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North West infrastructure holding back region

How remote communities can benefit from mining exploration and providing dependable social services in North West were some of the main concerns discussed at the Mining the Isa forum

held in Mount Isa last Friday.

More than 150 representatives from agribusiness, the mining industry and community organisations gathered in discussion groups to voice their concerns about the future of the region.

"Listening to the stories from where mining is being developed, there are a lot of problems and we want to make sure our shire is in a position to benefit," Boulia Shire mayor Ric Britton says .

"You don't want to knock a mine coming in because of the rich royalties, you want to benefit from it and work in partnership."

The Queensland Resources Council's chief executive officer Michael Roche says they have confidence in the North West minerals province despite the economic meltdown.

"Our message is for the community and the governments to be planning for the future; don't drop the ball on some of the infrastructure projects."

How infrastructure networks can improve to attract more mining projects and people to the North West was another hot topic at the mining forum.

Economic development and mining organisations say they want to see the State Government focus on creating competitively-priced power and dependable rail services.

"There are a number of power options, one being gas supplied generation, which is not on the national network," XStrata Copper chief operating officer Steve De Kruijff says.

"It makes power a little less competitive."

He says the two other options are a high-voltage DC line from Gladstone to Mount Isa and an AC line from Townsville feeding back into the national grid.

"These are three options we should be considering."

Townsville Enterprise chief executive officer Glenys Schuntner says the biggest infrastructure challenge facing the region is energy supply.

"At the moment, we don't have enough supply and we certainly don't have the world competitive pricing," Ms Schuntner says.

Record breaking cattle sale

Despite severe drought conditions in the North West, sales topped the million dollar mark at the annual Elrose Brahman cattle sale held in Cloncurry yesterday.

It is the leading stud cattle sale of the beef industry.

"Top price was for lot number one, an Elrose grey brahman herd bull and he sold for $42,000," Auctioneer Ken McCaffrey says.

"To my knowledge, that is a new breed record for an Australian brahman herd bull that I don't think we have sold in the industry before."

"The drought certainly had an effect on sales; sale results were down but they were satisfactory."