Jul 20, 2019

Green light for final stage of Townsville’s water pipeline

The Australian Government has committed to delivering construction of the $195 million Stage 2 of Townsville’s Haughton water pipeline project. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack made the announcement today in a joint statement with local Federal MPs. The project was the centre of controversy earlier this month when it was revealed an economic report by consultants Jacobs indicated the case for Stage 2 of the Haughton water supply pipeline did not stack up. Townsville Ent...

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Jul 20, 2019

Flood repairs dominate Cloncurry works program

Works to recover from flood damage will make up a huge $30 million chunk of Cloncurry Shire Council’s capital works spend this financial year. The council adopted its 2019/20 budget this week, with a direct capital works budget of about $50 million including the flood damage program supported by State and Federal funding. The budget will deliver a $53,000 surplus, which the council sa...

Jul 19, 2019

Breakthrough throws new light on alloys

A Monash University study may have unlocked the secret to creating stronger, lightweight magnesium alloys for applications in the automobile and aerospace industries. Researchers from Monash University, CSIRO and Chongqing University discovered a pattern of alloying element segregation in twin boundaries by using atomic-resolution X-ray mapping at lower electron voltage than is usually applied...

Jul 19, 2019

Back to work after Kenfrost suspension lifted

More than 150 subcontractors will be back on the tools early next week after developer Kenfrost’s building licence suspension was lifted late this afternoon (Friday, July 19). Kenfrost Homes representative Adam Gowlett said the company had worked with the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) to reach a successful agreement. He said he was pleased to advise that work ...

Jul 19, 2019

Gold price insight at Noosa mining conference

Declining confidence in the U.S. dollar is pushing gold prices up, says economic geologist and mining analyst Brent Cook. Mr Cook was speaking at the Noosa Mining & Exploration Conference this week, where he told delegates the gold price is the reciprocal of the US dollar. “It’s all about the global confidence in the U.S. and its dollar and that confidence is declining. I th...

Jul 19, 2019

Man remains in hospital after serious quarry accident

A 19-year-old-man is in a stable condition in Townsville Hospital this afternoon after an accident at a Cooktown quarry yesterday. The Queensland Mines Inspectorate says a team of inspectors is on site at the quarry and has commenced an investigation into the incident. It follows a string of six workplace fatalities in Queensland’s mining and quarrying sector in the past 12 months, s...

Jul 19, 2019

Building watchdog suspends Kenfrost Homes licence

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission has suspended the building licence of major Cairns developer Kenfrost Homes. It said the move came after Kenfrost failed to meet the minimum financial requirements (MFR). The company had previously provided adjustments to its working capital but failed to demonstrate the legal financial requirements in order to satisfy Queensland’s MFR la...

Jul 19, 2019

Melior still fine tuning process circuit at Goondicum

Melior Resources is continuing commissioning at its Goondicum ilmenite project near Gladstone in Central Queensland. It reported June ilmenite production of 9580 tonnes and apatite production of 900 tonnes against budget goals of 12,300 tonnes and 3,7001 tonnes respectively. Melior restarted the Goondicum operation in November last year and had produced 45,120 tonnes of ilmenite and 4444...

Jul 18, 2019

Mining offers jobs hope as unemployment levels rise

The Queensland Resources Council has highlighted job openings across the mining sector as new labour force figures show a rise in unemployment in Queensland. QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said Queensland’s trend unemployment rate had increased by 0.1 per cent to 6.3 per cent – a two-year high – which was disappointing, but the resources sector was offering hundreds of opportunities ...