$115m Renewables Storage Hub Earmarked For Former BHP Land At Mayfield

 BY IAN CROUCH

Former BHP Steelworks land at Mayfield is being earmarked for development into a logistics precinct.

This month's state budget will include $115 million towards the construction of the precinct on 52 hectares of former BHP Intertrade land adjacent to Industrial Drive.

It will become a storage hub for renewables infrastructure such as wind turbines and transformers before they are transported to energy projects across the state's north west including the Hunter Transmission Project and the Hunter Central Coast REZ.

Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Penny Sharpe will announce the project in Newcastle today (Thursday 12 June, 2025).

 

The Newcastle Logistics Precinct will be built on the former BHP Intertrade Site at Mayfield

 

Union Wins Landmark Workplace Agreement After Three-Year BHP Battle

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A three-year workplace negotiations dispute between BHP and the union Professionals Australia has finally ended after the Fair Work Commission ruled in favour of workers to establish a new deal.

The new enterprise agreement, the first to cover mine supervisors, locks in key conditions such as redundancy provisions for workers at BHP's Mount Arthur coal mine at Muswellbrook.

Workers had been repeatedly shut down by BHP while attempting to secure protections for the conditions over the past three years.

The mine was also recently put up for sale by the company, raising concern about possible job losses.

The union's Collieries’ Staff Division Director Catherine Bolger says the decision meant "certainty and security" for around 75 families.

"The agreement has been a long time in the making," Ms Bolger said. "Initially BHP were reluctant to have an agreement for their supervisors." 

"It's also a landmark for other supervisors in the Hunter Valley who now concede that their colleagues at Mount Arthur have won an agreement and it provides them the benchmark that they can also pursue."

The Fair Work Commission found that BHP's conduct was unfair and that they had used delay tactics in breach of the Fair Work Act.

Ms Bolger says the union is looking forward to working with the company to implement the new agreement.

Image credit: https://www.bhp.com/

BHP plaque relocation debate

BY SANZIANA TIMIS


The future of BHP Steelwork's iconic plaque has been debated in state parliament, as Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp vows to get it back in community hands.

It was recently discovered the missing item had been hanging on the wall of a pub in Hinton, and Property NSW are evaluating its authenticity before publican Craig Thorley hands it back.

Mr Thorley claims he bought the plaque from an antique dealer for $1000.

Members of the Newcastle Industrial Heritage Association have suggested the plaque be handed over to either themselves or Newcastle Museum, but Property NSW plan on returning the plaque to NSW Government Property.

State MP, Tim Crackenthorp has questioned Finance Minister Dominic Perrottet in regards to the 10-month delay in addressing issues of relocation and police involvement.

"Apparently the Government is going to get back this plaque, which means so much to the people of Newcastle. And it hasn't gone anywhere-- it hasn't come back, it's simply not good enough."

Mr Crackenthorp believes the plaque represents an enduring significance for past and present employees of BHP, addressing his concerns to Parliament.

"This plaque is so important for the Newcastle Community-- and particularly the former thousands and thousands of BHP workers."

Parliament is due to answer questions by September 11th.

source: https://www.theherald.com.au/story/5353692/ill-give-back-the-bhp-plaque-publican-says/

Multi-Million Dollar Class Action Launched Against BHP, Mt Arthur

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

The experience of an ex-employee from Muswellbrook's Mount Arthur Coalmine will form the cornerstone of an estimated $40 million lawsuit launched today against BHP.

Lead Claimant, 47-year-old Simon Turner was injured during a workplace accident in the middle of December 2015 where the truck he was operating was hit by a coal excavator.

"There was very dusty, fine coal and the coal dust impaired the vision of the digger operator, who couldn't see me," Mr Turner said, "and he hit me with the bucket... it nearly put me through the window."

Because Mr Turner was appointed as a casual employee by labour-hire company, Chandler Macleod, he's not being offered fair compensation despite being left totally incapacitated.

Canberra firm, Adero Law will lead the class action involving 800 Mount Arthur Coal workers, who claim they've worked a predictable roster, like permanent staff, but aren't getting the same leave and entitlements.

Lawyer, Rory Markham visited Beresfield to launch the action today and said the case is based on claimed breaches over six years to the Black Coal Industry Mining Award 2010 and the Fair Work Act 2009. 

"This is an historic moment for us as a firm and for the people of Newcastle, to be able to get the resources for a class action to say 'this casualisation is causing harm to our workers and communities,'" Mr Markham said.

Simon Turner said mining companies mislead workers by claiming they'll gain permanent employment one day.

"You're always dangled a carrot that you'll get a permanent job, whether it be BHP or Glencore, whoever," Mr Turner said, "that's the magical carrot which gets dangled in front of everyone...'turn up to all your shifts, don't have any time off...you might have a permanent job sometime.'"

Casualisation appears to be increasing nationwide, with latest statistics revealing 40% of employees at mining companies are now classified as casual.

It's unsurprising then, that at least 800 Mount Arthur workers will be represented in the class action, to be heard in the Federal Court of Australia against BHP, Chandler Macleod and TESA.

Lead Claimant, Simon Turner. Image: AAP.