Published Wednesday, 05 March, 2008 at 04:55 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Mackay set to take advantage of global mining opportunities
Mackay’s mining services sector received a boost today with the announcement of a major Queensland Government grant and launch of the new Mining Services and Technologies Industry Action Plan.
Speaking at an industry lunch in Mackay today Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle and Parliamentary Secretary Jan Jarratt announced the $118,000 grant for the Mackay Area Industry Network (MAIN)
They also launched the industry action plan to boost the competitiveness of the local industry.
Ms Boyle said under the Queensland Government’s regional economic development Centres of Enterprise initiative, mining services had been identified as one of the strengths of the Mackay Whitsunday region.
“The Queensland Government believes the region has the potential to further develop as a world class mining services and technologies sector,” Ms Boyle said.
“The new Action Plan will see the Government work with industry and stakeholders to establish the region as a global centre for mining services and technologies.
“The plan will showcase the region’s strengths at international expos, promote investment in key infrastructure, support local firms to grow and help attract and retain skilled workers.”
Ms Boyle said the additional MAIN funding will also help companies work together to win much bigger contracts.
"Specifically it will go towards working closely with local mining services and equipment companies, strengthening collaboration between local firms.
“This will put them in a solid position to take advantage of growing market opportunities in the Surat Basin, India, China and South America.”
Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Jan Jarratt said MAIN was formed in 2001 to represent, support and promote Mackay’s mining equipment and engineering services sector.
“Beginning with 44 companies, MAIN now has about 70 companies under its umbrella,” Ms Jarratt said.
“These companies supply a range of services to local, national and international mining operations from consultant engineering, transportation, design and project management to the provision of mining vehicles and equipment, maintenance and repair, and construction.
“The Mackay-Whitsunday region is home to over 120 key mining services companies with an annual turnover of $1.5 billion and accounting for about 27 percent of all industry output in the region.
“However, the mining industry is increasingly seeking tenders for larger contracts rather than multiple smaller contracts, which is often beyond the capability and capacity of local small to medium sized companies.
“To compete, local companies needed to collaborate as a group, establishing a special project consortium and engage a project manager to coordinate the work between consortium members that individually they could not do on their own.
“By banding together, these companies can respond to tenders for larger contracts which otherwise might go interstate or overseas,” Ms Jarratt said.
MAIN’s CEO Kim Wilson said the membership was also chipping in $118,000 and that he hoped they would be able to advertise the position soon.
“One of the outcomes we’re aiming for is that our members will be able take advantage of opportunities across the mining sector, not just in coal mining, which will have enormous benefits for MAIN and the region’s economy,” Mr Wilson said.
“We hope it will mean our members will be able to move to a position of full manufacturing capacity.”
Ends
Media contact: 3225 1005 or 3224 2007
Contact for the Mackay Area Industry Network Cooperative Ltd: Mr Kim Wilson, CEO, tel 4957 5040, web: www.main.org.au/
Speaking at an industry lunch in Mackay today Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle and Parliamentary Secretary Jan Jarratt announced the $118,000 grant for the Mackay Area Industry Network (MAIN)
They also launched the industry action plan to boost the competitiveness of the local industry.
Ms Boyle said under the Queensland Government’s regional economic development Centres of Enterprise initiative, mining services had been identified as one of the strengths of the Mackay Whitsunday region.
“The Queensland Government believes the region has the potential to further develop as a world class mining services and technologies sector,” Ms Boyle said.
“The new Action Plan will see the Government work with industry and stakeholders to establish the region as a global centre for mining services and technologies.
“The plan will showcase the region’s strengths at international expos, promote investment in key infrastructure, support local firms to grow and help attract and retain skilled workers.”
Ms Boyle said the additional MAIN funding will also help companies work together to win much bigger contracts.
"Specifically it will go towards working closely with local mining services and equipment companies, strengthening collaboration between local firms.
“This will put them in a solid position to take advantage of growing market opportunities in the Surat Basin, India, China and South America.”
Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Jan Jarratt said MAIN was formed in 2001 to represent, support and promote Mackay’s mining equipment and engineering services sector.
“Beginning with 44 companies, MAIN now has about 70 companies under its umbrella,” Ms Jarratt said.
“These companies supply a range of services to local, national and international mining operations from consultant engineering, transportation, design and project management to the provision of mining vehicles and equipment, maintenance and repair, and construction.
“The Mackay-Whitsunday region is home to over 120 key mining services companies with an annual turnover of $1.5 billion and accounting for about 27 percent of all industry output in the region.
“However, the mining industry is increasingly seeking tenders for larger contracts rather than multiple smaller contracts, which is often beyond the capability and capacity of local small to medium sized companies.
“To compete, local companies needed to collaborate as a group, establishing a special project consortium and engage a project manager to coordinate the work between consortium members that individually they could not do on their own.
“By banding together, these companies can respond to tenders for larger contracts which otherwise might go interstate or overseas,” Ms Jarratt said.
MAIN’s CEO Kim Wilson said the membership was also chipping in $118,000 and that he hoped they would be able to advertise the position soon.
“One of the outcomes we’re aiming for is that our members will be able take advantage of opportunities across the mining sector, not just in coal mining, which will have enormous benefits for MAIN and the region’s economy,” Mr Wilson said.
“We hope it will mean our members will be able to move to a position of full manufacturing capacity.”
Ends
Media contact: 3225 1005 or 3224 2007
Contact for the Mackay Area Industry Network Cooperative Ltd: Mr Kim Wilson, CEO, tel 4957 5040, web: www.main.org.au/