Far North Queensland mining sites at Weipa, Mt Carbine and Kidston where growth is assured
The Far North’s several bauxite mining operations are on the hunt for “quality people” after successfully transitioning out of Covid. FIND OUT WHERE
Cairns
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FAR Northerners keen on a career in mining will have ample opportunities to pounce with the industry successfully navigating its way out of strict Covid-induced measures.
Rio Tinto’s Weipa general manager, Shona Markham, said the company’s three bauxite mines produced 34.1 million tonnes of bauxite last year after managing to maintain unhindered production through the global pandemic.
They had already produced 8.5 million tonnes of bauxite in the first quarter of 2022.
Ms Markham said the success was a nod to the incredible resilience of its workforce and a new focus on creativity, through initiatives such as Weipa Innovations.
And the mining giant will soon be looking to recruit a number of unskilled and skilled positions at its vast array of sites, which includes processing facilities, shiploaders, export wharf, two ports, power stations, a rail network and ferry terminals.
“We celebrate people on the ground coming up with new ideas and inventions to make our work safer,” she said.
“One example was using an underwater drone to survey the Mission River bridge.
“Our resilience is also evident in how our workforce adapts through the wet season, while maintaining our high safety standards.”
Ms Markham said they were “always looking for good people in all areas” and praised staff for their ability to adhere to some of the strictest Covid testing and protocols of any industry.
They included multi-layered screening and testing for all employees, contractors and visitors, along with a sharp focus on supply chains for resources needed to continue mining operations.
“We also supported the community in multiple ways, including through making hand sanitiser on site in the early stages and supporting government vaccination rollouts,” she said.
The Far North is on the cusp of a mini-mining boom with the Kidston pumped hydro project and the Mt Carbine tungsten mine set to offer a jobs bonanza.
Kidston, a repurposed open-cut gold mine west of Cairns, will start major earth, electrical and mechanical works following a construction start of the project's pumped hydro project’s upper reservoir.
Genex Power chief executive officer James Harding said 120 workers were already on site, 400km southwest of Cairns.
“But that’s ramping up as we build up construction of the dam and at the peak when we have full swing civil construction and when we have the installation of all the mechanical and electrical equipment we will have 430 people here,” he said.
The Mt Carbine tungsten mine, 130km northwest of Cairns, has also promised to triple its workforce after receiving a $6m federal grant.
EQ Resources CEO Kevin MacNeill said more than 100 jobs would be available as the critical minerals mine sped up to full production, and a big emphasis would be placed on putting on employees from the Far North region.
The company currently has around 50 people on its books but aims to expand to around 150 as the expansion is rolled out.
He said recent advertising for unskilled workers “has been a great success”, with the company pleasantly surprised at the “quality of people” recruited to the Mt Carbine site.
“Many of those new workers will be women – (the) female share of the current workforce is today more than 30 per cent and growing,” he said.
Rio’s Weipa’s Indigenous employment and development team is currently undertaking community visits through Cape York to discuss current and future opportunities, including traineeships.
Local Aboriginal Person (LAP) traineeships and positions in the company’s Aluminium Pacific Operations “Women in Leadership Development Program” will soon be available.
Metro Mining’s Bauxite project, located 95km north of Weipa, has also bounced back after a temporary halt in production when the pandemic hit in early 2020.
The company has shipped 2.8 million tonnes last year and has an order book of almost 4 million tonnes in 2022.
“The success of our operations is growing,” Metro Mining chief executive officer Simon Wensley said.
The company has five positions open and are about to launch a trainee recruitment drive in production and apprenticeships in maintenance.
“It’s creating a lot of opportunities to start your career,” Mr Wensley said.
“We encourage all those interested, especially women and local Cape York residents, to apply.”
To land a job at any one of the mine sites, applicants are encouraged to not only search Seek – where there is currently 53 vacancies in Cairns and the Far North region – but also each company’s website where the process is streamlined.
Rio’s Weipa operation has 11 openings, ranging from maintenance, electrical, processing and even childcare teachers.
Recruitment for the Mt Carbine tungsten mine openings are expected to begin soon.
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Originally published as Far North Queensland mining sites at Weipa, Mt Carbine and Kidston where growth is assured
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