Queensland Economy Update

05th Dec 2013

A record $37.9 billion was spent by minerals and energy companies in Queensland last financial year.

The 2012-13 postcode analysis of wages and salaries paid, goods and services purchased and community contributions from 40 of the state’s leading minerals and energy companies was released today by Queensland Resources Council Chief Executive Michael Roche.

Direct spending by resources companies reached most Queensland Local Government Areas and generated an additional $37.7 billion in ‘second round value-add’ economic activity, according to an analysis prepared by independent economics experts, Lawrence Consulting.

‘What this confirms is that once more the minerals and energy sector was responsible directly and indirectly for one in every four dollars in the state’s economy and almost one in every five jobs,’ Mr Roche said.

‘From a starting point of 43,000 direct employees – excluding contractors – an additional 400,000 full-time equivalent jobs were generated, with almost half those in the Brisbane region.

‘This is the result of the very high levels of expenditure, their capital intensity and the resources sector’s significant reach across other industry sectors in Queensland such as construction and transport.

‘This is another reminder of the investment that every Queenslander has in the future of a diversified and vibrant minerals and energy sector,’ he said.

Mr Roche said coal industry spending represented just over half the sector’s $37.9 billion cash injection to Queensland in 2012-13 with oil and gas ramping up to a 31 percent share and metals contributing 14 percent.

‘Oil and gas industry spending of $11.7 billion was a big factor in offsetting the well-publicised cost cutting and investment slowdown in the coal industry,’ he said.

‘The challenges facing the Queensland coal industry are well documented as the transition from investment to production takes hold.

‘In 2014, the first exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) are scheduled from new processing plants on Curtis Island.

‘That will be another milestone in the transition timetable as Queensland comes off a decade of massive investment in the state’s future.

‘In 2013-14, we expect to see another 12 months of strong investment from oil and gas but it remains to be seen whether this will be sufficient to offset continuing belt-tightening in the coal sector.

‘The Queensland story for the next few years is about translating a golden period of investment into sales of minerals and energy resources along with the expertise and the technology developed to win them.’

An ABS Statistical Division breakdown of resources sector spending across Queensland in 2012-13 revealed an almost 81 percent jump to $2 billion on the Darling Downs and a 13 percent increase in the Brisbane region to $16.5 billion.

‘The increase in gas exploration and development expenditure is obvious on the Darling Downs while goods and services purchases were the drivers for Brisbane’s improved result,’ he said.

The Mackay region – comprising the city of Mackay and the northern Bowen Basin coal region – endured a 12 percent drop in spending as a result of the coal industry’s belt tightening while the North West also felt the sting of soft global markets, high production costs and a high dollar.

‘The state’s resources diversity has delivered a record economic contribution to the people of Queensland but there’s also a salutary reminder that our hard won reputation as a minerals and energy supplier of choice should not be taken for granted,’ Mr Roche said.

‘I urge all Queenslanders to visit the QueenslandEconomy website (www.queenslandeconomy.com.au) and learn about the connections between their towns, their regions and their state’s leading export sector.

‘There’s a wealth of new and accessible information including royalties paid and the nature of community contributions for every local government area.

‘Just type in the name of your town or its postcode and let the technology do the work,’ Mr Roche said.

Source: www.qrc.org.au

Hope for algae-powered future

06th Aug 2013

First, the bad news: because of climate change and worsening water pollution, algae, the world’s fastest-growing photosynthetic organisms, are proliferating worldwide. A few of these are of the toxic blue-green variety.

The good news is that some strains of algae can be converted into an alternative source of renewable energy that is commercially viable.

“Newly trialled native species provide real hope,” says Evan Stephens of Queensland University’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience and manager of the Solar Biofuels Research Centre.

“There are roughly 350,000 species of algae – more than all higher plants – around the world,” he says. By isolating strains from native Australian waters, and then screening them against a set of criteria for producing fuel, scientists can breed new and improved varieties.

“By new strains, we mean algae varieties that have not been previously isolated, characterised and identified for fuels,” Dr Stephens says.

Genetic engineering helps scientists determine traits that may improve yields and other qualities. “But in most cases we can go back and rescreen libraries of isolates for these characteristics which are naturally occurring,” he explains.

To read the full story, click here.

Source: theage.com.au

Minerals Downunder App out now

05th Aug 2013

The Minerals Downunder iPad app is now available for download from the app store.

Minerals Downunder provides an overview of:

• Mineral formation
• How valuable mineral deposits are discovered
• Where they are found in Australia
• How rich ore is retrieved from the ground
• How minerals are extracted from the ore
• How minerals are changed into everyday products

It also looks at the important issues of environmental management and sustainability.

Find some interesting information about one of the most exciting metals to be mined in Australia – gold!

The package concludes with some ‘Fascinating Mine Facts’ and contains an extensive glossary.

Australian scientists in nanotechnology breakthrough

11th Jan 2013

Scientists at the CSIRO and RMIT University have discovered a new two-dimensional nano-material that could pave the way for the creation of even smaller computing devices that offer big improvements in processing speed.

The material is made up of layers of crystal known as ‘molybdenum oxides’, which have unique properties that encourage the free flow of electrons at ultra-high speeds.

Speaking to CIO Dr Serge Zhuiykov, a scientist at the CSIRO, said the team had created layers of material as thin as 10 nanometres, significantly thinner than the current electronic industry benchmark of between 20 and 30 nanometres for silicon-based chips.

To read the full article, click here.

Source: www.cio.com.au

STAQ E-newsletter

05th Dec 2012

Find out what’s been happening at the Science Teacher’s Association of Queensland with their December e-newsletter.

Includes information on the STAQ Senior Science Conference, Annual General Meeting, 60th Queensland Science Contest and much more.

Follow this link to view: STAQ December E-newsletter

South Americans learn skills in outback Queensland

23rd Oct 2012

In parts of South America there has been wide conflict, particularly in Peru, where many people have been killed during public protests about mining.

Tensions have also been high in South Africa, where striking platinum miners have finally struck a wage deal, following five weeks of bloodhsed and unrest.

University of Queensland Professor David Brereton, who works with the Sustainable Minerals Institute, says he was approached by the Australian Ambassador in Peru to run the study tour to Mount Isa.

He says he hopes that by observing the relationship between Australian Aboriginals and mining companies, the South Americans will take lessons back to their home countries.

Seventeen representatives of government and Indigenous organisations from Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia arrived in Mount Isa on Sunday.

They visited an Indigenous training group near Camooweal called Myuma and also toured Xstrata’s copper operations in Mount Isa.

Follow the link to listen to the audio interview – ABC reporter Emma Cillekens with Professor Brereton, Fransisco Cevallos Paez from Ecuador and Yohannaliz Vega Auqui from Peru.

Source: ABC North West Queensland

Spatial PD for Teachers in Mount Isa

22nd Oct 2012

GTAQ, in conjuction with Contour Education, will be running a professional development session for teachers in Mt Isa and surrounding regions on Saturday 17th Novemberat Spinifex State College.

The professional development will be a full day workshop on how to use spatial technologies in the Geography classroom. Mick Law will provide a simple, easy-to-follow introduction to the wonders of spatial technologies such as online GIS, Google Maps and Google Earth. The professional development will also provide some insight on how spatial technologies can be effectively incorporated when teaching the yet to be released Australian Geography Curriculum.

The cost for the full day workshop (9:00am – 4pm) is $100 for GTAQ members and $150 for non-members.

For more information on this professional development opportunity, please download the flier – Mt Isa Simple Spatial Technologies.

To register for the event, go to the GTAQ Professional Development Registration page by clicking on the following link – Registration for Spatial Technologies Professional Development and select the ‘Register’ button. You will receive confirmation via email once you have registered.

If you have any queries regarding this professional development opportunity, please contact Mick Law via email contoureducation@gmail.com or call 0431665879.

UQ students advance their mining skills

06th Sep 2012

The University of Queensland students are gaining advanced skills in preparation for jobs in the booming mining sector, thanks to the University’s Newcrest Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Laboratory.

Established last year, the Newcrest HVAC lab, provides engineering educators better opportunities to design and teach courses that develop specialised mining skills and knowledge in the application of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and heat transfer in various heating and cooling processes.

UQ’s School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering senior lecturer Dr Saiied Aminossadati said Newcrest Mining’s support of the laboratory was making an important contribution to the development of industry-aware graduates capable of leading the nation’s resources sector.

“In the past year, 300 mining and mechanical engineering students have attended classes in this laboratory,” Dr Aminossadati said.

“They conducted experiments on psychrometry, air ventilation and refrigeration with a high level of accuracy using the advanced equipment and instrumentations.”

UQ Graduate Blake Callinan said the practical knowledge he gained using the laboratory had provided insights into ventilation management, which helped him secure a graduate position within the underground metalliferous sector.

“I was lucky enough to be a member of the first cohort to use the Newcrest sponsored HVAC laboratory,” Mr Callinan said.

“This laboratory provides an interactive approach to enable deeper understanding of mine ventilation systems and psychrometry of the mining environment.

“I would like to thank Newcrest for their immense efforts in supporting the students of The University of Queensland through the provision of world-leading teaching facilities, ensuring top quality graduates for the future.”

Newcrest Mining also supports UQ engineering students with up to four scholarships each worth $30,000 over three years.

Media: Madelene Flanagan (m.flanagan@uq.edu.au or +61 7 3365 8525)

Source: University of Queensland

Oresome World App

21st Aug 2012

Our new ‘Oresome World’ educational iPad app is a finalist in the 2012 Australian Mobile Awards!

Oresome World is an interactive iPad game that takes the user on a journey of discovery through the Energy and Mining industry. Users can view the related media, study the fact sheets, complete quizzes and challenge activities and discover what sorts of careers are available in the industry.

Please help by voting for Oresome World – follow the link here to view more.

Thank you 🙂

Futuristic wall display shows real-time energy usage

28th Feb 2012

There’s more to the home energy conservation system designed by Queensland University of Technology industrial design graduate Erica Pozzey than meets the eye.

Her design, Triad Energy, won two industry awards which brought work experience with Infinity Design and Prodex and helped Erica gain a valuable understanding of real-world industry practice.

Triad Energy is a concept for a management system that lets people not only customise the unit to their home’s own characteristics it also generates awareness and understanding of why energy conservation is relevant on a personal level, with clear, tangible benefits within their own environment.

To read more about Erica’s innovative design or to watch a video on how it works, click here.