March Edition 2021
Connecting Industry Conference WA
Early bird tickets have just been released for the Connecting Industry Conference WA (June 17) which will feature major procurement opportunities within the Western Australian resource and construction industry delivered via live video streaming allowing you to connect, engage, network, and have private face to face meetings with presenting projects and their teams, sponsors, and other attendees.
First held in Queensland in August 2020 and followed by New South Wales in February 2021, Connecting Industry Conferences are online events designed to assist all tiers of the supply chain from SME’s through to large civil construction and engineering companies on the latest project and procurement information.
With technology advancements and enhanced digital connectivity, our goal is to connect industry by maximising value based on sustainability for all Stakeholders. We believe industry can no longer justify thousands of dollars on tickets, travel, food, and accommodation to attend an event and are asking all Stakeholders to contribute with purpose where their social, economic, and environmental impact is minimal.
Beginning at 8am (networking) for a 9am AWST start, join industry and the supply chain at the Connecting Industry Conference WA on June 17 for not only the latest project and procurement information and to network with presenting projects, sponsors, and attendees, but to create relationships in a cost effective, sustainable and responsible way.
Connecting Business Talent
This is a call out for experienced and capable Civil Project Managers, Civil Project Supervisors, Site Managers, Construction Supervisors, and Construction Estimators predominately based in Mining, Industrial, Concrete, Earthworks, and Engineering, across Australia.
Currently, there is strong demand for permanent and contractual positions across central Queensland not only due to significant infrastructure work, but for shutdowns and new projects with companies that are well-established, are highly reputable, and all with attractive packages on offer. This is not FIFO, but for people either based in the region or would like to move to the region.
To find out more phone 0438146819 or email info@resourceindustrymedia.com.au
Connecting Industry Podcast
The Connecting Industry Podcast series connects you with the stories of the people who work in the resource and construction sector throughout Australia. It’s our goal for these podcasts to not only connect you with the latest resource and construction news, information, and procurement opportunities, but most importantly, build relationships between you and our guests so you can connect with their stories and get a better understanding of how to communicate and tell your business story right.
In this month’s Connecting Industry Podcast, Resource Industry Media and Connecting Industry managing director Kieran Moran speaks with East Coast General Manager of National Energy Resources Australia (NERA), Paul Hodgson and Inland Rail Head of Commercial, David Watt.
Paul Hodgson works with stakeholders to increase the productivity, competitiveness, and export potential of the energy resources sector. Paul has spent over 20 years exploring the competitiveness of businesses, industries, and regions, and designing and implementing strategies to improve performance through innovation and collaboration and most recently, he has been leading the establishment of Australia’s national hydrogen technology cluster network, including a funding program for regional clusters across Australia.
David Watt joined the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) in 2020 as Head of Commercial for the Inland Rail Program. He is accountable for the Program’s commercial strategy, assurance, procurement, and delivery strategy, as well as all procurement and contract management activities and insurance services. David has more than 25 years’ experience across all aspects of commercial, risk, contract, project, and general management – both on project sites and in the corporate environment – and brings his most recent experience from a range of Director-level roles at SNC-Lavalin. David’s sector experience includes rail, construction, commercial, aeronautical, mining, major infrastructure, ports and marine, and heavy power construction in Australia, Canada, the UK and Southern Africa.
To listen to Paul’s and David’s story and past podcasts connect here.
Becoming a “conscious communicator” in a changing angry world
Every business these days is, or has some element of, an environmental challenge to society. The days of confrontation, argument and denial over climate change is over with the devastating 2020 fires in NSW, Victoria and South Australia fundamentally changing the debate and cementing public attitudes not only here in Australia, but around the world.
But this is nothing new. For the past 40 years various elements of the environmental movement and business have come together and worked together on issues facing the environment. For instance, after many years of ducking debate over whether huge amounts of waste are created by takeaway meals sold every day around the world, McDonalds have worked hand in hand with government departments and environmental organisations on packaging challenges, ultimately bringing a solid ‘reduce-reuse-recycle’ ethic process into McDonald’s day to day operations at outlets worldwide.
Hundreds of companies have similar stories to tell with many now assessing their solid waste, carbon emissions, water pollution and other challenges with many now aligning their business with strategic partners in the environmental community and gone to work to successfully reduce their contributions to the environment.
Sustainable corporate environmental responsibility is no longer a choice. Stakeholders internally and externally are now calling for ‘conscious capitalism’ which leads to what I call ‘conscious communications” where business must take responsibility for their waste on all levels. However, the reality is to be sustainable in business is a challenge and they are not going to clean up the world by themselves, but they do understand that the devil is in the details and every bit now counts and if they are going to grow as a business, they have a corporate responsibility to also grow with the community.
Connecting Industry CQ radio
To keep up to date with the latest resource and construction news in Central Queensland, tune into Connecting Industry CQ on 4RO every Monday morning after the 8.30am news with the host of the Morning Show, Michael J Bailey and Resource Industry Media and Connecting Industry managing director Kieran Moran. Michael and Kieran talk about industry developments in the region including the latest project information, procurement opportunities, and industry events. 4R0 can be found at 990AM or listen live at 4ro.com.au
March Industry News
Specimen Hill Wind Farm.
Renewable energy company Epuron is prepareng a development application for the proposed Specimen Hill Wind Farm, about 25km north-east of Biloela in Central Queensland. The Specimen Hill project is expected to involve 60 to 80 wind turbines. Epuron stated that “around half of the capital costs [of building the wind farm] is expected to be spent within Queensland, and local businesses will benefit from increased number of workers in the area”. The same company is also behind the proposed Lotus Creek Wind Farm, 20km west of St Lawrence in Central Queensland, which would include 55 wind turbines.
MacIntyre and Karara wind farm.
Construction is due to start in the second half of this year on the $2 billion MacIntyre and Karara wind farm complex, south-west of Warwick. ACCIONA will remain responsible for managing the project through its development, construction, operations, and maintenance stages. The two projects are expected to generate up to 400 jobs during construction. Construction is slated to start in the second half of this year, with the lion’s share of investment in 2022 and 2023. The wind farm complex is expected to be fully operational by 2024.
Sumitomo Corporation.
Queensland’s hydrogen credentials have hit another milestone with the signing of a memorandum of understanding with a major Japanese multinational in Gladstone. Sumitomo Corporation has formalised its partnership with GPC, Gladstone Regional Council, CQUniversity and the Australian Gas Industry Group to develop Australia’s first hydrogen ecosystem in Central Queensland. The company will be building a solar farm to produce the hydrogen from electrolysis of water using electricity from Solar PV which will create approximately 100+ construction jobs but what’s not widely known is they will need to be producing green hydrogen at a price around $2 and to make that a reality, the renewable energy company will also need to build a wind farm in the Gladstone region by 2024 which will create another 200+ jobs in the region.
Eco Energy World.
International solar firm Eco Energy World has announced plans for a $500 million green hydrogen and solar PV development in Raglan near Gladstone. The company was already planning a 300MW solar farm at Raglan and now aims to combine the plant with a project to produce renewable energy for green hydrogen production, developing a 200MW hydrogen plant with a further 100MW allocated to energy storage. They’ve have already entered into a partnership with a hydrogen electrolyser manufacturer as their technology partner and if approved, project construction could start as early as the Q3 in 2022 and create up to 100 jobs.
Local Road and Community Infrastructure Program.
The Federal Government has approved funding for 17 projects in Capricornia under the $1.5 billion Local Road and Community Infrastructure Program. From big to small projects, there are some significant works within the listed funded packages which include the Mackay-Eungella Rd Shared Path and the Marian Bicycle and Walking Paths ($948,916), Moranbah Town Square – installation of water feature – $254,741, and the Etna Creek Road pavement rehabilitation and resealing – $500,000, plus many more.
Mount Chalmers copper-gold mine.
QMines plans to revive the Mount Chalmers copper-gold mine near Rockhampton and is preparing to list on the ASX by mid-2021. QMines is targeting a $10 million IPO capital raising, plus oversubscriptions, with the funds set to back a major drilling campaign over two years. Its flagship project is the historical Mount Chalmers site, 15km north-east of Rockhampton. The company has three additional projects – Silverwood; Herries Range and Warroo – located near Warwick and Stanthorpe in South-East Queensland.
Funding boost to lift Rookwood Weir.
The State and Federal governments have each committed another $7.5 million to raise the crest height of Rookwood Weir in Central Queensland by 700mm. The move would unlock 10,000 additional megalitres of water, increasing the yield to 86,000 megalitres for water users and taking total project cost to $367 million. The upgrade will add another 15 full time jobs on top of the 100 jobs already created for essential road and bridge upgrades, and the 200 jobs which will be created to build the weir itself.
Dyno Nobel.
A major shutdown project at Moranbah’s Dyno Nobel ammonium nitrate plant is set to swell local workforce numbers by about 550. Parent company Incitec Pivot said the turnaround of the Moranbah plant was set to run for about seven weeks from early May, with on-site preparations beginning in April. Incitec Pivot managing director and chief executive officer Jeanne Johns said Monadelphous would act as general contractor for the upcoming project, engage the services of around 20 contractors, with an extra 550 people temporarily added to the site workforce as contractors.
Waratah Coal.
Clive Palmer’s Central Queensland Coal Project has progressed to the next stage of environmental scrutiny. The Queensland Department of Environment and Science this month said it had decided the Environmental Impact Statement for the Waratah Coal project could proceed to the assessment stage but it stressed that this did not mean the project was approved. Located in the Styx Basin north-west of Rockhampton, the proposed project is estimated to produce up to 10 million tonnes per year of product thermal and coking coal. The final decision on the Commonwealth environmental approval rests with the Federal Minister for the Environment.
Bowen Coking Coal.
Bowen Coking Coal has appointed Stanmore Coal founder Nick Jorss as executive chairman to help lead the company into production in the Bowen Basin. Bowen Coking Coal’s Broadmeadow East project is the most advanced project in their portfolio of near‐term coal projects. Bought from Peabody Energy last year for $1 million, it lies about 30km north-west of Bowen Coking Coal’s Isaac River project and 45km south of the company’s Hillalong coking coal tenements. Mr Jorss created great value for Stanmore Coal by turning the Isaac Plains mine from a $1 investment into an enterprise which has generated over $1.1 billion dollars over the past four year.
MECHA.
A Gladstone business rapid reverse engineering system based on 3D printing is predicted to open new opportunities for manufacturing and engineering. Mecha – or Engineered Mechanical Solutions based in Gladstone won $243,00 in funding through the State Government’s Regional Manufacturing Hubs program to adopt world-leading technology and processes. Mecha’s new advanced manufacturing equipment will include hand-held and in-situ 3D laser scanners, a 3D printer for proto-typing, a holographic wall for design and display, and software to integrate and operate the equipment.
Supply Chain Expo.
The annual Gladstone Engineering Alliance Supply Chain Expo is on April 22. The Gladstone Engineering Alliance Supply Chain Expo is a great is an opportunity for businesses in Central Queensland’s industry supply chain to showcase their world-class products and services to major industry, fellow businesses, and the wider Gladstone Region community. The expo, presented by Australia Pacific LNG, operated by ConocoPhillips, can be beneficial to businesses who desire to access industry best practices, be more competitive, and aim to network and learn from like minded business leaders. For more information connect here.
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LinkedIn Local Events
Have you attended a LinkedIn Local event in Gladstone or Rockhampton yet?
LinkedIn Local events are business meetup concept with a difference. They allow you to connect and engage with your local business networks in the region and you don’t have to be on LinkedIn to attend.
LinkedIn Local events are ‘no pitch’ events and are now the largest business networking events in Central Queensland. They are free to attend and allow people like you to connect with like-minded people in business who want to create meaningful interactions and contacts that will be valuable in the future.
LinkedIn Local events started as a grassroots movement, grew into a curated community and is now an open-source community supported by LinkedIn throughout the world and can be attended right here in Central Queensland.
The next events are:
- Rockhampton April 15 from 5pm to 7pm: Connecting here to register now.
- Gladstone May 19 from 5pm to 7pm: Connecting here to register now.
This edition of Connecting Industry News was brought to you by Resource Industry Media and Connecting Industry Pty Ltd.
Resource Industry Media is passionate about connecting you to industry today by implementing cutting-edge strategies and creative original ideas to build relationships by telling your business story right. We bring together and connect people to create purpose and belief by elevating your business capabilities to industry, government and the wider community and use our widespread network of industry contacts to connect your business to success. Resource Industry Media doesn’t just specialise in strategic business communications, engagement and events for the engineering, manufacturing and services sector working within the resource and construction industry, we connect you and others to your passion.
Connecting Industry facilitate events for Australia’s resource and construction industry highlighting major project procurement and tender opportunities delivered via live video streaming allowing delegates to network with presenting projects, sponsors and attendees. Connecting Industry is an affiliate of Resource Industry Media. Our events are designed to assist all tiers of the supply chain from SME’s through to large civil construction and engineering companies on the latest project and procurement information. It’s our goal to connect industry by maximising value based on sustainability for all Stakeholders i.e. business, projects, sponsors, and industry. We believe industry and business can no longer justify thousands of dollars on tickets, travel, food, and accommodation to attend an event and are asking all Stakeholders to contribute with purpose where their social, economic, and environmental impact is minimal.