Mining Benefits

The scale of iron ore mining in the Pilbara can only be appreciated by being among it … then you only see a smidgen. There are ships coming into Port, being loaded from the two-kilometre long trains, the turnaround being very fast. There are railway lines traversing the Country, bringing in the ore … and there are 4-dog road-trains also criss-crossing the landscape. Does anyone know what’s going where? In among all these various transports come the grey nomads in their caravans and campers ....

Mining equipment is constantly being transported, accompanied by Pilots. Because we have UHF, we know when something big is coming, as we hear the Pilot advising others of the width and travel direction of the vehicle he/she is accompanying. But the Pilot doesn’t know that we know! It’s rather disconcerting when he drives straight at you, with lights flashing. We always get right off the road, and let them have it all.

But you can’t help but think they’ll all be pleased when the grey nomads turn around and head for home!

However, we’ve just heard that the Royalties for Regions program, which the W.A. State Government runs from mining royalties to benefit outlying areas, also helps those on concessions by giving them a $550 fuel card every year! 

Now Queensland Government ... what a good idea to copy!