Ewen Hosie
Melbourne
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Articles by Ewen Hosie
Cutting out the noise for PA systems
Chatswood railway station in Sydney has implemented a new Digital PA system that promises to cut out the interruptions. Announcements are an important component of train station organisation, but lots can get lost in the noise and bustle of a busy station. PA systems can sometimes overlap due to the sheer frequency of announcements that have to be made at any one time. Chatswood railway station on Sydney’s North Shore Line was one such station facing the consequences of this.
Rolling railway maintenance to a digital destination
In the rail industry time is valuable currency. SKF’s latest digital innovation is proven to extend maintenance levels and keep rolling stock rolling as much as possible. Condition-based maintenance (CBM), which involves measuring and monitoring parameters such as vibration and temperature to spot anomalies at an early stage, has been applied for a long time in many industries. The monitoring aspect is commonly known as conditioning monitoring.
Call for stricter penalties over transport staff assaults
Photo: RailGallery.com.au Ewen Hosie - Melbourne July 26, 2019 Several public transport authorities have stated that penalties for assaults on public transport staff should be increased to come into line with existing protections for emergency service workers.
MinRes ramp up at iron ore sites on track
Mt Marion being upgraded. Image: Mineral Resources Mineral Resources (MinRes) has reported quarterly results at the Iron Valley and Koolyanobbing iron ore operations in Western Australia that reflect ramp up plans at the sites. The company’s iron ore shipments were up 49 per cent year on year to 3.3 million tonnes during the June quarter and in line with the previous three-month period.
Transport major contributor to QLD infrastructure spend
An artist's visualisation of the Boggo Road station precinct in Brisbane. Image: Cross River Rail Ewen Hosie - Melbourne July 26, 2019 The Palaszczuk Government has released a state infrastructure report detailing $49.5 billion in infrastructure spending over the next four years, with around one-third dedicated to transport projects.
Suburban Rail Loop starts next phase at Box Hill
Photo: State Government of Victoria Ewen Hosie - Melbourne July 26, 2019 The Victorian Government is carrying out geotechnical work on the Suburban Rail Loop project, signalling the start of extensive ground works. The geotechnical work encompasses borehole drilling to depths of between 30-60 metres at the Box Hill site, with samples to be analysed over the next fortnight for soil and rock composition and stability. The work is intended to identify suitable locations for the underground stations.
Carnarvon reveals ambitious Dorado plans
Carnarvon's project map Carnarvon Petroleum is doubling down on its appraisal of the Dorado oil and gas discovery on Western Australia’s North West Shelf. The company discovered the field using the Dorado-1 exploration well in July 2018 and subsequently evaluated it using the Dorado-2 appraisal well. Its appraisals confirmed that the field contained a major oil, gas and condensate resources across multiple reservoir intervals in June.
Primero rides high on $100m lithium contract
Primero Group has been awarded a contract at Core Lithium’s Finniss project in the Northern Territory, marking the latest in a spate of mining and energy agreements. The company will provide build-own-operate (BOO), and operations and maintenance at Core’s lithium project for an initial four-year period as part of the $100 million contract.
MMA secures Neptune acquisition on back of improving market
The MMA Prestige. Image: MMA Offshore Australian marine support company MMA Offshore has agreed to acquire subsea services provider Neptune Marine Services for at least $18.5 million. The sale, which is subject to shareholder approval, is expected to cost $18.5 million, including $5 million in cash and $13.5 million in shares. It could, however, could cost as much as $21.2 million depending on MMA’s volume weighted average share price prior to completion of the transaction.
Mark McGowan expects Australind replacement in 'coming years'
The Australind. Image via Wikimedia Commons user Bahnfrend (CC 3.0). Image cropped. Ewen Hosie - Melbourne July 24, 2019 The Western Australian Government says that replacing the ageing Bunbury-to-Perth train Australind will take a few more years. State premier Mark McGowan explained that while the train was a priority for the government, its plans to build a successor locally was a factor in the slow delivery of the project, stating that a new Australind would be delivered “over coming years”.
Flinders Street to partially close for Metro Tunnel works
Flinders Street, Melbourne. Image via Adam.J.W.C. (CC2.5). Ewen Hosie - Melbourne July 24, 2019 The eastbound lanes of Flinders Street, Melbourne will be closed to traffic between Elizabeth Street and Swanston Street for up to three years while works on the Metro Tunnel project are carried out. The closure will begin from September 2, and the Victorian Government has warned of significant disruption to traffic.
Meeting the standard for rail safety
Road/rail equipment specialist Manco Rail has seen a lot of change in its 40-year history of custombuilt equipment for rail electrification and rail maintenance projects. The company has met industry need for safety developed its technologies over the years to become more integrated with mainline production methods, ensuring its offerings meet the highest standards of safety and efficiency.
From dawn to dusk — equipment that lasts - Australian Mining
ACS has partnered with ifm for a decade. In environments where products can be affected by extreme weather conditions while they are in near-constant use, reliability is key in keeping the wheels rolling. Miri Schroeter writes. Just as employees can be struck by the consequences of long, hot days doing physical labour, machinery can also feel the strain of a full working day.
Record year for Regis opens door for expansion
Gold miner Regis Resources expects a 10 per cent increase to current production levels by the 2022 financial year after announcing record annual output. The company produced 90,966 ounces of gold from its flagship Duketon gold project in Western Australia during the June quarter, pushing it to a record 353,418 ounces in the 2019 financial year.
Rema Tip Top extends national reach with Brisbane centre
Rema Tip Top has opened a ‘centre of excellence’ in Queensland to complement its existing west coast premises in Perth. The Brisbane-based centre will serve as a home for the company’s east coast surface protection operations, extending the company’s agile service offering for local and national customers. Rema Tip Top’s surface protection cladding includes several rubber lining and coating systems to help prevent corrosion and wear.
Aeris doubles down on M&A growth strategy
Image: Aeris Resources Aeris Resources has reiterated ambitious company plans for acquisitions despite a bid to acquire Glencore’s CSA copper mine in New South Wales falling through earlier this year. The company offered $US575 million ($878 million at the time) in cash and shares to acquire Glencore’s Cobar-based mine in March, but the proposed offer was shortlived.
Bridging the power gap for mines with scalable microgrids
Aggreko installations at the gas-fired 175MW Ressano Garcia power plant in Mozambique. As resources in some areas become scarce or depleted, mining companies are forced to push new frontiers of exploration. To reach those resources which remain, mines are increasingly being established in off-grid locations and their lifecycle is decreasing, meaning it is no longer financially viable to build permanent power infrastructures to service the mine.
Metro Tunnel project achieves drilling breakthrough
Image: Rail Projects Victoria Ewen Hosie - Melbourne July 23, 2019 Victoria’s Metro Tunnel project has reached a significant project milestone, connecting two caverns at the point that will become the new State Library Station in Melbourne. Three of the seven roadheader drills being used for underground tunneling works in the city’s central business district met at the site where the station will be built 30 metres underground, with excavation of the area expected to be completed in late 2020.
Mineral Resources, Brockman delay Marillana rail and port project
Image: Mineral Resources Ewen Hosie - Melbourne July 23, 2019 Joint venture mining partners Mineral Resources and Brockman Mining have delayed the construction of its Marillana mine-to-port rail system in Western Australia. The light rail line forms part of the wider $300 million Marillana iron ore project, and is intended to transport ore roughly 270 kilometres from the mine site to a capsize carrier berth located at Port Hedland.
A dead CERT for rail training
An organisation is only as good as its staff and the rail industry is no exception. The Centre for Excellence in Rail Training (CERT) was developed in recognition of this fact in Western Australia in 2003. Owned by diversified company Engenco, CERT is a registered training organisation (RTO) committed to providing responsive, flexible, innovative and cost-effective training solutions to the Australian rail industry.
Altura to expand lithium project with Chinese backing
The fully-operational Altura lithium mine showing processing plant and product stockpiles. Image: Altura Mining Altura Mining is on track to continue the expansion of its lithium project at Pilgangoora in Western Australia after strengthening a partnership with China’s Ningbo Shanshan. The Chinese battery company is increasing its stake in Altura with a $22.4 million injection that will guide the ongoing development of the Pilbara site.
Glencore cuts the grind with energy-saving IsaMill spacers
A conical spacer set for delivery. Image: Glencore Technology Glencore Technology has introduced a new conical spacer that it says can reduce specific energy requirements for grinding by up to 21.5 per cent. The spacer provides energy benefits over traditional spacers as its conical design has no bearing on particle size distribution, helping to reduce the required energy to produce a specific product size.
Northern Minerals boosts Browns Range pilot development
Browns Range pilot plant at night. Image: Northern Minerals Northern Minerals will launch an ambitious ramp up of exploration and development at its Browns Range rare earths project in Western Australia after securing new funding. The company has received firm commitments from both Australian and international investors for $30 million, with payment to be split into three tranches at 6.2 cents per share.
Inland Rail's Moree office to bolster regional community
Moree. Image: Wikimedia Commons via user Cgoodwin (CC 3.0) Ewen Hosie - Melbourne July 22, 2019 Inland Rail will open a new office in Moree, New South Wales to support the region from Narrabri to the border of New South Wales and Queensland. The office will complement the activities of established offices in Toowoomba, Dubbo and Wodonga, enabling regional engagement between communities and stakeholders.
Monash study finds preference for cars among new parents
Image: CC0. Ewen Hosie - Melbourne July 22, 2019 A Monash University study surveying the transportation habits of Melbourne commuters has revealed possible methods to increase public transport adoption amongst first-time parents. Respondents who had become parents in the past year cited a lack of off-peak frequencies, dedicated caregiver station parking and suburban reach as issues preventing their increased use of public transport.
Major mining companies on show at AIMEX
The Asia-Pacific’s International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX) is on track to deliver the largest showcase of supplier excellence when it returns to Sydney Olympic Park from August 27-29. AIMEX is an internationally renowned exhibition and conference that will showcase over 500 leading companies from around the world. Joining these suppliers at AIMEX for the first time in the event’s history will be leading mining companies who are exhibiting at the event as part of the AIMEX Mining Pavilion.
Rumble ink Paterson Province deal with AIC
Priority targets at Lamil. Image: Rumble Resources Rumble Resources and AIC Mines have signed an earn-in and exploration joint venture agreement to develop the Lamil gold-copper project in the Paterson Province, Western Australia. The Lamil project is near Rio Tinto’s Winu and Greatland Gold’s Havieron discoveries. Geophysics work at Lamil shows the project contains properties similar to the nearby Telfer Dome, which hosts Newcrest Mining’s Telfer gold-copper mine.
Kawasaki begins construction of Victorian coal-to-hydrogen plant
Image: Kawasaki Kawasaki Heavy Industries subsidiary Hydrogen Engineering has started building works on important components of a government-backed pilot project in Victoria that converts brown coal to hydrogen. The company is developing the hydrogen liquefaction and loading terminal for its $500 million Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) project in the Latrobe Valley.
Beyondie investment decision looms for Kalium Lakes
Image: Kalium Lakes Kalium Lakes expects to make a final investment decision (FID) for the Beyondie sulphate of potash (SOP) project in Western Australia this quarter following a funding approval from the German Government. The German Government’s inter-ministerial committee (IMC) approved a €33 million ($52.56 million) facility from export credit company Euler Hermes, announced as part of a larger funding package on July 2.
Major contractors onboard for Auckland City Rail Link
Graphic: Auckland Transport Ewen Hosie - Melbourne July 19, 2019 Several contractors have allied to deliver a stations-and-tunnels programme of work for the City Rail Link project in Auckland following the signing of a new contract. The ‘Link Alliance’ comprises of three construction companies and three design companies, including Vinci Construction, Downer NZ, Soletanche Bachy, WSP Opus, AECOM and Tonkin+Taylor.
Gold Coast light rail hits five-year service milestone
Photo: David Ansen / Creative Commons Ewen Hosie - Melbourne July 19, 2019 Gold Coast’s tram network G:link will celebrate its fifth anniversary tomorrow, having served more than 42 million passengers since its 2014 launch. The 20-kilometre route, comprising of 19 stations and colloquially called ‘The Goldy’, was first announced in 2009 by the Bligh Labor Government and made its first public journey from Broadbeach South to Gold Coast University Hospital five years later.
ABB digital application unveiled to boost mine productivity
ABB has launched the ABB Ability Operations Management System, which is designed to boost efficiency, productivity, and profitability through maximising the coordination between effective situations in the mine and weekly production plans. This digital application has been developed to assist with real-time integration for working in open-pit and underground mines, allowing for shifts to action immediate corrective action.
Barminco proceeds with $800m copper contract
Clearing for the Zone 5 mine in Botswana takes place. Image: Cupric Canyon Ausdrill-owned contractor Barminco has secured one of its largest ever project wins following the successful funding of a major copper mine in Botswana, Southern Africa. Barminco won a five-year contract worth $800 million in June with Khoemacau Copper Mines — owned by private investment firm Cupric Canyon Capital — to supply underground mining services to its flagship Zone 5 mine.
Anglo American production gains buoyed by QLD coal
Anglo American’s coal sites in Australia have helped the company achieve a 14 per cent rise in global production across its diverse operations. The company’s South African thermal coal operations may have accounted for a slightly larger percentage of the total figure (at 7.198 million tonnes), but its Australian coal mines achieved a larger boost on the previous quarter at 35 per cent (6.08 million tonnes).
Collie Railway roundhound and turntable receive heritage listing
Image: National Trust Ewen Hosie - Melbourne July 19, 2019 Western Australia’s sole remaining railway roundhouse and timetable has received heritage listing from the WA State Government. Built in the 1950s for steam trains serving the coal industry, the roundhouse and turntable will be restored by the McGowan Government thanks to a $998,532 grant from the Collie Futures Industry Development Fund.
De Grey builds warchest for Pilbara growth
De Grey Mining is closing in on the next phase of an ambitious expansion with a $22 million capital raising to fund its acquisition of the Indee Gold mine in the Pilbara, Western Australia. The acquisition would consolidate the company’s existing Turner River project with the adjacent Indee Gold site to form a single, 1.4 million ounce per annum project (the Pilbara gold project) 60 kilometres south of Port Hedland.
Stanmore Coal pins hopes on growth with Isaac Downs
Isaac Plains coal mine. Stanmore Coal has posted a company production record in the June quarter to finish its 2019 financial year with 2.39 million tonnes of product. The company produced two records in the quarter: 872,000 tonnes of run-of-mine coal and 721,000 tonnes of saleable coal. However, its sales were down 52,000 tonnes on the previous quarter’s record of 740,000 tonnes, at 688,000 tonnes.
Queensland is leading the way for big growth
The oil and gas industry is seeing a significant level of growth across the state of Queensland. With industry growth comes the need for growth in infrastructure. For this reason, businesses such as Fleetcrew will continue to support both organisations and communities in the region at a highly personalised level and to ensure peace of mind for customers.
Woodside returns dip on Pluto LNG issues, low prices
Pluto LNG. Image: Woodside Woodside Petroleum has been impacted by an extension to planned maintenance at the Pluto liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility offshore Western Australia and lower-than-expected market prices. Pluto was shut down for planned maintenance in June, but this period had to be extended by nearly three weeks to the end of the month due to unexpected problems with the plant’s mixed refrigerant compressor.
Calidus expects 100,000oz/year at Warrawoona
Calidus Resources has revealed potential to produce around 100,000 ounces of gold a year at the Warrawoona project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia over an initial six-year mine life. The company’s pre-feasibility study for Warrawoona includes a maiden probable JORC reserve of 418,000 ounces of gold from 8.9 million tonnes of ore (1.5 grams per tonne) at an all-in sustaining cost of $1159 an ounce.
CBH Resources to cut 130 jobs at Endeavour
Image: CBH Resources CBH Resources has announced it will cut production and its workforce at the Endeavour lead-zinc mine north of Cobar, New South Wales, following a“review of operational strategies.” The beleaguered company will reduce a staff of 161 full-time workers and 40 contractors at the mine to just 71 people, a reduction of nearly two-thirds. CBH has suffered ongoing cash losses at the Endeavour mine throughout the first half of 2019.
A better bet for balise
Pandrol (Vortok) has developed a balise mount system that could change the game for on-track install times. Rail Express speaks with Pandrol’s Craig Mulvay. Balise are an important component of modern rail signalling technology and a familiar sight on the rail track.
High Street to close to traffic for Reservoir rail bridge construction
Image: Vic Gov Ewen Hosie - Melbourne July 17, 2019 Intersection works on the Reservoir level crossing removal in Melbourne are set to commence next month with a team of roughly 200 workers. Foundations and columns outside the intersection for the building of a new rail bridge over the crossing are now complete, with the next phase of works set to start from mid-August.
BHP reports positive year despite productivity hit
Photo: BHP Ewen Hosie - Melbourne July 17, 2019 BHP has overcome productivity issues faced in the 2019 financial year — including a costly derailment — with the release of a solid final quarter report. BHP reported a $US1 billion ($1.42 billion) hit to productivity in the 2019 financial year, led by $US835 million of impacts from unplanned production outages in the December 2018 half year, in addition to higher-than-expected costs at several of its mining operations in the June 2019 half year.
Metro to extend Bauxite Hills mine life on back of reserve boost
Activities during development of Bauxite Hills. Image: Metro Mining. Metro Mining has updated its reserves at the Bauxite Hills mine in Queensland, resulting in a significant upgrade to the company’s alumina and silica output. The news came about after Metro recommenced its Bauxite Hills operations last month, having expanded the site’s capacity from three million tonnes a year to 3.5 million tonnes a year following delays due to a cyclone.
BHP on track for successful year despite productivity losses
Image: BHP BHP remains optimistic about delivering high volumes over the next year despite recording approximately $US1 billion ($1.42 billion) in negative movement in productivity for the 2019 financial year. The company announced the news this morning in its operational review for the 2019 fourth quarter.
WA mining salaries now higher than during boom
Accounting firm BDO Australia’s remuneration unit Remsmart, has reported that wages in the mining sector are rising above the levels seen in the last boom, particularly in Western Australia. The company analysed the wages of 35,000 mineworkers and found at least a dozen jobs that were now commanding median wages higher than during the previous mining boom, which is generally considered to have lasted from around 2003 to 2013.
Metro Trains to compensate passengers following underperformance
Photo: Shutterstock Ewen Hosie - Melbourne July 16, 2019 The Victorian Department of Transport will pay compensation to passengers of Metro Trains after failing to meet its punctuality targets in June. Metro Trains delivered 88.3 per cent of its trains on time last month, which was 3.7 per cent lower than its 92 per cent target. Department Acting Deputy Secretary Alan Fedda said that compensation would be offered as the figures fell below 90 per cent.
Train collides with two cars at Melbourne level crossing
Photo: Creative Commons / Zed Fitzhume Ewen Hosie - Melbourne July 16, 2019 A train has his two cars at a level crossing in Officer, southeast Melbourne. The cars were on the level crossing after one car rear-ended the other onto the tracks. The boomgates then closed as the drivers got out of their cars to swap details. The vehicles were destroyed, with the train pushing one of the cars 150 metres up the track and the other being pushed aside into the boom gate.
Mine electrification drives potential for reduced costs
The electrification of mines is not only good for the environment, but could improve project economics and strengthen licence to operate, according to mining executives from Australia and overseas. The executives’ opinions were noted in an Ernst & Young (EY) survey carried out as a collaboration by the University of Queensland and the University of British Columbia in Canada.
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