Anti-Coal Activists Rebuked By Adani Boss; What About Jobless In Regional Queensland And Poverty In India?

Anti-coal activists target of Adani boss

Chairman of the Adani Group, Gautam Adani, has directed a strong and scathing attack towards anti-coal activists and Adani protagonists in Queensland and across Australia for caring less about regional Queenslanders and the devastating poverty faced by millions of Indians.

The Indian energy and logistics corporation boss directed his strong rebuke of the anti-coal activists in Australia as the final investment decision approval for the Carmichael coal mine and railway project has been given the go ahead.

“I am proud to announce the project has Final Investment Decision (FID) approval which marks the official start of one of the largest single Infrastructure – and job creating – developments in Australia’s recent history,” Mr. Adani said.

“This is an historic day for Adani, an historic day for regional Queensland, and an historic day for Indian investment in Australia.

“This is the largest single investment by an Indian corporation in Australia, and I believe others will follow with investments and trade deals.

“We have been challenged by activists in the courts, in inner city streets, and even outside banks that have not even been approached to finance the project.

“We are still facing activists. But we are committed to this project.

“We are committed to regional Queensland and we are committed to addressing energy poverty in India.”

Mr. Adani said the Carmichael projects will generate 10,000 direct and indirect jobs, with pre-construction works starting in the September Quarter 2017.

Australia Head of Country and Chief Executive, Jeyakumar Janakaraj, said the company had already invested $3.3 billion in the project including buying the bulk coal handling port at Abbot Point.

Adani signed letters of award for design, construction, operations, supply of materials and professional services.

The biggest deal is with Downer Mining for the construction and operation of the Carmichael mine.

The company has also announced in the past few weeks contracts totalling more than $150 million for railway tracks and concrete sleepers for the planned 388-kms standard gauge rail link between the mine and Abbot Point.

Importantly, these contracts had gone to regional cities to generate jobs – $74 million for railway tracks (Arrium Steel, Whyalla) and $82 million for sleepers (Austrak, Rockhampton).

Mr. Janakaraj announced a further contract for the Carmichael Rail Network linking Galilee Basin mines including our mine to the port of Abbot Point.

This contract is with AECOM, who are regionally based here in Townsville.

The AECOM deal, which covers surveying and design for the rail link, with the company basing 70 people in Townsville.

“But we are building more than a rail line,” Mr. Janakaraj said.

“We are building a line that will open the Galilee Basin, linking that massive coal reserve to markets around the world, generating power, and – importantly – generating many thousands of direct and indirect jobs in regional Queensland.

Oxfam Australia CEO Dr. Helen Szoke said; “Make no mistake, Adani’s proposed mine is a disaster for the world’s poor. More coal will drive more people into poverty through the devastating consequences of climate change and the direct toll of coal burning on local communities.”

However, the Australian charity has come under serious criticism for exaggerating the impact of climate change on global poverty numbers and misleading the Australian public on the percentage of their money being donated to starving children.

On a recent visit to Africa to visit his sponsored daughter, TREN’s editor learned directly from front-line Ugandan officials near the South-Sudan border that another Australian global charity organisation was planning on closing down its child sponsorship program due to the lack of funds from the head office in Australia.

The Charity’s Ugandan director of projects said, “The Aussies are not giving as much as they used to. The priorities of the Australian leaders are being directed into climate change. The children are still in need of food, shelter and education in the Gulu area”.

“In Adani’s case, it will link its Carmichael coal mine to our bulk loading facility at the port of Abbot Point from where it will be shipped to Adani’s power stations in India.

“While some may be looking for ways to leave regional Queensland, we are looking to the future. We are looking to ensure regional Queensland remains a great place to live, work and to raise a family.

To achieve that, Adani is delivering on its promise to address power poverty for hundreds of millions in India and unacceptably high unemployment in regional Queensland.

“To those activists who sit in creature comfort and criticise us, I ask a simple question – what are you doing for those people?”

Further reading:

Major Projects Feasibility Ranking: $22 Billion Investments in Townsville North Queensland

Construction boosts Townsville short to medium term prospects

Development frenzy  emerging between local builder alliance and national property retailers

Kirwan – Top Price Property of the Week – 1 Crown Close – $655,000

Commercial property in Townsville found gasping for owner-occupiers

Magnetic Island – Top Price Property Winner of the Week – 3-5 Endeavour Road – $520,000

Durie Is Out! Gay And Green Thumb Poster-Boy Snapped Duplicity Of Premier On Townsville Water Security

Guide to selling a luxury home

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Battery Gigafactory Global Consortium Investigates Financial Viability of Townsville

Townsville City Council (TCC) has announced they are buying an equity stake in a global investment consortium using council land to build and operate a foreign owned $2 billion battery Gigafactory at Woodstock.

The Council owned land is 40 kilometres west of Townsville on 400 hectares that included the former CSIRO Lansdown research station.

Former senior executive of Macquarie Bank and Chairman of Boston Energy and Innovation (BEI), Mr. Bill Moss said "the consortium is committed to transforming Australia's energy supply."

A similar size battery "Gigafactory" is planned for New York state located at the Huron campus, the home of the computer hardware giant IBM.

The global players

Image: Boston Energy and Innovation (BEI) Chairman, Mr. Bill Moss
Photos thanks: The Australia

The major players in the Townsville Battery Gigafactory investment consortium include:

• Magnis Resources Limited
• Eastman Kodak Company
• C4V incorporated
• C&D Assembly incorporated
• TCC Development Corporation

In a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX), the consortiums Australian player, Magnis Resources said: "BEI is an ethical investment house specializing in the establishment of sustainable energy storage solutions in an environmentally sustainable manner to curb future energy problems faced by countries worldwide".

The TCC announced that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in April 2017 and that a "beneficial enterprise" development corporation has been established to legally share in the industrial development venture proposing the 15GWh battery manufacturing plant at Woodstock.

Economic benefits

"Townsville has increased the stakes to secure a state-of-the-art battery manufacturing plant and thousands of new jobs with a land offer that will deliver a major return for ratepayers," TCC reported.

The consortium estimates that the facility will create up to 1000 direct jobs and an additional 1000 in new jobs in direct support businesses and up to 5000 jobs in downstream original equipment manufacturing. The plant, once it is completed, could produce 250,000 car batteries per annum, 1 million home battery units or support 300 micro-grids to power small towns.

In an exclusive interview with the Townsville Bulletin, Cr. Hill stated: "the council was working closely with the consortium to meet its requirements for the project with land, power, transport links and workforce availability."

BEI Director, Mr. Corey Cooney said "We are also meeting with Minister Lynham as part of a push to create a new advanced manufacturing hub and smart technology and innovation base here in Townsville. We believe that a battery manufacturing plant is an anchor for that."

In a statement to Magnis Resources, Mr. Cooney said: "The consortium is committed to transforming Australia’s energy security by pledging the new batteries will be cost competitive, better performing, a sustainable supply chain, environmentally friendly and an alternative to current major energy suppliers."

Council land commitment

Ms. Young approved the announcement of the joint venture just this week 2 months after the MoU was signed and announced by the Australia/USA consortium on the New York Stock Exchange.

Image: TCC map of land proposed for Battery Gigafactory

"The TCC today approved a planning report recommending the council offer a portion of land at Woodstock for the proposal which is backed by a consortium led by BEI", the TCC press release stated.

"The land is part of the former CSIRO Lansdown research station, purchased by the council in 2002 to provide for future industrial uses.

The private investment consortium has been considering multiple sites proposed by TCC around the City requiring an area of at least 20 hectares. The 400 hectare Council owned site at Woodstock has rail transport, power and optic fibre services essential for a Gigafactory.

"Under the proposal, the Council would exchange the land for equity in the project that would be controlled under a specially set-up Council business entity and provide the city with an ongoing financial return," Ms. Young stated.

Reportedly a personal friend and mentor to TCC Chief Executive Officer Ms. Adele Young, Mr. Moss says these Gigafactories will be the "first of a series of proposed lithium-ion battery manufacturing hubs globally."

Battery energy and mining race

At least ten battery Gigafactories have been revealed in the past six months. Half a dozen have been planned in the last month across the world including the USA, Germany, Sweden, Hungry, Poland, China, Thailand and Australia in Townsville and Darwin.

Image: President Donald Trump Unleashing American Energy policy
Photo thanks: Hot Copper

The most aggressive player and inventor of the battery Gigafactory is the US billionaire and electric car manufacturer, Elon Musk who produces the Tesla car.

A global race for resources in cobalt and lithium is underway to supply the massive explosion in battery Gigafactories worldwide. Reducing the price of battery energy production and storage is critical to the global supply chain seeking cheaper electric cars and solar energy capture and storage solutions.

If the Queensland and Townsville governments are smart, they will position themselves in the negotiations with MoUs in hand from downstream manufacturing suppliers too.

A deal with an Aussie electric car maker or smart home manufacturing consortium, leveraging Australian engineering, could bring an unbreakable proposal to the global battery manufacturing consortium.

Critical to the plant's success is the anode material used in the manufacturing of Lithium-ion batteries.

Magnis Resources "plans to provide the materials from its Nachu graphite project in south-east Tanzania, which is planned to produce roughly 240,000 tonnes of graphite concentrate annually for a 15-year mine life from 2018."

Is the local leadership up to the task?

With such consumer demand making the offtake financing option key to the investment deal, competition across the globe for this new technology puts the leadership of Townsville in an extraordinary position of great opportunity.

From Townsville's perspective, focusing on stimulus jobs is a long game that builds on securing sustainable new age industries that could position the "Woodstock-Giru Valley" in the global gold rush for clean energy.

Image: Townsville City Mayor Cr. Jenny Hill
Photo thanks: Townsville Bulletin

The TCC land value equity stake could be the start of a portfolio of land/equity deals with an Australian owned and operated Tesla-like business model that could see the modern day Holden Ute back on the streets.

Selecting a suitable site showed the consortium behind the proposal the city was ready for business. “We have to make sure we keep the momentum going behind our negotiations and the fact that we now have a suitable site is a big step forward,” Cr. Hill said.

“The battery plant has the potential to create enormous economic benefits for the city and we are doing all we can to make it stack up.

“In addition to thousands of direct and indirect jobs, taking equity in the project in exchange for the value of the land will generate an on-going revenue stream for ratepayers.

“There is a still a long way to go in our negotiations, but the council is acting quickly to seize the opportunity.”

"In April, the council signed an exclusive MoU with a consortium led by BEI chairman Bill Moss AO which includes ASX Listed Magnis Resources and backed by US companies Eastman Kodak, C4V and C&D Assembly to investigate the financial viability of building a 15GWH battery manufacturing plant in the city," the TCC press release stated.

The consortium is investigating Townsville for the Gigafactory site "because of its infrastructure, location and it forward thinking council."

In a recent statement to the ASX, Mayor Cr. Hill's said, "This proposal if it comes off will be the biggest single stimulus for jobs and economic development in Townsville in decades".

"Townsville's economic fundamentals are strong and the hard work we're doing to sell the city's potential and attract potential investors is paying off and was the reason the consortium has come to the city," Cr. Hill said.

The Gigafactory plant could be operational in just 3 years supplying the car, home energy and utility battery markets but the Townsville bid is still competing with a site in the Northern Territory.

Further reading:

Corporatocracy Officially Launched by Secure Private Capital

Townsville sold out by PM Turnbull Smart City Deal

Turnbull Trio Caught with smoking gun – Townsville Smart City Deal’s Catastrophic Legacy

Townsville Smart City Deal Exposed as National Security Threat

Guide to selling a luxury home

Guide to 22 knockout marketing tips to sell a home

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Energy prices threaten survival of Glencorp Townsville copper refinery

Glencorp Mount Isa mine and smelter

The boss of Glencorp's Townsville refinery and Mount Isa copper smelter has warned the security of its North Queensland operation is under threat due to the skyrocketing prices of energy across Australia, forcing the closure of its manufacturing business within 12 months.

Unless drastic action is taken by the federal and state governments to reduce energy prices, Glencorp provides no guarantee that the Townsville and Mount Isa operations will be able to continue in a letter written to the Prime Minister by the company.

The stark warning comes off the back of Glencorp's earlier remarks that a coal-fired power station in the north could possibly increase the competition to State energy generators profiteering from the demands for energy in southern states, and who have inadequately planned for enough baseload power generation impacting the entire Australian energy market.

The 2000 jobs supported by Glencorp's operations in Townsville and Mount Isa will add further devastation to a community already hurting from the loss of hundreds of jobs just over 12 months ago at the Clive Palmer Queensland Nickel Refinery north of Townsville, after which the local unemployment rate jumped to 13 percent.

Similar remarks are coming from other refinery and smelter operators across Australia, including big manufacturers such as BASF and Tomago aluminum smelters, who warned there was a limited chance of new investment in Australia and that further job cuts will be likely.

Reporting to the Australian Financial Review (AFR), Tomago chief executive Matt Howell, who runs Australia's largest aluminum smelter in Newcastle, said: "The company was considering cutting production due to ridiculously high wholesale electricity prices which would result in job losses."

Mr. Howell commented to the AFR that "the prices are still way too high. They should be coming down by half or more than that", he said. "We should be an energy superpower with the cheapest and most reliable electricity in the world. We are not seeing that now.", he said.

The desperation of the energy crisis is evident as the Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt held a lengthy meeting with Glencorp's executives in Brisbane late on Tuesday to convince the company not to move its copper operations out of the state.

Glencorp Townsville copper refinery

Energy industry expert Paul McArdle, who is the chief executive of energy software company Global-Roam, said "The Palaszczuk government policy of merging state-owned electricity companies, the power demands of the $80 billion liquefied natural gas industry and a shortfall in gas had contributed to a spike in electricity prices in Queensland," he reported to the AFR.

"The merging of CS Energy and Stanwell Corporation in 2012 -3 has led to market power issues at times of tight supply/demand balance since that time.", Mr. McArdle said.

He continued his remarks saying, "It has been escalated by two effects of the LNG industry,  - a significant increase in baseload energy consumption in the state (20% of prior overnight minimums) and the removal of large volumes of competitively priced gas, fired generation burning 'ramped gas' prior to the LNG."

If the Palaszczuk government didn't have enough pressure coming to bear from the green Labor-left under Jackie Trad and the Townsville North Queensland community on the back of the way the government handled the Adani coal mine affair, the threat by Glencorp and other large manufacturers of shutting down their operations in the State will have catastrophic consequences not only for regional Queensland but the latte sippers in the cities.

National retailer embarrassed selling illegal smoke alarms in Townsville

Townsville residents are being warned about buying out of date smoke alarms from local retail and hardware outlets.

A local property owner reported purchasing non-complaint products from a local retailer this month, despite the fact new tougher smoke alarm laws were introduced in Queensland from the 1st January 2017.

Queensland's Minister for Fire and Emergency Services, the Hon. Bill Byrnes, said; "although residents would have up to 10 years to install the new alarms, everyone should take action to update their alarm system as soon as possible."

TREN can confirm that residents have been buying redundant smoke alarms from one of
Australia's largest hardware retailers as late as the first week in February 2017, over a month after the new laws were passed but at least 6 months since businesses had been warned of the impending changes.

One of the homeowners who contacted TREN about this public safety story presented one of the three alarms she purchased, and it clearly displays on the back side of the device, an expiry date of "12 July 2016". (see image below) The proof of purchase was also presented.

The smoke alarm was purchased from the retailer in February 2017 with "Quell Ionisation Smoke Alarm", "Manufactured in China for Chubb and Security Pty Ltd", who is based in New South Wales, clearly displayed on the back of the device.

Non-compliant ionisation smoke alarm
Image: TREN

When TREN alerted the retailer to the bungle a very pleasant and well-informed employee said: "this alarm is out of stock and non-compliant." When the employee was asked, "What about the other alarms that have already been installed?" The employee said: "they must be returned with your receipt and we'll give you a refund".

Many residents that have purchased the old ionisation alarms for their own homes reported that they feel confused, or completely not informed about what to look for when purchasing fire safety devices. This comes as the trend of online shopping is growing at a fast pace where cheap illegal products can be purchased very easily. No wonder consumers are confused and concerned about their safety and legal obligations.

Image: Queensland Fire and Emergency Services

Even when the labels on the ionisation smoke alarm in the above image are compared to the QFES website recommendations, it is understandable how residents could justify their confusion. The labelling of the smoke alarms is unclear and ambiguous based on the QFES recommendations on their website.

The yellow triangle hazard system on the homeowners' non-compliant alarm, which is not recommended, does not even appear on the QFES guidelines. Instead, a yellow square label is shown. And, even though the five tick Australia Standards symbol and Activefire Certified certification icon are shown on the QFES guidelines to be safe, the non-compliant ionisation alarm displays them.

Residents that are concerned and may not understand the new smoke alarm laws are advised to contact a smoke alarm installation professional, licensed electrical contractor or consult the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services website for further information. You can also contact the manufacturer with questions. For example, Quell has number to call 1800 654 435.

But with residents finding even the QFES website guidelines confusing, residents are encouraged to call a professional QFES "firefighter" to conduct a "Safehome" visit to receive advice about the best locations to place fire alarms and suggest other fire safety initiatives around the home.

To request a Safehome visit call 13QGOV or visit 
https://www.qfes.qld.gov.au/community-safety/freeprograms/Pages/safehome.aspx'

Townsville at War with "Getup" extremists moving on Townsville

GetUp staff and National Director, Paul Oosting
Image: Thanks to The Mercury

Extremist environmental campaign organiser, Getup, their associates the Australian Conservation Foundation and corporate backers, such as businessman Geoff Cousins, have taken up a war footing against North Queensland businesses and citizens with the placement of advertisements for three field coordinators on the ground in regional Queensland.

The aim of the political lobbyists is to manipulate the minds of "constituents" in the region. Backed by global media and the extreme left movements, while shifting the focus away from their diminishing support for climate change and unvetted asylum seeker policy, they have 100 percent directed their resources onto the higher profile and socially sensitive Great Barrier Reef, a key pillar in their national political agenda.

But really their sights are fixed on the destruction of the Adani coal mining companies, the Carmichael mine, and any organisation or representative in favour of the projects such as the Mayor of Townsville, Jenny Hill, Queensland Premier, Anastacia Palaszczuk, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the Pauline Hansen's One Nation Party.

Queensland MPs, Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk, Adani CEO and Mayor Jenny Hill announce Townsville as Adani coal mine headquarters
Image: Thanks to ABC (Port of Townsville)

All of whom have backed the projects and the $1 billion low-interest loan through the Northern Australia development fund.

Responding to the community's call to take urgent action on creating jobs, the bipartisan political approach is seeking to cut serious crime, such as the wasteful deaths of two innocent grandmothers, and improving the lifestyle assets of the community and build new water infrastructure.

The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) reported this week that "The power and reach of the Adani Group are legendary in India. But the group's subsidiaries have also faced allegations of involvement in fraud and corruption, environmental destruction and labour exploitation."

SMH reporters Nick McKenzie, Richard Baker and Peter Ker commented that "A recent ABC investigation into the conglomerate focused on ongoing investigations by Indian authorities, widely reported by the Indian media, into alleged money laundering and tax fraud by Adani subsidiaries." The investigative trio then went on to say, however, that "The federal resources minister described the ABC report as "fake news" and said the allegations were untested."

The primary aim and conditions on the $1 billion funding are to be invested in a major rail infrastructure corridor from the mine site to Abbott Point, south of Townsville.

In this new and disturbing announcement by Getup to deploy three field organisers to the region, their aggressive nature and covert tactics of the campaign have become apparent. 

Targeting their own members, lobbyists, funding institutions and courts, now they are directing resources towards "constituents", the people, who are mostly unaware of the extreme left lobby organisation and the coercive pressure campaign being brought upon the 200,000 citizens of the City.

By and large after failing in the political and legal arena, Getup is going to attempt to wake up the electorate with protest, propaganda and further promiscuity, asking the voters of Townsville and every marginal seat in Australia to vote in favour of the Great Barrier Reef over "dirty coal", or cause politicians and the Adani company to back down.

On a national election level, the green vote from the capital city seats of Melbourne, Adelaide and Hobart are powerful. Yet the source of program paralysis under the Rudd and Gillard governments.

Queensland is a different proposition with two country politicians, one regional and one ex-liberal candidate controlling the balance of power in the Queensland parliament, meanwhile, Getup's political campaign so far against Adani has failed. 

Image: Getup website advertisement

At least that is what one would think given the federal court rulings upholding the approvals for the mine. But Getup doesnt get it!

They said they are; "developing, refining and implementing a community campaign that engages volunteers and shifts the minds of constituents around the Great Barrier Reef and Galilee Basin coal mines", including "getting members out for regular field tactics; including events, stunts, community stalls and letterboxing." as shown on their campaign's website.

Image: Getup website advertisement

As rampant unemployment and bankruptcies have traumatised the population of the largest population centre in North Queensland with 25,000 people exiting the City due to a jobs recession, the anticipated pain and suffering of its people are expected to continue on the actions of the Getup executive team led by National Director, Paul Oosting.

This time, instead of the unemployment being caused by unintended economic consequences from declining commodity prices and the Global Financial Crisis, the citizens' continued pain could be attributed to the irresponsible and malicious actions of an extreme political lobbyist group seeking to acquire more power and control on global cultures, and centres of western democratic power.

Getup, formed by Jeremy Heimans and David Madden as a politically left movement to ambush and cajole the two-house majority government of Prime Minister John Howard in August 2005. They cut their teeth obstructing political parties, even at the expense of their own integrity, opposing the Gillard government's carbon tax which most ordinary people thought was favourable to their own environmental agenda, reducing carbon emmisions.

Since then they have developed the most powerful environmental political lobby organisation in Australia using military-style tactics to disrupt opposition supply, sabotage their assets and manipulate the media.

They use unfounded and time-discredited science and "fake news" to maintain the bleeding hearts of over 1 million followers and win more cultural and social support to "maximise their power". The point of political leverage is the May 2018 State election and the 11 marginal seats in Queensland.

Despite the favourable arguments put forward for the Adani coal mine and recently proposed coal-fired power station to be built in North Queensland, supporting sustainable industry and employment opportunities, the upcoming 2018 election could hinge on less than 1000 votes to bring the usually left-leaning Labour Party into coalition, should they regain power beside a kindred green movement.

Getup's Miriam Lyons said; "For example, it would take just 532 votes to change the outcome of the seat of Forde in Queensland."

The fully paid position description of Getup's Field Coordinator, astonishingly similar to the structure of a military operative, will be located on the ground in Townsville. The audacious and very calculated outline of the type of individual they aim to attract is described in their job advertisement.

Image: Getup website advertisement

Back in 2015 west of Casino in New south Wales, Getup creative director Simon Duncan-Watt was allegedly captured trespassing by a security camera installed by the mine site operator.

In an unrelated matter, Metgasco said: "security camera equipment at three sites was damaged last weekend." Metgasco alleged an intruder visited a number of well sites, removed batteries and memory cards from the cameras and disabled the equipment." (Scott Harlum, Northern Star).

Getup's operatives admitted, "I undertook these actions as I feared that no government agency was out to protect the public and landowners."

Brendan Pearson, CEO of the Minerals Council of Australia said; "the anti-mine campaign amounts to 'futile grandstanding' that will only delay job and business opportunities for thousands of Australians."

From a real estate perspective, the threat to economic recovery and negative attention directed toward Townsville due to the green agenda, even though rebuffed by the federal government and the Townsville Bulletin's Editor in favour of Adani and a new coal powered station, could cause further uncertainty and damage to the increasing confidence in the business community.

For the majority of Townsville and regional Queensland communities seeking a favourable change in their economic prospects from the god-gifted coal resources and associated mining infrastructure projects in their backyard, which have already received unprecedented environmental scrutiny and approvals, the Getup campaign along with the discredited green and extreme left movement could be facing the final nail in the coffin of an ideology already failing and losing influence.

As late as 2016, Getup in their own submission lobbied to have all political donations over $500 made public and all foreign donations to political parties to be banned, then for the inquiry to learn that Getup had themselves accepted $300,000 in foreign donations.

This most disruptive and insensitive campaign to cripple Townsville's and regional Queensland's hopes for a better future by an undemocratic political non-profit organisation, with a dodgy financial and moral past, has become very personal to lots of locals, their families and thousands of their sympathisers.