Beef Capital receives Federal Funding

The expected route of the Rockhampton Road Train Access upgrade.
Photo: Contributed Trinnette Stevens
The Morning Bulletin, $20-million boost for Rocky's road upgrades by Kerri-Anne Mesner

$20 Million Federal Government Funding for the Rockhampton Road Train Access

On 24 October 2016, the Federal Government announced $20M to support Stage 2 of the Rockhampton Road Train Access.

The announcement by the Federal Government is welcome news as completion of Stage 2 of the Rockhampton Road Train Access will increase freight efficiency and improve road safety and access to Rockhampton.

Under Stage 2 of the Rockhampton Road Train Access, the roads from Gracemere to the Teys Bros Abattoir in Lakes Creek are set to be upgraded – and there is even talk of the highway between Gracemere and Rockhampton being upgraded to four lanes.

Earlier this year, Stage 1 of the Rockhampton Road Train Access received $10M in state funding under the Queensland Government's State Infrastructure Plan.

In an article published by The Morning Bulletin on 24 October 2016 ("$20-million boost for Rocky's road upgrades" by Kerri-Anne Mesner), Bill Byrne, Member for Rockhampton, stated "that he had a briefly [briefing] with the Department of Main Roads the other day which indicated the design and consultation phase of Stage 1 was near an end".

The plan for the Rockhampton Road Train Access is now becoming a reality and the Beef Capital will soon have the roads and infrastructure to support our local graziers and the beef industries.

Stage 1 is progressing nicely, Stage 2 now has funding – how long will it be until Stage 3 of the Rockhampton Road Train Access is being discussed and funded?

Contact Energy, Environment & Agribusiness Solicitor Emma Kime on (07) 4927 6333 or at enquire@reesjones.com.au.

Buying a Rural Property with a CCA

Energy, Environment & Agribusiness Solicitor, Emma Kime tells us how important it is to ask the right questions when Buying a Rural Property with a CCA.

Emma can be contacted at Rees R & Sydney Jones Solicitors on (07) 4927 6333 or at enquire@reesjones.com.au.

Arrow Update February 2016

Melanie Findlay and Emma Kime from our Energy, Environment & Agribusiness team attended the AgForce February 2016 Member Meeting in Middlemount to discuss the current position of the Arrow pipeline.

Below is a brief summary of the presentation. The full presentation can be view here, Arrow Update.

Arrow Bowen Pipeline Project

The gas project initially comprised of:

• LNG plant Gladstone
• Bowen Gas Project
• ABP (pipeline from Bowen)
• Surat Gas Project
• ASP (pipeline from the Surat)

Additional articles written by our team on the project are “Strategic Cropping Land Declarations at Risk” and “What is a a Pipeline??”

What Now?

Arrow is joint venture of Shell and PetroChina.

December 2015 – the project has been delayed/shelved as gas and oil prices continue to lower.

Shell has recently sold off natural gas and shale assets in Northern America and walked away from the Alaskan Artic project worth $7B.

Energy is an Evolving Industry

The change in attitude towards coal fired power is seeing the closure of coal mines both overseas and in Australia. New technology is bringing down the costs of solar. Renewable energy is definitely an area to watch.

Our Energy, Environment & Agribusiness Partner, Melanie Findlay can be contacted on 07 4927 6333 or enquire@reesjones.com.au.

ARENA data release and large-scale solar projects shortlisted

ARENA data release and large-scale solar projects shortlisted

ARENA have released a summary of the data sourced from their competitive expressions of interest (EOI) round. 

In the EOI round, solar and renewable energy companies were invited to submit a proposal in a bid to secure a portion of the $1000 million in funding that has been set aside for large-scale solar projects. ARENA received proposals for 75 large-scale projects in the EOI round. 

ARENA assessed the EOI applications last year and have since listed 22 projects that are invited to proceed to the full application stage. 10 projects that have been invited to proceed to the full application stage are located in Queensland.

If the Queensland projects are successful in securing funding from ARENA, it is likely that we will see large-scale solar projects in Baralaba, Longreach, Hughenden, Dalby, Collinsville, Oakey, Proserpine and Ipswich.

Full applications must be submitted to ARENA by 15 June 2016. 

Links:
http://arena.gov.au/programmes/advancing-renewables-programme/large-scale-solar-pv/
http://arena.gov.au/resources/large-scale-solar-pv-competitive-round-eoi-application-data/

See also, Emma Kime's article "Solar Projects: The Prospecting Race and ARENA Funding"

What is Groundwater?

Did you know that groundwater makes up 98% of the liquid freshwater on the planet? 

L-R Linda Munns, Emma Kime, Amy Gudmann

Last week, Emma Kime along with Amy Gudmann and Linda Munns of our Mining, Gas and Rural Team attended Capricornia Catchment's Getting to know your Groundwater Workshop held in Rockhampton. 

Emma said that "this workshop was a fantastic local event that was able to bring interested members of the community together to gain an understanding of groundwater and the extraction process, the local geology and the impacts of coal and coal seam gas developments on water resources."

Many of our client's have concerns about whether they are entitled to enter into a Make Good Agreement with mining and resource companies and how coal and coal seam gas developments may impact their water resources and bores. As a result, Emma enjoyed learning first-hand how graziers and landowners can be proactive in monitoring water levels and measuring the quality of their bores on an ongoing basis to collate data that may then be used as part of a Baseline Assessment. 

Emma also enjoyed connecting with local community members and hearing the concerns that locals have with their bores and why they choose to attend the Getting to know your Groundwater Workshop.

If you would like to discuss how the Mining, Gas and Rural Team can assist you with any concerns that you may have about your bore or whether you are entitled to enter into a Make Good Agreement, please do not hesitate to contact us on (07) 4927 6333 or enquire@reesjones.com.au.

The Carbon Market & Trading

Melanie Findlay and Emma Kime attended the AgForce February 2016 Member Meeting in Middlemount to discuss carbon emissions and the Emissions Reduction Fund.

Below is a brief summary of the presentation, the full presentation can be viewed here Carbon Market and Trading: Emissions Reduction Fund.

What is the Carbon Emissions Reduction Fund?

The Emissions Reduction Fund is a voluntary carbon offset scheme and part of Australia’s pledge to reduce emissions and create a competitive carbon market. See also The Landowner Lawyer’s discussion on the 2015 COP21 blog “What’s all this Paris stuff?”

Accredited Projects

• Beef Cattle Herd Management
• Feeding of supplements
• Avoided clearing of native regrowth

Beef Cattle Herd Management

Management practices that reduce emissions include establishing higher quality pasture, providing a feed supplement all year round and expanded watering points.

Feeding of supplements

This project requires urea lick blocks to be replaced with nitrate lick blocks and the use of the Beef Nitrates Calculator.

Avoided clearing of native regrowth

To be eligible for this project, the land must have native forest cover and have been cleared at least twice in the past.

Energy, Environment & Agribusiness Partner, Melanie Findlay can be contacted on 07 4927 6333 or at enquire@reesjones.com.au