Month: June 2020

Bidders for Virgin Australia have outlined their plans, ASX had a big day for Jun 16 and recovery in the job market starts to occur.

Metals X has provided an update of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves for the Renison Tin Operation, which it holds a 50% stake. An annual update has provided a Total Renison Proved & Probable Ore Reserve of 8.61 Mt at 1.40% Sn for 120,300 tonnes of contained tin. Mike Spreadborough CEO of Metals X indicated its been another good year post some significant exploration “Renison is a world class tin deposit and Australia’s largest primary tin producer. The results from the 2020 Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve update represent yet another outstanding year for the operation and will support a mine life in excess of 10 years. After our significant exploration success during 2018 and 2019, I am excited to report a maiden Ore Reserve for Area 5 hosting some 61,900 tonnes of contained tin at a grade of 1.87% Sn, with further resources still available at depth. As we ramp-up production in this area we will see the expected increase in mined tin grades flowing through the operation”.

Bombora has proven to be a very fruitful project for Breaker Resources. Several new high grade lodes have been discovered from deeper drilling at the Lake Roe project east of Kalgoorlie. Four drill holes produced significant gold mineralisation with visible gold, including 4.6m @ 12.5g/t Au including 1.3m @ 42.7g/t within a broader zone of 19.6m @ 3.13g/t. These results highlight the potential for growth at depth for Bombora. Breaker Resources Executive Chairman Tom Sander said “The success we have achieved through the recent shallow discovery 3km to the north, and now directly below the northern part of the 1Moz Bombora open pit Resource, shows the multiple options we have to grow the project – something that differentiates it from many of its peers. The new drilling has confirmed a 2km strike length of high-grade gold mineralisation situated directly below an extensively de-risked open pit Resource, 80% of which is in the Indicated category. The results highlight strong potential for a significant increase in the Resource at grades typically amenable to underground mining”.

White Cliff Minerals has completed a full data review of its Midas Cu-Au Projects. The review of Table Top and Coolbro Creek has identified 21 targets for further review. White Cliff have recently named the projects Midas and continues to investigate the area according to Technical Director, Edward Mead “The more work we do on the project, the more opportunities we see for potential structural fluid pathways, and geological units that have potential as traps for mineralised fluids. White Cliff needs to get on the ground and the recent rain that has delayed the geochemical sampling program is frustrating. The Company was aiming to utilise a crew already in the area as a way of minimising the costs of the program. “The Patersons Province has seen a lot of activity over the last 12 to 24 months, including the great success of Greatland Gold/Newcrest Mining at Haverion”.

CarSales has given a market update and shows an improvement since April 22 – June 16 on lead and traffic volumes. The total inventory of Carsales.com has decreased based on a significant reduction in time to sell due to increased demand from car buyers following the easing of social distancing restrictions. Also dealers have been facing challenges obtaining used and new car stock in the current environment and carsales research indicating an increase in first-time car buyers and people adding an additional car to their household as consumers look to avoid public transport. A total support package provided to dealers in FY20 will be approximately $26m.

Independence Group subsidiary IGO Newsearch Pty Ltd, has taken an opportunity to enter a 70% interest in Matsa Resources Symons Hill at Fraser Range. The deal worth around $7 million in total is set to take place over a three year period. Symons Hill is approximately 70sqkm in area, with the Nova haul road running directly through the project. Matsa has completed exploration work and identified mineralisation in the area. Executive Chairman at Matsa Paul Poli said the focus of Matsa wasn’t Symons Hill recently, but maintained it was of value “The Symons Hill nickel project has been on the backburner for some time with Matsa’s focus on the Lake Carey gold project, but we always maintained it held considerable value. To partner with someone of IGO’s calibre demonstrates that value. I look forward to IGO using their vast knowledge and experience to exploit Symons Hill, while allowing Matsa shareholders to keep an exposure by retaining a 30% joint venture interest. It’s worth noting that Matsa controls some 170sqkm in its own right within the Fraser Range that is also of high value.

Around 1 in 5 in the UK – according to a survey by Visa, are reluctant to head into bricks and mortar until there is a vaccine for COVID-19 While 56 per cent of small business owners are concerned for their future and the damage from COVID-19. While in Australia 1 in 5 home loan deferrals appear to be in financial strife according to the banks. This equates to around 96,000 loan borrowers.

• Viva Energy has released its unaudited financial guidance for the 1st half of 2020.Total sales volume is expected to be around 6,100 to 6,200 million litres. Aviation consumption and services have dropped, however regional and cargo operations have been strong. A major maintenance plan for the Residual Catalytlic Cracking Unit will continue at a reduced cost and extended timeframe. The previously announced buy back will commence this month while the first half 2020 Group Underlying EBITDA is expected to be approximately $257.5 – 287.5 million with underlying NPAT (RC) approximately $20.0 – $50.0 million.
• Diamond Drilling is expected to commence at Golden Camel Gold Zone and RC drilling at Toolleen Gold Zone is earmarked to commence by the end of June 2020 for Catalyst Metals. A previous drill hole for Golden Camel revealed 13 metres @ 4.0g/t. The Golden Camel Zone is located 20km east of the Fosterville gold mine in Victoria – Australia. The RC drilling at Tooleen will look to test down plunge and strike extensions of the high-grade gold zones intersected in historic drilling. Following from the completion of the diamond drilling at Golden Camel, Catalyst is expected to have earned a 50.1% interest in the Golden Camel Joint Venture with Golden Camel Mining Pty Ltd, via its wholly owned subsidiary Nomad Metals Pty Ltd.
• Rox Resources has announced impressive gold grades at Youanmi in the OYG JV area including  25m @ 34.79g/t Au. Rox Resources is in a Joint Venture with Venus Metals at Youanmi. Rox has paid $2 million and in due course will receive a further $1m either by the issue of RXL shares at 2.4 cents each, subject to shareholder approval at a proposed General Meeting scheduled to be  held in August, or if approval is not given by 9 August 2020, in cash.  Rox Resources Managing Director Alex Passmore said “These very impressive results are the best we’ve seen and significantly, are from the deepest drilling at Grace to date. The exploration model we are applying at Grace is continuing to work well, delivering what is shaping up to be a substantial high-grade deposit. We look forward to updating the market on further assays as they become available.”
• OK Underground Mine drill results have given the Norseman community a glimmer of the recommencement of mining activity. The results have been announced for Pantoro Limited at Norseman. Drilling has been underway on the 22 development level of the high grade OK Underground Mine and achieved highlights such as 6.05 m @ 22.90 g/t Au, 6.85 m @ 8.07 g/t Au, 1.56 m @ 59.62 g/t Au and 2.75 m @ 9.09 g/t Au. Managing Director Paul Cmrlec has given some indication that mining at OK will be back and gave some confidence to the area.  “These additional results from the OK Underground Mine demonstrate the consistent high grade nature of the deposit beneath the historic workings. The outstanding results that the drill program has delivered gives us confidence that the OK Underground Mine is likely to be one of the first developments when we Pantoro restarts operations at Norseman.”
• An updated mineral resource for PNX Metals in the Pine Creek region in Northern Territory has been announced. The update gives a resource of 2.94 Mt at 1.7 g/t Au for 156,000 oz Au. PNX Managing Director James Fox said: “This updated Mineral Resource estimate will be used to inform existing pit optimisation and proposed mine schedules to support mining at Fountain Head. The Company is currently assessing a number of proposals to assist with the project capital required for development.” The resource upgrade has provided a 13% increase in resource and 18koz Au.There are also signs of a future growth in resources along the strike.

 

Infrastructure programs across Australia are set to be fast tracked to kick start the economy. The projects include the inland Brisbane to Melbourne Railway, Iron Ore projects in WA and an electricity interconnector from Tasmania to the mainland.  Altogether these projects are worth around $72 billion!

Recently Boral has had some interest in its shareholding from Seven Group Holdings and now Boral has announced a new CEO – Zlatko Todorcevski. Mr Todorcevski has had a vast amount of experience in oil and gas, logistics and steel building products sectors. Boral’s Chairman of the Board, Kathryn Fagg, said “With exceptional commercial acumen, strategic insight and a focus on return on capital, Zlatko has a strong track record as a senior executive in a number of large industrial and energy companies, with international operations. His experience in leading major transformations, including business turnarounds, as well as in capital allocation and strategic portfolio management, are critically important for Boral. He will then deliver a strategy to strengthen the financial performance of the Company and to improve returns for our shareholders.” Mr Todorcevski takes over the reigns from Boral’s current CEO & Managing Director, Mike Kane.

South 32 has signed a contract to engage K2fly with its Resource Governance solution RCubed for its mineral inventory reporting for five years. Chief Commercial Officer Nic Pollock said “It is a great honour to be working with South32. This adds to our growing list of diversified customers like Rio Tinto, Teck Resources and Nexa Resources.” K2Fly also provides a natural resource governance – Infoscope, an Enterprise Land Management, Natural Resource Governance and Stakeholder Relations solution for the Energy and Resources market.

GR Engineering Services has been awarded a contract for the Lake Way Project. The project with Salt Lake Potash is to provide services for non-process engineering design and the management of procurement, construction and commissioning of the Lake Way Project processing facility and associated infrastructure.  Managing Director Geoff Jones said “We are extremely pleased to have been engaged to play a key role in the delivery of the process plant and non-process infrastructure for the Lake Way Project. We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with Salt Lake Potash to deliver safe and successful outcomes. GR Engineering looks forward to Salt Lake Potash emerging as a significant new Australian SOP Producer.” The Lake Way Project is a 245kt per annum Sulphate of Potash project over a life of around 20 years, south of Wiluna in Western Australia. Salt Lake Potash Tony Swiericzuk, Chief Executive Officer pointed out that GRES has been involved with Salt Lake Potash from the design stage  “We are very pleased to have executed these contracts with GRES who have been a critical contracting partner by our side throughout the design development of the Lake Way processing plant and off-lake infrastructure since early 2019. The finalisation of these major Project contracts and the substantial engineering and procurement activity to date has further de-risked the Lake Way Project execution and confidence around the capital budget.”

Core Lithium has announced a 52% increase to new Finniss Lithium Mineral Resource Estimate  to 15Mt at 1.3% Li2O. This will allow an update to the mine plan for the Finniss project. Managing Director, Stephen Biggins said the announcement validates the project and potential “Core’s announcement today is further validation of the enormous potential that our flagship Finniss Lithium Project holds. “We are very pleased to have reached a global Mineral Resource of 15Mt @ 1.3% Li2O for the Project and we are excited to see the life of mine significantly improve as a result of this, when mining studies are completed later this month,” Finniss is located in the Northern Territory and around an hour drive from Darwin.

The potential from the Cayley Lode is progressing for Stavely Minerals with a hit of 87m at 1.74% copper, 0.57g/t gold and 20g/t silver (SMD087) . The results come from the ongoing resource drilling program in a shallow high grade copper-gold discovery at the Thursday’s Gossan prospect. According to Executive Chairman, Chris Cairns,“We continue to be surprised by the incredible consistency and continuity of mineralisation in the Cayley Lode, with the results reported today including significant intervals of strong copper-gold mineralisation in the northern portion of the deposit. “Due to the large overall interval of strong copper, gold and silver mineralisation in SMD087 and the significant gold grades in the high-grade sub-intervals, we consider this intercept to be on a par with the assays from the discovery drill hole SMD050 (32m at 5.88% Cu, 1g/t Au and 58g/t Ag).”

 

AFL was back with a numbing draw, The Aussie dollar this morning is buying 68.2 US cents and markets are expected to be lower on early trade.

• Lithium Australia is progressing towards a patent grant for a revolutionary extraction technology for recovering lithium from fine and variable-grade spodumene. LieNA® can recover lithium from the fine and variable grade spodumene that may otherwise report to waste or tailings streams during current concentration processes Lithium Australia MD Adrian Griffin “Recovering material that would otherwise go to waste is a fundamental building block in Lithium Australia’s quest to enhance sustainability, reduce costs and negate environmental impacts throughout the ASX Announcement, Li chemicals Page 3 battery production cycle. If we as a society want to maintain current living standards, we cannot afford to squander resources and need to minimise out environmental footprint. Commercialisation of LieNA® will take the lithium industry one step closer to achieving that goal.”
• Beacon Minerals has given a Production update for May, with 2,246oz produced. Stage three drilling at the Panther tenement was completed on June 1. Results of which are being reviewed and an announcement made when results are known. 20 holes were RC drilled for a total of 1308m. Managing Director Graham McGarry also let the market know there was an extended trial during this period on low grade silcrete.  “The mine and mill are in “steady state” operations with record tonnage processed during the month of May. Further production increases are possible as site management eliminate minor bottlenecks. The month of May featured an extended trial on low grade silcrete stockpiles totalling 8,700 dmt at a head grade of 1.05 gpt (current stockpile assigned grade is 0.93gpt).  A long‐term tailings strategy has been developed in conjunction with our external consultants.   Sterilisation drilling of the proposed IWL area and the necessary approval processes have commenced.”
• There has been several changes to the ASX as part of the quarterly rebalance. Into the S&P ASX 20 comes Aristocrat Leisure, while Amcor heads out of the S&P ASX 20.
• Yandal Resources are seeking to raise up to approximately $3,342,399 by a pro-rata non-renounceable rights offer of up to approximately 13,369,595 shares on the basis of 1 new share for every 5 shares held at an issue price of 25 cents per New Share. The raise is expected to accelerate exploration upon the Gordon’s Project as well as the Mt McClure Project.
• Parent company of Zip Pay, Zip has posted another strong month and is looking at global growth. Zip Pay is a buy now pay later provider of services for the consumer in the retail space. Monthly revenue of $15.6 m was up 78% year on year, monthly transaction volume was up and repayment success rates are on par with the pre COVID-19 environment. Managing Director and CEO Larry Diamond said “May was another strong month for Zip – the performance of the business, both in terms of the continued strong transaction volume, and in particular the outstanding repayment performance, demonstrates the resilience of the Zip business model.  The prudent tightening of credit, both onboarding and behavioural, together with the repositioning of the business over the last few months, have us very well placed to accelerate as the economy begins to recover from the impacts of COVID-19. We remain on track to hit our FY20 target of $2.2b in annualised transaction volume set at the beginning of the year.”

 

The ASX ended trade on Wednesday with a gain. The market was up 3.5 points.

• Electromagnetic survey has commenced for Galileo Mining’s nickel targets Lantern North and South at Frasers Range. According to Managing Director Brad Underwood, the research over the last 18 months has helped get the company to this point. “We have spent the last 18 months developing our understanding of the nickel potential at our Fraser Range tenements. We now know we have similar host rocks to those at the operating Nova nickel mine, and our first RC drilling program in the area showed disseminated nickel-copper sulphides. The present round of EM surveying is designed to refine our targets for more advanced drill testing.” Once results are known, a drilling program will be scheduled. Shallow aircore drilling at the Lantern Prospect has been completed with 8,839 metres drilled and assays pending.
• An upcoming drill program will test the gravity and new geochemistry targets for Legend Mining at its Mawson prospect. Managing Director Mark Wilson said “The size, strength and location of these gravity highs between the two geochem anomalies makes this a very exciting feature of the Mawson story. The footprint that has now been interpreted, demonstrates the current extent of the large mineralised Mawson system. We have scheduled an RC drill programme to commence as soon as possible, which is designed to provide the geology to help identify the source of the massive sulphide mineralisation which we have already discovered.” Mawson is part of the Rockford Project east of Kalgoorlie and traverses the Trans Australian Railway.
• Havieron drill results have been announced by Newcrest Mining for its project east of Telfer in the WA Pilbara. The results revealed the best significant intercept to date with 109m @ 6.3g/t Au and 0.71% Cu from 668m. The Current drilling is now focussed towards delivering a maiden inferred resource and defining the mineralisation. This is expected in the second half of the 2020 calendar year. Newcrest Managing Director and CEO Sandeep Biswas said, “At Havieron we have returned our best drill result to date and with the step out drilling result we see real potential to further expand this orebody. Getting underground is now the priority and we continue to progress the work to commence decline development by the end of this calendar year or early 2021.”
• There is potential for a significant gold discovery at the Kopai Prospect within the Lake Roe Project, 100km east of Kalgoorlie. Breaker Resources has announced preliminary results from its first 32 drill holes. The highlights include 4m @ 4.54g/t Au from 84m within 9m @ 2.90g/t to end-of-hole in BBRC1373 (ends in mineralisation); There is still a further 28 holes results pending. The drill program by Breaker is to assess and scope the full potential of the 9.5km system.
• JB HiFi has announced a trading update and guidance for the 2020 Financial Year. On the back of an increase to Kogan gross sales, Wesfarmers and Harvey Norman results, JB HiFi has recorded total sales from its Australian, New Zealand and Good Guys operations to be around $7.86 Billion for the FY. The work of the staff during the trying COVID-19 times was pinpointed by Group CEO Richard Murray also when announcing the latest results “I would like to thank our over 12,000 team members who have done an incredible job in meeting the extraordinary challenges faced over the past few months. Our customers have continued to turn to us for their technology and home appliance needs and our team members have responded and adapted in an amazing manner to make sure we can do it safely and effectively.”

 

A recent report has outlined that Port Hedland contributed $54.7 billion to the WA economy for FY 18/19.

• Targets have been identified for the upcoming drill program at Castillo Copper Arya within the Mount Oxide Pillar. Of the three bedrock conductors identified at the Arya prospect, the primary target (EG01) is interpreted to be a massive sulphide conductor with exceptional dimensions: circa 130m inferred thickness, circa 1,500m by 450m. According to Castillo Copper’s Chairman Rob Scott “Castillo Copper’s Mt Oxide pillar has emerged as a significant new exploration project in the Mt Isa copper-belt in Queensland. Historic ground & aerial electromagnetic geophysical surveys identifying substantial drill targets up to 130m thick, provides an exciting opportunity with clear upside for our stakeholders.” While Ged Hall who is a London based director of Castillo indicated the geology team are ready to move  and the target is the shining light of the Mt Oxide Pillar “The 130m thickness and dimensions of the primary massive sulphide target at the Arya prospect are off the charts compared to anything else uncovered in the Mt Oxide pillar to date.”
• Several drill results are in for Ramelius Resources across its WA sites. The highlight being deeper infill RC and diamond drill results at Penny West which gave 4m at 18.06 g/t Au from 216m, including 2m at 31.63 g/t Au  and 3m at 18.42 g/t Au from 184m, including 2m at 27.39 g/t Au. Magenta – north of Penny West also delivered good results from infill & step-out shallow oxide RC drilling. While other results from Stage 2 Eridanus open pit design at Mount Magnet and Edna May in the WA Wheatbelt. Ramelius Managing Director, Mark Zeptner was buoyed by the results saying “The latest exploration drilling results at Penny are further testament to the Project’s potential to deliver additional resources and reserves for the Company. Beyond Penny, we are buoyed by new drill results at Mount Magnet and along the Westonia/Holleton and Tampia greenstone belts. These should aid in further consolidating Mount Magnet and Edna May as significant long-term production centres for the Company.”
• A maiden Resource Estimate has been released for Canterbury Resources Briggs Copper development in Queensland. A JORC compliant Inferred Mineral Resource estimate of 142.8 Mt at 0.29% copper (0.2% copper cutoff) for the Central Porphyry zone at the Briggs Copper Project (containing 414,120t copper metal has been revealed by Canterbury. Planning is now in place for the next stage which will include a significant diamond drilling component. Canterbury Managing Director Grant Craighead said “We are very pleased to announce our maiden Mineral Resource estimate for Briggs, which confirms the large-scale attributes of the deposit. To date we have only tested the Central Porphyry zone with broad spaced drilling. It is anticipated that proposed infill and extension drilling programs in 2020/21 will add to our understanding of higher-grade features that are evident in the system, as well as adding substantially to the overall scale of copper resources in the immediate region.”
• A desk top study of Golden Deeps Havilah and Tuckers Hill Gold Projects is underway. The study is in the process of identifying gold and base metal targets. Fieldwork will also get underway when travel restrictions due to COVID-19 ease. This comes after Golden Deeps acquired extract minerals in May which included these two projects in the Lachlan Folds belt in New South Wales.
• Planning for ground based electromagnetic geophysical surveys over the two current nickel sulphide prospects for Toro Energy is underway. In a statement released to the market, Toro Executive Chairman Richard Homsany said “After the significant confirmation of the discovery of nickel sulphides at Dusty, the Board is very pleased to also announce that preparations for ground based electromagnetic geophysical surveys have commenced. Gold and nickel evaluation activities and drilling are expected to commence very soon at Yandal. The acquisition of geophysical data will assist us to ensure targeted and cost effective drilling is continued in this next campaign. In addition to the outstanding Dusty nickel discovery, the prospectivity of the Yandal One Nickel Prospect remains a valuable part of the Yandal Project. Therefore, a ground based EM survey is being planned over it.” The two prospects are on the Yandal Gold Project east of the Mt Keith nickel deposit.

After a day of rest for the market for the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, here is a spread of the market news on opening. Plenty of news across the mining and resources sector today.

• Vimy Resources have requested a trading halt pending a capital raise. The company has projects in WA – at the Mulga Rock project in the far Eastern Goldfields and the Alligator River project is in the Northern Territory.
• Pioneer Resources are looking at their Sinclair Caesium mine after a review moves into Stage 2. Additional resources have been identified 80m north of the pit shell. The focus on the next stage of review will identify Further drilling options and further mining methods. Tim Spencer, Managing Director of Pioneer Resources said Stage 2 would take around three months to complete, but he was quite pleased with the results so far. “The Sinclair Mine paid off handsomely for the Company. While the Stage 2 mine would likely be smaller in scale, it could yield an even higher margin per tonne of caesium oxide extracted and generate additional cash so that we can continue to self-fund our exploration activities for lithium, gold and nickel.” He said.
• A unaudited March quarter update has been released from AngloGold Ashanti. The report has shown a production figure of 716,000oz in Q1 2020, supported by strong performances from Kibali, Geita and Iduapriem. AngloGold Ashanti has interests in Australia with the Tropicana Gold Mine and also Sunrise Dam, combined for the March Quarter, the Australian Operations produced 130,000oz. Tropicana produced 73,000 oz which is down 15% in year on year variance and Sunrise Dam 57,000oz which is down 20% YOY. Production was down at Tropicana due to lower grades through the mill with a higher throughput on waste ore from Havana Stage one cutback also underway. While exploration continues at Sunrise Dam to deliver development and drilling to grow ore reserves. A lower head grade made its way through the mill in the first quarter of the 2020 year as per previously planned. All in sustained costs with the Australian operations were up 29% year on year.
• After Kogan`s 100% increase on gross sales reported on Friday, Wesfarmers has released an increase of 89% in online sales for the calendar year for its retail operations with Officeworks and Bunnings leading the charge. Sales momentum in the businesses Kmart and Target stores has improved as availability in home and living stock became highly regarded. Bunnings has spent over $20 Million on cleaning, security and protective equipment under the COVID-19 restrictions. Although restrictions have started to ease across Australia, Managing Director of Wesfarmers Rob Scott said “Each of our businesses remains vigilant in prioritising the safety of team members and customers. Safety measures, including restricting the number of people in store, may at times result in some inconvenience and we are grateful for the patience and understanding of customers.”
• A drilling update has been issued for De Grey Mining at its Aquila zone in the Hemi Discovery around 60km from Port Hedland in the Western Australian Pilbara region.  Technical Director for De Grey Mining Andy Beckwith said “At Aquila, we still have not reached the limits of mineralisation. Step out drilling shows we are still in strong broad and high grade mineralisation along the length of the deposit. Deeper RC and diamond drilling is planned to target approximately 100m below mineralisation as well as further extensions along strike.” Aquila has been extended to the east with the following drill results,

41m @ 6.8g/t Au from 181m in HERC086 inc.

14m @ 10g/t Au from 206m (Hole ends in mineralisation)

16m @ 1.6g/t Au from 144m in HERC085

    While there were significant depth extensions for

              69.5m @ 1.3g/t Au from 80m in HERC031D

30m @ 1.7g/t Au from 125m in HERC093

 

 

 

Today, it’s vitally important for mining and civil industry leaders to play their part in shaping the future workforce.

Demand for skilled labour continues to rise and apprenticeships have dipped to a 10 year low, with industries facing an unprecedented shortage of skills and widening threats to workplace efficiencies.

Mader Group is a global conglomerate providing heavy equipment maintenance (mobile and fixed plant) to a widening customer base.

As an industry leader with 15 years’ operational experience, Mader Group is proud to be addressing the shortage with the introduction of a Trade Upgrade Program.

The tailored training program aims to bridge occupational gaps by developing the skills of experienced tradespeople to increase the supply of Dual Trade Mechanics in Western Australia’s labour market.

Officially named ‘Trade Up’, the 18 month program equips experienced Light Vehicle Mechanics (Automotive and Road Transport) with the necessary skills and knowledge to confidently work across a wide range of sites and workshops as qualified Heavy Duty Diesel Mechanics.

“This is an opportunity for industry leaders to work together to create long term career pathways for Dual Trade Mechanics,” said Charlotte Annakin, Trade Upgrade Program Coordinator.

“With a largely trade qualified team in the office, we know what to look for in a good Mechanic and have cherry-picked candidates to ensure the best chances of success. We’re asking companies to partner with us as we train, prepare and mentor these candidates for placement in the industry.”

During the program, apprentices are mentored by Mader Group’s very own Heavy Duty Diesel Mechanics on various worksites and are backed by a knowledgeable management team who have come from trade backgrounds themselves.

“Our apprentices will work alongside some of the most experienced minds in the business. They will obtain well-rounded knowledge and gain valuable insight into operations as they undertake practical workplace experience,” said John Greville, Mader Group’s Chief Operating Officer.

“We’ve already seen some great success stories with key customers. The program allows us to grow industry skillsets whilst also offering customers a cost effective alternative to equipment maintenance.”

The program offers partnering companies short and/or long-term solutions to filling labour requirements with the option to hire (no sign over fee) candidates permanently upon conclusion of their contract.

Since establishment of the program in late 2019, Mader has already achieved several milestone achievements; its first intake of Trade Upgrade participants hit the 6 month mark in their 18 month apprenticeship journey and the second intake are now trained and ready for placement.

In addition to this, Mader Group has landed the 992 (OB25) project at BHP Eastern Ridge which will see a 21-strong team maintain their train load out fleet, including Supervisors, Mechanics, Auto Electricians, Boilermakers and four recently upskilled Trade Upgrade Mechanics.

The Trade Upgrade Program has ambitious goals to grow the Diesel Mechanics of tomorrow with strong potential to be scaled up over time to meet growing industry demand and interest.

 

The ASX is closed due to the Queen’s Birthday, but here are some headlines to get you up and about on a Monday.

• The former chairman of Croesus Mining – Ron Manners has been awarded an AO in the general division as part of the Queen`s Birthday Honours List for distinguished service to the minerals and mining sectors, and to youth through philanthropic support for educational initiatives. From Kalgoorlie, Mr Manners has been instrumental in the mining industry, floating several mining companies and also inducted as as “living legend” into the Australian Prospectors and Miners Hall of Fame. He has also been passionate about helping students in mining and set up Mannkal Economic Education Foundation, which has awarded more than 1,500 scholarships. While other Western Australian based mining related recipients awarded an AO in the general division include: Denise Goldsworthy for distinguished service to business, particularly to technological innovation and research in the mining and manufacturing sectors; Ms Goldsworthy helped drive the Rio Tinto autonomous truck project as well as being a founder and Managing Principal of Alternate Futures pty ltd. Colin Beckett was also awarded an AO in the general division for distinguished service to business in the energy, gas and oil production and infrastructure sectors, and to tertiary education.
• Pilbara Minerals ended last week on the up, starting the week at 0.265 and ending strong at 0.355. While there were some falls for miners elsewhere on the market.
• A housing stimulus package was launched for WA by the Premier Mark McGowan, Treasurer Ben Wyatt and Housing Minister Peter Tinley. According to Premier McGowan “This new major housing package will provide a much-needed boost to WA’s economy.”It will provide a pipeline of work for WA building companies and local tradies, like bricklayers, plumbers, carpenters and painters, as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The social housing component will also go a long way to helping those in need, get into a quality home.” The package includes an $80 million investment to fast-track a regional maintenance program, supporting workers and small businesses in regional WA. The major points from the announcement include:

1. $117 million for $20,000 Building Bonus grants provided to homebuyers who sign up before December 31, 2020 to build new houses or purchase a new property in a single tier development (such as a townhouse) prior to construction finishing, creating 2,600 jobs;
2. $8.2 million to expand the 75 per cent off-the-plan transfer duty rebate, capped at $25,000, until December 31, 2020 to include purchases in multi-tiered developments already under construction;
3. $97 million to construct social housing dwellings and purchase off-the-plan units for supported housing programs;
4. $142 million to refurbish 1,500 existing social housing dwellings; and
5. $80 million for targeted maintenance programs for 3,800 regional social housing properties – including remote Aboriginal communities’ stock and subsidised housing for regional government workers.

A $680m HomeBuilder stimulus announced by the Federal government to spark builders and tradies into action. Adani announced a 200km rail spur civil earthworks contract has been awarded to BMD to link the Carmichael coal project to the Coal rail network.

• Electronics company Kogan has recorded a 100% gross sales increase for the fourth quarter to date financial year. Kogan also increased its active customer base by 126,000 for the month of May.  
• The first diamond drill testing at the Talisman Lucknow Gold Project, New South Wales will commence mid June. Drilling will target an interpreted high-grade gold lode offset position at Lucknow where historic production was in excess of 400,000 ounces at an average estimated mined grade of +100 g/t gold. The lifting of COVID-19 restrictions has returned the company to the resumption of exploration drilling and business activities. The Lucknow Gold Project is in one of the oldest goldfields of Australia.
• Resource definition diamond drilling results have returned for Silver Lake Resources. A highlight was a result of 7.4m  at 98.7 g/t gold and 11.1% copper, part of the 27 diamond holes drilled. There were also several other results that show visible gold and sulphides. Silver Lake has been drilling at Deflector South West and will look at extending the exploration drive to provide additional drill platforms for resource definition.
• The Cygnus Gold joint venture is commencing drilling at its Lake Grace and Yandina Joint Venture. The Hammerhead project will see 7,320m of aircore (AC) drilling, 950m of reverse circulation (RC) drilling and 400m of diamond core (DD) drilling targeting gold mineralisation on three prospects identified within the Project.
• The Musgrave and Evolution joint venture at Cue in the WA Murchison has confirmed potential for a large mineralised gold system. The latest drilling program had 249 holes for a length of 22,879m had highlights such as 6m @ 4.2g/t Au from 116m (20MOAC031) including: 1m @ 18.2g/t Au from 117m  and  9m @ 2.25g/t Au from 136m to EOH (20MOAC041). According to Rob Waugh, Managing Director “These air core results continue to show the large scale of the gold system lying hidden under Lake Austin and support the Company’s view on the prospectivity of this large area. The Lake Austin North gold anomaly now extends for over 5.5km in strike with additional new anomalies at West Island and Mainland East highlighting the potential of the system to host significant gold deposits.