A CAMPAIGN to extend the lifespan of Glencore’s copper-smelting operations in Mount Isa received a boost at the weekend with guarantees from two key players in the Campbell Newman LNP government.
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Environment and Heritage Protection Minister Andrew Powell and Local Government Minister David Crisafulli yesterday told The North West Star from Townsville that if the Newman government was re-elected on January 31, they would do whatever it took to give mining operations and job security in Mount Isa and Townsville “absolute certainty”.
If the campaign reaches its sought-after outcome, it will mean that Glencore’s copper-smelting operations will go beyond 2016 – its envisaged used-by date – to 2020, thus saving livelihoods in the two cities.
Jobs figures confirmed by Mr Powell’s office are 360 jobs directly in Mount Isa - indirectly in Mount Isa - 1000 all up (including the 360); 140 jobs in copper refinery in Townsville, and across the state about 2000.
Mr Powell described yesterday’s announcement as a “win-win” result.
‘‘We will make a legislative change that allows us to lock in the environmental improvements that Glencore have made in Mount Isa Isa into their Environmental Approval. That then gives them a certainty to operate as long as they have got a resource,’’ Mr Powell said.
‘‘This would not have come about without the hard work of David Crisafulli and Mount Isa Mayor Tony McGrady, and I thank him for his willingness to sit down and work through this with us.
‘‘In my mind this is a win-win. It’s a win for the environment and it is also a win for the economy and jobs in Mount Isa and Townsville.
“What I have tried to do in the last three years as the Environment Minister is get the balance right; work with companies so that they are achieving high environmental standards that we in Queensland expect, but ensuring they achieve the certainty they need to continue to grow our economy.
‘‘Only a stable, re-elected LNP government would easily be able to pass the necessary changes to the legislation.’’
Mike Westerman, chief operating officer North Queensland copper assets Mount Isa Mines, lauded the latest development.
“I welcome the Queensland government’s support for extending our copper processing operations in North Queensland,” he said yesterday.
“Today’s announcement is a positive first step; however, any extension of the copper smelter will need to be economically viable, environmentally sustainable, internationally competitive and supported by our local communities.
“The team at Mount Isa Mines will continue to work in 2015 to establish the business case for an extension of the copper smelter.”
Mr Crisafulli, who worked in tandem with Cr McGrady on the project, reiterated that a re-elected LNP government would “lock in all necessary legislative requirements” to ensure the success of the campaign in terms of jobs and environment.
“I need to say that whatever gains we have made so far would not have been possible without Tony McGrady, full stop. We have worked across political lines and whatever the final outcome, Tony McGrady deserves the highest praise.”
Cr McGrady said he did not need to say much save thank his wife for her understanding.
“It was Sandra’s birthday on Sunday and naturally we had dinner plans but I pulled out to be in Townsville for the meeting with the ministers,” he said yesterday.
“I am on record as having said that I would stop everything I was doing to attend the meeting at the first opportunity. That is what I did. The future of Mount Isa and Mount Isans matters to me first, second, third, fourth.
