Mining shires show how to handle a pandemic

Pandemic and opportunity have combined to put mining shires on the winners podium when it comes to keeping the economy afloat. And Cloncurry takes the gold medal. The ‘big shire, few people, enormous resource wealth’ profile of the region 800kms west of Townsville has attracted unsolicited exploration attention by helping maintain production in the face of restrictions that have crippled metropolitan economies. Flights through the airport each week turn over about 1000 FIFO employees which service major mines including Glencore’s Ernest Henry, MMG’s Dugald River and Incitec Pivot’s Phosphate Hill operations. They and scores of junior miners are ratcheting up exploration efforts in line with commodity price increases, said Cloncurry Mayor Greg Campbell. “At the moment, commodity prices are positive and most companies are bullish about opportunity in the north west including copper, gold and zinc. “Glencore is currently drilling and Rio Tinto has large exploration tenements. We’ve not seen Rio in the shire for 25 years, back when they were CRA. “It reinforces what we know, that Cloncurry is the centre of one of the one of the best mineralised areas in the world. Our shire is the best prospective area the country has to offer.” It had been a tough 18 months for Cloncurry with floods killing tens of thousands of head of cattle and the nearby Cudeco copper mine folding leaving debt with many local businesses. Despite the heavy weight the shire still carries as a result of the 2019 floods and the closure of Cudeco, Council and mines are moving forward and are setting the example on how to manage a pandemic, Cr Campbell said. “We’re servicing major mines through the airport. Through the Local Disaster management Group, we set up a minimum standard of operations which included the highest response requirements from all the major users,” he said. “The result is no infections and continued production. That’s now being adopted in other shires and by other airport management.” Cr Campbell has invited those left without jobs as a result of pandemic to look northwest for a new career. “This is an opportunity for us to attract and bring in new people. If you were one of the 3,000 laid off from Virgin (airline), there are great job opportunities and career prospects in the region. Why wouldn’t you? “The mining companies are leading the way. All senior management of Ernest Henry live locally, which shows the company has buy-in to the community. We’re also working closely with Dugald River to increase local content. “This is a great opportunity for anyone considering a tree-change. There are great job opportunities and career prospects. You’d be crazy if you didn’t move in the current environment. “ Some of the recent positive movements in local industry included the 300,000tpa toll milling contract provided by Mt Cuthbert to Ernest Henry. There were signs that Cudeco could be restarted under changed ownership and positive moves by Canadian miner Copper Mountain to start development on its Roseby lease north west of Cloncurry, said Cl Campbell.

Mining shires show how to handle a pandemic

Industry Queensland

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