Tag Archives: Rockhampton

Bravus and Skytrans Airlines seal FIFO agreement for Carmichael workers

Mine operation news, Mining services, , , , , , , , , ,

Bravus Mining and Resources has signed a new deal with Skytrans Airlines that will see the operator operate two Dash 8 300-series aircraft to exclusively service 24 direct flights a week to or from the Carmichael coal mine in central Queensland and Townsville and Rockhampton.

The average flying time for the Dash 8 300 is just 45 minutes between the Carmichael mine and Townsville, and 50 minutes between the Carmichael mine and Rockhampton. The first of the multi-million-dollar planes entered service this month.

Bravus Mining and Resources Chief Operating Officer, Mick Crowe, said the new aircraft would get Carmichael’s workforce to site and back home again more quickly, safely, and in greater comfort.

“Like every mine, the safety and wellbeing of our people, contractors, and suppliers is always our number one priority,” he said. “Our somewhat unique challenge is the remoteness of our operation. Carmichael is more than a 160-km drive to Clermont, and more than 300 km from Queensland’s east coast.

“So that means fatigue risk management and maximising quality of life for our workforce are top of mind when it comes to getting people to work and back home again safely and efficiently.

“These news planes will do just that. Those of our team who can’t drive in from the Isaac Region will be at work or at home in about an hour. That means less of their R&R lost to work-related travel, more time to spend with friends and family, and, hopefully, happier, safer, and more productive workers.”

Skytrans co-Owner, Johnathan Thurston, said: “From a Skytrans point of view, we are very excited to have the relationship with Bravus. This contract is going to create around 20 new jobs for Skytrans, employing local people in Townsville and Rockhampton, so it is great work from Bravus and Skytrans.”

Skytrans CEO, Alan Milne, said the company would establish bases of operation in Townsville and Rockhampton and recruit pilots and flight attendants who live locally to service the contract.

“This is really exciting news for the workers at Carmichael, who are going to receive an incredible level of service, and for Townsville and Rockhampton who’ll see new jobs and investment,” Milne said.

“Townsville and Rockhampton airports will now be formal bases of operation for us with local pilots, flight attendants and maintenance crews, just like we have in Cairns, Brisbane, and Horn Island.

“It’s terrific to see Bravus Mining and Resources continue to back fully Queensland-owned businesses like ours, and we look forward to building on this successful partnership long into the future.”

Bravus to employ SMW Group Ultrahaul truck trays on Carmichael Cat 796 AC fleet

Coal technology, Equipment maintenance, Mining consumables, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bravus Mining & Resources has awarded contracts worth more than A$3 million ($2.2 million) to Rockhampton-based SMW Group for a series of new Ultrahaul mine truck trays and a bore field maintenance program.

Bravus Mining & Resources CEO, David Boshoff, said Bravus was keen to capitalise on SMW Group’s 20 years of experience servicing central Queensland’s coal fields.

“There’s an extensive mining services knowledge base in our region, and it has always been our intention to use this and work with businesses based in central Queensland wherever possible,” Boshoff said.

“The Ultrahaul tray is a class-leading product for mine haul trucks that SMW Group has developed specifically for the central Queensland coal industry. The trays are tailored for our fleet of Cat 796 AC haul trucks and will help to maximise production and improve operational efficiency.

“We have been impressed by SMW Group’s willingness to work with us to get the product right for our operations and look forward to seeing the results of this relationship over time.”

SMW Group Chief Operating Officer, Frank Humphreys, said that the contract was a great result for the company and central Queensland manufacturing.

“Securing a contract to supply Ultrahaul trays to the Carmichael Project is a great outcome for SMW Group and is a vote of confidence for central Queensland’s mining services industry,” Humphreys said.

“We are excited to be involved with a high-profile operation like the Carmichael Project.”

Boshoff said the contract would have direct benefits for Mackay and Rockhampton, bolstering the local economies against the impacts of COVID restrictions.

“Having this level of manufacturing capacity in our region is a huge boost, because we can continue to grow our fleet and ramp up operations with minimal impact from COVID induced restrictions and border closures,” he said.

“We are proud to have made good on our promises to Queensland, and especially regional Queensland. We have created more than 2,600 jobs and signed more than $2.2 billion in contracts.

“More than 88% of our contracts are being delivered in Queensland. This work has been spread across all corners of the state to give as many regions as possible the opportunity to benefit from our project, while also enabling us to tap into the highly-skilled construction and resources industry workforce that Queensland possesses.

“We are ramping up our mining fleet and construction on the Coal Handling and Processing Plant is well underway. We are excited to be so close to delivering on our promise to ship first coal this year.”

Adani signs up Martinus for Carmichael rail contract

Coal technology, Mineral project development, Mining services, , , , , , , , ,

Adani has announced a more than A$100 million ($68 million) rail contract for the Carmichael thermal coal project has been awarded to Martinus Rail, with the contractor set to base itself out of Adani’s newly opened Rockhampton Business Centre (pictured).

The contract award and delivery out of the centre will ensure “Rockhampton businesses and people will be in prime position to participate in the contract delivery”, the company said.

The development of the first stage 10 Mt/y coal mine at Carmichael, which was given the thumbs up to start construction earlier this year, will lead to the building of a circa-200 km narrow gauge rail network that connects to existing rail infrastructure and goes from the mine to the Port of Abbot Point. The initial design capacity of this line is for 40 Mt/y, with the ability to further expand, according to Adani.

Adani Mining CEO, Lucas Dow, said more than A$450 million worth of contracts had already been awarded on the Carmichael project, the majority to regional Queensland areas.

“Since receiving our approvals we have not wasted a moment. Construction on the Carmichael mine and rail project is well and truly underway on site, and our big contracts are now also lined up as we ramp up activity.”

He added: “We now have our mining services contractor and one of our earthworks contractors for the rail project in place based in Rockhampton, Martinus Rail will be our rail laying construction contractor also in based in Rockhampton, initial rail camp provision will be based in Collinsville, earthworks and civil works is coming from Townsville, fuel supply is from Townsville, telecommunications is from Mackay, and many other regional businesses across regional Queensland also have a piece of the pie,” he said.

Managing Director for Martinus Rail, Treaven Martinus, said Martinus is a large-scale railway construction contractor with a focus on delivering regional railways for mining and government clients across Australia and New Zealand. “Our business delivers large-scale regional rail projects across Australia and we do it successfully by tapping into the local workforce, which is a commercially viable approach for us while also providing training, skills and benefits for local communities,” he said.

Dow, meanwhile, said the new Adani Rockhampton Business Centre would provide a local base for major procurement and recruitment programs for the Carmichael project during the construction phase and during operations.

“Our new Rockhampton Business Centre will help us ensure Rockhampton and Townsville, where we have an existing office, act as the primary employment hubs for the Carmichael project,” he said.

The business centre will be a base for recruitment and procurement activity and will be used for training sessions, meet the buyer sessions, recruitment interviews, staff induction programs, act as a base for some of our contractors and more.