 8mm, Lake Brown 7mm, Peekadoo 7mm and Mt. Morgan 5mm were the standouts. The cooler temperatures with the moderate south east to easterly breeze kept conditions rather comfortable. Now the very warm to hot temperatures have returned. Maximums should hit the 35C and higher out west by Tue. That means direct sun temperatures in the 12-2pm time slot could be around 55C. Not good for the outside worker. So drink plenty of water (at least 6 litres) and anyone over 65 should be in the air-conditioning; for if not Mon Tue/Wed/Thr. A cooler change should arrive late Thur into Fri which may be heralded by a very isolated thundery shower (6-12mm). Cooler drier southerly air Sat/Sun with a maximum around 25/26C south of Emerald. This will be a relief from the heat!

Boaties! - The fresh NNE’ly afternoon sea breezes caught the unwary small boat person out last week.

More to start the week. Mon: Light WNW (mist??) close inshore early tending N/NNW 3-8 and avo NNE gusting 20 south of Cape Manifold. ESE/ENE 15-10 Whitsundays. Tue-Wed: NNW/NNE 5-10 a fresh NNE 15-20 G 24 sea breeze after 1pm. Thur: N/NNE 15-20 with late thundery showers in the south tending rapidly SW’ly overnight. Fri: Cooler SSW/W breeze with squally shower activity south of Yeppoon tending SSE 15-20 late evening. Sat: SSE/SE 15-20 with a squally shower easing in the south late. Sun: SE 18-13 easing in the far south.

Week 2 - The SOI which hung around the +3 has now showing a falling trend; down to +1.9. Still giving hope of a neutral summer. Any lower makes El Nino a threat. If the ridge remains in the south then a cooler moderate SE’ly should make conditions rather comfortable for most of the week. Just the chance of a brief shower in the eastern Coalfields.

Marine Lovers! - The spring will cause a couple of odd unpredictable wind situations. Mon -Wed: SE’ly 18-13 squally showers Whitsundays Thur-Fri: ESE 17-12 in the north tending ENE 13-8 in the south. Sat/Sun: Winds tend lighter ENE/NE. Watch for afternoon sea breezes.

YOuR WEATHER FORECASTWith Mike Griffin

off shift

Wes Watson and his 122cm GT PB (image

supplied by Secret Spot Bait

& Tackle)

FISHING PARADISE

FOUNDCalling all serious fisherman to the best fishing

location on the coast. Close to mining areas (You have probably driven

past the turn-off!)Fully s/c accommodation silly season, 2011 & 2012

Crew bookings available

Phone: 49373145email: [email protected]

web: www.stanagebay.com


147th EDITION. 2012

LOOKING for ways to become involved with your community, have a fun day out with the fam, sample some free entertain-ment and have a good feed but not spend a fortune while you are at it?

The Moranbah Rotary Home and Lei-sure Expo, and Gladstone’s Bechtel Com-munity Day, are both billed to tick all of these boxes and seal the deal by being in the most part free.

Now in its nineteenth year, Moranbah’s Rotary Home and Leisure Expo has more than proved its mettle as one of the town’s mainstay community events.

To be held on October 13-14 at theMoranbah Community Centre and Ted Rolfe Oval, it will offer all the usual trade stalls, displays, giveaways and spruikers.

But the event isn’t your everyday, aver-age home show and coordinator, Judy Nau-mann, describes the event as more of a family and community festival.

“We have two days of fun, food and exhibits planned,” Ms Naumann said.

“Bring along the family for free jump-ing castles and free laser skirmish, thanks to the sponsorship the John Holland Group,

Leighton Contracting and Moranbah Com-munity Workers Club.”

Not only are many of the activities and entertainment free, but so too is entry into the exhibits.

As well as this year playing host to new attraction, laser skirmish, the Oval will also be the place to bag a spot to again give the highly popular EDI Truck Simulator a go.

“Last year it was an unbelievable suc-cess and was booked out on the first day,” Ms Naumann said, urging patrons to get in quickly to avoid missing out.

And the answer to the big question on everyone’s lips - “Is the potato man com-ing?” - is a resounding “yes, Potato Max is booked” and he is bringing his bevy of baked spuds all the way from Brisbane, according to Ms Naumann.

Not sure if they’ll have any heaving hot potatoes to wrap your chops around, but Bechtel’s Community Day has a menu lined up that is sure to satisfy all of the senses.

Contracted to construct all three LNG plants, Bechtel has a big interest in the Gladstone community; of its workforce of over7000,morethan3500arelocal.

Held at the Tondoon Botanic Gardens, last year’s inaugural Bechtel Community Day attracted crowds of around 6500 and at this year’s event on September 24, organis-ersarehopingtotop7000.

With acts like legendary Australian rock-ers Jon Stevens and Diesel on cue to shake their thang, as well as high-profile sport-ing celebs, lantern ceremony and a busk-ing competition, there is plenty to grab the attention of the crowds.

The drug- and alcohol-free, all-ages event kicks off at 1pm, with loads of fami-ly friendly fun on the program including machinery demos, simulators, kids’ rides, face painting, animal farm, and hit chil-dren’s performers, the Boogie Woogies will be on stage throughout the afternoon.

This year’s busking competition brings a new element to the day’s proceedings with

registered buskers plying their trade in pur-suit of the audience vote.

Bechtel Gladstone general manager Kevin Berg said the event would celebrate the talented and diverse people who call the region home.

A poignant segue between the event’s day time scheduling and the 6pm evening session is a dusk lantern ceremony designed to bring the company’s overarching safety theme to the fore.

According to a company spokesperson, floating lanterns will be released on the lake as a symbolic gesture “to recognise all peo-ple who have suffered from workplace inju-ries and the impact these injuries have had on their families”.

The community concert is by gold coin entry and for further information contact GladstoneFestivalsandEventson49725111.

YOuR WEATHER FORECAST

Get amongst some good clean family fun

off shift

With acts like legendary Australian rockers Jon Stevens and Diesel on cue to shake their thang, as well as high-profile

sporting celebs, lantern ceremony and a busking competition, there is plenty to grab the attention of the crowds.

Tuning up for battle of the busker at Bechtel’s Community Day 2012


147th EDITION. 2012off shift

Tune into the Michael J. Breakfast show from 7:35 am every Monday for 4RO's CQ Mining Update, with special guest Angus from Shift Miner.

Greg CaryMichael BaileyWeekdays 5am - 9am Weekdays 9am - 12pm

Weekdays 12pm - 1pmAlan Jones

Weekdays 1pm - 6pmLaurie Atlas

SALES ENQUIRIES: (07) 4920 2000PHONE: 1300 872 911WWW.4RO.COM.AU

NOW WITH MORE NEWS, MORE TALK AND THE MUSIC YOU LOVE

10 TO 1 ROCK

ALBUMSWITH JAMES BAHNISCH

Shift Miner Magazine

counts down the best

rock albums of all time

Dire Straits at number 5THIS IS the debut album that laid the foundations for a supreme band to dominate the rock/pop world for almost two entire decades.

The 1978 self-titled release of Dire Straits was a much-needed injection of jazzed up country/blues that mainstream rock needed, to rid themselves of the imposing glam pop virus that seemed to be rapidly infesting the masses.

Mark Knopfler’s husky whisper and liquid guitar licks resonate throughout this album. Knopfler’s voice is accompanied with a slightly aloof attitude. He’s well aware he doesn’t possess technically brilliant vocals, however he conveys soul as well as a gritty effortless attitude through singing. The rugged vocals are beautifully accompanied by Knopfler’s incredibly funky riffs and innovative fingerpicking licks. In short, Knopfler lets his legendary axe-wielding abilities do the singing. But the pain emulated when the vocals meet the lyrics show the sheer talent of Mark as artist.

Knopfler, a former journalist and teacher, formed Dire Straits in 1977 and released their debut album only a year later. When the quality of the album was recognised on a global scale, a large majority of the public were convinced that the band had formed quite some years ago. This was due to the natural energy that each member produced that would collectively make the unique sound of Dire Straits. They sounded as if they had been jamming with each other for 20 years when, in fact, it was one summer holiday.

The British rock band had the talented line-up of Knopfler on lead vocals and lead guitar, his younger brother David on rhythm guitar and backing vocals, John Illsley on bass guitar and backing vocals, and Pick Withers on drums and percussion.

The album commences with the track “Down To The Waterline”, a beautifully crafted song, passionate and mysterious. The song oozes of lustful young love: “No money in our jackets and our jeans are torn, your hands are cold but your lips are warm.” Knopfler apparently wrote it about recollections of foggy walks along the banks of the River Tyne with his teenage lover.

Another number that highlights Knopfler’s ability as a songwriting artist is the timeless masterpiece, “Sultans of Swing”. Knopfler wrote the lyrics in a bar in South London and is said to be inspired by a jazz band that was playing. The band were shacked up in the corner, performing to an empty establishment. This spoke to Knopfler as he had not yet been recognised as an artist and he was used to being part of that band jamming away in some depleted bar.

The Sultans of Swing was actually the name of Knopfler’s high school band. With this song came the inference of a under-rated band in Dire Straits.

Dire Straits self-titled album comes in at number five in my Top 10 greatest albums of all time.

5MOVIE REVIEWBY JUSTIN CARLOS

Almost heaven for action fansACTION fans the world over have been salivating for months over the release of The Expendables 2, and the good news is it’s finally here.

The film unites even more of cin-ema’s greatest action icons for a no-holds-barred extravaganza of gunfire and explosions.

‘The Expendables’, a team of high-ly trained mercenaries, are hired by a mysterious CIA operative to recover the contents of a crashed plane.

What should be a routine mission goes horribly awry when they encoun-ter an organised crime syndicate known as the Sangs, who also have their sights set on plane’s cargo.

As you may expect, what follows is all-out mayhem, as blows, bullets and bombs fly from every angle as the expendables strive to complete their mission.

For die-hard action fans (all puns intended) the promise of seeing Stal-lone, Schwarzenegger, Norris, Willis and others on screen together is worth the price of admission and more.

The inclusion of Jean-Claude Van

Damme as the villain is sure to delight action fans even further.

Fans of martial arts driven action films will be pleased by the return of Jet Li and Jason Statham, who feature in some extremely cool hand-to-hand combat scenes, although Li’s role in the film is extremely short, which may dis-appoint some viewers.

There’s a lot more tongue-in-cheek humour in The Expendables 2 than in the first film, which fans will either love or hate.

Some may feel the humour gives the movie another dimension, while others may find it a little too cheesy.

If you grew up watching the likes of Schwarzenegger and Stallone beating bad guys to a pulp, then The Expenda-bles 2 is definitely your kind of film.

Bad guys blown away, one-liners, plenty of explosions, The Expendables 2 is everything that defined the action genre in the late 80s.

If you hated movies like Rambo and Commando then it’s probably best to steer clear of this one; it offers little for those not interested in reliving the glo-ry days of the 80s action film.

Mark Knopfler is

a legend.


147th EDITION. 2012

IN NEW ZEALAND – The sheep’s day off?A man with an eel lodged in his bottom

has bravely fronted a New Zealand emer-gency department, asking for help.

According to reports in the NZ Herald, the unnamed man presented himself at the Auckland City Hospital for treatment.

X-rays revealed the eel “about the size of a decent sprig of asparagus”, a hospital source told the newspaper.

“The incident is the talk of the place. Doctors and nurses have come across peo-ple with strange objects that have got stuck where they shouldn’t before, but an eel has to be a first.”

The eel was removed and the man went on his way. The hospital confirmed the story to the newspaper, but revealed no further details in order to protect the man’s privacy.

It was not clear how the eel had found its way inside the man. According to the newspaper, eels are secretive, nocturnal and prefer habitats with plenty of cover.

IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY – Sewing up your own sliced lip with dental floss to save a 10 hour wait for the doctor – now that’s some EXTREME NT DIY!

Allan Dell, 26, from Stuart Park, in Darwin told the NT News he had no med-ical background but had pierced plenty of meat in the kitchen.

“I grew up in the bush in country NSW and I’m also a chef, so I’m not too strange with threading meat ... I used dental floss and a sewing needle - but I sterilised it all first,” he said.

Mr Dell was left with a cracked tooth and his lip sliced from the base of his nose and down to his teeth after a “pure accident” that saw him hit in the face with a guitar.

After presenting to the emergen-cy department at Royal Darwin Hospi-tal in the wee hours he was told he should “try Palmerston” or wait until the doctor arrived for the day shift.

“I walked in with my face half split - and (they said) come back tomorrow,” Mr Dell said.

After re-evaluating his options on the taxi ride home, he decided dental floss was the most sensible solution.

“I think Crocodile Dundee did it once,” Mr Dell said.

“It worked,” he said.

IN BRITAIN – A school in Swindon has banned parents from watching their chil-dren playing sport unless they pass a crim-inal record check - at least antipodeans are funny crazy!

In a bid to purge the playground of potential paedophiles the Isambard Com-munity School is insisting all parents clear a Criminal Records Bureau check.

According to The Telegraph, the school introduced the new measure to prevent strangers from accessing other parts of the school from the playing fields.

A spokesman said: “It is with regret that from now on we will be unable to accommo-date parents wishing to spectate at our sports fixtures unless they are in possession of an up-to-date Swindon Council CRB check.

“At Isambard we take safeguarding very seriously and because of this we are unable to leave gates open for access to sporting venues at anytime during the school day”.

Neil Park, 54, was furious when he was turned away from watching his son George, 12, play rugby.

“George was really upset by it all. What are they going to stop you going to next? Parents’ evening? The school play?

“Or what if England under 16s are play-ing at the County Ground , will they ask all fans there to be CRB checked?”

off shift

Dental floss is very versatile. You can use it to stitch up a hole in the bottom of a kayak - or even your lip.

The New Zealand longfin eel is one of the largest freshwater eels in the world and can grow up to 2 metres long. It is not known whether it was this species that found its way up a man’s bottom.

10 TO 1 ROCK

ALBUMS

5Fair Dinkum!


147th EDITION. 2012

Rio Tinto Coal Australia is proud to be a part of the Clermont, Emerald, Capella, Nebo, Sarina, Mirani and Mackay communities. We support a range of

local projects through the Hail Creek Mine Community

Development Fund.

To apply for funding for your local project or organisation

please contact Hail Creek Mine’s Marie Cameron on (07) 4951 6437 or marie. cameron@ riotinto. com or Kylie Devine on (07) 4951 6402 or

kylie. devine@ riotinto.com

Applications close 28 September 2012.

The Hail Creek Mine Community Development Fund is pleased to partner with Mackay Regional Council and Central Queensland Institute of TAFE to support the biodiesel project.

This initiative provides students with hands on experience in constructing a biodiesel plant as well as building skills and confidence for their future careers.

Once finished the biodiesel plant will treat and refine fat waste product from barbeques of public parks in Mackay to create fuel for a small number of council vehicles. www.riotintocoalaustralia.com.au

sPort

Have trailer will triathlonTHE Central Highland’s Triathlon club is hoping for as many as 80 competitors for its Emerald triathlon later this month.

The Emerald event is arguably the pre-mier event in the local triathlon calendar, with categories for juniors, novices and the open competitors.

Depending on your level of fitness, you can either compete in two of the three tria-thlon legs, in teams or on your own.

In the open category there will be a 750 metre swim, 3km run and 20km ride, all tak-ing place in the picturesque surrounds of Fairbairn dam just south of Emerald.

Helen Scott from the triathlon commit-tee said they are trying to make the sport accessible to all fitness levels.

“We have tried to open the competition up, to try and get lots of different people involved in the sport,” she said.

“You don’t have to do the full triathlon, with people even able to just participate in the pool swim and do a fun walk.”

“We also have junior categories for kids as young as seven, and obviously we have shortened courses tailored for these races.”

“You don’t have to be super fit to partic-ipate, but for those that are, we have intro-duced a new annual points system, which means you can now compete for prizes at the end of the season.”

Meanwhile, sponsorship from PIMA mining and Xstrata Coal has delivered the Central Highlands Triathlon club a long-awaited club trailer.

The new trailer means they can now more easily take the sport on the road, and have triathalons at different places in the coalfields.

The Emerald triathlon will be on Octo-ber 28 and on November 10 and 11 triath-lon coach Mick Cross from the Sunshine Coast will be doing training courses in Emerald and Capella.

THAT is the question Water Ski Queens-land is asking the regions social skiers, as it tries to entice more people to take up com-petitive skiing.

Go to any decent waterhole across the coalfields at the moment and chances are you will see at least one miner and his or her family enjoying a day on the water.

However, while the population of social skiers is very large, the population of compet-itive skiers remains relatively small, according to Water Ski Queensland’s Peter Darby.

“Every single event we could handle another 20 or 30 people competing on the water,” he said.

“Some people don’t really feel that they have the skills to do it, and that you really have to be good to do it.”

“That is definitely not the case and we try and offer pathways for skiers of all lev-els to get into the sport.”

“Starting with division six, where the ski-er can learn how to ski and will be compet-ing within weeks.”

However Skiing Queensland says a more common problem is where a really com-petent social skiers gets put off the idea of competition because it can expose some weaknesses in their current skill set.

“We get some really competent skiers who come to our events and they realise they were not as good as they thought they were and it requires more technique than they are used to.”

“That person has to jump out of their comfort zone, and some people don’t want their ego hurt.”

“But there is an old saying in skiing, that if you are not falling, you’re not improving, and skiing with people that are better than you is the only way to improve.”

Waterski Queensland just hosted a suc-cessful tournament on the Dawson river at Moura, and has a swag of other events com-ing up in the coming months.

For families who are new to the region and interested in getting involved, Mr Darby said you don’t even need to own a boat or skis.

“It is one of the few sports where mum and dad and the kids can all compete on the weekend,” he said.

“If you are keen to give it a go, come to one of our events and you will meet some like-minded people and get out on the water.”

“I know there is a bloke in Blackwater who has a great boat but no ski crew, and it would be great for him to meet other like-minded people he could ski with.”

How good could you be?

CommUnitY CALenDArsporT evenT daTe venue

Cricket CH competition start date 13/10/12 Central Highlands

Speedway Moranbah race meet 13/10/12 Moranbah

Water Ski CQ round 2 27-28/10/12 Bedford weir Blackwater

Water Ski CQ round 3 17/18/11/12 Rockhampton ski gardens

Rugby League Andrew “Panda” Curtis, Memorial Charity League Match 3/11/12 Blackwater


147th EDITION. 2012MoNeY Matters

WHAT are some basic steps can you take to achieve wealth? We put the question to My Wealth Solutions and here is what they had to say in eight simple steps:

1. Spend less that you earn: This first step can be the hardest. It is hard to stick to a budget, so there are other ways, such as forced savings, committing to investments and getting into good habits. Don’t wait until you are good at budgeting to start investing.

2. Invest your surplus savings in good growth assets, for example shares and property.

3.Own your own home: This is still the foundation for wealth in Australia.

4. Manage your debts wisely: Smart debt is usually debt you are getting a tax deduction for and that has been used to buy an asset that will grow or produce income. Bad debt offers no tax deduction, or it’s buying assets that diminish or are consumed.

5. Own an Investment Property: Think about wealthy people you know or know of and it is fairly likely they own property investments.

6. Maximise your superannuation: Do you know what the effective tax rate is for Super, once you are over 60? The new Super rules make Super more attractive than ever. Super is 100 per cent tax-free from age 60. Are you planning not to be around at age 60?

7. Invest in Shares our other growth invest-ment, and once again we know most wealthy people own shares.

8. It’s no good planning to succeed finan-cially, but only if everything goes okay. Most people insure their house and car. But what’s the biggest asset you will own in your lifetime? The biggest asset is you and the income you will earn. It needs to be protected through insurance. If some-thing impacts our health and it means we’re never going to work again. Low probability but high impact. This is an important foundation.

These eight steps sound simple but not nec-

essarily easy to put in place. To get started call

the team at My Wealth Solutions 07 3852 4114

or go to www. mywealthsolutions.com.au.

MONEY TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS

Basic steps to achieve wealth


147th EDITION. 2012

YOU CAN BE HOME IN

8 WEEKS!

DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3

$15000 FHOG

MoNeY Matters

THE correction in the mining sector is pro-viding some much-needed breathing space for small to medium sized businesses oper-ating in the Bowen Basin.

According to John Cooks from the Dys-art business and community group, spiral-ling residential and commercial rents have paralysed small business over the last five years.

Mr Cooks said southern property inves-tors bought into towns like Dysart and increased rents across the board.

This meant the cost of employing peo-ple went through the roof and the supply of commercial land began to fall as investors tried to redevelop commercial land for res-idential.

“All these blokes from down south came

up and decided the rents needed to be up around that $2000 to $3000 a week mark,” he said.

“I know of one local business that employed [and housed] about five or six people, and they were looking at around $20,000 a week of costs before they even opened their door.”

“No local business can sustain those costs and they ended up shutting their door.”

“But BMA has built a lot of new houses for its workforce and the rents have come right back now to between $500 and $800 a week. I think there are 38 houses vacant houses available for rent.”

However the recent multimillion dol-lar purchase of Dysart Engineering by fleet services company Sargent suggests there is still a strong need for good local businesses in mining communities.

Dysart Engineering recently moved into large new premises on the northern edge of Dysart, where it can accommodate around 30 of its 50 staff.

Dysart Engineering provides a wide range of vehicle maintenance services for local mines.

This month Sargent flagged its intention to expand the services offered by introduc-ing up to 200 vehicles from its rental fleet to clients in the Bowen Basin region.

“This key acquisition continues our strat-egy of establishing ourselves as a leader in the provision of rental and maintenance services in key infrastructure and resourc-es growth markets,” Sargent chief executive Grant Chugg said.

“Sargent already has a strong branch pres-ence in Mackay and this latest investment not only expands our presence with a well-respected brand in Dysart but demonstrates our commitment to the Bowen Basin.”

“It’s a well-structured business and we’re very excited about the growth potential moving forward.”

Dysart Engineering’s previous owner Rod Allen was unavailable for comment, but is understood to be enjoying a well-earned break in Europe.

Engineering firm sale bucks Dysart trend

“All these blokes from down south came up and decided the rents needed to be up around that $2000 to $3000 a week mark.”


211

102

218

103

107

219

1 1 1

4 2 2

2 1 1

4 2 2

2 1 1

3 2 1

ULD 1 VANTAGE HOLDINGS

TANGALOOMA CONTEMPORARY VANTAGE HOLDINGS

JERSEY CLASSIC VANTAGE HOLDINGS

COLE CONTEMPORARY VANTAGE HOLDINGS

THE STUART HALLEY HOMES

THE NOBLE VANTAGE HOLDINGS

$197,400* FRO

M

$468,072* FRO

M

$334,982* FRO

M

$492,400* FRO

M

$405,500* FRO

M

$409,400* FRO

M

The perfect place to call home

1300 338 964 blueridgeblackwater.com.au

*Price correct at the time of printing. Terms and conditions apply. Visit blueridgeblackwater.com.au for more details

Act Now visit Blackwater Real Estate at 15 Mackenzie Street, Blackwater.

Now is your chance to build a dream home at Blue Ridge, Blackwater. Blue Ridge has a number of house land packages and land lots available, up to 1,003m2.

Everything you need schools, shopping, health care and parks right on your doorstep.

HOUSE AND LAND FROM $197,400* I LAND FROM $141,500*


147th EDITION. 2012

www.harcourts.com.au

Harcourts Agnes Water - 1770Shop 23 Endeavour Plaza Agnes Water 07 4902 1444www.agneswater1770.harcourts.com.au

AUCTION

Under instructions from Andrew Fielding and David Whyte as Receivers and Managers

• Vacant beach front land site

• Approximately 1004 sqm

Agnes Water No.5 The Promenade

Receivers’ Sale

Auction Saturday October 13 at 11.00am at Sandcastles Resort

View www.harcourts.com.au/QAR101207

Open By Appointment

Gordon Christian

P 07 4902 1444 M 0417 206 500

E [email protected]

Harcourts Agnes Water - 1770

Gordon Christian

P 07 4902 1444 M 0417 206 500 E [email protected]

Harcourts Agnes Water - 1770

For Sale $340,000


Large Ocean View Allotment. Approximately 24 acres of bushland vegetation with cleared access and boundaries

on sealed road with power available. Blue water views across the Coral Sea. Outstanding outlook & position. One of

few lots of this size close to town, school, the beach and boat ramp. Only 1.5 hours drive from Gladstone.

Agnes Water Investment L50 Fitzroy Crescent

Auction Saturday Oct13 11.00am

Sandcastles Resort

Open Saturday & Sunday 12:00 Noon


Gordon Christian

P 07 4902 1444 M 0417 206 500

E [email protected]

AUCTION

7.5 Acre Waterfront Reserve

Private rainforest retreat dissolves the

boundaries between the ancient and

new. A blend of nature and space.

Unique architectural structures for

comfortable living. Nursery plus

renowned botanical gardens. Only 1.5

hours south of Gladstone. Perfectly

positioned on 3.05 ha with a

waterfront mangrove reserve, making

this a must see property.

Agnes Water 74 Innamincka Way

MoNeY Matters

WITH housing prices in the Bowen Basin finally showing signs of sliding down to their real market value, there could be a few bar-gains to be bagged in the coming months.

And if it gets to the stage where you see a

few mortgagee sales and think the time is right to jump in, do so with your eyes wide open.

It could seem a great way to get a good deal, but the experts from Herron Todd White warn that there are some pitfalls for the unsuspecting.

First step: read the contract of sale, seek qualified legal advice and carry out the appropriate searches.

“Don’t rely on Uncle Fred who once upon a time nearly passed his conveyance exam,” the Herron Todd White team cautions.

“Many mortgagees will insert non-standard clauses into the sale contract to protect their position. they will often sell a property with known defects and insist on a sale ‘as is-where is’ with no warranties as to known or unknown issues which may affect the property.”

Make sure you are happy with the terms and conditions being offered - and keep an open mind.

The Herron Todd White team points out that some properties that look terrible and have had a hard life are screaming out with potential, some that look or sound great can end up as lemons no matter how much hard work is put into them.

“Any valuer who has been around for a while could point out a number of proper-ties in their area that seem to be cursed with misfortune such a history of distressed sales

and/or poor quality makeovers.”And keep your perspective: just because

a property is being sold by a mortgagee doesn’t make it a bargain.

“If it’s on a main road, next to a train line, under a flight path, full of defects etc, it may not be the bargain you think it is.”

On the other hand, if the property is in a tightly held area or has attributes that leads to strong competition amongst buyers, it could be a bargain.

No matter what, make sure you get a val-uation. A couple of hundred dollars could end up saving you tens of thousands or more.

“At any auction, the skill of the auction-eer and agent lies in talking the bidders into ‘just one more bid mate, you’ve nearly got it’.

“So knowing the market value of a prop-erty before it goes to auction or before enter-ing negotiations with a mortgagee (which will have obtained advice from their own registered valuers) will give you the ability to bid or make an offer with confidence in what can be a pressure cooker situation,” the Her-ron Todd White team concludes.

The dos and don’ts of bagging a bargain

Some properties that look terrible and have had a hard life are screaming out with potential, some that look or sound great can

end up as lemons no matter how much hard work is put into them.


147th EDITION. 2012

First home owner’s grant changes kick inFROMtheendofthisweekthe$7000firsthome owner grant will no longer exist. However, since last month the grant was increased to $15,000 but only for new homes.

If you have not bought a home yet, now is a great time to build your home as inter-est rates are set to decrease (if the banks bother listening to the Reserve Bank) and construction material costs are the lowest they have been in years.

So you know what the changes are and how they work, Shift Miner has asked the most relevant questions and the Queens-land Government has answered them.

1. What is the first home owner construc-tion grant?

It is an increase to the first home owner grant to $15,000 for first home owners who will be buying or building a new home. It is available for eligible transactions dated on or after 12 September 2012.

2. What is an eligible transaction?

An eligible transaction is one of the following:

• a contract made on or after 12 Septem-ber 2012 for the purchase of a new home in Queensland (including purchases of substan-tially renovated and off-the-plan homes)

• acomprehensivehomebuildingcontractmade on or after 12 September 2012 by the owner of the land in Queensland or a per-son who will, on completion of the contract, be the owner of land in Queensland on which the new home will be built

• the building of a new home in Queens-land by the owner–builder where the founda-tions are laid on or after 12 September 2012.

3. What are the key changes to the current first home owner grant?

• From 12 September 2012, the amountwillincreasefrom$7,000to$15,000fornewhomes.

• From11October2012,the$7000willnolonger apply.

4. What is a new home?

A new home is a dwelling that has not been previously occupied as a place of residence or sold as a place of residence. This includes a home that is a substantially renovated home.

Types of dwellings may include houses, units, duplexes, townhouses, manufactured homes, and granny flats built on a relative’s land.

5. What is an off-the-plan purchase?

An off-the-plan purchase is a single contract to purchase a new home and the relevant interest in the land on a proposed lot on an unregistered plan of subdivision of land.

6. From 11 October 2012, can I get the grant if I buy an established home?

No. The $7000 first home owner grant isonly available for contracts dated before 11 October 2012.

7. Does the first home owners construction grant apply to replacement contracts on or after 12 September 2012?

No. A contract for sale or transfer is not eli-gible for the first home owners construction grant if:

• itreplacesanagreementthatwasmadebefore 12 September 2012

• the replaced contract is for the sale ortransfer of substantially the same property.

8. What is a ‘finalised’ contract?

A finalised contract is an agreement that outlines all of the conditions of the transac-tion. It must be dated and signed by all par-ties (vendor and purchaser).

9. Is the first home owners construction grant dependent on the contract date or the settlement date?

The relevant date is the contract date.

10. How is the total value of the home cal-culated?

The total value of the home depends on the type of transaction you are entering into.

MoNeY Matters

Type of transaction Total value

Buying a new home (includes substantially renovated or off-the-plan homes)

The purchase price on the contract or the market value of the home at the commencement date of the eligible transaction

Contract to build The cost of construction under the contract plus the value of the land as at the contract date

Owner–builder The cost of construction, excluding the owner’s own labour costs plus the value of the land on which the home is to be built at the time the foundations are laid

For more information, visit www.osr.qld.gov.au.

Book a test drive today at Gold Coast Volkswagen

Extended Offer!

Must end 30 September.

Your Volkswagen Partner

Gold Coast Volkswagen 9a Indy Court (Take exit 73 on the M1 motorway), Nerang 1005697 Tel. 07 5583 9330 www.goldcoastvolkswagen.com.au

*Available at participating Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle dealers to approved Business Applicants of Volkswagen Finance** for new and demonstrator MY12 Amarok stock vehicles (all of which are dual cab vehicles with manual transmission) on a Hire Purchase over 36 or 48 months. Vehicles must be purchased and delivered between 1st and 30th September 2012. Offer ends 30th September 2012. While stocks last. Balloon restrictions apply. Full conditions are available on application. Standard fees and charges apply. **Volkswagen Finance is a trading name of Volkswagen Financial Services Australia Pty Limited. Volkswagen Finance reserves the right to extend or change this offer. Not available in conjunction with the advertised $5000 factory bonus offer. 1 $5000 factory bonus offer is available at participating Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle dealers to qualifying ABN holders who trade in their current motor vehicle to purchase a new or demonstrator MY12 Amarok stock vehicle (being a dual cab vehicle with manual transmission). Vehicles must be purchased and delivered between 1st and 30th September 2012. While stocks last. Trade in vehicles must be registered and road worthy for use on public roads. A factory bonus of $5000 will be given to the customer against the purchase price of their new Amarok. The $5000 bonus cannot be exchanged for cash or any other product or service. The bonus is not transferrable to any other customer. Please ask your dealer for further terms and conditions and to check eligibility for this offer. Offer ends 30th September 2012. Not available in conjunction with the advertised 2.8% finance/free scheduled servicing offer. 2 FREE Scheduled Service Package is for 3 years or 45,000kms (whichever comes first) free scheduled servicing (as set out in the Service Schedule booklet). Available at participating Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle dealers. Servicing offer does not apply to wear and tear items any other additional work or components required. This offer is only available to approved Business Applicants of Volkswagen Finance** who take up the 2.8% finance offer as per the terms set out herein. Full conditions are available on application. Vehicles must be purchased and delivered between 1st and 30th September 2012. Offer ends 30th September 2012. Offer applies to stock vehicles. While stocks last. Not available in conjunction with the advertised $5000 factory bonus offer.