AgForce Qld - Employers Toolbox

Mitigating Workplace Risk

Rees R & Sydney Jones Partner, Justin Houlihan recently spoke at an Emerald Agricultural College information session on Mitigating Workplace Risk in a Rural Environment.

Some of the commonly encountered issues he discussed were:

• No Workplace Health & Safety Policy and Safety Management System in place. If it is in place, it is either limited and lacking in detail or not enforced or followed.
• Equipment, vehicles and machinery are unsafe or defective due to lack of maintenance, modification or age.
• Worker isn’t competent to operate equipment or machinery due to a lack of training or no competency assessment.
• No personal protective equipment provided or the wearing of personal protective equipment wasn’t enforced.
• No induction.
• Inadequate training and/or supervision.
• Lack of records and reporting.

Many of the attendees expressed an interest in obtaining resources that would help them meet their workplace health and safety obligations.

AgForce Queensland has answered the call by producing an Employers Toolbox. This toolbox provides rural employers with information and the templates to assist in meeting their obligations under industrial relations (Fairwork), human resources and work health and safety legislation.

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.

Jade Hayman, Consultant Andrew Palmer, Amy Gudmann 

and Rural Partners Justin Houlihan & Melanie Findlay

Landowners Solar Farm Opportunities - Could this be a viable on-farm income for you?

Off Farm income streams are always being looked at by Graziers and Farmers, but what about if your rural property could provide you with a different form of “on-farm” income.

Central Queensland is becoming a hot spot for large scale solar installations or Solar Farms. Under the Solar 60 Program, the Qld Government is calling for tenders and will provide financial assistance to solar and renewable energy companies to develop 60MW large-scale solar farms. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) have also committed more than A$100 million to drive the development of large-scale solar projects in Australia.

With funding for large-scale solar projects available, Landowners are being approached by solar and renewable energy companies for the rights to investigate and build solar farms on their land. Origin Energy has even indicated that there is a “Prospecting Race” for solar projects in Queensland. 

If you have any queries about opportunities in Solar or using your property for clean energy or renewable projects, please contact Melanie Findlay and Emma Kime of the Rees R & Sydney Jones Rural, Mining and Gas Agribusiness team on 4927 6333.

Landowners Solar Farm Opportunities

Off Farm income streams are always being looked at by Graziers and Farmers, but what about if your rural property could provide you with a different form of “on-farm” income.

Central Queensland is becoming a hot spot for large scale solar installations or Solar Farms. Under the Solar 60 Program, the Queensland Government is calling for tenders and will provide financial assistance to solar and renewable energy companies to develop 60MW large-scale solar farms. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) have also committed more than A$100 million to drive the development of large-scale solar projects in Australia.

With funding for large-scale solar projects available, Landowners are being approached by solar and renewable energy companies for the rights to investigate and build solar farms on their land. Origin Energy has even indicated that there is a “Prospecting Race” for solar projects in Queensland. 

If you have any queries about opportunities in Solar or using your property for clean energy or renewable projects, please contact Rural, Mining and Gas Partner, Melanie Findlay of local firm Rees R & Sydney Jones on 07 4927 6333.