May 22, 2018

Uniform laws needed on subbies’ payment

A major review into security of payment laws has recommended the implementation of a national model of legislation to give protection to individuals and small businesses involved in subcontracting in the building and construction industry. The recommendation was one of 86 made in the review by John Murray AM, a specialist in resolving building contract disputes and security of payment legislation. Minister for Small and Family Business, the Workplace and Deregulation, Craig Laundy, said the Federal Government commissioned the review to look at protection...

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May 22, 2018

Coal props up Budget infrastructure pledge

Coal will cover Queensland’s planned infrastructure spending boost, with record coal royalties of $3.7 billion forecast this financial year, says the Queensland Resources Council. QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the latest projection of $3.7 billion – a $536 million increase on the State Government’s pre-Christmas estimate – would allow the government to increase infrastructure...

May 21, 2018

Innovative Mackay start-up venture is on a roll

Trudging many kilometres alongside underground mine conveyors for maintenance checks was the spur that got engineer Ryan Norris thinking about a better way of doing things. Years of work have transformed his idea into Smart-Idler technology, with his company – Vayeron – entering commercial trading this year. The company’s outstanding innovation and ability to navigate the start-up scene saw ...

May 21, 2018

Green light for $300m FNQ wind farm

Neoen’s planned green power hub at Kaban, 80km south-west of Cairns, has received State development approval. State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Minister Cameron Dick said the $300 million wind farm project would bring substantial investment to the region and was expected to create around 150 jobs during construction. “The proposed development at Kaban is for a wind far...

May 20, 2018

Recognition for resource services sector leaders

The 2018 Resource Industry Network Awards night has been hailed a success, with more than 320 people attending the Mackay event to celebrate the people, innovation and the successes of the resource services sector. “These awards recognise excellence in business and the significant contribution that those businesses make to the regional economy and community,” Resource Industry Network Chair ...

May 18, 2018

EOIs open for Townsville water pipeline work

Expressions of Interest for installation and construction work on Townsville’s Haughton Pipeline Duplication project will open over the weekend. Companies short-listed through the Expressions of Interest process will be invited to tender to work on installing the 36.5km of 1.8m diameter pipe to be used in the water pipeline. Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said the installation and construction ...

May 17, 2018

More solar generation comes online

Fotowatio Renewable Ventures’ 130MW Clare Solar Farm near Ayr has started supplying electricity to the grid. Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham welcomed the connection as further progress towards Queensland reaching the goal of 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030. “We have 890MW of renewables flowing into the grid already, much of it from Queenslanders who have embraced rooftop solar panels...

May 17, 2018

Mining jobs continue to climb

Ads for mining, resources and energy jobs rose 62 per cent in April 2018 compared to the same time last year, according to the latest data from SEEK. The recruitment group said Queensland led in the year-on-year growth with a 91 per cent rise, followed by Victoria (86 per cent) and and New South Wales (62 per cent). Despite posting lower year-on-year job ad growth than its east coast counterparts,...

May 17, 2018

Wage rises in the wind for construction, mining workers

Almost 90 per cent of employers in the construction, property and engineering sector expect to give workers a salary increase at their next review according to the latest Hays Salary Survey. The 2018/19 report shows 52 per cent of employers in that sector expect to hand out a raise of up to 3 per cent, 28 per cent expected to give raises of 3-6 per cent, seven per cent in the 6-10 per cent bracke...