CreatiVe Futures For Former mines

Transcription

June - July 2015
FREE
news: multimillion dollar deal to buy mine
WESTERN REGION MINING’S VOICE
coalfacemagazine.com.au
rehab
reuse:
&
creative futures for former mines
INDUSTRY & COMMUNITY NEWS
// U N R I VA L L E D PA R T N E R S H I P
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The most powerful and productive combination yet.
Magazine set for
exciting changes
Just over two years ago, we embarked on an exciting new
endeavour with the launch of Coalface.
Kicking off with a monthly print
publication in the Hunter Valley,
Coalface provided a much-needed
positive voice for the mining sector.
We were a point of difference in
the media – a community-based
magazine that looked beyond the
criticism directed at the industry to
recognise its true value and uncover
the wealth of good news and
great people whose stories would
otherwise not have been told.
We think this will be great news
for our readers, keeping them
up-to-date with what’s happening
within the industry in their area and
throughout the state.
And it will also be great news for our
supporters – the businesses who
advertise within the pages of our
print magazines as well as digitally
through our website and weekly
email newsletter.
Twelve months later, as the
Hunter magazine celebrated
its first anniversary, Coalface
entered the next phase of
its growth, launching a bimonthly dual-cover magazine
for the coal mining (Coalface)
and hard rock mining
(Rockface) industries in the
Western Regions of NSW.
Additional geotechnical investigations
recommended that the cut backs should
occur to maintain stability and ensure the
safety of the workers.
The cut-back and construction of
the modified bund are expected to
take between one and four months
to complete.
While it will be published under the
well-known Coalface brand, the
magazine will encapsulate all mining
sectors in NSW, including coal, gold,
silver, copper and rare earths.
And despite being a statewide
publication, Coalface will continue
to offer a community-based
perspective on the industry and
those within it, offering stories from
Muswellbrook to Mudgee, Dubbo to
Denman, Bathurst to Broken Hill –
and everywhere in between.
Importantly, this will see Coalface
take a look at the Illawarra coalfields
for the first time, delving deep
into the stories of those working
in the underground and open cut
operations around Wollongong
and surrounds, as well as those
businesses that supply them.
Deputy Editor: Shannon Noud
[email protected]
on Monday to Friday and 8am and 1pm
on Saturday.
Alkane should also notify all potentially
affected residents of the timing and
proposed duration of construction works
prior to commencing.
The Department also reduced the
proposed height of the bund from 10m
to 8m.
“Given the marginal difference in the
predicted noise mitigating performance
between the two designs and the
potentially more significant visual amenity
impacts associated with a 10m bund, the
Department has recommended that the
height of the modified amenity bund should
be limited to 8m,” the report said.
Meanwhile Alkane recently released
its March quarterly report, with
Tomingley Gold Operations (TGO)
producing 13,947oz.
While production was lower due to the
transition from oxide to fresh ore, 16,000oz
were sold due to bullion build up, which
resulted in budget revenue of $23.6 million
at an average price of $1472/oz.
As part of the project a haul road will be
constructed between the Caloma pit and
the modified amenity bund.
This will be the final edition of
the Western Region Rockface
/ Coalface magazine – from
August, we will merge our two
products into one and expand
further across the state with the
launch of our NSW‑wide magazine.
Editor / Associate Publisher:
Michelle Meehan
[email protected]
As part of Modification 2, which was given
the green light from the NSW Department
of Planning and Environment, the height of
the amenity (noise) bund to the north of the
Caloma pit will be increased from 3m to
8m to provide further noise attenuation for
residents in the Tomingley village.
The modification also involves cutting
back the upper sections of the eastern
and western walls of the Caloma pit to
ensure ongoing stability following a number
of geotechnical failures during initial
mining operations.
And now, as the Western
Region magazine celebrates
its first 12 months in crib
rooms and CEOs offices,
we feel the time is right to
begin writing another exciting
chapter of our story.
General Manager: Anthony Swinsburg,
0419 604 571
Alkane Resources has received approval for a modification
that will reduce noise impacts from its Tomingley Gold Mine.
It comes after a noise survey in September
2014 identified mine-related exceedances
of the evening and night-time noise criteria
at the closest residence, while a number
of noise complaints were made from
residents during that year.
Having received such a
great response to Coalface
in the Hunter, we wanted
to extend this positive
voice for mining into other
coal and metalliferous
mining communities.
Fleet Management System
Community to benefit
from mine changes
The production estimate for FY2015
remains at 65,000 – 75,000oz.
TGO is located approximately 50km south
west of Dubbo and is based on three gold
deposits; Wyoming One, Wyoming Three
and Caloma, plus the potential resource at
Caloma Two.
In its assessment report, the Department
has recommended all construction works
be undertaken between 7am and 6pm
Each month advertisers will now
have the opportunity to reach even
more of their target market, with
an expanded monthly readership
of 60,000 across the major
mining centres in NSW and an
ever increasing viewing audience
on our website and newsletter,
which is delivered to the inboxes
of thousands of Coalface readers
each Wednesday.
Tritton copper production record
Don’t forget to log on to our website
– www.coalfacemagazine.com.au
– and while you’re there subscribe to
our newsletter to ensure you’re kept
up-to-date with all our changes and
everything that is happening within
the mining industry.
Straits’ flagship asset, Tritton copper
operations in NSW, is predicted to
produce a record of 28,500 tonnes
of copper, up 1500 tonnes on the
previously expected figure.
Thanks for your support on our
journey so far – we hope you enjoy
this final Western Region edition and
we look forward to sharing the “new”
Coalface with you all come August.
Michelle Meehan, Shannon Noud
and the Coalface team
Design: Jason Higgs
Contributors: NSW Minerals
Council, Suni Golightly, Alfabs Group,
Coal Services
Sales and Accounts Manager: Julie
Wicks 0429 363 847
[email protected]
Higher copper grades from
North East mine and lower
production costs boost output.
Copper mining and exploration
company Straits Resources expects
to set a new output record for the
full year.
According to Straits Resources, the
boost in output is due to higher copper
Production and Distribution Manager:
Matt Hann [email protected]
Office Manager: Lucy Archer
[email protected]
Copper grades at the main Tritton mine
have also been good thanks to the
mine-stoping sequence progressing
through higher grade orebody.
Straits also revealed that it had
processed 404,168 tonnes of ore
during the quarter, and said that the
continued debottlenecking of the plant
had allowed the processing plant to
stay ahead of its mining capacity.
The boost in production follows a
successful March quarter in which the
mine produced a record 8352 tonnes
of copper. This haul was up from the
7904 tonnes in the previous quarter,
and the 6302 tonnes in the previous
corresponding period.
Client Liaison Officer:
Michelle Lebrocq 0456 233 880
[email protected]
grades mined from the Larsen deposit,
at the North East mine.
Published by People Brands T/A
Coalface Magazine
ABN: 21 139 736 600
This was in spite of the fact that the
mine was shut down for more than
four days during March for a reline of
the semi-autogenous grinding and
ball mills.
The company said higher copper
production and lower mining costs
had helped offset an increase
in treatment charge and refining
charge costs.
HUNTER VALLEY: Shop 7, 157-159
John Street, Singleton NSW 2330
NEWCASTLE: 526 Hunter Street,
Newcastle NSW 2300
SYDNEY: Pier 8/9, 23 Hickson Road,
Sydney NSW 2000
coalfacemagazine.com.au | June - July 2015 3
Multimillion dollar mine deal to
transform gold mining company
Downer wins lucrative contract
Downer EDI Ltd has been
awarded the $70 million
contract for mining at
Glencore’s CSA underground
copper mine in Cobar, Central
Western NSW.
A $US550 million deal has been struck to sell the Cowal gold
mine near West Wyalong to Evolution Mining.
Owner Barrick Gold and Evolution issued
statements in late May confirming the
agreement, which would see Evolution
purchase 100 per cent of the shares in the
Cowal operation for $US550 million.
The gold mine is located 40km north-east
of West Wyalong in NSW and has an
estimated annual production of 230,000
to 260,000 ounces at an all-in-sustainingcost of $850 to $900 per ounce.
Evolution Executive Chairman Jake Klein
said the mine will form the “cornerstone”
of plans for the future of the relatively new
company, which was created in late 2011
through a merger of Catalpa Resources
and Conquest Mining.
Following the conclusion of the Cowal
transaction and last month’s $300 million
deal to acquire La Mancha Resources’
West Australian gold operations,
Evolution’s diverse and expanding
asset portfolio will be made up of
seven Australian operations located in
Queensland, Western Australia and New
South Wales.
“This is a truly transformational acquisition
for Evolution,” Mr Klein said.
“Very rarely does an opportunity arise to
acquire a high quality asset like Cowal.
“This is an asset that has a long history of
stable, large scale, low cost production. It
is also an asset that we believe provides
us with an attractive range of upside
opportunities.
“The addition of Cowal to our asset
portfolio is an exciting step forward
for Evolution and provides us with a
cornerstone asset of the highest quality,
which we will shape our future around.”
Cowal mine owner Barrick Gold
Corporation announced in February its
intention to sell the mine as part of a larger
strategy to reduce its net debt by more
than $3 billion by the end of the year.
“The sale of Cowal is consistent with
the strategy we have outlined to create
long-term value for our owners, making
a significant contribution to our debt
reduction target while further focusing the
geographic footprint of our portfolio,” CoPresident Kelvin Dushnisky said this week.
“We would like to extend our gratitude to
our Cowal employees, who have made a
significant contribution to Barrick since the
mine began production in 2006, and we
wish them future success as part of the
Evolution team.”
The transaction is expected to be
completed in the third quarter of 2015 and
is subject to customary closing conditions.
The deal has been described by Downer
CEO Grant Fenn as an endorsement
of the company’s underground
mining capability.
“Downer has a highly skilled and
experienced hard rock underground
mining team and we continue to build
this part of the mining business,” he said.
Initially the contract, scheduled to
come into effect in July, will run for two
years, with an option to extend it for an
additional year.
Mine funding
brings new life to
gaol exhibition
This is the second
year of the Women
in Industry Awards,
an initiative of
the Australian
Mining, PACE and
Manufacturers’
Monthly
publications.
Speaking with
Rockface recently,
Natalie said she
was excited to
be selected as
a finalist.
The awards
recognise the
achievements and
raise the profile of
women working
in the mining,
engineering, and
manufacturing
industries.
“As a professional I
want to be able to
make a difference
with my team, informing and educating
the community about the amazing
project that Alkane is bringing to fruition
in the Central West of NSW and how it
will benefit them,” she said.
“Being nominated as a finalist for the
Women in Industry Award for Marketing
Communications is affirmation that what
we are doing for Alkane is having a
positive and significant impact.”
This year the awards night will be
held on Thursday, June 25 at the Ivy
Ballroom, Sydney, with tickets costing
$165pp or $1320 for a table of 10.
For more information or to purchase
tickets visit
www.womeninindustry.com.au
Sponsors for the event are Pacific
Merchandising, the MMD Group of
Companies, BOC and ABB.
A full list of finalists can be found online.
4 June - July 2015 | coalfacemagazine.com.au
The concentrate contains approximately
29 per cent copper metal and is
exported to smelters in India, China and
South East Asia.
As part of the Modification, Newcrest
is seeking to increase the existing ore
processing rate from 27 million tonnes
per annum (Mtpa) to 32 Mtpa.
Pybar, a privately-owned company
headquartered in Orange, NSW,
previously held
the contract.
This will increase life of mine
production from approximately 561 Mt
to approximately 562 Mt.
The company recently released its
quarterly report leading up to March 31,
2015, which showed that gold output
increased to 610,186 ounces from
577,110 ounces in the previous quarter,
while the average price of gold also
increased from $1402 to $1556/oz.
A historic exhibition at the Old
Dubbo Gaol has been given a
much-needed upgrade thanks
to a $13,000 grant from the
NSW Government.
The Nosey Bob SpectraVision
Holographic display is a popular feature
of the Old Dubbo Gaol, but after 12 years
was in need of a facelift.
According to the Gaol’s Operations
Supervisor Merrin Starr, the
upgrade included replacing
three outdated televisions
with new plasma screens,
while also changing the
Windows PC video server
running the display to digital
high definition streaming.
More than 100 golfers from Parkes
and surrounding areas took part
in the three-person Ambrose style
tournament on April 11.
Newcrest’s Cadia East mine, which
forms part of the Cadia Valley
Operations (CVO) located 25 kilometres
south-west of Orange, achieved
particularly positive results.
CVO produced 121,592 ounces of gold
in the March quarter, which was 19 per
cent higher than the previous quarter.
This was achieved with the delivery
of two additional high capacity
The funding was allocated through the
NSW Government’s $20 million Restart
NSW Cobbora Transition Fund, which
was established to support infrastructure
projects that will benefit the region.
It adds to the previous $1 million Dubbo
Council received through the fund for
the refurbishment of the Gaol, which has
included upgrades to the watchtower,
infirmary block and entrance walk,
signage at Macquarie Street and Eddie
Meek Place, restoration of the unique
timber cobbled west entry, repairs to
roofing and installation of new exhibitions.
Dust, increased water usage, traffic,
noise and vibration were the main
concerns about the project raised in
the public submissions.
• an upgrade of the existing regrind
vertimill at concentrator 2;
• installation of three additional regrind
vertimills at concentrator 1;
• installation of additional flotation cells
at concentrator 1;
Cadia’s results make up nearly 20
per cent of Newcrest’s total gold
output across its assets in Australia,
Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and
Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast).
• de-bottlenecking process
improvements at the ore processing
facilities and underground
ore crushing and transport
infrastructure; and
Silver production at Cadia did not
fare as well, falling from 137,397oz to
122,916oz, while copper also fell from
19,265oz to 18,588oz.
• temporary trucking to allow the
transfer of Cadia East ore from
concentrator 1 to concentrator 2 until
the conveyors are in place.
Across the board, copper production
for Newcrest dropped from 25,508 to
24,307 tonnes, however the expected
annual production figure for 2015 has
In its Environmental Assessment,
Newcrest said the modification would
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Mine supplier Atlas Copco was this
year’s major sponsor.
hangman, and his time as executioner at
the gaol as well as his travels around the
state, giving visitors a valuable insight into
life in those days,” she said.
A public exhibition period for the
project was held from April 16 to May
1 with Newcrest now reviewing all
public submissions.
• additional secondary crushing
circuits at concentrators 1 and 2;
loaders, which resulted in improved
availability and productivity, while the
softening Australian dollar helped ease
operating costs.
The auction after the golf was also a
popular feature, raising $4500 of the
total funds with a set of golf clubs
going for $1150.
not significantly increase potential
environmental impacts in comparison
to the approved CVO, including no
predicted impacts on heritage or
biodiversity aspects.
It would only result in marginal
increases in noise and air quality,
both of which would still be within
existing criteria, while there would be
a small increase in light vehicle trips
during construction activities and an
increase in heavy vehicle deliveries
during operations.
It would also require the installation of
additional infrastructure and equipment
and various upgrades, including:
Golden year for Newcrest Mining
Newcrest Mining has had a good start to the year with a steady
increase in gold output across its operations.
The Northparkes Mines Social Club Charity Golf Day has
proven a big hit both on and off the course.
An employee from Alkane Resources, which operates the
Tomingley Gold Mine near Dubbo, has been named a finalist
in the 2015 Women in Industry Awards.
Natalie Chapman,
the company’s
Corporate
Communications
Manager, is in the
running to win
the marketingcommunications
category.
Glencore’s underground mine produces
more than 1.1 million tonnes of copper
ore and in excess of 185,000 tonnes of
copper concentrate per annum.
Golf day a hole in one for charity
Natalie goes for gold as awards puts
high vis women in the spotlight
The company is now continuing to plan
ahead, having recently submitted an
application to the NSW Department of
Planning and Environment to modify
CVO, which includes the Cadia East
and Ridgeway underground mines and
the Cadia Hill open cut, which ceased
operations in 2012.
Mr Fenn said Downer was looking
forward to working with Cobar
management on this important project.
Downer’s mining division has
successfully delivered contract mining
and civil earthmoving services to a list of
This year’s result brings the total
funds donated to CanAssist during
the past five years to $50,000.
increased from 95,000-105,000 tonnes.
global clients for more than 90 years.
The scope of works include mechanised
decline and lateral development mining
and haulage, and the provision of ground
support services such as shotcreting and
cable bolting.
The event raised $15,000 for
CanAssist - an organisation
dedicated to ensuring all people
in NSW have access to cancer
treatment and care by providing
funding, accommodation and
practical support for people in rural
and regional areas.
Cadia East underground
loader tipping ore into
the crusher
PH: 02 6362 1101
31 COLLIERS AVE
ORANGE NSw
Mark Coleman 0438 636 312 [email protected]
Darren Williams 0419 546 324 [email protected]
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Ms Starr said the new
system enhances the
visitor experience while
ensuring the longevity of the
popular display.
“The display tells the story
of ‘Nosey Bob’, a NSW
www.colemansequipment.com.au
suppliers
suppliers
Sandvik drills its way into the future
Safety is at the forefront of Sandvik Mining’s latest mining
drill rig.
ranges, and upcoming maintenance
requirements to improve
operational efficiency.
The new DR461i is a diesel powered,
self-propelled, crawler-mounted
blasthole drill rig suitable for soft and
hard rock mining.
The cab has also been redesigned
to enhance operator comfort,
It can also be used for both rotary and
down-the-hole applications with a
diameter of 216 to 311 millimeters (8
1/2 to 12 1/4 inches). Using feedback from customers,
Sandvik has designed the DR461i with
safety in mind.
The new drill rig incorporates a range
of features to protect operators and
maintenance crews, including a new
hydraulic main access stairway - a
safer alternative to the standard
vertical hanging steps to reduce the
risk of the operator falling.
The stairway is self-leveling
depending on the ground surface, and
height adjustable.
Additional wider and 360 degree
walkways have also been added
to enhance access for servicing,
coupled with hand railings, safety
interlocks, above-the-deck bit change
and autonomous pipe handling
where maintenance can be done
inside the cab using the hydraulic
breakout wrench.
“Unlike other cribbing or blocking
products, the Dura Crib range has
a published Working Load Limit so
users can safely and confidently use
it without the worry of wondering if
their blocking system is up to the job,”
Cribbing and Matting Co Managing
Director Tony Brooks said.
Sensors monitor data from different
parts of the machine such as the
motor, compressor, rotary head
and tracks, which is presented to
the operator via the graphical user
interface system inside the cab.
This allows the operator to keep
track of drill operating conditions,
sandvik
fabrication of parts like buckets and tubs,
chutes, handrails, platforms and stairs.
ingredients behind the success is
their people.
They also offer machining and
manufacturing of components such
as cylinders, custom design and
built cylinders, fixed plant and mill
mechanical repairs, light vehicle repairs
and pink slips.
Ongoing development and training
opportunities to nurture highly skilled
employees is something Whittaker is
good at and takes pride in, evidenced
by the fact that two of their apprentices
were winners at last year’s Regional
Training Awards.
Since its inception, Whittaker Contracting
has worked with Newcrest’s Cadia
Valley Operations, including the new
Cadia East underground mine, from the
initial development phase through to full
production.
They have also been awarded a
12-month contract fitting sound
attenuation packages for FanQuip in
Singleton, which will be used to minimise
noise from equipment on mine sites.
Supplier spotlight:
Whittaker Contracting
One of the region’s most successful mining contractors started
out with just one man, a ute and a vision.
at 17-years-of-age he started a diesel
plant mechanic apprenticeship with a
civil earthworks company.
“I always held a desire to be selfemployed,” the 41-year-old from
Orange said.
After finishing his training, Chris secured
a job with a contractor providing
mechanical maintenance at the
Woodlawn Mine in Goulburn.
“I had a strong focus on customer
service and believed that I could start
an organisation that could offer industry
best standard customer service.”
So it is little wonder Chris now runs a
successful contracting firm in Orange
that specialises in diesel plant repair to
the mining industry.
And that is exactly what he did. Chris set
up a ute and started doing some work
for various earthmoving, mining and road
transport providers.
Through their mechanical and heavy
plant, fabrication and engineering
and machining divisions, Whittaker
Contracting offer a range of services for
customers both on-site in the workshop
or in the field.
Eleven years on, his business - Whittaker
Contracting - has grown into a major
contracting company, with a workforce
of 110 people working across various
locations in NSW.
Chris launched his career in 1991 when
This includes machine refurbishment,
repair and diagnostics, component
rebuilds for things like differentials, wheel
ends, brakes and transmissions, heavy
A new generation of recycled plastic cribbing system tested
to be consistent with internationally recognised Australian
Standards is being introduced throughout the Asia-Pacific.
The lightweight, splinter-free, nonabsorbent and environmentally
sustainable Dura Crib ranges of
blocking and cribbing products from
Cribbing and Matting Co. have been
engineered for maximum durability
and tested under the guidance of
AS1170 to ensure optimum safety
and risk management when stabilising
heavy loads.
The DR461i is also equipped with a
range of new technological features
that take it into the next generation,
including the CAN Bus controlled
hydraulic system that monitors
machine performance.
Chris Whittaker (centre) with his
winning apprentices at the 2014
Western Regional Training Awards
That man was Christopher Whittaker,
who after working in the West Australian
Goldfields, returned to NSW with the
goal of starting his own business.
with controls on the armrests,
touchscreens, angled windows to
reduce glare, a safari-style roof to keep
the cab cooler, air conditioning and
sound insulation to 80 dBA or less.
Clean green plastic cribbing setting
benchmarks when stabilising heavy loads
Some of their other mining customers
include CBH Resources Endeavor Mine
in Cobar, Tritton Resources, Northparkes
Mines, Cowal Gold Mine, Peabody’s
Wilpinjong mine in Mudgee and Emeco
in Gunnedah.
But they also do work in the agriculture
and transport industries, which is
particularly important today with the
contraction of the mining sector.
Whittaker has grown exponentially in
the last 11 years and one of the main
“Our biggest achievement has been
having the ability to employ staff, both
tradespeople, administration and
apprentices, watch their careers develop,
their families grow and see the loyalty
that they’ve shown Penny and myself,”
Chris said.
But he was also proud that the company
has lived up to what he hoped to do
when the business was first established deliver ongoing quality service.
“This sets a new benchmark
of quality, high performance
and consistency of supply for
safety‑conscious industries.”
• High-visibility safety yellow, with
Working Load Limit of 36kg/cm2
at 25oC.
• Ultra-strength, optimum
performance black, with Working
Load Limit of 60kg/cm2 at 25oC.
Both types feature a globally proven,
consistent and repeatable formulation
with a 50-year warranty against
splitting, rotting, absorption, termites
and mould.
The high performance Dura Crib
range was developed to replace older,
weaker wood cribbing systems.
A major advantage of Dura Crib is that
it is a complete system of integrated
products that can be combined to
provide comprehensive solutions
across a wide range of industries.
Such safety assurance, risk
management and established
continuity of supply is widely sought
after by industries dealing with
heavy loads.
Within the Dura Crib range there are
blocks suitable for supporting weights
of up to 110,000kg with a choice of:
cribbing and matting co
OEM puts fleet flexibility up for rent
Komatsu Australia has lifted the lid on a new equipment rental
business that gives customers more flexibility in the
current market.
Customers across
eastern Australia
and New Zealand
now have the
option of renting a
range of Komatsu
construction
and utility
machines, such as
excavators, wheel
loaders, rigid and
articulated dump
trucks, dozers,
graders backhoes
and hybrids.
komatsu
While the rental
business first
kicked off in mid-2013, it has grown
considerably in that time, now offering a
fleet of more than 200 machines.
Komatsu Rental’s National Rental
Manager Geoff Pisani said the rental
equipment market in Australia has the
potential to grow as strongly as it has in
the United States, Britain and Japan.
“These markets have seen sales to the
construction equipment rental sector
grow rapidly over the past 15-20 years,”
he said.
“At Komatsu Rental we are determined
to be a key player in this growing
market segment, which is reflecting
some significant changes happening in
the industry.”
Mr Pisani said a lot of demand has
come from existing Komatsu customers
who previously had to rent equipment
for short-term projects from other
suppliers, but there was also demand
from other contractors and plant hire
companies that have limited access to
capital, making renting more attractive.
He said this option offers more flexibility
to supplement their existing fleet
while saving capital for fixed plant
and infrastructure.
Rental customers also have access to
other services, such as the KOMTRAX
and KOWA machine monitoring and
tracking systems, plus technical and
servicing support.
Komatsu Rental branches are located
in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne
and Auckland.
Pride, Innovation & Quality.
The rIghT soluTIon... fIrsT TIme
“We have continued to provide quality
service to a core group of loyal clientele.
I love providing an exceptionally high
quality service and doing work that we’re
proud of,” Chris said.
Whittaker Contracting are leaders in quality repairs and maintenance
to the mining, civil earthmoving and road transport industries.
“In addition to continuing this service
to our existing customers, we aim to
pursue the opportunity to develop
new and long lasting relationships with
prospective clients.”
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P 02 6392 0000
Whittaker employee Pete McAnally
cover feature
Rehab &
reuse:
cover feature
A diver’s mask, scuba tank and flippers are not exactly standard
issue personal protective equipment (PPE) for a mine site.
But while safety glasses and steel cap boots may have had their place when
these mines were operational, creative rehabilitation projects implemented once
the last precious resources were extracted from the ground now ensure a whole
new brand of PPE is call for during a site visit these days.
Bonne Terre Mine –
united states
Bonne Terre Mine, operated by St
Joe Minerals.
In the late 19th century, the tiny United
States city of Bonne Terre was best
known for its vast lead deposits.
One of the earliest deep-earth lead
mines, it was developed over five
levels to become one of the world’s
biggest man-made caverns and the
largest producer of lead ore.
Located in St. Francois County in
Missouri, United States, it was home
from the 1860s to a number of major
lead mining operations including the
But since its closure in 1962, the
Bonne Terre Mine has become known
Eden Project, image
courtesy of Flickr; Moochy
We’ve collated some of the most creative examples we think Australia’s mining
industry could learn from and be inspired by – you won’t believe just what some
of these sites have become!
as something very different indeed –
the largest fresh water scuba diving
venue in the world.
Labelled by National Geographic as
“One of America’s Top 10 Greatest
Adventures”, it is now a mecca for
experienced divers from around the
world, offering year-round 15-degree
water temperatures and 30m visibility
(thanks for 500,000 watts of stadium
lighting installed above the water’s
surface) showcasing the former tunnels
and abandoned equipment below.
attraction centre that aims to connect
people to the natural world.
Until recent years mines around the
world were not obliged to implement
mine closure or decommissioning
activities, such as rehabilitation, which
has left a legacy of derelict mine sites
and the associated environmental and
social impacts.
“The Eden Project is a remarkable
example of post-mining regeneration,
which we believe can be used as an
inspiring platform to deliver broader
action in this field,” says the PostMining Alliance on their website.
In the UK, the Post-Mining Alliance
was established to help tackle
that problem.
It was around 1995 that the mine was
approaching the end of its life, which
then raised the question of what to do
with the land when it closed.
The Alliance is an independent,
not-for-profit group dedicated
to encourage and promote the
regeneration of old mine sites for
the sustainable benefit of the local
community and natural environment.
Led by businessman Tim Smit,
with the help of architect Nicholas
Grimshaw and a few others, a concept
was developed that would turn the
once industrial site into a hub for
environmental sustainability.
And one of their pride and joys is the
Eden Project in Cornwall - an old china
clay mine, which was transformed
into an educational charity and visitor
Construction on the project began
around 1998 and officially opened to
the public in March, 2001.
The defining element of the project
The dive site is located on the lower
three levels of the former mine, where
a 3.7 billion litre, 27 kilometre long
lake was created over many years as
groundwater seeped into and flooded
the old shafts.
Visit www.2dive.com to find out more.
This includes the Rainforest Biome,
which is the largest indoor rainforest
in the world incorporating four of
the world’s rainforest environments;
Tropical Islands, Southeast Asia, West
Africa and Tropical South America.
Every year Eden hosts countless
events, from concerts - with big names
like Elton John and Paloma Faith set to
play there this month - to exhibitions,
marathons and sporting events, food
and beer festivals and everything else
in between.
The project grows more than one
million plants from 6000 different
species and has brought an old
industrial site back to life, literally
speaking.
Other attractions include the giant bee
in the outdoor flower gardens near the
entry to the Biomes, which reminds
people how important pollinating
insects are to flowers and to humans.
Then there’s the WEEE man - a
3.3-tonne, seven metre high structure
representing the amount of waste
electrical and electronic equipment
(WEEE) the average British household
throws away in a lifetime. Its goal is
to create awareness of this waste and
encourage people to recycle.
For something a little more thrilling
there’s also the Skywire Zip Wire,
• Zip World Caverns, Llechwedd
Quarry, Blaenau Ffestiniog,
Underground: the largest fully
underground zip line course in
the world, which opened in May
this year.
Visitors use a train to travel
inside the mountain to reach the
attraction, where they are given
overalls and helmet for their
one-hour experience.
underground trampoline
park - wales
trampoline park, which is said to be
the first of its kind.
Caverns of an old underground slate
mine in Wales have been transformed
into the world’s largest underground
Opening to the public in 2014, Bounce
Below is a unique experience where
visitors can bounce on three giant
Located in the Llechwedd Slate
Caverns of Gwynedd in Northern
Wales, Bounce Below is part of
Zip World, an outdoor pursuits
centre in Blaenau Ffestiniog and cost
more than £1 million to develop.
The other attractions that are
incorporated in Zip World are:
All attractions are located in old
quarries either above ground or in
old mining chambers underground
and the drive between sites, Penrhyn
Quarry, Bethesda and Llechwedd
Quarry, Blaenau Ffestiniog is about 45
minutes by car.
For more information visit
www.bouncebelow.net or
www.zipworld.co.uk
Zip World Velocity, UK
The two upper levels of the mine offer
another attraction for visitors, with
one-hour guided walking tours along
the old mule trails highlighting where
miners used picks and shovels to
extract the lead ore during the 1870s.
which is England’s longest zip wire
that extends 660m at speeds of up
to 96kph.
Outside the Biomes are plenty more
incredible gardens covering 20 acres,
with more than 3000 varieties of
plants, plus crops used for medicine,
fuels, materials and food. • Zip World Titan, Llechwedd Quarry,
Blaenau Ffestiniog: the largest zip
zone and only four person zip line
in Europe where riders fly over
mountains and old mines at speeds
up to 112km/h.
Adding to the effect, the cave
is also lit with a technicoloured
light display that highlights the
remnants of the old mine.
Divers in the water
at Bonne Terre Mine,
image courtesy of
Missouri Division of
Tourism
are the massive Biomes - the indoor
greenhouses that house thousands of
different plants.
There are more than 1000 different
plants in this Biome where even
coffee, cacao and pineapple is grown,
plus there’s a canopy walkway where
visitors can walk among the treetops.
eden project united kingdom
Each trampoline is about 18m
wide and has been tested to
hold a huge weight, plus there
are also three metre net walls to
stop people climbing out.
From reinvigorating old mines into dive sites, museums, entertainment venues
and even bike parks, there are a host of out of the box uses for former mine sites
to be found around the world.
World gets creative with former mine sites
• Zip World Velocity, Penrhyn Quarry,
Bethesda: one of the longest zip
lines in the Northern hemisphere
at approximately 1.5km long
where riders can exceed speeds of
around 160km/h.
trampolines that are suspended
underground, with each section
linked by walkways and
slides - the longest of which is
60ft (18.2m).
Bounce Below
trampoline park
The world’s first
underground bike park at
the Louisville Mega Cavern
Education also underpins the Eden
Project, teaching people about
sustainability and the importance of
looking after the environment through
school trips and business training,
community workshops, gardening
courses and learning resources.
underground bike park united states
According to the 2013/2014 annual
report, there were 858,897 visitors to
the Eden Project in 2013, while the
total number of visits since the facility’s
opening has exceeded 13 million.
An abandoned limestone mine
in Louisville, Kentucky, has been
transformed into the world’s largest
indoor bike park and the first of its
kind to be built underground.
This is one example of where a little
lateral thinking and creativity has gone
a long way, and that is exactly the
ethos of the Eden Project as outlined
in the 2013/2014 annual report.
The 320,000 square foot
(97,536sqm) bike park is located
about 30m underground and features
45 dirt trails, jumps and stunt
courses, with different tracks to suit
riders of all ages and skill levels.
“When the rules of a successful
future are not yet known we will use
imagination and enterprise to find new
solutions,” the report said.
“We will create memorable
experiences that lead people to care
about each other and the natural world
and do transformational projects, both
big and small, to show what people
working with nature can achieve.”
www.edenproject.com
The Zipline course in the
Louisville Mega Cavern
With plenty of dirt and a year round
temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit
(15.5 degree celcius), the cave is the
ideal environment for riding, besides
being pretty damn cool.
of other attractions, including:
• Mega Zips - an underground zip
line course with six zip lines and
two challenge bridges.
• Mega Quest - an aerial ropes
challenge course with 76 different
challenging elements.
• Mega Tram - a one-hour historic
tram tour of the man-made
cavern that explores history,
geology, mining, recycling, green
building technology.
• Mega Events - part of the cavern
has been transformed into an event
space with the capacity to hold
250 people for a sit-down event
and 350 people for meetings.
The park is however just one part of
the larger Louisville Mega Cavern,
which was mined from the early
1930s to the 1970s.
• Lights Under Louisville - Each
year the cavern is transformed
into an underground Christmas
light spectacular with more than
850 displays.
The Mega Cavern is approximately 40
hectares and also features a number
www.louisvillemegacavern.com
from wastelANDS TO
heartlanDS - united
kingdom
• Cornish mining exhibitions;
After the culmination of nearly 400
years of tin mining in Pool, West
Cornwall in 1998, much of the
land was left untouched while the
community struggled to recover from
the loss of their major industry.
So in the mid-2000s a project
was envisioned that would
attempt to reinvigorate what had
become ‘wastelands’.
In 2012 that project came to fruition
with the launch of the £35 million
Heartlands project - a cultural
playground based on almost eight
hectares of former mining land at
the old Robinson’s Shaft, which is a
World Heritage listed site.
Jointly funded by the Big Lottery
Fund, Cornwall Council, Homes
and Communities Agency and
the European Union, Heartlands
incorporates a range of
attractions, including:
• restored engine house with 80”
beam engine (the last Cornish
engine to work on a mine);
• botanical gardens;
• cafes and bars;
• art and craft studios and
exhibitions,
• indoor and outdoor event areas
and theatres,
• market square;
• one and two-bedroomed
sustainable homes; and
• biomass boiler, photo voltaics,
rain-harvesting system and
wind turbine.
While Heartlands was developed to
preserve the area’s heritage, it was
important to bring life to the area and
create sustainability through new
economic, social, environmental and
cultural opportunities.
www.heartlandscornwall.com
cover feature
Rockface
Chapel of St Kinga, Wieliczka salt
mine Poland, image courtesy of
Flickr; Nico Trinkhaus
Q&A
of the nearby Bochnia
Salt Mine in 2013 where
they are listed together as
the Royal Salt Mines of
Poland.
wieliczka salt mine - poland
Salt mining at Wieliczka began as
far back as the 13th century and
continued producing salt until the late
20th century.
Zollverein colliery germany
As the last miners descended down
the shaft of the Zollverein coal
mine in Germany in 1986, little did
they know how their legacy would
live on.
But it has, through the idea of
preservation through conservation.
This transformed the mine and
the Zollverein Coking Plant, which
closed in 1993, into a cultural
landscape that is visited by more
than 1.5 million people each year.
In 2001 the central shaft Zollverein
XII, shafts 1/2/8 and the coking
plant were listed as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site - one that
respects and acknowledges its
past, but brings it into the future.
rock faces
Horse drawn in one of the Wieliczka
salt mine shafts, image courtesy of
Flickr; Brian Snelson
Due to its significance as one of the
earliest and most important industries
for Poland and Europe, it was placed
on the list of UNESCO World Heritage
Sites in 1978, followed by the addition
The area covers around 100
hectares, providing enough space
for museums, event and concert
venues, a seasonal ice skating rink
and swimming pool, restaurants,
offices and studios, art galleries
and exhibitions, art schools and
other experiences.
But Wieliczka is far from
any typical mine, as over
the years generations of
miners have left their own
artistic legacy, turning
the saline chambers into
works of art, religious
sculptures and chapels
that are today visited by more than one
million tourists each year from all over
the world.
As well as being a popular tourist
destination, the mine is a unique place
to host events, such as weddings in
the Chapel of St Kinga.
The many chambers have also been
used for art galleries, training sessions,
concerts, conferences, balls, dinners
and other functions.
There’s also an underground health
resort, underground restaurants
and both surface and underground
accommodation, such as the Eastern
Mountains Stable Chamber that was
once a stable for horses used in the
mine excavations.
www.wieliczka-saltmine.com
Ice skating at
Zollverein, image
courtesy of Flickr;
Felix Montino
History: Founded in 2010
Miner packs bags for
African adventure
Many of us say we would love to volunteer our time to help other
people around the world who are less fortunate than ourselves.
Northparkes Mines Community and
External Relations Advisor Brooke Lees
is one of those people who, alongside
her partner Dave Rathbone, is about to
embark on a four month volunteering
stint in Uganda, Africa.
Rockface caught up with Brooke to talk
about the trip before she jets off.
www.zollverein.de
Can you tell us a bit about your trip?
We begin our four-month volunteering
stint on July 7 in Uganda.
We will be working with orphans in
the village of Jinja on weekends and
through the week will travel out to a
remote village with no running water,
toilets etc to teach English in the
school there.
Wine Cellars - Moldova
Just outside the capital of Moldova, a
former Soviet republic that emerged
in 1991, are underground Cricova
limestone mines, which after the
Second World War were cleverly
turned into wine cellars.
The average depth of the caves is
between 35 and 80 metres with a
constant low temperature of 12-14
degrees celcius and 97-98 per cent
humidity, making them the ideal
environment for the storage of wine
and the fermentation of sparkling wine.
The cellars stretch around a 70km
long winery where people can drive
through streets named after wine
types to explore the incredible
underground wine world.
A tour includes a drive through the
tunnels, dinner accompanied of course
by wine, and a few wine bottles to
take home at the end.
Arise and Shine Uganda
But it takes a special kind of person to
put their money where their mouth is
and actually do it.
Zollverein bridges the new with
the old, celebrating the site’s
industrial heritage while using it as
a backdrop to inspire new cultural
experiences.
Moldova underground wine
cellars, image courtesy of
Flickr; Hans Põldoja
This image: Brooke Lees
and Dave Rathbone
- Image by Society
Photography.
Other photos via Arise
and Shine Uganda
Facebook page.
More information:
www.wineofmoldova.com/en
We will stay in that village all week
and also help to educate the adults on
sexual education as there is a high rate
of HIV and aids there.
During that time we hope to also go and
see the apes in the Republic of Congo
and do a safari.
When do you fly out/get home? We
leave the country on June 10 and go to
Europe first for my brother’s wedding in
Belgium. We get home from Uganda at
the end of October.
Who are you going with? Is it part
of a group? Just my partner Dave. I
have a friend who did it through this
company, Arise and Shine Uganda.
When she came home she was still
raising money for them so I thought it
must definitely be worthwhile.
I also like this company because all
of the money we’re raising for the trip
goes directly to them and to the people
that need it most – not into admin
fees etc.
What made you decide to do it? This
is something I have always wanted to
do. I have had the privilege of living in
Mission: Arsie and Shine Uganda
is a non-profit organisation with
its intervations in both the Jinja
and Kamuli districts of Uganda.
Its beneficiaries are orphans,
youths and adults 18 years old
and above.
Arise and Shine Uganda has a
goal that orphans, youths and
adults will have higher living
standards and so supports it’s
beneficiaries to enable sustainable
community development through
quality education.
Contact: www.ariseandshineug.
blogspot.com
a few different countries for work, but
something I haven’t done is give my
time to help the people living there.
I love animals and so growing up I
think I was drawn to Africa as a place
in general. But for a long time I have
wanted to go there and volunteer.
I believe you get to know people best
when you live among them. I think
the people we are going to meet will
be some of the best people we’ve
ever met.
What are you most looking forward
to? Dave and I are both so excited
to meet the children and help them in
whatever way we can.
Whether it’s just making them smile,
teaching them new skills or playing ball
with them. I can’t wait to make some
lifelong friends.
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What do you hope to get out of
the experience? We want to give
something back firstly and help them as
we said in any way.
We want to share new experiences,
grow as people, learn from them
and come back better people. I think
something like this can only make
you stronger.
Sometimes when I get nervous, I think
‘I will have Dave with me, so nothing
will be too hard’. I’m so grateful to have
him. Finally I have someone who wants
to share this experience with me.
Is this a personal thing or through
work? Personal, but work, both mine
and Dave’s, have been very supportive.
They have given us leave without pay
and we have our jobs to return to.
1800 897 336
[email protected]
www.tyredoctor.com.au
whs & training
sustain
Their argument was based on the
premise that urine testing is an
unnecessary and unjust invasion of
privacy as it can be used to identify a
history of drug use, which may not be
relevant to their capacity to work.
They also said that oral testing
produced equal or superior results to
urine testing.
Port Kembla argued oral testing
was not suitable for detection of
benzodiazepines and sensitive
detection of THC (marijuana),
or ingested THC, plus detection
of long-term use of opioids,
cocaine and amphetamine-related
psycho stimulants.
Commission supports stronger
workplace drug testing
A Fair Work Commission dispute has found in favour of a
company’s plans to use saliva and urine sampling to monitor
and prevent workplace drug and alcohol use.
The Commission supported the
view that using both methods would
improve health and safety in the
workplace, outweighing concerns of
employee privacy.
regime from August 1, 2014.
Port Kembla Coal Terminal Limited
informed the Construction, Forestry,
Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) of its
intention to implement a new drug-testing
The CFMEU filed the dispute under
the Port Kembla Coal Terminal Limited
Enterprise Agreement 2012, which was
referred to the Commission for arbitration.
This regime would utilise both urine
and saliva testing methods, which they
believed would be more effective and
provide a safer workplace.
New collaboration puts mental
health under the microscope
Funding from a mining company has contributed to the
installation of an innovative mental health research device at
the University of Newcastle.
The $200,000 laser-equipped microscope
will provide key insights into mental illness
for brain and mental health researchers.
It was launched at the university in April.
Jointly funded by Glencore, the Hunter
Medical Research Institute (HMRI) and
the University of Newcastle, the system
is the first of its kind in Australia and will
be used to explore complex disorders like
depression, stress, addiction, chronic pain
and balance dysfunction.
Dr Dayas said the technique has
already been used to study the lateral
hypothalamus region of the brain,
establishing that cells in this area regulate
sleep wake cycles.
“These are findings that could be
In his decision, Commissioner Ian
Cambridge noted that each method
has its shortcomings and benefits,
but together would provide a superior
deterrent against illicit drug use in
the workplace.
instrumental in developing new treatments
for sleep disorders, which could extend
to changes in sleep wake patterns
experienced by shift workers,” he said.
The first two projects currently underway
using the LASU are looking at how
brain circuits in the spinal cord and
hypothalamus are related to pain
and addiction. The University of Newcastle has built a
specialised laboratory to support the use
of the LASU system.
“Further, the use of both methods
provides significantly enhanced
deterrent properties. Against these
significant attributes the alleged
privacy intrusions are matters of little
realistic consequence.
“In summary, a blunt distillation
of the contest in this case and its
determination can be described as a
choice between private lives or saving
lives and I have opted for saving lives.”
For more information about the
dispute go to www.fwc.gov.au/
documents/decisionssigned/
html/2015FWC2384.htm
An effective drug and alcohol policy is one of the ways the
mining industry can fight drug use in the workplace.
That is a message
from CS (Coal
Services) Health in
light of recent media
coverage surrounding
Australia’s
methamphetamines
epidemic.
water usage is ADE’s
ECO Spray Premium
- a remote controlled
water truck spray
system where users
can preset how much
water is sprayed onto
the road, ensuring no
water is wasted while
still maintaining a safe
level of friction on their
haul roads.
New partnership to
optimise mining haul roads
“There are a range of important
benefits that are derived from the
random operation of both oral fluid
and urine sampling. The use of both
methods overcomes the scientific and
technological deficiencies that each
method cannot avoid if one method is
used in isolation.
Mining industry needs to
remain vigilant on drug use
Four industry suppliers are bringing their expertise
together to tackle the everyday challenges of
managing haul roads on mine sites.
Australian Diversified Engineering
(ADE), Proof Engineers,
RoadSafety Training Services,
and Reynolds Soil Technologies
(RST) have come together to
form the Haul Road Optimisation
Alliance, which provides
innovative solutions for mines to
better manage road safety, dust
and water usage.
ADE General Manager Clive
Gray said recent audits show
that water trucks are applying
at least 50 per cent more water
than necessary to manage
dust, which is both costly
and dangerous.
dust, it creates the risk of an
uncontrolled movement when a
vehicle is involved in a slide or
rollover,” he said.
To help ensure mines don’t
overwater haul roads,
RoadSafety Training Services
has designed a surface
friction protocol to help sites
determine how much water can
be safely applied.
The protocol uses a Global Road
Friction Risk Model to specify a
safe water application rate where
a minimum level of grip in the
road is maintained.
“If an operation overwaters its
haul roads in an attempt to battle
One tool that has been
developed to help control
Also part of the Alliance
is Reynolds Soil
Technologies (RST),
whose road stabilisation
and dust suppressants
are used to help control
dust even after the
water has evaporated,
essentially reducing the number
of sprays required.
And to bring everything together,
Proof Engineers have developed
the Proof Mobile Dust Monitor,
which provides real-time
monitoring of wheel-generated
dust - one of the largest sources
of dust on a mine site.
According to Mr Gray,
technology continues to
drive improvements in the
mining industry.
“By undertaking a broad review
of haul road management, mine
operators can gain greater
knowledge of their operations,
leading to more efficient
haul roads and the ability to
significantly improve productivity
and revolutionise their road and
dust management operations.”
mining support
engineering
construction
Ground support
civil & service
concept & desiGn
steel & poly
proJect MAnAGeMent
supervision
Reynolds Soil Technology (RST) has developed
a new solution that will speed up vegetation
growth in industry rehabilitation while also
reducing dust.
Seed Stay & Grow helps
protect vegetation by creating
a soil crust on the surface.
This still allows water to
penetrate the seeds and
allows the soil to breathe, but
provides a layer of protection
to minimise erosion until the
seeds germinate.
RST operations and technical
director David Handel said
Seed Stay & Grow utilises the
company’s Floraguard filmforming technology to coat
the seed, reduce moisture
loss and protect them from
the elements, like heat, UV,
cold and frosts.
“These actions increase
growth rates and reduce
germination loss,” he said.
“Fertiliser can be added to
the solution being sprayed
but RST recommends that a
small jar test is performed first
by mixing all the components
together to ensure they
are chemically compatible
and stable.
“When a suitable fertiliser is
added the Seed Stay & Grow
solution locks up the nutrients
in the desired area, allowing
the full benefit of the fertiliser
to be achieved.”
To apply, dilute the solution
with water and then spray
onto the surface.
28 YEARS A LOCAL...
According to
CS Health,
methamphetamines
- also known as ‘ice’
or ‘crystal meth’ –
along with other illicit
or non-illicit drugs
and synthetic drugs,
have the potential to
affect safety in the
workplace by altering
mental capacity and
in turn increasing the
risk of an accident.
Testing completed by
CS Health indicated
a low rate of “ice”
use in the industry,
with just 0.21 per
cent of nearly 16,000
tests in the past 12
months returning a positive result for
methamphetamines.
Known as Laser Applied Stimulation and
Uncaging (LASU), the system works by
inserting proteins directly into brain cells
(neurons), which are then excited by laser
light, where cells can be selectively turned
on and off.
According to researcher Dr Chris Dayas,
a member of the University of Newcastle’s
Priority Research Centre for Translational
Neuroscience and Mental Health
Research, this is a new process called
optigenetics, which has “transformed
the capacity of scientists to understand
how the brain works” and the processes
involved in mental illness.
The company said it would implement
both methods at random to provide
a greater level of deterrence for drug
users who could not potentially avoid
a positive result based on awareness
of the method utilised. They said there
would be a focus on rehabilitation
rather than disciplinary action.
“A detailed analysis of the competing
positions has led me to conclude that
the benefits that would be obtained
by the adoption of both methods
of sampling in random combination
significantly outweigh any privacy
detriments that could be identified,”
he said.
New solution plants seed for
faster rehabilitation results
CS Health General Manager Mark
O’Neill said most mining companies
have strict drug and alcohol policies
and procedures in place, which are
working to monitor and discourage
drug use.
But he believed the industry still
needed to remain on the front
foot when it came to the issue of
drug use.
“The key in meeting the challenge of
Rescue (v.) an act of saving
or being saved from danger or
difficulty
Academy (n.) a place of study or
training in a specialised field
CS Health General
Manager Mark O’Neill
illegal substance use is workplace
education on the dangers of
all drugs and fostering the
development of a zero tolerance
approach to anything that places
workers health and safety at risk,”
Mr O’Neill said.
“There has been no increase over
the past three years. This result
doesn’t mean that we can rest
easy. We need to remain vigilant;
particularly given this is a growing
issue in our community.”
leading through our people
02 6362 7070
forefrontservices.com.au
68 Astill Drive Orange NSW 2800
innovation
events
Mining suppliers to deliver millions in savings through technology
Komatsu and General Electric (GE) have joined
forces in a new partnership that will see a
stronger convergence between the industry
and technology.
The mining suppliers have
come together to deliver
advanced data analysis
of equipment to improve
operational efficiency, safety
and reduce costs.
GE already uses IoT to
monitor critical equipment
such as aircraft engines and
gas turbines, while Komatsu
allows customers to track
the position and status of its
machinery using KOMTRAX.
Under the partnership, data
collected from sensors
attached to Komatsu’s
equipment will be sent to
a GE data centre in the
United States.
Rio Tinto is also using IoT
with its autonomous, selfdriving mining trucks in
Western Australia. These
Komatsu trucks are fitted
with hundreds of sensors
and are connected to a GPS
system to navigate their way
around the mine and a radar
system to respond to local
conditions, all the while being
operated remotely in Perth.
Here it will be processed
with GE’s big-data analysis
capabilities, which harnesses
the power of “Internet
of Things” technology
(IoT) - a growing network
of “things” or “objects”,
such as mining equipment,
which are embedded with
electronics, software, sensors
and connectivity.
Now, GE and Komatsu are
extending these capabilities
to mines to maximise their
assets by improving truck
routes and positioning,
adjusting speed and
breaking based on haul
road and site conditions,
increasing fuel efficiency
and predicting maintenance
to reduce wear and tear and
equipment downtime.
IoT technology is helping
transform the mining sector,
where remote wireless
technologies allow machines
to communicate with each
other, exchange valuable data
and inform decisions based
on optimal performance.
Bridgestone delegates cutting the
ribbon to the new facility
Global centre of
excellence opens in NSW
One of the world’s leading tyre manufacturers
has made a big commitment to Australia’s mining
sector with the opening of a world-class facility
in NSW.
Bridgestone’s new facility
is dedicated to the
ongoing innovation of its
off-the-road (OTR) tyre
division for the mining and
construction industries.
Strategically positioned in the
Mt Thorley Industrial Estate
in the Hunter Valley, the
Bridgestone Institute Globalmining Solutions (BIGS)
centre for excellence is a first
of its kind for the industry.
It will act as a global hub for
research and development
to ensure Bridgestone
continues to deliver
innovative service solutions
for its mining customers both
locally and around the world.
Over the last decade
Bridgestone has invested
heavily into research and
development to improve OTR
tyre quality and performance
for customers.
As tyre maintenance and
repair can be quite costly
for mine operators, it is
important to prolong the
According to Komatsu
Australia’s Managing Director
Sean Taylor, this latest
partnership, which has been
successfully trialled at a
copper mine in South Africa,
would provide many benefits
to Australian customers.
He said that with the current
downturn and weakening
commodity prices, companies
are looking for ways to
optimise productivity,
maximise assets and
reduce costs.
capabilities, we can lift that
figure to significantly greater
than 10 per cent, potentially
saving millions of dollars a
year per mine in fuel and
other costs,” he said.
“By giving our mining
customers access to such
detailed operating information,
Komatsu and GE together
will provide opportunities for
customers to reduce fuel
and power usage, as well as
optimising shipments between
Presently, Komatsu’s data
capabilities have improved
fuel efficiency by five per
cent through optimised truck
scheduling and haul road
management, but they expect
that to improve even further.
mines and ports.
“We believe we can also
help lower costs by reducing
the stockpile volumes and
holding times.”
This isn’t the first time
the two companies have
collaborated, having formed
a joint venture in 2014 –
Komatsu GE Mining Systems
LLC – to develop new and
innovative underground
mining equipment.
GE Mining also supplies
electric drive systems to
Komatsu for its dump trucks.
Northparkes open
day a success
The Parkes community have been given the opportunity to
learn more about one of their local industries - mining.
Northparkes Mines hosted its
bi‑annual open day on Saturday, May
16 to give the community a look at
what happens on a mine site.
More than 3000 people from within
the local community and across the
Central West region attended the
event, including Orange State MP
Andrew Gee and Parkes Shire Council
Mayor Ken Keith.
For the first time, the open day was
held at Northparkes Oval in Parkes,
while bus tours took people to the
mine site for a tour.
“Now by harnessing
IoT technology,
combined with GE’s
big-data analysis
At the oval attendees were able
to check out some of the mining
equipment used on site and
experience what it’s like to operate
an underground loader in the
mining simulator.
There were also markets, community
and business stalls, music and
entertainment and plenty of activities
for kids and families.
Northparkes Mines Managing Director
Stefanie Loader said the open day
was important to show the community
what the operation does on a
daily basis.
life of the tyre to
enhance productivity
and safety.
Bridgestone have
already developed
a number of
technologies to
achieve those
benefits for
customers, such
as its Bridgestone
Intelligent Tag
(B-TAG), which uses
sensors to deliver
real‑time monitoring
of both tyre pressure
and temperature
every five minutes.
This provides
operators with
information to guide
when they can maximise
production and when they
should pull back to avert
tyre damage.
The BIGS facility will focus
on providing a whole-oflife solutions package,
from the design to fitting,
maintenance and
inspection, on‑site
servicing and
engineering, rim
management,
repair, re-treading
and disposal.
BIGS will also become a
training centre to ensure
expertise across all areas
of service, from sales
representatives to field
engineers. A particular
focus will be on tyre repair
training, leveraging off
Bridgestone’s success as the
only company in Australia
offering an accredited offroad (OTR) Major Tyre Repair
training course.
Pledging its support for the
mining sector, Managing
Director of Bridgestone
Institute Global Mining
Solutions, Tsuyoshi Kamiya
said the Hunter was an ideal
location for the facility.
“We could have established
BIGS anywhere in the world,
but Australia’s first-class
resources and construction
sectors make it an excellent
location for us to develop
the new technology and
new integrated
service packages to help
reduce operating costs
and downtime for our
mining, construction and
earthmoving clients,”
he said.
“This is the first time anyone
in the tyre sector has
attempted this, but Australia
has the mining, construction
and earthmoving technology,
the qualified personnel and
the infrastructure to make
BIGS a huge success.”
BIGS was officially
opened on April 9 and is a
subsidiary of Bridgestone
Earthmover Tyres.
The centre incorporates a
showroom, tyre repair facility
and wheel repair facility
and is expected to employ
a number of specialists in
coming years, plus dozens of
trainees each year.
the-art immersion room or tour our
surface operations.
“We would particularly like to
thank our suppliers who went to
extraordinary lengths to be a part of
the Open Day, including Atlas Copco,
Sandvik and Form Reo Pour, who
organised to bring heavy equipment
such as simulators, boggers and
scrapers to the event.
“We would also like to acknowledge
the community’s support in making
this event the success it was - by
holding the Open Day in Parkes, it
became a community day as well as
an Open Day.”
One of the local organisations that
chipped in to support the event was
the Rotary Club of Parkes.
Rotary volunteer David Hughes said
the club was more than happy to
be part of what has been one of the
most successful community events in
Parkes for many years.
“Although the intent was to primarily
showcase Northparkes, the decision
to involve as many community groups
as possible was inspirational,” he said.
“We had 150 Northparkes employees
volunteer to answer people’s
questions and chat about our
business. Each team across site went
to great lengths to showcase what
they do and also tell the Northparkes
story,” she said.
“For instance, our underground
mining team built a tunnel to show our
underground environment, complete
with roof bolts, rocks, signage and
explanatory diagrams and videos.
“Members of the public could have
their blood pressure checked by our
onsite nurse, or chat to one of our
environment team about what trees
to plant at home, or discuss our
rehabilitation strategy.
“Over 500 people took a bus trip out
to our site to either visit our state-of-
To support this, BIGS
will have access to
data collected across
Bridgestone’s global
network of facilities.
events
Public gets backstage pass to gold mine
Fun, fashion and racing at Parkes
It’s not often the general public get to see inside a mine site, but in July
Newcrest Mining will open the gates to its Cadia Valley Operations (CVO).
When it comes to country races, no one does it
better than Parkes.
The 2015 Parkes Coradgery &
Diggers Picnic Races are on
again this June long weekend,
Saturday, June 6 at Parkes
Racecourse on Eugowra Road.
One of the highlights of the
region’s social calendar, Parkes
Picnic Races feature a great
day of racing with a five-race
program, as well as plenty of
entertainment, live music, and
fun for the kids.
The races host one of the
Central West’s most prestigious
Fashions on the Field
competitions, with local fashion
hub 141 on Main the major
sponsor this year, offering
fantastic cash and prizes.
and beverage tickets, with
seating available.
Visitors are welcome to
bring along their own food
hampers and picnic on the
grass, although no alcohol is
allowed to be brought onto
the grounds.
Gates open 11.30am. Tickets
are $15 for adults (under
16 years enter free) and are
available at the Cambridge
Hotel and Railway Hotel in
Parkes, or at the gate on
the day.
Newcrest offers quarterly
public tours of CVO every
year, with the next tour to be
held on Friday, July 3, from
1pm to 3pm.
CVO is one of Australia’s
largest gold and copper
mining operations, located
approximately 25 kilometres
from Orange, which to date
has produced more than
eight million ounces of gold.
It comprises two
underground mines; Cadia
East and Ridgeway, and
the Cadia Hill open cut
pit, which was placed in
care and maintenance
during 2012.
including seeing some of the
world’s largest grinding mills
in action.
While visitors will not go
underground as part of the
tour, they will be shown
around CVO’s surface
operations, including the
open cut lookout and ore
treatment facility. Here they
will get to watch how the
ore is processed first hand,
Visitors must make their own
way to CVO, where they will
undergo a safety induction
before the tour departs from
the visitor’s room.
savour recipes
Beef Massaman Curry with
Shallots and Sweet Potatoes
The tours are free but are
limited to 11 people per tour,
with a minimum age limit
of 12-years-old.
What’s on near you?
June
1st: Blue Mountains Taekwondo
championships, Lithgow
3rd–8th June: Circus Royale (pictured),
Bathurst, www.circusroyale.com.au
4th-8th: Henry Lawson Heritage Festival,
Grenfell, www.henrylawsonfestival.com.au
Ingredients
Serves 4
500g stewing beef –
shank, gravy or brisket
4 cups beef stock
1 tablespoon coconut oil
10 French shallots
2 tablespoons Massaman curry paste
1 tablespoon grated coconut sugar
1–2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon tamarind paste or
lemon juice
100ml coconut milk
6th-8th: Peak Hill Arts and crafts Exhibition,
Peak Hill, www.visitparkes.com.au
6th: Parkes Picnic Races, Parkes Racecourse,
www.parkespicnicraces.com.au
10th-14th: Circus Royale, Orange,
www.circusroyale.com.au
12th-14th: 32nd Annual Zonta Antique,
Jewellery & Vintage Fair, Orange, contact
Frances Young on 0407 952 675
14th: Bathurst Bridal Expo, Bathurst Memorial
Entertainment Centre,
www.centralwestbridalexpos.com
15th: Winter Winery Wander, Bathurst, phone
6331 7044
16th-18th: Building Regional
Australia Summit, Dubbo,
www.buildingregionalaustralia.org.au
17th-21st: Circus Royale, Wallerawang,
www.circusroyale.com.au
19th-21st: Gunnedah Showjumping Festival,
Gunnedah Showgrounds
July
3rd: Cadia Valley Operations Mine tour, Cadia
Mine, bookings essential - call 6392 2317 or
email [email protected]
4th: Winter Illumination Festival, Kings Parade
Bathurst, www.bathurst200.com.au
2 cinnamon sticks
250g sweet potato, peeled and cut into
3cm cubes
A few sprigs coriander, for garnish
Sliced spring onions, for garnish
method
1. Trim the meat of any excess fat and
sinew and cut into 5cm cubes. Place in
a medium saucepan with the stock and
bring to the boil. Simmer the meat on a
low heat for two hours.
2. Heat the oil in a heavy-based pot
and fry the shallots until brown. Add the
curry paste,
reduce the
heat and cook
10th-12th: Dubbo Rotoract Antiques and
Collectables Fair, Dubbo Regional Convention
Theatre, www.drtcc.com.au
18th: Black Tie and Gumboot Truffle Hunt and
Dinner, Orange, www.borrodell.com.au
Get your (ice) skates on
18th-30th: Waste 2 Art Regional Exhibition,
the Flannery Centre Bathurst,
www.bathurst200.com.au
Shake off the winter blues at Bathurst’s Winter
Illumination Festival.
24th-26th: Central West Girl Guides Regional
Conference, Hotel Gracelands, phone:
0412 736 700
Oooooh baby, it’s cold
outside. And that’s good
enough reason to put your
skates on and head to the
spectacular, family-friendly
Winter Illumination Festival
in Bathurst.
27th: Cattleman’s Cup Race Meeting, Warren
Showground Racecourse,
www.warrenjockeyclub.com.au
31st: Dubbo & District Kennel Club
Championship shows, Dubbo Showground
The popular event is wellknown for bringing warmth
and colour to the region’s
coldest time of the year so
it’s a great way to shake off
the winter blues.
In fact the temperature in
July some years hits zero.
While the chilly weather
might prompt you to
stay indoors, the festival
is designed to tempt
you outside to celebrate
the season.
Those who want to show
off their skills, or just goof
around, can have some
fun at the open-air ice rink
in Kings Parade in front of
the courthouse.
Or, if slipping and sliding
isn’t quite your thing, you
can take a break from the
ice and enjoy the other
part of the festival: the
region’s best food, wine
and entertainment.
Upside down mushroom tart
Feast yourselves on this delicious winter warmer
Recipe by Janelle Bloom
Ingredients (serves 6)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 leek, trimmed, thinly sliced
All of it can be done while
watching what Bathurst
calls its spectacular winter
illumination show.
2 garlic cloves, crushed
So get out your winter
woollies, dust off your
skates – or your appetite
– and get ready for a cold
weather party.
2 sheets frozen puff pastry,
partially thawed
The event will take place
between July 4 and July 12.
For more info, contact
Bathurst Regional Council,
on 6333 6111.
6 sprigs of thyme
8 small flat
mushrooms, trimmed
100g feta or goat’s cheese
Wild rocket or micro cress
leaves, to serve
Method
1. Preheat the oven to
200°C (fan forced).
2. Heat the oil in a medium
(about 22cm base)
ovenproof frying pan over
medium heat. Add the
leek and garlic and cook
three minutes until soft.
Add the thyme. Add the
mushrooms, stalk side
down. Increase heat to
medium-high and cook
for five minutes.
3. Meanwhile, cut a 23cm
round from each sheet of
pastry. Place the rounds
on top of each other and
press together. Spread
half the cheese over one
side of the pastry round.
4. Remove the frying pan
from the heat. Place the
fitness coach and former Team
Commander with the Australian
Special Forces.
With his signature dark sunglasses,
black T-shirt and combat fatigues
Commando Steve has become a
familiar face on Australian television
since putting contestants through
their paces as a trainer on Channel
Ten’s Biggest Loser.
Get Commando Fit Cookbook by
Commando Steve Willis.
The cookbook includes beautifully
illustrated and easy-to-follow recipes
such as Roasted Harissa Lamb,
Frozen Blueberry Yoghurt and glutenfree Banana and Strawberry Bread
- all perfectly balanced to help you
keep your nutrition on track and your
fitness goals in reach.
Commando Steve is a highly qualified
gently for about five minutes. Add the
sugar, fish sauce, tamarind, coconut
milk, cinnamon sticks and sweet potato
and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat
to medium and cook for a further
15 minutes or until the sweet potato
is cooked.
3. Stir in the meat to reheat. Taste the
curry and adjust seasoning if required.
4. Transfer to a serving dish, garnish
with coriander and spring onions,
and serve.
pastry round cheese
side down over the
mushrooms, tucking
the pastry under the
mushrooms. Transfer the
frying pan to the oven and
bake for 20-25 minutes
or until pastry is golden
and puffed. Remove from
the oven and set aside
three minutes.
10th-11th: The Mudgee Small Farm Field
Days, Australian Rural Education Centre Ulan
Road Mudgee,
www.mudgeefielddays.com.au
11th: Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo, Dubbo Regional
Convention Theatre, www.drtcc.com.au
There are no excuses when it comes
to optimum health. What you put into
your body is what you will get back
out of it.
Commando Steve Willis, along with
nutritionist Kelly Richardson and
recipe developer Kim Wiggins, have
put together delicious recipes that are
simple, nourishing and will fuel your
body for a healthy lifestyle.
For more information find
Parkes-Picnic-Races
on Facebook.
There will also be a variety
of catered marquees on site
such as the Club Tropicana
Tent offering packaged food
If you want to Get Commando Fit, you need to be eating
right - let Commando Steve show you how with these great
healthy recipes.
If you want results, you need to
commit. There are no cheat days you need to eat wholesome, fresh
food every day of the week.
For more information or to
book a spot contact 6392
2109 or email cadiavalley@
newcrest.com.au
The racecourse provides full
bar and betting facilities along
with a host of catering available
on course throughout the day.
Recipes to keep you fighting fit
5. Place a board or wire rack
on top of the pan and
invert. Crumble over the
remaining goat’s cheese,
top with rocket or micro
cress, season with pepper
and serve.
Recipe courtesy of Get Commando
Fit Cookbook by Commando Steve
Willis, published by Hachette
Australia ($29.99).
Perfect the
crackling on
roast pork
Achieving perfect
crackling on your
pork roast isn’t one of
the easiest things to
do, but if you follow
these directions you’ll
consistently get
great results.
Ingredients:
2kg leg of pork
Tip: If you don’t have a frying
pan that is also ovenproof,
cook step one in a frying pan
then transfer the mixture to
the base of a well-greased
22cm (base) cake pan and
continue with steps 3-5.
Fresh lemon juice or vinegar
For more recipes go to
www.janellebloom.com.au
2. Pour either lemon juice
or vinegar into the skin
of pork.
Cooking salt
Method:
1. Using a sharp knife, score
the fat to the start of
the flesh.
7. Hold temperature at 250
for the first 45-60min of
cooking to get the skin to
crackle (these times are
for a roast pork between
2.5‑3kg in size).
8. Allow the temperature to
drop back to 200°C after
the crackling is produced by
turning middle burner/s off
and turning outer burner/s
down, to medium heat.
9. Allow 50 minutes cooking
time per kg.
3. Rub salt into the pork.
4. Preheat your BBQ
to 250°C.
5. Place your roast into a roast
holder. A roast holder will
help elevate the meat, so
you don’t have to turn your
meat. Place the roast holder
into an enamel baking tray.
6. Place roast into middle
of BBQ.
travel
time out
Digging Cole
Country music fans will be
treated to the sounds of one
of the genre’s brightest stars
when Beccy Cole tours in June.
Cole, arguably Australia’s favourite
country gal with eight albums, three
of which reached the ARIA Albums
Chart top 40, will perform in Mudgee,
Dubbo, Orange and Forbes in June.
Beccy has delighted Australian
listeners and concert goers for more
than 20 years and had more than a
dozen No. 1 country singles. She has
received nine Golden Guitar trophies
including four for Female Vocalist of
the Year.
BECCY COLE
See Beccy perform at these
venues, supported by Mickey Pye
and Libby O’Donovan.
June 3: Mudgee Brewing
Company, 7:30pm
What’s on near you
June
Seth Sentry
3rd: Beccy Cole, Mudgee Brewing
Co, www.mudgeebrewing.com.au
7th: Johnny Cash tribute, The Prince
of Wales Opera House Gulgong,
www.visitmudgeeregion.com.au/
online-store/event-tickets
13th: Simon & Garfunkel - the
concert, Orange Civic Theatre,
www.orange.nsw.gov.au
24th: Melbourne Comedy Festival
Roadshow, Dubbo Regional
Convention Theatre,
www.drtcc.com.au
25th: Seth Sentry, University of New
England, Armidale,
www.sethsentry.com
26th: Dewaynne Everettesmith
supported by Sietta, Orange Civic
Theatre, www.orange.nsw.gov.au
27th: Bad Boys Australia,
The album follows hot on the
heels of Beccy’s collaboration with
Melinda Schneider, Great Women
of Country (2014), and with the
publication of her candid memoir,
Poster Girl.
“For me, every time I write songs it’s
a very cathartic experience, because
I write about my life,” she said.
“I think the more honest you are, the
better the song is going to be.”
Take a bite
out of the big apple
June 4: Orange Ex Services
Club, 8pm
June 5: Forbes Services Memorial,
8pm, all ages.
June 6: Dubbo RSL, 7.30pm,
all ages.
Gear up for a barrel
of laughs in Dubbo
Bike riding in
Central Park
Club Mudgee,
www.clubmudgee.com.au
27th: Sydney Comedy Festival
Showcase, Orange Civic Theatre,
July
1st: Seth Sentry, Dubbo RSL,
www.sethsentry.com
2nd: Seth Sentry, Katoomba RSL,
www.sethsentry.com
2nd – 5th: Hats Off to Country,
Tamworth’s mid year Country Music
Festival, www.hatsofftocountry.com
4th: International Wrestling Australia,
IWA Pro Wrestling,
www.dubborsl.com.au
4th: Wes Carr,
Katoomba RSL, www.
katoombarsl.com.au
10th: Hamlet by Bell
Shakespeare, Orange
Civic Theatre, www.
orange.nsw.gov.au
Bad Boys Australia
17th-25th: Fawlty
Towers by Dubbo
Theatre Company,
Dubbo Regional
Convention Theatre,
www.drtcc.com.au
It took just one look at New York City and Coalface’s
deputy editor Shannon Noud was hooked. Here’s why.
cost $2365 for the six nights,
which is probably one of the
cheapest hotels you’ll find.
From the breathtaking skyline
to the madness of the people
hurrying their way through the
streets, there was something
instantly exciting and chaotic in
the New York City air - and I was
breathing it all in.
lights fuelling that never-ending
excitement. It’s no wonder New
York is the city that never sleeps.
It was however in a fantastic
location right in the middle of
the action of Times Square,
which meant we were within
walking distance of most
major attractions.
It could have also been the many
years of dreaming I’d one day
visit New York, but I fell head
over heels for the city. There
was so much to do and see that
six nights didn’t feel like it was
enough time to really experience
everything the city had to offer.
New York is renowned around
the world for it’s quality theatre
productions and there are so
many choices to suit every taste
- we decided to relive childhood
memories and watch Aladdin.
what to do
This year marked the 29th
anniversary of the renowned
Melbourne comedy event, which
was held from March 25 to
April 19.
11th: Australia Day, Orange Civic
Theatre, www.orange.nsw.gov.au
20th: Mental As Anything, Katoomba
RSL, www.katoombarsl.com.au
Her latest release, her 10th, Sweet
Rebecca, is a reflection on her life so
far, on and off the stage.
There’ll be plenty of laughs
to be had when the annual
Melbourne International
Comedy Festival roadshow
steers its way into Dubbo
this month.
6th: Beccy Cole - Sweet Rebecca
tour, Dubbo RSL,
www.dubborsl.com.au
19th: Octonauts Live! Operation
Roof Shield, Orange Civic Theatre,
The famous Lower
Manhattan skyline
Fans say it is the Adelaide-born
star’s glowing warmth and honeyed
voice that has helped make her one
of the most popular artists on the
country music circuit.
Times Square
On the plane from Sydney to
LA we met a New York local
who gave us some tips on the
best things to do. One of those
was the city circle cruise, which
gives you an overview of the
city’s major landmarks, including
the Statue of Liberty and
Brooklyn Bridge. Tickets were
around A$40.
Since being established in 1987,
the festival has continued to
grow in popularity and is one of
the staple cultural events of the
Melbourne social calendar, every
year attracting an audience of
more than 630,000 people.
A staple of New York is the
Empire State Building and that
will cost about A$27 plus tax. We
got up at the crack of dawn to
line up and ended up being some
of the first people to go up, which
freed up the rest of the day.
It brings together some of the
best comedians from around the
world, while also incorporating
elements of cabaret, theatre, street
performance, film, television, radio
and visual arts.
After that we got a quick bite
to eat before hiring a bike and
riding through Central Park.
It’s a massive park, so if you
want to see it all bikes are the
best option.
But thankfully we don’t have to
miss out just because we’re not
in Melbourne.
The Roadshow travels to 75 regional
and city destinations across Australia,
giving an additional 80,000 people a
small taste of the festival action.
Comedy Festival and were nominated
for an ARIA Award for Best Comedy
Release for their “Best of DVD”.
He decided to go out on his own,
which has proven to be a good
decision with five stand-up solo
shows under his belt, countless
national tours and a gig hosting the
Saturday Morning Breakfast show on
Nova 100.
In 2015 the Roadshow returns to
Dubbo Regional Theatre Convention
Centre on Wednesday June 24,
bringing with it a stellar line-up of
stand-up comedians, including Gillian
Cosgriff, Andy Saunders, Geraldine
Hickey, Nath Valvo (pictured) and
Ivan Aristeguieta.
While family and friends tend to bear
the brunt of many of his jokes, Nath
doesn’t hold back from joking at his
own expense, while also picking on a
few audience members that he often
invites on stage for a game.
Nath Valvo started his career with a
comedy group called the Shambles,
who played at four sell-out seasons
of the Melbourne International
Tickets are $35.50 and can be
purchased online at www.drtcc.com.
au, with the show kicking off at 8pm.
The World Trade
Centre Memorial
Another captivating place was
Times Square with its massive
digital billboards and bright
boston massachusetts
Only about a two-hour train trip
from NY is Boston.
The beautiful city is one of the
oldest cities in the country and
is also renowned as the home
of some of the world’s leading
higher education institutions,
like Harvard.
So be prepared, you may end up
being more than a spectator!
Boston - a city rich
in history
If you love history I would opt for
one of the Freedom Trail walking
tours that take you to some of
the city’s historic landmarks
We were lucky to be staying
right near Times Square and
Broadway, so seeing a play was
a must.
American’s love their sport and
New York is no different. Having
always wanted to go to Madison
Square Garden we were glad to
score tickets to see the Knicks
play the Milwaukee Bucks in a
National Basketball Association
(NBA) pre-season match.
Something else everyone should
experience is the World Trade
Centre memorial and museum.
It’s quite an emotional and surreal
experience to be in the place
where the 9/11 tragedy occurred.
The museum costs around
A$24 and is a must visit to pay
your respects.
One thing I regret not doing is the
Sex and the City tour, but it’s on
the list for next time!
where to stay
Without sugarcoating it, New
York hotels are expensive.
We stayed at the ROW on 8th
Avenue, which is the number
one rated hotel for NYC on
Trip Advisor.
The hotel was nice and basic and
and highlight some of the most
influential people that helped
shape America.
One thing you must do is visit
Fenway Park, the home of the
Boston Red Sox baseball team.
While there weren’t any matches
on while we were there, the
area still has a bustling nightlife,
including Bleacher Bar - a
sports bar right on the edge of
baseball field.
For somewhere to stay try the
Boston Park Plaza, which cost
where to eat
On the first night we discovered
Guy’s American Kitchen Bar owned by celebrity chef Guy Fieri.
Guy’s signature style is big
American flavour and the
Mongolian chicken wings we
shared for entree were certainly
not short of that, with the wings
glazed in a sweet, sticky honeysoy marinade ($13.50).
For main I had the house-smoked
St. Louis ribs glazed with Guy’s
Signature barbecue sauce with
coleslaw and fries (A$24.50),
although I had a bit of food
envy for my dad’s meal - the
General Tso’s slow cooked pork
shank (A$23.50), which was
slathered in sweet and lightly
spicy sauce.
One of our favourite restaurants
in Times Square was the
Brooklyn Diner. The service and
food was incredible, particularly
the oven roasted stuffed trout
with shrimp, scallops and a
sautéed spinach & lemon-butter
sauce (A$28.95), the famous
oven-roasted “Dodger” pot roast
(A$24.95) with mashed potatoes
and the strawberry cheesecake
for dessert.
For more information about New
York visit www.nycgo.com.
A$652 for two nights. The hotel is
a beautiful and elegant building
that was built in the 1920s, but
our room was so small I had to
stand sideways in the shower!
For food, try the Globe Bar and
Café on Boylston St which had
some great homely dishes,
although we couldn’t go to
Boston without eating at Cheers
- the diner behind the famous
television show.
www.cityofboston.gov/visitors

CreatiVe Futures For Former mines

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