May 25, 2019

Fertiliser project promises multiple regional benefits

A fertiliser producer’s plans to re-open the Greenvale-Yabulu rail line are ambitious, but could provide great opportunities for the local community, says Charters Towers mayor Liz Schmidt. She was commenting after Agripower Australia’s $663 million Fertiliser Expansion Project was granted prescribed project status by the State Government this week. The cost takes in a proposed mine-to-rail-head conveyor, 220km rail line, a 1Mtpa processing plant at or near Yabulu, and facilities at Port of Townsville, according to the proponent. Cr Schmidt sai...

Recent Stories

May 24, 2019

Helen Coonan takes the helm at Minerals Council

Former Cabinet Minister, lawyer and experienced director Helen Coonan is the new chair of the Minerals Council of Australia.Ms Coonan will take over from Dr Vanessa Guthrie when she steps down following the MCA’s board meeting on June 18.The MCA said her appointment for a two-year period was the result of an extensive selection process involving the MCA’s Board and CEO. Incoming MCA chair Hel...

May 24, 2019

Gold-coated fungi may offer new exploration leads

You’ve heard of magic mushrooms, but could fungi point the way to future fortunes? Australian scientists have discovered gold-coated fungi near Boddington in Western Australia and are trying to establish its potential as a signpost to large gold deposits. The thread-like fungi attach gold to their strands by dissolving and precipitating particles from their surroundings. The discov...

May 24, 2019

State signs off on Mackay Waterfront scheme

Mackay Regional Council has the green light for a proposed development scheme to revitalise the city centre and waterfront area. State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Minister Cameron Dick has approved the council’s proposed Mackay Waterfront PDA Development Scheme. Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said it was fantastic to see the project reach another significant miles...

May 24, 2019

Northern emergency response teams test skills

Five Queensland mines will field teams in the 2019 Northern Australian Emergency Response Competition (NAERC) in Darwin on June 1-2. NAERC brings together emergency response teams from across Queensland and the Northern Territory to test their training and response capabilities for real-life emergency events. Queensland’s Incitec Pivot Limited (IPL), Mount Isa Mines (MIM), Ernest Hen...

May 24, 2019

2019 ‘Buy Queensland’ Supplier Events

One of the great unspoken questions is set to be answered … at what point does government spending meet government policy. It’ll be outlined at information sessions held throughout the state on how to do business with the Queensland Government. The three stated themes are building local business, growing local capability and delivering for Queensland. Current suppliers...

May 24, 2019

Deadlines revealed for Adani approvals verdict

Queensland’s Environment Department has two deadlines within the next three weeks to finish its approvals process for Adani’s Carmichael coal mine. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the regulator had until May 31 to reach a determination for the company’s Black-Throated Finch Management Plan and until June 13 on the groundwater management plan for the Galilee Basin site. ...

May 23, 2019

China Stone coal plans stall

MacMines has placed its proposed $6.7 billion China Stone coal project in the Galilee Basin on hold. The Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy said the company had voluntarily not progressed its five mining lease applications for the China Stone project. The project received approval late last year from the Qeensland’s Co-ordinator General. It consists of a planned open-cut a...

May 23, 2019

BTP wins contract extension with Peabody coal mines

Ausdrill’s earthmoving parts and equipment subsidiary BTP has been awarded a three-year extension worth $126 million to its contract with Peabody Australia. Under the extension BTP will continue to rent mining and ancillary equipment to coal mines in the Hunter Valley and Bowen Basin. BTP has been working as a key partner with Peabody since April 2015. The contract extension is ef...