LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE HONOURABLE GEOFF WILSON MP, MINISTER FOR MINES AND ENERGY

To delegates and exhibitors

The Queensland Mining and Engineering (QME) Exhibition is an important event for the economy of Mackay, Central Queensland and our State.

In its eighth year, QME 2008 has become the largest showcase for mining technologies, equipment and business opportunities in Queensland.

Our abundant mineral resources are largely under-explored below 80 metres and there are many opportunities for new discoveries.

One technology in big demand in recent years is drill rigs, auger technology and safety equipment associated with exploration drilling.

To encourage new projects, the Queensland Government has invested in exploration through our Smart Exploration and the Smart Mining-Future Prosperity programs to provide new geoscientific data over areas of high potential for new discoveries and assistance to drilling companies through a grant initiative.

In 2007, two clusters of four exploration companies recently received grants to help bear the cost of transporting drilling rigs to mineral exploration sites in north west Queensland.

The grants are designed to fast track drilling in the Mount Isa, Cloncurry and Croydon areas for the search for copper, gold, lead, zinc and silver.

The central Queensland coalfield and the North West Queensland Mineral Province are among the most important mineral producing regions in the world.

The Mackay trade exhibition is an ideal opportunity for my department to inform mining operators in both these mining regions of new initiatives and policies.

For well over a century, mining has been a powerhouse of economic activity leading to regional growth, infrastructure expansion, and jobs and job security for the men and women who work in the mining and related industries.

Central Queensland has high-quality, low-ash coals that are in demand by steelmakers in Asia, and the north west has some of the largest zinc and lead mines in the world and is the location of the world’s largest silver mine.

In 2006-07, total export of coals (metallurgical and thermal) was 153.36 million tonnes worth an estimated $16.3 billion.  In the north west, hard rock mines produced about 1.5 million tonnes of zinc concentrate and about 800,000 tonnes of lead concentrate a year.

I wish the QME 2008 exhibition every success and invite delegates and explorers to my Department’s booth to better understand my Department’s services available to the resources sector, including grant initiatives and new geoscientific datasets.

GEOFF WILSON MP
Minister for Mines and Energy