Mineral Council Continues to Fight for Regulation of Port

BY PATRICK ALDERTON 

The NSW Minerals Council says it will push on with its campaign to declare the Port of Newcastle a regulated entity. 

Despite having their appeal against treasurer Josh Frydenberg rejected, the Minerals Council believes the port should be regulated. 

Since April last year, the port has refused at least five Australian Competition and Consumer Commission authorised bargaining processes. 

The NSW Minerals Council says they will continue to pursue all options for regulatory oversight of the port. 

Source: Port of Newcastle 

NSW Labor's 3-point Plan for Coal Mine Workers

BY JARROD MELMETH

NSW Labor has announced a 3-point plan for coal mine workers, including those in the Hunter in an effort to improve job security and working conditions.

The plan includes a cap for contracted, labour-hire and casual coal mining of 20 percent which means at least 80 percent of workers on land subject to approval must be directly employed by the approval holder or any other entity that operates the mine.

A new licensing scheme for labour-hire companies would also be introduced which would require those operating in the mining industry to comply with laws regarding workplace safety, pay, and conditions - including providing the same pay and conditions as those enjoyed by directly employed workers.

Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Industry, and Resources Adam Searle said the plan will halt the creeping insecurity and the erosion of pay and conditions for workers in NSW.

"A Daley Labor Government wants well paid, secure and locally-based mining jobs in the coal mining industry. We know that many disputes arise because big mining companies want to casualise and contract out their work. This is bad for workers and the resulting disputes have disrupted the NSW coal supply.

"There has been too much contracting out of jobs in the industry, undermining the economic security of local workers. That has to stop, and Labor has a positive plan to work with companies and workers to ensure, decently paid jobs and a resilient industry," Mr Searle said.

Mr Searle went on to call on the National Party to sign on to the plan, accusing the party of desperate empty promises when it came to protecting workers.

Incumbent Upper Hunter Nationals MP Michael Johnsen said mandating how businesses run their business is ridiculous.

"It is a 3-point plan which is effectively going to shut the coal industry down even quicker than Labor want to do it by 2030.

The best thing Labor can do is, actually at a federal level, to support the Nationals legislation which is on the table and has already had its second read. All it is waiting on is a debate and a vote. That is what Labor need to support if they want to support workers in the mining industry," Mr Johnsen said.

Under the Nationals new legislation, all employees in the national system will have access to a minimum standard of right to request casual conversion which cannot be traded away, irrespective of whether their terms and conditions of employment are set by a modern award, enterprise agreement or any other targets.

CFMEU Northern Mining and NSW Energy District President Peter Jordan is applauding Labors plan describing it as "a practical initiative to address job insecurity in the industry and the Hunter region." Mr Jordan said.

No More Open-Cut Mining Plans for Drayton South in the Upper Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

An amendment to a state mining and planning policy means no open-cut mining will be allowed on Drayton South.

The NSW Government announced the change today, which they say brings certainty to both the industry and the community in the Upper Hunter.

Minister for Planning and Housing Anthony Roberts announced the amendment which will "protect the valuable and world-renowned horse studs in the area".

The State Government has approved underground mining for the site though, which looks to be getting undertaken by Malabar Coal.

The company expects to finalise their purchase of the project for exploration on the site in the coming months and say they've already surrendered part of the previous license that had extended south of the Golden Highway encroaching on horse studs.

But Georgina Woods from Lock the Gate Alliance believes it falls far short of what's needed in the area.

"It's good to see this formalised but really we are disappointed with the narrowness of the decision. It's actually condemning the farming and horse breeding industries of the Hunter Valley to have to continue to fight for their survival against the government who seems to have ears only for the coal industry."

Image theaustralian.com.au

Fears over marine seismic test

BY RACHEL STORER

Bar Beach (Image: Newcastle Council)

An application to conduct marine seismic tests off the coast of Newcastle has sparked concern from local fishing associations and environmental advocates. 

Advent Energy's subsidiary Asset Energy has resubmitted a plan to send acoustic pulses into a 12.25 square-kilometre area of the ocean floor. 

The previous application was rejected by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) because it was "not reasonably satisfied that the environment plan meets the criteria."

Asset Energy said its the smallest application NOPSEMA have considered and poses an extremely low risk to commercial fishing and the environment.

NSW Greens marine and fisheries spokesperson Justin Field disagrees with Asset Energy's application and said that any exploration disrupts fish stock and marine life, including the migration patterns of whales. 

"At the end of the day, oil and gas drilling off the Sydney and Newcastle coastline is never going to be acceptable for the community and we should put an end to this project once and for all," Mr Field said. 

Mining workers rally against Glencore, no result yet

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Efforts to strike an agreement between mining company Glencore and its dissatisfied employees have so far failed, with tensions coming to a head yesterday at Singleton Showground.

Glencore employees, members of the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), gathered at the Showground on Tuesday to rally for new enterprise agreements after the expiration of previous agreements.

Around 1300 union members were present and calling for greater job security, higher redundancy pay and a lessening of the use of contractors within the company.

With three work stoppages at the mining giant's Hunter Valley open cut sites, Northern District President of the CFMEU, Peter Jordan, believes the 12-week disagreement has been detrimental to Glencore's productivity.

"I think it's had a major effect on their production, that's our understanding of it," he said, "They're having problems with their shipments and we're told by other coal proprietors [Glencore] are busily in contact with them for the purposes of purchasing coal to meet their shipments.

"They may have their standard line that they say to the media," Mr Jordan continued, "that the industrial action has had minimal impact on them and they're continuing to operate safely, but the fact of the matter is that's not what's reality on the job."

Mr Jordan said the union passed three resolutions yesterday in a unanimous vote. "Firstly, that the district will continue to be directed by its 1400 members to call further aggregate meetings in the event that we're not able to progress the negotiations.

"Secondly, the individual mine sites in the meantime would continue to implement stoppages and other industrial action to bring about a successful agreement.

"And thirdly, the 1300 members in attendance made it very clear they wanted to call on Glencore to come to the table and deliver on the key issues at hand."

Glencore's Ravensworth, Glendell, Mangoola, Bulga and Liddell mines are among those whose workers are being represented by the union.

Tuesday's rally at Singleton Showground. Image Source: Singleton Argus. 

Confidence in Hunter after GDP rise

BY GARY-JON LYSAGHT

A University of Newcastle economist is confident the rise in gross domestic product (GDP) during the December quarter is good for the Hunter.

Dr David Savage

Behavioural economist Dr David Savage said the GDP increase will also help reduce youth unemployment across the region, which currently sits at more than 13 percent.

"Youth unemployment is up everywhere," he said.

"When the whole economy grows, you start to find the lower end jobs start to improve as well.  So, you'll find the local cafes start to hire more, the corner stores are hiring more ...  because more products are being sold.

"When we have GDP growth, more people get employed, more people want to buy things - because they have more money - the general economy starts to grow.

"We start to see wage increases and start to see the standard of living increase with it."

The nation's GDP rose by 1.1 percent during the December quarter, quashing fears of a recession after a drop by 0.5 percent during the September quarter - the first drop since the Global Financial Crisis.

Treasurer Scott Morrison made the announcement yesterday, adding it has become the envy of the world.

"These growth figures say we are are at the top of the pack," Mr Morrison said.

But, Mr Morrison added that not every region in Australia was feeling the benefits of higher GDP, and Dr Savage believed the Hunter has been one, citing the downturn in the mining industry.

"When the mining economy doesn't run so well, you'll find that [mining dominate places like] Western Australia suffers, especially the Hunter - that it is so very mining sector based - and parts of Queensland have the same problem," he said.

"If the mining sector isn't firing, unemployment rates are very high, they take a very long time to catch up and we have this conversation of a two-speed economy.

"But it works in both directions, so when we do have a mining boom, you'll that these areas are doing very, very well."

However, he also said low employment in the mining sector is not related to youth unemployment, because youth employment often comes "from the general sector".

What has been boasted as another boom for the region's economy is the upcoming V8 Supercars race in November, and Dr Savage said it will help funnel huge revenue into the local economy.

He said a good case study was the Gold Coast 600, where there was - and still is - community disquiet around the race, but strong business enthusiasm.

"For businesses, it's really good and that sort of thing can spark a lot of tourism and money flow for even that short period of time," he said.

"It's also very good promotion [for Newcastle] Australia-wide.  Now that the Supercars are going to different places like New Zealand and China, we also get telecasted to those regions.

"So it's good for tourism across the board."

Joint Venture Between Glencore and Peabody Proposed near Singleton

BY GARY-JON LYSAGHT AND ARIANA GATTI

The proposal for a new open-cut mine around the Singleton and Hunter Valley around has caused a fluster with environmental activist group, Lock the Gate Alliance.

The much debated benefit of the proposed Wambo-United coal mine, a joint venture between Glencore and Peabody, includes the removal of more than 200 hectares of land in preparation to be mined.

The mine's proposed boundaries

The mine is said to open up at least 250 jobs, as well as keep the Wambo open-cut mine running far beyond the current closing date of 2020.

Lock the Gate Alliance is accusing Glencore Mining of using an un-known and unpublished biodiversity document in order to push the approval for the mine ahead faster.

Lock the Gate Alliance NSW Coordinator Georgina Woods says keeping the documents secret shows fowl play between the mine and the Government.

"The public is being kept in the dark while the mining industry is at the table, stitching up a plan with the Government to get approval for this mine regardless of the cost that it's going to place on our wildlife and our vanishing forest," she said

There is no definite answer on whether the new open-cut mine will be going ahead.

For Woods, the idea of losing more bushland proves the State Government has failed to protect the local environment.

"This new mine is the epitome of NSW's failed planning and mining laws," she says.

"They're going to allow a nationally unique bushland to be destroyed.  They're going to push the central Hunter Valley forest to the brink of local extinction. It occurs no where but in this region.

"So much has already been lost to coal mines and we simply can't afford to keep pushing over this critically endangered woodland any longer."

[Image Source: The Newcastle Herald].

Environmental Protests to Take Place in Port of Newcastle

The Port of Newcastle will play host to the Australian outlet of an international protest on climate change, focusing on asking the world to walk away from fossil fuels.

The peaceful protest  is under the banner Break Free and is being conducted in association with Greenpeace.

Hundreds of Australians are expected to attend the event running from May 7-8, with thousands expected to attend around the world, with peaceful protests taking place in the United Kingdom, Canada and South Africa.

"We are in a climate crisis right now, there's no other way to put it" said Dr Nikola Casule from Greenpeace Australia.

"February was the hottest month on record, we've had places in the Arctic that effectively had no winter.

"There are certain parts of the Arctic that were 16 degrees above normal."

It comes after Environment Minister Greg Hunt attended the Paris climate conference late last year, signing the commitment to reduce carbon emissions.

"The Turnbull Government has so far maintained the policies of the Abbott Government" said Dr Casule.

He went on to say Break Free's goal is to force elective representatives to take real action on climate change, and calling on Parliament to implement policies that can make a change.

However, Dr Casule has said reducing carbon emissions needs to include the reduction of Australia's exportation of coal.

"Australian carbon emission is only a small part of what we really need to be talking about.

"It's our exports that are our biggest contribution to global warming, and to stop that we need to keep coal in the ground."

One of Australia's largest exports is coal, with millions of dollars coming in from nations across the world, including China.

"The debate you hear in Canberra kind of misses the point if it's not talking about a reduction in the Australian coal industry" said Dr Casule.

Image courtesy of The Australian (LINK).

EPA Continues Bengalla Investigation

The Environment Protection Authority is continuing its investigations in to the Rio Tinto owned Bengalla mine, near Musswellbrook.

The overflow follows heavy rainfall in the Hunter earlier this month.

EPA officers began interviews on Monday, while also carrying out an inspection and gathering water and sediment samples for testing.

So far, no pollution to water sources has been found.

EPA Hunter General Manger, Adam Gilligan says both parties have been able to coperate.

"Our officers worked with the mine on Monday and were pleased to see that they commenced dewatering of those dams so that they could get the water levels down.

"Particularly that's important before any further rainfall or storm event that might cause further overflowing."

A section of Bengalla's sediment dam

The EPA have also confirmed they are looking for additional information from the mine operator, including monitoring records and incident response details.

It's the third Hunter mine this month which has seen overflowing, with Warkworth mine (also Tinto owned) and Wambo mine being investigated for potential pollution.

"Certainly [it's] a concern to us that we've had a spade of these issues arising following the recent heavy rainfall" said Mr. Gilligan.

"What concern's us is making sure the sediment dames, etc on mine sites are constructed properly."

Image courtesy of John Crey, via The Singleton Argus (LINK).

Dust Survey Results Released

Tighes Hill Community Group has released the preliminary findings of their survey on attitudes towards the coal industry.

The 'Coal Dust Free Streets' project aimed to find out resident's opinions on coal pollution, noise and the proposed fourth coal terminal.

The results show that 65% of residents are opposed to T4, over 70% support a curfew on train movements between 11am and 5am and over 85% believe covers should be implemented on waggons, stockpiles and loaders.

 

"This is a community that lives right on the door stop of the Carrington coal facility and they clearly think it's about time the industry cleans up it's act," said Zane Alcorn, from the Coal Terminal Action Group.

 

Mr Alcorn said modern coal terminal are entirely enclosed.

"Carrington is basically a dinosaur of the 1970s and there's a recent coal terminal in Western Australia and the stock piles and load facilities are completely enclosed. We know that technology is commercially available," he said.

Tighes Hill Community Group spokesperson, Charlotte McCabe agreed with Mr Alcorn.

"While in Newcastle we're still debating weather or not dust is a health issue for us here, in other parts of the world they've already worked out that it is very serious health concern and they've developed new technology for covering stock piles and train [waggons] and loaders," she said.

The Tighes Hill survey is a pilot for a wider survey early next year.

"We really hope we can see some good out comes from this survey," Ms McCabe said.

Bulga and Rio Tinto Battle Continues

Bulga residents have accused the government of colluding with Rio Tinto to expand the Mount Thorley Walkworth mine.

Rio Tinto lodged an application on November 12 to expand the mine into Saddle Ridge, the natural barrier between Bulga and the mine.

Previously Rio Tinto planned to expand the Walkworth mine to within 2.6 kilometres of Bugla. After challenges from local group, Bulgra Mibrodale Progress Association, the application was over turned by the NSW Land and Mineral Association and is currently being challenged in the Supreme Court by Rio Tinto and NSW Government.

John Krey, vice president of the BMPA, said that the move is a breach of faith.

“The deed in 2003 and the Land and Environment court says they can’t touch [Saddle Ridge],” he said.

The New South Wales Minerals Council claim the expansion has received over 900 positive submissions.

Mr Krey said claims the positive submissions where the result of a marketing campaign by Rio Tinto and the Minerals Councils.

“You can tell the same lie 900 times but that doesn’t make the truth,” Mr Krey said, “we’re only a small town of 350 people; we don’t have the financial resources to do a campaign that the Minerals Councils and Rio Tinto have. So, yeah, they got a lot of submissions but you’ve got to look at the meat of the submission, and I think if you look at the submissions that said ‘no’ to the mine you’ll find there’s a lot of meat in that.”

Miner crushed by 400-tonne truck

Revensworth coal mine near Singleton will remain closed today as workers receive counselling following the death of a contractor.

The contracted miner is believed to have been on a routine break when her 4-wheel drive crossed into the path of a 250-tonne dump truck on Saturday night, crushing her vehicle.
Construction, Forestry and Electrical Union spokesman, Peter Jordan, says a lot of employees have been affected by the incident.

"When there’s a fatality on a mine site it’s an enormous impact upon fellow workers and in this particular case you’ve just got to work very closely with all employees to satisfy that their health and safety as well as their state of mind is right,” said Mr Jordan, “all employees should be able to go to work return home safely… it’s unfortunate that this female mine worker hasn’t been able to do that, I think that’s enough of an alarm bell to the industry to make sure that these incidents don’t occur again.”

Several agencies, including the CFEU, will be investigating the incident. Investigations will focus on how the woman missed several signs on her way to the T-intersection.
 
Mr Jordan said inadequate signage may be to blame.

“We’ll be examining what they mean by ‘give way signs’ as opposed to ‘stop signs’, because we’re told there way only a give way sign there… there has to be a complete overhaul of an understanding as to how, why and when light vehicles should interact such heavy equipment,” he said.

Police and inspectors from NSW Trade and Investment’s Mine Safety Investigation Unit are also investigating.