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 farm for up to 29 turbines and additional infrastructure, including a substation and battery storage facility,” Mr Dick said. “This means jobs for the region over ...

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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...

May 16, 2018

Industry push to exploit battery market

The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies today published its report outlining the next steps for governments to grasp the battery mineral processing and manufacturing opportunity. The Path Forward: Supporting the development of a lithium and battery mineral industry in Australia (link here), follows the Future Smart Strategies Report commissioned by AMEC’s members that outlined a lithiu...

May 16, 2018

Australian builder marks 100 years of projects

Australian construction company Hansen Yuncken is celebrating 100 years of project delivery. Hansen Yuncken has completed more than 5000 projects valued in excess of $100 billion in today’s dollars since starting out in 1918. Hansen Yuncken’s foundations were laid by Lauritz Hansen, a Danish migrant who jumped ship in Melbourne to work as a market gardener, labourer and charcoal burner before esta...

May 16, 2018

Treasurer leaves $150m rail funds on the table

Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison says $150 million earmarked for the Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor (TEARC) will be invested in another local project if that one does not stack up. The State Government recently put TEARC on the backburner after Building Queensland completed a Detailed Business Case finding that current demand did not support construction of the line at this time. Visiting...