Action needed on land conflict: NSW Farmers
Farmer blockades of mining trucks will escalate unless real action is taken to resolve land and water use conflict, NSW Farmers warns. On Saturday police were called to a state forest near Gunnedah after more than 60 farmers blockaded Santos trucks amid a dispute over potential water extraction and fracking. Local communities feared the Sub-Artesian Basin and aquifers could be forever polluted if coal seam gas projects went ahead, and saw no option but to take action after the NSW Government renewed a petroleum exploration licence in the area.
Harwood Marine’s $1.3m barge refit for accommodation
A huge vessel being guided into the Port of Yamba by two tugs and a pilot boat last weekend is now berthed at its temporary home, Harwood Marine ... “Harwood Marine previously has done work for TSA and have now been engaged to build a floating accommodation block for the vessel”: Harwood Marine owner Ross Roberts.
Mineral sands project set for public environmental review
A public environmental review has been set for a mineral sands project proposed for about 21km east of Ledge Point and 800m south of the Moore River due to the extent of further information required, the number of preliminary key environmental factors identified and the moderate level of public interest in the project. When the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) published its decision to assess the Bidaminna project proposal it said out of the 156 submissions received 153 had called for public environmental review.
Fortescue welcomes the arrival of Australia’s first prototype battery system designed for a zero emission battery electric mining haul truck: FMG
Fortescue’s decarbonisation journey has taken a major step forward with WAE Technologies (WAE) completing and delivering to Australia the largest battery of its kind, ready to be installed in a prototype zero-emission battery electric mining haul truck that Fortescue it is developing with Liebherr. The state-of-the-art 1.4MWh prototype power system sets the pace for ground-breaking innovation in heavy industry and is a bespoke design intended for integration into a 240-tonne mining haul truck.
100th gold bar pouring
Kaiser Reef’s 100th gold bar was poured at The Porcupine Flat Processing Plant in Maldon last week. The Times was lucky enough to be there to record the exciting moment ... Processing Manager Dylan Morgan, dressed in his protective fireproof coat and PPE, poured out the molten lava-like mix which was the liquid gold.
Decision made on Bentley Quarry
The Northern Regional Planning Panel chair Penny Holloway heard 38 people speak for or against the development application for the Bentley Quarry expansion at an online meeting on Wednesday, December 7 ... Ms Holloway announced that the quarry expansion DA was considered to be in the public interest and the DA was approved.
Libs continue to support moratorium
Chris Oldfield. The Liberal Shadow Cabinet will continue to support a moratorium on fracking in the SE which runs until 2028. It will also continue to work on land access through agricultural properties to mines because “both agriculture and mining are important to the economy”.
Maranoa mining projects at risk: Littleproud
The Nationals Leader and Maranoa MP David Littleproud said revelations Labor would call in 18 resource projects – two of which were in Maranoa - for further environmental assessments would cost jobs for no further environmental gain. He said the mining industry was now facing another tough hurdle, at a time when Labor was also threatening resource companies with more intervention.
Local businesses tired of waiting to get paid by mining company
The first shipment of magnetite from the revitalised Peko Rehabilitation Project was heralded by media across the Territory but the news didn’t go down well with Tennant Creek locals. The announcement angered local businesses after the good news coverage of Elmore Limited’s maiden shipment because they are waiting to get paid for services provided to the company.
Another step for rare earths
Chris Oldfield. A Koppamurra Landholder Reference Group (KLRG) has been formed by Australian Rare Earths as it takes another step towards developing a mining lease application ... The aim of the landholder reference group is to share information and seek feedback on the Koppamurra project.
Nuke study call
A former scientist with the State Electricity Commission, the Latrobe Valley’s Ray Burgess, has scathingly attacked AGL’s plan to close Loy Yang A station by 2035, calling it “fairyland thinking” ... Mr Burgess said if a low carbon society was mandated by the voting public, “then we need to seriously be considering a nuclear future, and quickly”.
Western Australia remains the national economic powerhouse: McGowan, Johnston
Western Australia's resources sector continues to drive the State and national economies, with record sales of $231 billion and the highest-ever employment figures in 2021-22. This is the fourth financial year in a row the sector has delivered record sales, following $151 billion in 2018-19, $172 billion in 2019-20 and $211 billion in 2020-21.
Building a thriving business in Kalgoorlie
After several years testing equipment for companies in a range of industries, from fabrication and chemical plants to aviation, Dirk De Beer used his redundancy payment to settle in Kalgoorlie and realise his dream of owning his own business. A 28 year-old single man, Mr De Beer set up a desk in his home garage and invested in tools and a converted telecoms service ute.
Mixed results from Talgai Goldfield
Gold drilling efforts earlier in the year at the Talgai Goldfield have produced some promising signs of future potential, but not all that was hoped for. The inaugural drilling campaign was undertaken by Canadian company Queensland Gold Hills Corporation at the Big Hill property in the historic Talgai Goldfield.
Long-term Fortescue mine contract allows Pilbara Aboriginal firm to dream big
Tom Zaunmayr, National Indigenous Times (NIT). A Pilbara Aboriginal firm has lauded a long-term Fortescue Metals Group contract which it says will lead to training for Traditional Owners and one day help build a standalone mining services company.
Australian Carbon Innovation
Huge interest in new non-energy products based on brown coal shows the big economic opportunity for the Latrobe Valley as the region transitions away from the power industry, according to an industry leader. The chief executive of Australian Carbon Innovation, Brian Davey, said ACI recently went to the market with expressions of interest, looking for projects in the carbon area using the Latrobe Valley's brown coal.
Empowering local environmental initiatives: Frank Batini
Many years ago one of my tasks involved assessing rehabilitated mine sites to see if they had attained the agreed "completion criteria" and could be accepted back by Government for ongoing management ... Some years later, a mining proposal was rejected by the EPA and I was approached by the company for advice on an "environmental offsets package" that could be acceptable ... What we managed to achieve was some expenditure in the local area/community with local decision-making.
Tennant Minerals reports bonanza drilling results
Tennant Minerals has announced its latest drilling results at the Bluebird Copper-Gold Prospect near Tennant Creek revealed a discovery of a rich new gold shoot with bonanza grades. The company says the results highlight Bluebird’s potential to rival other high-grade copper and gold deposits including Peko and Nobles Nob, located just 20 kilometres west of Bluebird.
Salt caverns and minerals across Australia unlock our nation’s hydrogen industry: King
“Geoscience Australia has uncovered potential for the development of multiple caverns underground in salt deposits across the Canning Basin in Western Australia, the Adavale Basin in Queensland and the offshore Polda Basin in South Australia ... Chalice Mining, through their Julimar project, have uncovered a massive supply of palladium, platinum, nickel, copper, cobalt, and gold ... ": Minister King.
Power station reboot
Glencore is preparing to revive the Mica Creek Power Station after Stanwell handed back the keys to the dormant facility. North West Weekly can reveal the state government body struck a deal with the mining giant last month. However, Stanwell says it has simply returned a Mount Isa Mines asset back to Glencore.
East Weipa nearly ready to be returned to owners
Rio Tinto Weipa has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with four Traditional Owner groups which details an agreed consultation process around closure planning for the East Weipa bauxite mine. The MoU was jointly developed over a period of seven months between Traditional Owners and Rio Tinto and lays a path regarding the eventual return of their lands after mining at East Weipa stops.
Beetaloo Traditional Owners reveal frustration at anti-fracking activists ‘interfering’ on country
Tom Zaunmayr, National Indigenous Times. When Jingili Elder Pompey Raymond reflects on the Northern Territory’s oil and gas industry, he sees careers for young people, education, community infrastructure and a pathway to protect his country. A senior ceremony man born on Beetaloo Station, Mr Raymond believes the debate around industry is often hijacked by those who should not be speaking for the region.
