Ensham's Public Affairs Adviser, David Petrikas, accepts the Mine Manager of the Year Award on behalf of Ensham General Manager Operations, Peter Westerhuis, from Stuart Ellacott of Hella Australia.

Ensham's trophies at the 5th Annual
Australian Mining Prospect awards.

Ensham was awarded the 'Highly Commended' trophy in the Coal Mine of the Year category with Ensham General Manager Operations, Peter Westerhuis, receiving the accolade for Mine Manager of the Year.

This year’s 5th Annual awards received a record field of entries with some 80 finalists in the various categories.

Ensham CEO John Pegler said these industry awards honoured everybody across the Ensham business.

“Ensham has faced some dramatic challenges in 2008, but everybody has shown a real determination to recover from January’s devastating floods and rebuild every aspect of the business in a safe and sustainable way.”

“Ensham also truly appreciates the patience of the local communities who cooperated with the extensive dewatering program as well as the prompt and professional actions of Government agencies charged with establishing appropriate permit regimes.  These were important ingredients in enabling recovery from the unprecedented flooding.”

Mr Pegler added that it was especially gratifying to see Ensham’s Peter Westerhuis named Mine Manager of the Year which was a strong endorsement of the leadership and culture at Ensham Mine.

Ensham GM Operations, Peter
Westerhuis was named Mine Manager
of the 2008 Year at the Australian
Mining Prospect Awards.

“Peter has provided the essential Site Leadership and ensured that safety standards did not waver in the face these enormous challenges even though site employment increased substantially during this time.”

Mr Westerhuis said the award really should be seen as recognition
for the entire Ensham site workforce, including contractors.

“The professionalism, safety and speed in which the recovery works have been undertaken are remarkable. The flood recovery will forever be a testament to the combined effects of organisational leadership, a safety culture, attention to detail and a ‘can do’ workforce. The disaster and the ensuing recovery works has galvanized the team and strengthened the sense of unity at Ensham.”

“The Ensham business is now well on its way to recovery and is committed to continuing its contribution to the region, the state of Queensland and meeting the needs of our customers,” Mr Pegler said.

More information: David Petrikas    07 3221 1201 Mobile 0408 636 414

Update
In January 2008, up to 150,000ML of river water flooded into Ensham inundating a number of the mining pits. Ensham had to remove this water to:

• Continue sales to customers
• Safely maintain employment and linkages to suppliers
• Continue to make a positive contribution to Queensland and local economies

Commonly Asked Questions
Q. Is Ensham still releasing water?
A. The return of floodwater to the river is now completed.
Q. How was the release water being managed?
A. Independent sampling and analysis was carried out twice daily to monitor the water quality downstream from Ensham. The water quality was being maintained by blending the flood water from the mine with dam water that had been released from Fairbairn Dam. The blend was also managed by altering the output of the on-site discharge pumps.
Q. Where did Ensham obtain the extra water?
A. All of the water that Ensham used for blending was purchased from allocation holders within the Nogoa Mackenzie scheme.
Q. Why did the water from Bedford Weir taste different?
A. When Sodium chloride levels in the Bedford Weir rose above usual levels, some people may have detected a mildly salty taste.
Q. Are there likely to be any issues with drinking this water?
A. Queensland Health has assessed the water and stated that for the vast majority of people no health effects will occur. Qld Health has issued a bulletin with advice for people who are monitoring their sodium intake (e.g. low sodium diets) and for parents with infants who are less than 6months old and are bottle fed. This information can be obtained from your local health provider or at: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/ph/Documents/caphs/centralhighlandsfs.pdf. There are no other water quality issues that have been identified by Qld Health. A comparison of sodium levels in different drinks is shown in the table below.
Q. What caused the salinity of Bedford Weir to rise?
A. Prior to the floodwater being returned to the Nogoa River, the water dissolved some of the natural salts from the rock within the mine. Some of this saline water has flowed downstream into Bedford Weir and settled at the bottom of the weir.
Q. What has been done to reduce the salinity of the drinking water supplied to these towns?
A. Ensham worked closely with SunWater, Central Highlands Regional Council (CHRC), Qld Health, EPA, DNRW and water plant operators to address the elevated salinity of the water. The large outlets at the base of the Bedford and Bingegang Weirs were opened for a period of time, to release the more saline water in the lower region of the weir and blend it with the overflow going over the top of the weir. Ensham also worked closely with the operators of the Blackwater, Bluff and Tieri water supply plants to raise pump intakes up so that they can draw water from the shallower and less saline water in the weir. Initial monitoring results indicate that these measures are working (shown in graphs overleaf), but the better water has to work through the system to the towns.

Water Quality

Monitoring
Since removal of the flood waters started, Ensham undertook a comprehensive and detailed monitoring program of its water discharge, consistent with the Transitional Environmental Program. Sampling was conducted using five independent local companies, with analysis conducted at NATA accredited labs. The analyses have shown:

• all heavy metals levels are below the accepted guideline levels
• sediment levels in the water are lower than the ambient (background) levels
• no issues related to biological contaminants

Electrical Conductivity (EC)
What is EC?
EC is an indicator of the concentration of salts (salinity) in the water and is measured in micro Siemens per centimetre (µS/cm).

EC of drinking water
The table to the right shows the salinity (EC) of water sources, including sea water. The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) recommend that the salinity of drinking water should be below 1,500µS/cm. This recommendation is based on the ‘aesthetic’ value or 'taste' qualities of drinking water only, not health value.

EC of released water during pumping
The average monthly EC results from water sampling immediately downstream from Ensham, although higher than normal, were always well below the 1,500µS/cm guideline value during pumping.

Sodium (Na)

The salinity is due to sodium chloride which is the same as table salt. Therefore sodium is a component of the salinity (EC). At times, sodium levels in the drinking water at Blackwater, Bluff and Tieri was about 200mg/L. Queensland Health has issued a bulletin with advice for those members of the population who may be on a salt restricted diet. The bulletin highlights that the current sodium levels should not affect the majority of the population. A comparison of the Bedford Weir water and other drinks is shown below.

What about the weirs?

Detailed analysis by Ensham personnel has identified that water with elevated salinity had concentrated in the bottom of the Bedford weir. The upper layers of the water in Bedford weir had lower salinity. The pump intakes for local town water treatment plants were located at the bottom of the weir. Measures were taken to reduce the uptake of the higher salinity water, by raising the pump intakes (see below).

Actions taken to improve town water quality
Once Ensham became aware that higher salinity water may be entering water treatment plants, they instigated onsite investigations and discussions with Central Highlands Regional Council (CHRC) Environmental Health Department, Qld Health, EPA, DNRW, SunWater and operators of the town supply pumping stations. Following the joint discussions with CHRC Environmental Health Department and Qld Health, actions are currently being taken to improve the quality of the water supply. These actions are:

• Releasing the higher EC water from the bottom of the weir by opening lower outlets but not reducing the overall level or reliability of the weir, and allowing this water to blend with the overlow
• Lifting the intake pumps so that weir water for the treatment plants is drawn from the upper layers of the weir
• Cooperating with the Qld Health, CHRC, EPA, DNRW, SunWater and water plant operators
• Communicating with water users and the community.

Further actions to improve water quality
Delivery of the 'best' quality and lowest salinity water commenced from Bedford Weir on 2 September following completion of the earlier actions. This water has been flowing towards Tieri and Blackwater treatment plants through the delivery systems consisting of about 60km of pipelines and a number of holding dams.
As the illustration below shows, some sections of the these delivery systems still contain some of the 'older' water, which has to be replaced with 'best' quality water quickly so that it can flow to the consumers in Tieri and Blackwater.

• The large CHRC holding dam at Blackwater was "by-passed" with a pipeline to deliver water directly from the delivery system to the Blackwater treatment plant. The holding dam contained years of silt and back washing, and was degrading the water supplied from Bedford Weir. This dam is too large to empty and clean quickly. To accelerate the availability of clean water, Ensham assisted Council to engage a team of contractors to carry out the “by-pass” which was completed on 22 September.
• CHRC will also implement actions to replace the "oldest" water in their smaller holding dam and pipeline supplying the Tieri treatment plant.

What happens in future?
Ensham will continue to work with CHRC, EPA, Queensland Health, Department of Natural Resources and Water, Sunwater and other agencies to develop further actions to achieve ongoing improvements to water quality from Bedford Weir.

More than 100 Grade 11 & 12 students from Central Highlands schools grappled with the complex challenges of supplying Low Emission energy during a workshop held at Blackwater International Conference Centre recently. The workshop idea was originally proposed by Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy involving local schools and Ensham Resources with support from the Queensland Resources Council, Gladstone Centre for Clean Coal, and Central Queensland University. Ensham Resources Manager of Projects and Environment, Graham Morris said the aim of the workshop was to develop a consciousness in students of the challenges of a low emission future, taking into account the many competing interests in terms of energy alternatives, costs and energy security in different countries including Australia. “While no single solution emerged, there was much thoughtful discussion and this was evident in the different decisions made by the various groups. Students were divided between the work groups to encourage cross-school discussion and network development,” Mr Morris said. “Our aim was to help understand why governments make the decisions they do in the context of international agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol and the advantages and challenges posed by the various possible alternatives for different countries.” Mr Morris said the depth of the workshop was aided greatly through the development of workshop materials by the Queensland Mining and Energy Academy of Schools in collaboration with Gladstone Centre for Clean Coal using input from Central Queensland University Associate Professor, Col Greensill. This information was capably prepared and delivered by QMEA linked school teacher, Danielle Bevan from Tooloola State High School, Gladstone, supported by QMEA Director, Roger Atkins and Field Officer Louise Wilcox. The standard of presentations was in turn aided by material on energy issues provided by the Queensland Resources Council to a teachers’ professional development day held prior to the workshop. The 100 plus students were divided into 11 groups each to play the role of a country. Information packs of country statistics were provided and the students were asked to consider what the energy strategy should be for the next 50 years and what issues needed to be worked through to comply with the Kyoto Protocol. Countries being used for the workshop included Australia, Iceland, Denmark, Brazil, Japan, Iran, China and India. Assistance with analysis of the data and decision options was facilitated by five role- playing specialists from the first year engineering course at CQUniversity. These students provided the specialist technical energy knowledge for the high school students for consideration, be it coal, oil and gas, nuclear, solar, geothermal, wind or tidal based. The local high school students then presented their country’s energy strategy, explaining the logic for their choice from the natural or market resources available to them. “A number of unexpected outcomes emerged, demonstrating the need to have an open mind and not to constrain options as technology and issues continue to develop,” Mr Morris said. Schools represented at the workshop included Emerald State High School, Blackwater High School, Dysart High School, Biloela High School, North Rockhampton High School, Tooloola High School from Gladstone.

More information: David Petrikas    07 3221 1201 Mobile 0408 636 414

23 September 2008 – Ensham Resources is supporting Council improvements to the Blackwater treatment plant which aim to quickly alleviate water quality concerns at Blackwater, Tieri and Bluff.

Discussions also continued last Friday with State Government with the aim of utilising water from Fairbairn Dam as the “top up” water for Bedford Weir to underwrite the improvements.

Over the weekend, crews organised by Ensham at the behest of Central Highlands Regional Council, installed a ‘bypass’ pump and pipeline around the large council holding dam at Blackwater to speed up the flow of better quality water through the system.

According to Council this should result in a rapid improvement in water quality for local residents. The arrangement will also provide the opportunity to clean out years of accumulated silt and backwashing from the large holding dam at Blackwater so that the dam does not continue to degrade the taste of the improved water supplied from Bedford Weir.

Ensham General Manager, Technical, Colin Moffatt said Ensham had completed installation of the temporary bypass pump and 500 metres of 300mm diameter pipeline, ready for commissioning by Council last Monday.

Council and Ensham’s engineers have confirmed that there are opportunities and budgets to install improved monitoring equipment to better control water quality in the aged Blackwater treatment plant.

Following the successful ‘bypass operation’ around the Council owned and operated Holding Dam supplying the Blackwater water treatment plant, Ensham will continue to aid Council in identifying ways and means to improve the system.

“The State Government is reviewing how allocations from Fairbairn Dam can be used to provide new water into the Bedford Weir. Ensham has already purchased 64,000 megalitres of water allocations as part of its program”, Mr Moffatt said.
 

More information: David Petrikas    07 3221 1201 Mobile 0408 636 414

Ensham Resources has been commended for its decision to cease pumping at a meeting of local and State Government representatives.

The meeting held at Rockhampton last Friday was attended by Central Highlands Regional Council Mayor, Peter Maguire, Rockhampton City Mayor, Brad Carter and representatives from Queensland Health, the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Natural Resources and Water.

As reported last week, Ensham CEO, John Pegler, took the decision to suspend pumping from the mine last Tuesday and has now confirmed this major component of the mine’s emergency flood recovery measures was at an end.

“While this action to cease pumping will complicate the recovery of our mine and we have taken this conscious decision help alleviate community concerns over river water quality,” Mr Pegler said.

As a result of the decision to end emergency pumping, some 12,000 megalitres of water (equivalent to approximately half the volume of Bedford Weir) will not be released into the river as previously planned.

He added that Ensham had gone to great lengths to protect the quality of water released and complied with its Temporary Environmental Program.  This included the purchase of 60,000 megalitres of fresh water which had been blended with flood water released from the mine.

“We will continue to support any efforts to bring about further improvements to water quality in the system,” Mr Pegler said.

In the meantime, Mr Pegler said Ensham remained committed to protecting jobs, restoring exports and rebuilding Ensham’s economic contribution to the region.

Despite the loss of half of its production capacity for much of the year, Ensham has continued to operate with a full complement of employees and has engaged about 200 additional contractors to help get the mine back on its feet.

“Our priority now is to get on with rebuilding our flood protection levees to protect people, equipment and other mine assets before the next wet season.”

Ensham is hoping to have some of the largest pits which were flooded in January back in operation by early 2009. The water from these pits will be pumped to another large pit which will remain out of operation for some time.

More information: David Petrikas    07 3221 1201 Mobile 0408 636 414

September 9, 2008 - Town water supplies to Blackwater, Tieri and Bluff are on the improve after a number of steps initiated by Ensham in conjunction with local authorities.

Ensham CEO, John Pegler, said Ensham had taken further steps to ensure the taste and quality of local water supplies to these towns was improved as quickly as possible.

“Ensham truly appreciates the patience of the local communities while we work through and overcome this unintended consequence of our flood recovery activities,” Mr Pegler said.

“Ensham also purchased 60,000 megalitres of Fairbairn Dam water allocations which has been released into the river system in recent weeks to further enhance the quality and quantity of the water flows.”

“Today, as a precaution Ensham has suspended pumping from the Mine while the Town Water Supply quality stabilises.

The pumps at Bedford Weir have also been raised to pick up the best water and at the same time the lower more saline water has been released through from the weir’s lower release valve. Both actions have improved the quality of water going into the local storage reservoirs.

The problem was thought to result from unusual stream flow and cold weather conditions which had caused an accumulation of slightly saline water at the base of Bedford Weir and which may have affected the taste of town water supplies.

Mr Pegler said Ensham - which is still struggling to recover from the devastation of the floods in January - ordered an immediate investigation into the higher than expected salinity readings at Bedford Weir and took swift action with local authorities to rectify the problem.

“This was a totally unexpected occurrence as flood water released from Ensham mine was within the quality parameters required to preserve the integrity of water for downstream users and was approved by EPA.

Queensland Health has advised that there is no general threat to health but has suggested some precautionary measures. Central Highlands Regional Council has informed all residents of these precautions and that those with sensitivity to elevated sodium should seek advice about water intake while the problem was being resolved.

“I reported personally to a Central Highlands Regional Council Meeting on Monday 8 September and I also personally tasted Tieiri water sampled over the weekend. Residents will soon notice an improvement as the water quality stabilises at the weir and works its way through local water storages. We expect this improvement should occur shortly”, Mr Pegler said.

Council, Queensland Health and EPA supported the measures being undertaken by Ensham.

The water poses no threat to crops or livestock.

		Central Highlands Queensland Health Fact Sheet

Media enquiries: David Petrikas (07) 3221 1201 Mobile 0408 636 414.

Ensham Resources has provided a Permanent Keeping Place in the Emerald Botanic Gardens (Windmill end) for artifacts from earlier Aboriginal generations.

Among the artefacts discovered in an extensive survey of the mine were stone tools and fragments and other remnants from people who lived in the area, passed through or were accessing the vast natural resources of the region.
The objects have been discovered on land owned by Ensham as part of a Cultural Heritage survey and comprehensive Cultural Heritage Management Plan at Ensham.

Ensham General Manager Operations, Peter Westerhuis, said the two year long survey indicated use of the area for a variety of purposes despite some 150 years of farming and more recently mining. Capturing an understanding of that earlier history for future generations is important,” Mr Westerhuis said.

Ensham’s Cultural Heritage Management Plan involved negotiating agreements and understandings with local Aboriginal groups about how to identify and treat items of cultural significance found on Ensham’s mining lease.
The process also involved Ensham’s staff learning about Aboriginal heritage with the assistance of local aboriginal representatives.

“Under an agreement struck with endorsed parties from local Aboriginal groups, a ‘keeping place’ place has been created for any artefacts to be placed under the care of Garingbal and Kara Kara People,” Mr Westerhuis said.

The keeping place is located in Emerald Botanical Gardens and will be used for educational and cultural purposes. The establishment of the keeping place will protect items which may have otherwise been lost during farming or mining operations.

The official opening of the Keeping Place took place on Saturday 6 September.
In addition to the opening ceremony, were displays of traditional Aboriginal music and dances from the Woorabinda Dance Troupe.

Representatives of the neighbouring Native Title claimants, the Western Kangoulu, were also present to express their support of the opening.

Visitors to the Botanical Gardens are invited to visit the keeping place to see the types of artefacts which have been preserved as part of Ensham’s Cultural Heritage Management Plan.

Further information:

Graham Morris
Manager, Projects & Environment
Ensham Resources Pty Ltd 
Telephone:   07 4987 3639