2013 Advocate Mining feature

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www.theadvocate.com.au The Advocate, Wednesday, April 3, 2013 - 19

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Major mining and mineral processing operations and proposed projects A big deal forstate economy

Mining provides economic benefit to businessessuch as those that service and build heavyequipment. Picture: Grange Resources.

The West Coast has a diverse range of mineral deposits, including thosemined at the Savage River site. Picture: Grange Resources.

AS THIS map displays,mining has a hugeimpact in Tasmania.For its size, Tasmania isone of the most mineral-rich areas in the world.Not only are there manyactive mines in the state,but many processingplants and currentexploration projects.Many other business arerelated to this industryand the mining industry isthe single largestcontributor to theTasmanian economy.Tasmania has a diverserange of mineraldeposits, often within thesame mine.Sometimes new mineralsare found in old mines.The history of mining andTasmania is deeplyentwined: culturally andfinancially.The West Coast ofTasmania has anamazingly diverse rangeof mineral deposits.This is because of the

Mount Read volcanicbelt.Formed during theCambrian Period, 500million years ago, thevolcanic belt folded andfaulted a lot duringtectonic events and hasresulted in a diverse andproductive mineralisedbelt.World-class mineraldeposits lie in an arc ofvolcanic lavas from LowRocky Point inTasmania’s south-west,

northwards through thegreat mining areas of MtLyell, the Dundas mineralfield, Henty, Zeehanmineral field, RenisonBell, Rosebery, Tullah,Que River and Hellyerthen eastwards to theMoina mineral field nearSheffield.All sorts of minerals aremined in Tasmania,including iron, tin, nickel,copper, gold, silver, lead,zinc, coal, alloys andlimestone among manyothers.

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TASMANIAN MINING INFORMATION

Mines

Bluestone Mines Tasmania Joint Venture Pty Ltd

Grange Resources

MMG Rosebery

Unity Mining Ltd/ Henty Gold Mine

Vedanta Copper Mines of Tasmania

Number of employees/ FTE Contractors

135 employees208contractors

595 + 50 contractors

259 employees and 232 contractors

112 employees and 80 contractors

362 on site – includes 118 CMT plus 244 Site Contractors and FTE casuals

Type of mine

Underground Tin Mine

Integrated iron ore mining / Magnetite Concentrating and pellet production

Underground mining

Underground mine and Surface processing operation with signifi cant exploration activity

Underground and surface processing)

Main customers/ where minerals are exported to

China

Australia/4%, China/82%, Malaysia/2% and India/12%. Between 2.1 and 2.4 million Tonne of Pellets

Perth Mint

Sterlite Industries, India

Product

Tin ConcentrateCopper Concentrate

Iron

Zinc concentrate, copper concentrate, lead concentrate, gold doré.

Gold and Silver dore

Copper and concentrate with Gold and Silver bi-products

Mine commencement date

1890

1966

1936

1996

1893

Current mine life

7 years

Mining until 2028 and Pelletising through to 2030

Approx 2024

Approx 2018

Greater than 7 years (annual processing 2.5M tonnes. Current resources greater than 30M tonnes).

Location

Zeehan, Tasmania

Burnie, Savage River and Port Latta

Rosbery, West Coast

West Coast

Queenstown, West Coast

Website

metalsx.com.au

http://www.grangeresources.com.au

http://www.mmg.com/en/Our-Operations/Mining-operations/Rosebery.aspx

http://www.uni-tymining.com.au/activities/henty/

www.cmt.com.au


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Unearthing a new career❛❛ We work inexploration becausewe value and enjoyspending time in thebush. Grangecontractsenvironmentalcompanies to surveythe lease area for floraand fauna values andthis data implements abetter understandingof the ecosystem weare working in. ❜❜

Emily McPhee

❛❛ We work inexploration becausewe value and enjoyspending time in thebush. Grangecontractsenvironmentalcompanies to surveythe lease area for floraand fauna values andthis data implements abetter understandingof the ecosystem weare working in. ❜❜

Emily McPhee

Grange project mining geologistEmily McPhee.

GRANGE project mining geologistEmily McPhee had something of anepiphany when she realised shewanted to be a geologist.‘‘I was camping in the middle of theKimberley when I met two explorationgeologists and got talking with themand it stemmed from there, I justknew that’s what I wanted to do,’’ MsMcPhee said.Ms McPhee decided to switchcareers and started at the Universityof Tasmania in Hobart to studygeology.Emily completed her Bachelor ofScience in Geology at the Universityof Tasmania in 2010 and startedworking at Grange Resources atSavage River in September 2010.Long Plains is a magnetic anomalylocated 10 kilometres south ofSavage River.The area has had a number ofground and airborne geophysicalsurveys and limited wide spaceddrilling (both diamond and reversecirculation) completed over the past50 years.If the Long Plains mining lease isapproved by federal and stategovernments, mining will start in2017.In her role Ms McPhee manages fourGrange staff as well as drilling

contractors.She finds that her experience as ahairdresser comes in handy, and notbecause she gets asked to cut hair,though that is always a possibility ifGrange staff read this article and

learn of this skill.Before university, Ms McPheetravelled and worked aroundAustralia for 10 years.Some of her adventures includedpearling in Broome, spending time in

indigenous communities, bar work,hairdressing and someenvironmental protesting.As it is, Ms McPhee gets someribbing from her more stronglyoriented environmental friends andacquaintances.‘‘They don’t see how I can bepassionate about the naturalenvironment and work in an industrythat they believe destroysecosystems that contain threatenedspecies,’’ she said.‘‘My response is that explorationwork is sustainable development,which takes into considerationnatural and cultural values.‘‘The industry is regulated by codesof practice [Mineral Exploration Codeof Practice] and I am adamant thatall people working at Long Plainscomply with this code; we work inexploration because we value andenjoy spending time in the bush.‘‘Grange contracts environmentalcompanies to survey the lease areafor flora and fauna values and thisdata implements a betterunderstanding of the ecosystem weare working in.‘‘I believe that flora and faunastudies would not have been done inthis area if it wasn’t for the

exploration lease and therefore thevalues of this environment would nothave been captured.’’Ms McPhee is supportive ofcontrolled mining in the Tarkine.‘‘Tasmania is a great state to live andwork in, but we need more jobs,’’ shesaid.‘‘The younger people are leaving thestate to work on the mainland andwe need to build a future forTasmania.‘‘I’m not against it, but nor do I thinkit should be open access to all areasof the Tarkine.‘‘There needs to be a balance.’’Saying that, Ms McPhee points outthat there are large areas of theTarkine that are not the pristineremnant Gondwana rainforests.‘‘Long Plains, for example, was partof a State Reserve that has beenlogged and had fire go through in theearly ’80s, so it’s not what itoriginally was.’’Ms McPhee’s future ambitionsinclude continuing to gain experienceas an exploration geologist and toeventually work as geology manager,like her boss, Roger Hill.


Standing up for Tassie jobs

Standing up for our futurewww.tas.awu.net.au


Industry has richpast and present

Tasmanian Minerals Council president Wayne Bould.

‘Mining is one of the largest parts of our economy and it’s our largest export’

❛❛ Historically, mining has been a part ofTasmanian culture since Europeancolonisation — especially on the West Coast,where settlement has followed the path of themines. ❜❜

Wayne Bould

❛❛ Historically, mining has been a part ofTasmanian culture since Europeancolonisation — especially on the West Coast,where settlement has followed the path of themines. ❜❜

Wayne Bould

WAYNE Bould, president of theTasmanian Minerals Council andexecutive director of GrangeResources, believes the importanceof the state’s mining industryshouldn’t be understated.‘‘Mining is one of the largest parts ofour economy,’’ Mr Bould said.‘‘And it’s our largest export.’’He said Tasmania and mining weretied more than economically and theindustry had shaped the state,literally and figuratively.‘‘Historically, mining has been a partof Tasmanian culture since Europeancolonisation,’’ Mr Bould said.‘‘Especially on the West Coast, wheresettlement has followed the path ofthe mines.’’The history of prospecting andexploration had paved the way fortowns to spring up around the Coast.‘‘Mining is a huge part of Tasmania’sculture,’’ Mr Bould said.‘‘For example, the Tasmanian-Chinese culture sprang up in the

1800s on the East Coast due tomining.

‘‘There were even Buddhist templeson the coast because of the Chinesepeople who moved here for themines.’’

The history of the Chinese inNorthern Tasmania dates back to the1870s, with the boom in alluvial tinmining.

By 1891 the population of Chineseminers in Northern Tasmanianumbered almost 1000.

Archaeological excavations on the

East Coast of a Chinese mining huthave unearthed thousands ofartefacts that give insight to the livesof these early Chinese-Australians.

Looking ahead, Mr Bould said thatwith government and communitysupport, mining in Tasmania couldexpect a long future.

‘‘There are many advantages tomining in Tasmania, but there arealso disadvantages,’’ he said.

‘‘But as long as mining in Tasmaniais economically viable, I believe it willcontinue.’’


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Tarkine decision ‘takes away one more element of uncertainty

Dust settles as mining

Modern-day mining involves a lot of environmental work. Picture: Grange Resources.

■ CONTINUES Page 25

❛❛ There has neverbeen an issue in mytime as EnvironmentMinister where myviews have changedso fundamentallyafter a site visit. Iwas expecting to seea pristine area prettymuch covered inrainforest. ❜❜

Environment Minister Tony Burke

❛❛ There has neverbeen an issue in mytime as EnvironmentMinister where myviews have changedso fundamentallyafter a site visit. Iwas expecting to seea pristine area prettymuch covered inrainforest. ❜❜

E i t Mi i t T B k

TASMANIA’S mining industry wasable to breathe a big sigh of reliefearlier this year and start to feelpositive again about the future.A large part of this positive feelingstemmed from federal EnvironmentMinister Tony Burke’s decision toreject a heritage listing and provide aminimal one to the North-West’sTarkine region.In February, Mr Burke listed just a21,000-hectare coastal strip to fullyprotect Aboriginal heritage instead ofthe more than 400,000 hectaresrecommended by the AustralianHeritage Council.Wayne Bould, chief operating officerof Grange Resources and presidentof the Tasmanian Minerals Council,said this ‘‘takes away one moreelement of uncertainty and willcertainly provide a positive incentiveto the global investors the state islooking to attract to the miningindustry’’.Mr Bould is supportive of theprotection of Aboriginal heritage.‘‘The minister has rightly addressedthe absolutely unique value of this

heritage and moved to protect it, buthas at the same time pragmaticallybalanced it with the current andfuture economic value of thisregion,’’ Mr Bould said.

Mr Burke has visited the Tarkinetwice over the past 12 months.

‘‘I’ve met with local mining andindustry groups to understand theeconomic development issues of the

region and camped in the Tarkinewith environment groups,’’ Mr Burkesaid.‘‘There has never been an issue inmy time as Environment Ministerwhere my views have changed sofundamentally after a site visit.‘‘I was expecting to see a pristinearea pretty much covered inrainforest.‘‘The truth of the industrial historyand current industrial activity in theTarkine is quite different to theseimages.’’The Tarkine, recognised as one of theworld’s most highly mineralisedregions, has a history of 140 years ofmining and 600 mines.The region is a hotbed of mineralssuch as gold, silver, tin, zinc, iron oreand tungsten.With federal and state governmentapproval behind it, Shree Minerals’$20-million mine at Nelson Bay Riverwill be one of the newest mines tostart up in the Tarkine.The magnetite and hematite mineand mineral processing operationplans to target 4 million tonnes ofthis resource over a 10-year period,with the potential of up to 30 yearsof mining. The mine is expected tostart this year.Venture Minerals has three planned

mines in the Tarkine, including theRiley project, Mount Lindsay andLivingstone.The iron ore Riley project, scheduledto start mining in mid 2013, will bethe first off the blocks.It has a capital cost of $7 million andwill employ 20 people duringconstruction. It will pump $40 milliona year into the Tasmanian economy,will employ 60 people directly duringoperation and support many localbusinesses.The Livingstone mine is on a similarscale to the Riley project and is dueto start after the completion of theRiley project.A Venture Minerals spokesman saidthat to date Venture had supportedmore than 90 local businesses andinvested more than $30 million inTasmania in the past five years.‘‘Preference will be given to localcontractors and local employees forall three projects,’’ the spokesmansaid.Mount Lindsay is Venture’s biggestproject. It will produce tin, tungsten,copper and iron ore concentrates.It has a mine life of nine years withpotential for significantly longer withfurther exploration.



and will certainly provide a positive incentive to global investors’

looks to forge ahead■ FROM PAGE 24

There are many mining projects on the go in Tasmania. Picture: GrangeResources.

The capital cost is $198 million with500 to 1000 jobs duringconstruction over approximately 18months.The operating mine will create200-plus jobs directly and will put$100 million a year into theTasmanian economy through jobs,transport, contractors and services.Tasmanian Minerals Council chiefexecutive Terry Long said that whilethings were now looking much betterfor the Tasmanian mining industry,there was still the issue of theintergovernmental forestryagreement and how this mightimpact on future mines.‘‘The Legislative Council is not due toreport on the forest IGA bill until theend of March and then will have toresume discussion and voting on it,’’Mr Long said.‘‘If the IGA is approved, it will meana lot more reserves in Tasmania,including the North-West.‘‘The Tasmanian Minerals Councilhas argued that if there are to benew reserves, they should be incategories which preclude forestryactivity, but not other land uses, as

the deal was worked out betweenparties with an interest in forestry, tothe exclusion of other interests.’’

Mr Long said that without Mr Burke’sheritage listing decision, the future of

the mining industry would have beenforeclosed.

‘‘When the existing mines becomeuneconomical — were mined out —the mining industry as we know it

would’ve folded into oblivion,’’ hesaid.‘‘But this gives us new life, and a

future, and the chance foremployment over the comingdecades.’’

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MMG ROSEBERYPROUDLY SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY

MMG Rosebery is proud to support a number ofcommunity programs in the North West and WestCoast area of Tasmania including:

JONES BOYS CHOIRThe choir has been together for 26 years and perform along the NorthWest Coast, and West Coast. Recently, MMG Rosebery provided fundsto purchase new vests and shirts to wear during their performances.

BURNIE ARTS & FUNCTION CENTREMMG Rosebery is a proud partner of the Burnie Arts & Function Centre &Burnie Regional Art Gallery’s “Arts Unearthed” exhibition. The partnershipprovides complimentary and discounted tickets and subsidised school busesfor West Coast school children to visit events in Burnie and shows on theWest Coast.

BURNIE MUSICAL SOCIETYMMG Rosebery is proud to be a Platinum Sponsor of the Burnie MusicalSociety and congratulates them on the successful production of LesMisérables in Burnie during March 2013.

WORLD STACKING CHAMPIONSHIPSMMG Rosebery will once again assist local girl Lakari Heazlewood to attendthe World Stacking Championships to be held in Orlando, Florida in April 2013.


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Civil Infrastructure Environment Mining


Rich mining history

The open-cut Mount Lyell mine in 1950, primarily producing lead, zincand silver.

Mining today at Savage River isvery different to methods in thepast, but much would still berecognisable. Pictures: GrangeResources.

TASMANIA’S mining history beganabout 500 million years ago, duringthe Cambrian Period when theMount Read volcanic belt wasforming.As the earth moved and folded withthe tectonic events, rich deposits ofvarious minerals formed on the WestCoast.All over the state there are richmineral deposits with a variety of ore.In 1837, Tasmania’s first successfulmine began operation on theTasman Peninsula.These first coal mines were workedby the Port Arthur convicts aspunishment for the worst of the worstof the worst.Queenstown sprang up around theincredibly profitable mines that werebuilt there in the 1880s.Among other minerals, the gold andcopper deposits at Queenstown areworld class.Discovery of silver-lead ore nearZeehan led to the West Coast’smining boom in the late 19thcentury.For a while Zeehan was the thirdlargest town in Tasmania and wasknown as the silver city of the west.One of Tasmania’s most famousmining towns is Beaconsfield.Beaconsfield became a rich goldtown and at one stage 53 companieswere working the lucrative mines.

In Northern Tasmania the tin miningbrought many Chinese people to thestate, with their population in 1891reaching almost 1000.Derby, with the Briseis tin mine, wasonce the world’s largest exporter oftin ore. Museums and historic sitesabound in the state, with many ofthese historic mines now abandonedand empty.The Coal Mines Historic Site, forexample, is included in the AustralianConvict Sites World Heritage listingalong with the Port Arthur HistoricSite.The Beaconsfield Mine and HeritageCentre has interpretive and hands-on

displays for visitors to learn about thetown’s rich history.All over the state, mining has shapedthe community and landscape andthere are plenty of opportunities toview historic sites and see how theearly mines operated for yourself.


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Union digs deep for miners

Scenes from the AWU’s Our Tarkine, Our Future rally held in Burnie lastyear. Pictures: Katrina Dodd.

Australian Workers Union Tasmanian secretary Ian Wakefield says theunion has a long history of representing miners.

Win in Tarkinebattle afterprotest in NW

THE Australian Workers Union has along history in representing miningindustry workers in North-WestTasmania.

In fact, the Rosebery mine is one ofthe union’s oldest continually-operating worksites in the country.

Last year AWU members at Roseberyand Savage River asked the union torun a national campaign on theirbehalf, Tasmanian state secretaryIan Wakefield said.

‘‘They were concerned about movesfrom mainland-based lobby groupssuch as GetUp! to have 440,000hectares of Crown land in North-West Tasmania added to theNational Heritage Register,’’ MrWakefield said.

‘‘This would have effectively crushedany hope of new mining projects inthe region, and would have affected

future expansion plans for existingmines. Put simply, local AWUmembers were extremely concernedabout their jobs, and about future jobopportunities for their children.’’

The Our Tarkine, Our Futurecampaign kicked off in Septemberlast year.

The campaign called for a ‘‘sensible,middle-ground approach’’ balancingthe needs of conservation andmining.

‘‘We made a television commercial,featuring local miners telling theirpersonal stories, which ran nationally

on Sky News,’’ Mr Wakefield said.

‘‘We also ran newspaperadvertisements, distributed flyersand conducted a community rallywhich was attended by 3500 peoplein Burnie.’’

A group of mine workers then went toCanberra to meet with federalEnvironment Minister Tony Burke andpresented him with a petition signedby 6600 Tasmanians.

‘‘We were delighted when theMinister decided to reject theproposed blanket heritage listing forthe entire area,’’ Mr Wakefield said.

A smaller area of coastline was puton to the heritage register for itsAboriginal values.

The AWU said the campaign wassuccessful because it gaveTasmanians an opportunity toexpress themselves on the nationalstage.

‘‘Mining and conservation have co-existed in the Tarkine region for wellover 100 years,’’ Mr Wakefield said.

‘‘The debate is bound to continue,but we are confident that mining hasa very positive future in North-WestTasmania.’’


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Operations gohand in hand

The metallurgy process at Australian Laboratory Services. The metallurgists develop methods to removeand purify the valuable minerals.

A metallurgist in action at ALS.

MINING in Tasmania involves manybusinesses, from mines themselvesto the industries that surround it.One such business is the AustralianLaboratory Services MetallurgyBurnie.Manager John Glen explained thatthe lab in Burnie would never haveexisted without the mining industrywithin Tasmania.‘‘We develop methods for processingore from mines all over the world,’’John said.‘‘I would say about 25 per cent of ourwork is for Tasmanian mines, 25 percent from the rest of the country andthe other half is international.‘‘But this lab wouldn’t exist if wedidn’t have the market here inTasmania.’’ALS’s work is one of the earlieststeps in the mining process.During the exploration process themining companies will extract oresamples and send them to ametallurgy lab, like ALS.At the lab, the metallurgists andtechnicians examine the ore samplein great detail to understand therelationship between the mineralsand grains.

Next, they liberate the valuableminerals from the other particles bygrinding them apart on a microscopiclevel.

Finally, the lab develops a method toextract the valuable minerals in aneconomically viable way.

Once the method is developed, aprocessing plant will be constructedto extract the minerals when themine is up and running.

‘‘We have to find the most effectiveprocess route,’’ John said.

‘‘There are many things to consider,including the cost and environmentalimplications.’’

Every week, ALS Metallurgy Burniereceives packages of ore samplesfrom around the world.

ALS maintains a strong relationshipwith the local mines and having a labis beneficial to Tasmanian mines.

The mining industry has a huge effecton Tasmania’s economy, and ALSMetallurgy Burnie is one of the manybusinesses that relies on theindustry’s existence.


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Going for BalanceThe AWU “Our Tarkine, Our Future” rally and petition hit the right mark.

We need jobs in our region and it is a sensible win for mining and other activities that the Tarkine remains open for responsible development and use.

Sid Sidebottom MPFederal Member for Braddon

TA1114287

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Minerals in everyday items

An average car contains iron, steel, aluminium, carbon, copper, silicon, zinc and many other minerals.

People tend to think about mining as blasting rock out of the ground, ratherthan about the end results. Picture: Grange Resources.

WHEN people think about mining,they tend to focus on giant trucksand explosives pulling metal oresfrom the ground.They don’t often stop to think aboutthe end result of that process, or thefact that petroleum, coal and otherproducts such as limestone andsilicon are all mined products as well.A great deal of what we take forgranted in our everyday lives comesfrom the mining process.For example, the average carcontains more than a tonne of ironand steel, 110 kilograms ofaluminium, 23 kilograms of carbon,20 kilograms of copper, 20kilograms of silicon, 10 kilograms ofzinc and more than 30 otherminerals, including titanium,platinum and gold.However, many items have hiddenmineral use or use a lot more minedproducts than is obvious at firstglance.Some other common householditems that rely on the mining processare:■ Concrete is made with limestoneand aggregate reinforced with steelreo.■ Titanium oxide is used to makepaint, along with gypsum, barite and

sulphur.■ Windows use silica, feldspar, sodaash, coal and salt.■ Taps contain various combinationsof iron, chromium, nickel, andmolybdenum.■ Advances in materials sciencehave allowed bicycles, once largelymade of steel, to incorporate partsmade of aluminium, carbon fibre,magnesium and titanium that makethem lighter and more durable.■ Sporting equipment such as tennisracquets and golf clubs now usealuminium, fibreglass, graphite,titanium, zirconium, beryllium,copper, tungsten and steel to makethem lighter and stronger.■ Fertilisers for our food are madefrom phosphate and potash.■ Meat and poultry come fromanimals that eat fodder grown withmineral-based fertilisers that may besupplemented with selenium,phosphorus or zinc.■ Computers include gold, silica,nickel, aluminium, zinc, iron,petroleum products and about 30other minerals.■ Pens include limestone, mica,petroleum products, clays, silica andtalc.■ Televisions include aluminium,

copper, iron, nickel, silica, rareearths and strontium.

■ CDs and DVDs use aluminium andpetroleum products.

■ Carpets use limestone, petroleumproducts and selenium.

■ Toothpaste includes fluorite, bariteand calcite.■ Toilets use clays, silica, copper,zinc, petroleum products andborates.■ Lipstick and make-up productsuse clay, mica, talc, limestone and

petroleum products.■ Books use limestone and clays.■ Dandruff shampoo contains coaltar, lithium clays and selenium.■ Light bulbs and fittings includetungsten, molybdenum, aluminium,silica, copper and zinc.


PRESERVING NATURE’S ASSETS AT SAVAGE RIVER Nestled amid the backdrop of Tasmania’s wild northwest, Grange Resources’ Savage River Project is redefning how magnetite iron ore mining can occur with minimal impact to the natural environmental – all the while keeping Tassie’s top resources talent down south. SINCE its transformation into an innovative and sustainable enterprise, the Savage River Project has become a star exposition of why the local community overwhelmingly supports environmentally responsible mining projects in Tasmania’s northwest. With just 1 per cent of the Tarkine wilderness proposed to be opened up for minerals activity, Grange Resources has shown how the resource industry can give the state a much-needed economic boost while preserving its pristine rainforest landscape.“It’s unbelievable how much diversity of mineral wealth there is in Tasmania, particularly on the west coast,” says Ben Maynard, Grange �� so we need to have a sustainable industry. �� ! �� "�#�� $��%�� #��mine site in terms of terrain, with consistent rainfall, steep walls and complicated geological structures.”Maynard has worked on Savage River with various operators for more than 15 years, covering a range of technical and management positions. Now running the teams which deliver production at the mine, he says the site’s environmental footprint hasn’t always been properly managed. Australian Bulk Minerals restarted Savage River in 1997 before Grange Resources took ownership in 2009. The company inherited a history of environmental issues associated with Australia’s largest integrated iron ore mining and pellet production project, going back to its creation in 1965. “Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, there wasn’t a thorough understanding of the mine’s environmental impact,” Maynard says. “When mining recommenced in the late 1990s after a pause, it was �� ! �� &�� #� �� "�� #��government. �!� �� #�� '�� #�� environmental groups can work together.“We have plans on the drawing board that will help to remediate the government’s liability for the next 20–50 years or longer; we are far more stringent on the way we treat our waste than we even treat our iron ore. “It’s a good news story for our operation and the people at the mine are very proud of what they are able to do, to not only continue to provide a workplace that can help prosper Tasmania, but also restore some of the beautiful natural environment in this area.”Maynard also highlights that Grange Resources’ majority shareholder, Chinese trade corporation Shagang International, brought a further sense of the importance of environmentally sustainable operations at the site.“Our major Chinese shareholders are very concerned with how we interact with the environment at Savage River, they are also very concerned about the safety of our people – they want us to run a business we can all be proud of,” explains Maynard. �!��#� ��(��#��#�� #� �� )�� "�� #interesting and dramatically-changing market.”According to Maynard, another great success of Savage River’s rehabilitation has been the ability for miners who have worked at the site for up to 30 years to connect with new processes and procedures. “The people at the Savage River mine are proud to provide a workplace that can help prosper Tasmania, but also restore some of the beautiful natural environment in this area.” “The aim from the point of take-over has always been to raise the standards of how we do business, how we work, how we identify hazards and how we rate risks. It is also about how we communicate any problems or successes from the top down and from the bottom up within the business,” he says.“We brought in a management operating system that integrated different ‘silos’ of the business together, so that we now have a management team that spans the mine-to-metal process, and we have a technical service team that is across the whole business.“We meet every week and talk about key projects, key issues, and key problems, and we apply continuous improvement tool to help solve those problems, understand solutions and embed them into the way the business operates.

GRANGE PEOPLE The turnaround of Savage River under Grange Resources provides a proven blueprint for any new resource developments in Tasmania. Maynard says the company is committed to seeing the state’s ��#�� *�� "�� '� ��#� �� River Project – a challenge mirrored in Tasmania generally. “The Tasmanian location can be both a positive and a negative,” Maynard explains. “It is a remote location, but one that’s drive-in drive-out. So while staff do live on-site – they’re only a relatively easy drive away from home and their families.“We don’t remunerate to the same degree as some larger mines do, but for Tasmanian averages, we pay well. Our skills resource pool is varied – we chase engineers, graduates, professional and technical staff. We never have a �� "��+ / #� �� #�� #�� )��4�� supportive culture and emphasis on safety and environmental sustainability at Savage River. To manage the disproportionate levels of skilled versus unskilled applicants to Savage River positions, Grange Resources has strategies in place to invest heavily in training and retain their top talent.“We have our own immersive technology simulator at Savage River, allowing staff to practice driving with different modules in a manner that is the same as being in the real gear,” Maynard says. “We can take people who haven’t had experience in driving big machinery before and run them through our simulator for a training period, then pair them with experienced operators for �� “The strategy there was to take unskilled people and bring them up to a level that could function and add value to our operation in our conditions.“On the other side of that, looking at our technical staff, we have a really great graduate program, where we target mining and geotechnical engineers and take them into our technical team and rotate them for a period of two years right through the operations.” )��:�:�� &��:<=<�� ! �� #�� ##� ��4�� #�� #�� with the greatest respect to the state’s prime asset – its natural environment

>4��4//4�Resource People Magazine

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2013 Advocate Mining feature

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