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Article published in the Townsville Daily Bulletin online:

GLENCORE SHOCK HURTS LOCALS
CHRIS BURNS

Mount Isa residents are determining how they can pressure Glencore into extending copper operations without giving into panic, which threatens to devastate the mining hub. Across the road from the mines, which contains the income of 1200 miners and their families, a tense gathering was held at the Barkly Highway on Friday night.

It had been a long week for these attendees, their neighbours and their communities, who were caught unprepared on Tuesday night by television reports that Mount Isa Mines’ copper operations and concentrator would close in 2025. At the risk of oversimplicity the issue is this; Glencore said there was not enough copper for viable operations, while workers and residents did not believe the company. Some including Traeger MP Robbie Katter wants Glencore to sell up, move on, and let in other miners more interested in the assets.

About 200 residents attended the forum hosted by the Katters Australian Party MPs, including Mount Isa Mayor Danielle Slade and several councillors, parish priest Father Mick Lowcock, miners, contractors, business owners, and the Townsville Bulletin reporter. Many did not wish to identify themselves in case there were repercussions for themselves or their family who worked for, or were contracted by the company. One such miner said an open cut “super pit’ would be the solution to protect jobs and to access remaining copper, and had the capacity to extend operations by 20 years. A Glencore spokeswoman said a super pit project was not “currently viable” because of challenges involving mine sequencing, the need to remove infrastructure as well as parts of Mount Isa. Realtor John Tully said there was negativity in the city which was not needed. “No one hears about a good steak in the pub,” he said. “They want to … “Let’s support our town.” Engineer Vince Gambino said he moved from Sydney where his family remained, and wanted to be a local resident rather than a fly-in, fly-out worker. He signed a property lease before the company decided not to accept him beyond the probation period. Mr Gambino said the loss of his job and the company’s plan to close its copper operations was likely related. “I do think it is, thinking of it now, they made a decision to release me,” he said.

A diesel fitter from the George Fisher mine site, just outside of the city, said there were already signs that Glencore was increasing production of zinc, lead and silver, as it said it was going to do. A Glencore spokeswoman said the company was invested in Mount Isa’s long-term future and was investing a significant amount of money into operations and exploration.

<blockquote data-quote="rcw1" data-source="post: 1248669" data-attributes="member: 86427">Good morningArticle published in the Townsville Daily Bulletin online:GLENCORE SHOCK HURTS LOCALSCHRIS BURNSMount Isa residents are determining how they can pressure Glencore into extending copper operations without giving into panic, which threatens to devastate the mining hub. Across the road from the mines, which contains the income of 1200 miners and their families, a tense gathering was held at the Barkly Highway on Friday night.It had been a long week for these attendees, their neighbours and their communities, who were caught unprepared on Tuesday night by television reports that Mount Isa Mines’ copper operations and concentrator would close in 2025. At the risk of oversimplicity the issue is this; Glencore said there was not enough copper for viable operations, while workers and residents did not believe the company. Some including Traeger MP Robbie Katter wants Glencore to sell up, move on, and let in other miners more interested in the assets.About 200 residents attended the forum hosted by the Katters Australian Party MPs, including Mount Isa Mayor Danielle Slade and several councillors, parish priest Father Mick Lowcock, miners, contractors, business owners, and the Townsville Bulletin reporter. Many did not wish to identify themselves in case there were repercussions for themselves or their family who worked for, or were contracted by the company. One such miner said an open cut “super pit’ would be the solution to protect jobs and to access remaining copper, and had the capacity to extend operations by 20 years. A Glencore spokeswoman said a super pit project was not “currently viable” because of challenges involving mine sequencing, the need to remove infrastructure as well as parts of Mount Isa. Realtor John Tully said there was negativity in the city which was not needed. “No one hears about a good steak in the pub,” he said. “They want to … “Let’s support our town.” Engineer Vince Gambino said he moved from Sydney where his family remained, and wanted to be a local resident rather than a fly-in, fly-out worker. He signed a property lease before the company decided not to accept him beyond the probation period. Mr Gambino said the loss of his job and the company’s plan to close its copper operations was likely related. “I do think it is, thinking of it now, they made a decision to release me,” he said.A diesel fitter from the George Fisher mine site, just outside of the city, said there were already signs that Glencore was increasing production of zinc, lead and silver, as it said it was going to do. A Glencore spokeswoman said the company was invested in Mount Isa’s long-term future and was investing a significant amount of money into operations and exploration.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="rcw1, post: 1248669, member: 86427"] Good morning Article published in the Townsville Daily Bulletin online: GLENCORE SHOCK HURTS LOCALS CHRIS BURNS Mount Isa residents are determining how they can pressure Glencore into extending copper operations without giving into panic, which threatens to devastate the mining hub. Across the road from the mines, which contains the income of 1200 miners and their families, a tense gathering was held at the Barkly Highway on Friday night. It had been a long week for these attendees, their neighbours and their communities, who were caught unprepared on Tuesday night by television reports that Mount Isa Mines’ copper operations and concentrator would close in 2025. At the risk of oversimplicity the issue is this; Glencore said there was not enough copper for viable operations, while workers and residents did not believe the company. Some including Traeger MP Robbie Katter wants Glencore to sell up, move on, and let in other miners more interested in the assets. About 200 residents attended the forum hosted by the Katters Australian Party MPs, including Mount Isa Mayor Danielle Slade and several councillors, parish priest Father Mick Lowcock, miners, contractors, business owners, and the Townsville Bulletin reporter. Many did not wish to identify themselves in case there were repercussions for themselves or their family who worked for, or were contracted by the company. One such miner said an open cut “super pit’ would be the solution to protect jobs and to access remaining copper, and had the capacity to extend operations by 20 years. A Glencore spokeswoman said a super pit project was not “currently viable” because of challenges involving mine sequencing, the need to remove infrastructure as well as parts of Mount Isa. Realtor John Tully said there was negativity in the city which was not needed. “No one hears about a good steak in the pub,” he said. “They want to … “Let’s support our town.” Engineer Vince Gambino said he moved from Sydney where his family remained, and wanted to be a local resident rather than a fly-in, fly-out worker. He signed a property lease before the company decided not to accept him beyond the probation period. Mr Gambino said the loss of his job and the company’s plan to close its copper operations was likely related. “I do think it is, thinking of it now, they made a decision to release me,” he said. A diesel fitter from the George Fisher mine site, just outside of the city, said there were already signs that Glencore was increasing production of zinc, lead and silver, as it said it was going to do. A Glencore spokeswoman said the company was invested in Mount Isa’s long-term future and was investing a significant amount of money into operations and exploration. [/QUOTE]

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