VIC

From 1 November 2011, new legislation comes into effect regarding the licensing of all shotfirers in Western Australia. Whilst the proposed changes are not yet finalised, HWE Mining will be committed to supporting any permit upgrade requirements of our affected employees.

We are ahead of the game here compared to other companies, so this should be a real benefit to our employees.

With 61,500 new operational jobs expected in the mining sector alone by 2015, as well as tens of thousands more in the construction stages (according to estimates released in the National Resources Sector Employment Taskforce report in July 2010), the industry is facing a skills shortage that far exceeds that experienced in the five years preceding 2008.  

The following are key projects either underway or due to commence in Western Australia. 

BALMORAL SOUTH

Operators: Australasian Resources

Cost:  $3bn

Location:    Just south of Karratha

Timeframe:     2 year construction timeframe from commencement

Employment:  Unknown

The following are key projects either underway or due to commence in Western Australia.

RAPID GROWTH PROJECT 6

Operators:  BHP Billiton

Location:  Pilbara

Timeframe:     2 years, increased output achieved by 2013

The following are key projects either underway or due to commence in Queensland.

ALPHA COAL PROJECT

Operators: Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd

Location: Galilee Basin

Timeframe:   Construction due to commence in 2012 with first shipment for 2014

Cost:  $7.5b

Employment: 2,500 construction jobs and 1,600 permanent jobs

The following are key projects either underway or due to commence in New South Wales and South Australia.

OLYMPIC DAM, South Australia

Operators: BHP Billiton

Cost:  $1.04 trillion

Location:    Roxby Downs

Timeframe:      Stage 1: 2016, Stage 2: 2018, Stage 3: 2021

WPG Resources Ltd were pleased to announce that the South Australian government has approved the Mining and Rehabilitation Program (MARP) for the Company’s flagship DSO iron ore mine south east of Coober Pedy, and has also approved the Company’s Development Application (DA) for the iron ore receival, storage and export facility to be built at Port Pirie.

The approvals mean that WPG can now move to the project construction phase.  Site works at the mine and port will commence on Monday 18 July 2011.

Watpac has recently won a number of earthworks mining contracts across Australia.

Iluka Resources WRP Project, Victoria

Iluka Resources awarded Watpac the contract to remove overburden and mine mineralised sand over the next three and a half years for its WRP (Woornack, Rownack and Pirro mineral sands mine) Project, based approximately 20kms south east of Ouyen in the Wimmera region of Victoria.  Watpac will also carry out rehabilitation of the site during operations.

At HWE Iron Ore, we are proud to be celebrating NAIDOC Week 2011.  We have organised various events that will give all our employees an opportunity to experience the vibrant culture of their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues.

On Monday, we kicked off NAIDOC Week with Richard Walley, the 2010 Indigenous Leader of the Year. Richard performed a traditional welcome to country, flag raising ceremony and Aboriginal dance performance.

Barrick, the world’s gold industry leader, has recently acquired Equinox minerals in the largest Australian M&A transaction to date in 2011.

The acquisition of Equinox adds two additional copper assets to the Australian Pacific Region (APRBU). With  7 operating gold mines in Australia and the Porgera mine in Papua New Guinea, the diversity and complexity of our region continues to expand. The Equinox sites expand the Australian Pacific Regional Business Unit (APRBU) area of operations from WA, NSW and Papua New Guinea to Zambia and Saudi Arabia.