Broken Hill Rural Report
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Latest Report
Mining improves its green cred
David Claughton
Mining companies have been heavily criticised in recent times for their effect on the environment, but perhaps that is all changing?
A number of mining executives at a recent NSW Minerals Council conference spoke about solutions to some of the big environmental problems.
Mick Buffier from Coal Miner, Xstrata, said the industry recognises the need to change.
"One of the main changes is this move towards sustainable development, and it's not about what we do today - it's about making sure any of our activities don't impact future generations.
"The real important issue is that , really, right from the start that we plan for the end, so that when we are finished mining...we leave behind a sustainable end use for the land," Mr Buffier said.
The fickle world of tantalum mining
Laurissa Smith
You've probably never heard of it but you no doubt have some of it in your pocket right now.
It's tantalum, which is a vital ingredient in mobile phones, but like all other commodities, demand is drying up.
And for the operators of the world's largest tantalum mine in the Pilbara in WA, unfair competition from Africa has pushed them out of the market.
Talisman Minerals will close the Wodjina mine, 100 km's south of Port Hedland and 200 jobs will be axed.
CEO Peter Robinson let's us in on the fickle world of tantalum.
"In the early 2000's there was expectation that the demand for tantalum in mobile phones was going to take off exponentially
"Although it did go up, it didn't go up as fast as people thought...there was a large inventory of tantalum built up up in the supply chain.
"It's only recently that that really has run down to more normal levels," Mr Robinson said.
Online weight loss for men
Kathy Cogo
Do you like the idea of losing weight online?
A new pilot program aimed at helping men in the Hunter region of New South Wales get rid of extra kilos was so successful men lined up to join.
It's called Shed It and chances are no matter where you are in Australia it could work for you.
Dr Philip Morgan from the University of Newcastle explained how it works .
"The Shed-It program was actually an online weight-loss program, specifically targeted for men.
"I guess the philosophy of Shed-It was that we wanted to design a program that appealed to men, that was going to be very cost-effective and time-efficient.
"We wanted to tap into men that could access, that could lose weight in an online environment, where we'd give them the simplified rules and secrets for weight loss," Mr Morgan said.
New South Wales Features
A long fight for the long paddock
New South Wales' travelling stock routes and reserves (TSRs), provide land that drovers and apiarists rely on for their living and that many of us use for a dip in the river or a picnic in the scrub.
Anger grows over Alstonville closure
Rallies, posters and committees are being set up to stop the closure of the DPI's Centre for Tropical Horticulture on the NSW North Coast.
Home owner advice on managing locusts
NSW DPI provides valuable information to urban dwellers as locusts swam start to move into urban areas of Southern NSW.
Dorrigo turns out for annual ag fair
If horses, cattle and woodchopping weren't enough then the vintage tractors, whipboxing and bush dog trials certainly helped make this local show a success over the weekend.
Macdonald defends DPI cuts
The NSW Primary Industries Minister has defended cuts to his department in the state's minibudget, saying they will save millions of dollars.
Forbes fights for its golf course
The town of Forbes, in the central west of New South Wales, looked set to lose its golf course this summer, but locals have come to its rescue.
Overweight dads lead family fitness campaign
Who talks the most about eating healthy food in your home? A program underway in Newcastle encourages dads to lead the way.
Stellar cast of campdrafters at Gladstone
Throw in a bit of dirt with the saddles and spurs, add some good cattle worked by the best riders and horses around and you've got yourself a mighty fine weekend of campdraft action.
Worm farm near Broken Hill reducing waste and fighting aphids
You may have seen a worm compost in someone's garden before, working to break down their garden scraps into rich, healthy mulch.
Well, imagine a worm farm doing that for a whole town's green waste, and you'd see something like Australian Vermiculture in Broken Hill.
Men shed weight in the Hunter
An on-line program to help men lose weight in the Hunter region of New South Wales is so successful men are lining up to join.
