September 26, 2024 • 16 mins
In this week's episode.....we update you with the latest news on a possible coal mine near Bundy.
The Gympie Bruce Highway bypass party slammed.
An Australia first battery facility moving ahead in Maryborough.
And big wins for our Queensland Country rugby league players.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
I welcome to iHeart White Bay Burnett, your local news fix.
I'm Bruce Atkinson joined by Jy Moss. Coming up today,
we update you with the latest on the possibility of
a coal mine near Bundy, the Gibbee Bypass party slammed,
an Australia first battery facility moving ahead, and big wins
for our Queensland Country rugby league players.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
First up, let's take a look at developments this week
with the company wanting to explore for coal are stone
to throw from Bundy.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
We've got primate agricultural land and we need to protect
that at all costs. I'm not against mining, however, we're
the fruit bowl of Australia and we really need to
make sure that we're maintaining what the expectations of our
region are. We're clean and green and we really want
to keep ourselves that way.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
That's Bunderberg Mayor Helen Blackburn speaking in response to news
the state government looks set to reject an exploratory permit
for a cocin coal mine just five kilometers from the
city CBD. State Development Minister Grace Grace announcing this week
her preliminary view is the application by a Fox isn't
in the public interest. The company has until November fifteen
(01:03):
to provide further submissions. The community is holding its breath.
The government rejected the application in twenty twenty two, but
it was overturned by the Supreme Court last year. Council
of Blackburn welcomes the government's latest stance.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
We'll just have to live with this shadow in fin item.
That's difficult for the community because we really need some
certainty about our future. People that live where the MDL
is suggested will be, they really need the certainty about
their properties. I mean, it affects property values, it affects
people's lives and their homes and puts at risk this
agricultural land that we really value. So I think it's
(01:39):
important that it comes to a finalization for the community
as well as for Fox Resources. I mean, this is
a really long drawn out process that's been going on
now since twenty twenty and I think, you know, we
definitely need to try to find a sensible end point.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Fox Resources executive director Bruce Garlic says the company is
seeking to drill five holes for exploration purposes along with
technical studies. He says it'll have minimal impact and we'll
comply with the highest environmental and regulatory standards. Mister Garlic
says the company recognizes the importance of protecting the region's
key agricultural and other industries, and there'll be no impact
(02:16):
on the aquifer used for local water consumption. The mayor
isn't convinced.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Fox Resources will make whatever statements they need to make
to try to give us some comfort. Unfortunately, it does
little for the community and the comfort that they need
to feel. We understand that it may just be some
boreholes to Fox Resources, and that may give them a
platform to be able to sell on their company. That
would be worth a lot more should they be able
to get the coking coal that they are thinking that
(02:42):
we have under the ground. But if this were to
go ahead, and if they were to on sell to
someone who was a larger mining corporation, that would then
see trucks on our roads, the deterioration of the roads,
the dust, the deterioration of our agricultural land. So whilst
they might try to make some assurances to us, we're
not there with blindfolds on. We understand that this would
(03:04):
be jobs and that this would be industry and it's
heavy industry. It's industrial, dirty industry and we don't want that.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Local sugar cane and soybean farmer Duty Plais describes herself
as a strong advocate for water supply and the Bundy
region for a long time well.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
Fox Resources have made plenty of empty claims about not
impacting the aquifer in our region, but when we called
for them to release their report a hydrology report on that,
there's been nothing forthcoming. So without our hydrology report to
prove that they won't have any impact on the aquifer,
farmers in our area can only assume that Fox Resources
(03:42):
activities could be a threat to our underground water supplies
and given how important they are to the high value
agriculture in our area, we're not willing to take the
risk on some empty promises from a coal mining company
based in Western Australia.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
And while the possibility of mine is hanging over their heads.
Judy Plath says farmers can't commit to investing in their properties.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
At the end of the day, irrigated agriculture employees over
eight thousand people in the Bunderberg region. We're putting nearly
a billion dollars into the Queensland economy with irrigated agriculture
in our region. So for the certainty and peace of
mind of our farmers and the people that work for
farmers in our region, it's important the Minister makes a
(04:27):
final decision to reject the coal mine once and for all.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
The state government is coming under fire for holding a
party to celebrate the opening of a section of the
Bruce Highway which hasn't yet opened. Gimpy residents were invited
to the events on August seventeen to celebrate the work
on the unfinished Gimpy Bypass. Transport Minister Bart Melish, the
local labor candidate, and a senator were among the attendees.
Local LNP ANDP Tony Perrott says the expense can't be justified.
Speaker 5 (04:57):
Well, certainly an out lean wish amount of money that
was spent. It was just extraordinary that you could spend
over three hundred thousand dollars on a five hour event
that didn't even open the Bruce Highway. So obviously we're
talking about the Gimptey Bypass and the work that's been
going on there for some time. But to spend that
sort of money when there are greater priorities in the
(05:18):
Gimpi region just demonstrates just how out of touch not
only the minister, but this labor government are when it
comes to priorities within the Gimpei region.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Tony Parrot uncovered the cost of the event in response
to a question to the Transport Minister. He says, it's
nothing more than a photo opportunity during an election campaign.
Speaker 5 (05:35):
There was certainly a lot of concern that was raised
directly to me side of this event, because businesses came
to me, community organizations that had been the Australa side
that weren't given an opportunity to be part of this
event were raising concern and suspicion about what was going on.
But to find out that more than three hundred thousand
dollars had been spent for a five hour event, or
sixty thousand dollars an hour, even surprised me. The fact
(05:56):
that they would spend that much on something that really
didn't mean that much for the locals.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
He says. The event managers preferred businesses from outside Gimpe.
Speaker 5 (06:06):
The Gimpy Lyons Group wanted to hold an event, a
cycle event out there. They wrote to the minister they
had denied. I made further reps to the Minister to
get them get into allow this event. That would have
been a wonderful community event, something that wouldn't have cost
the government anything and that would have been probably celebrated
and supported more than what that event was. So it's
(06:26):
disappointing that businesses and community groups have missed the opportunity
and the government needs to look have a good hard
look at themselves which respect these things and make certain
that they prioritize the important issues with road maintenance and
road construction across our region.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Tony Perrott believes the money could have been better spent elsewhere.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
You know, we've seen speed reductions on the Mary Valley Highway,
we've seen speed reductions on the tincam Bay Road, on
the Widgi Road, all the name of safety, and that
money would have been much better spent dealing with some
of those safety concerns rather than dropping speed limits to
deal with those, actually fix the issues that are actually
on those roads, and the Minister and the government are
(07:07):
well and truly aware of those issues.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Meanwhile, the Premier, Stephen Miles has defended the event and
its cost.
Speaker 6 (07:14):
It is important that they communicate with communities what they
are doing and how that will have an impact on them.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
And as far as the money being better spent elsewhere.
Here's the Premier again.
Speaker 6 (07:25):
Well he don't get much Bruce Highway for three hundred
and eleven thousand dollars. But I'll let Teama answer for
their community engagement activities.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Intermedia release. The government initially claimed three thousand people attended,
but later in a Facebook post said it was almost
five thousand. The Transport Minister Bart Melish says he's advised
local business participation was at the forefront of preparations for
the community event and on the day local suppliers were
engaged to assist.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
After the break, we'll update you with the latest news
on Merrabor's battery facility.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
I iha by Burnette. Welcome back to iHeart Wide Bay Burnett.
I'm Jay Moss, joined by Bruce Atkinson. Merra Borough is
set to become home to Australia's first commercial battery manufacturing facility.
The state government provided an update on the project on
(08:19):
Tuesday this week which we'll see batteries being produced at
the large scale facility by next year.
Speaker 7 (08:24):
Today is a first for Merrabara, for the Fraser Coast,
for Queensland and Australia. Today, I'm so pleased to announce
that mehra Bara will be the home to Australia's first
manufacturing plant called grid scale Batteries. This is a really
important day, not just for Merribara and the Fraser Coast,
(08:46):
but it is an important day for Queensland.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick
speaking there on site in Merrlborough West, he says the
facility will build iron flow batteries which allow for longer
duration energy story of up to fourteen hours.
Speaker 7 (09:02):
Our government has a vision for the future of Queensland
and that includes a vision for our state, a vision
that includes being the home of battery manufacturing, and today
we bring that vision to life.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Upon completion, which is slated for mid twenty twenty nine,
the factory will be the first of its kind in
the country and provide up to two hundred and seventy
three full time jobs.
Speaker 7 (09:26):
This is bringing the manufacturing story back home to Queensland
and that's something we've just been so passionate about as
a labor government.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
The Queensland Government's investing twenty five million dollars in the project.
Forty million is coming from a private UK based investment fund.
Speaker 7 (09:42):
The new batteries that'll be produced here will do a
number of things. Firstly, they'll be able to produce clean,
cheap power for Queensland. They'll also be able to store
to store power when the sun isn't shining and the
wind isn't blow for use at a later time. But
very importantly, this facility and the batteries it will manufacture
(10:06):
will help support local jobs. These are new technology jobs
manufacturing jobs for Mehrabara and this region.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Energy Storage Industries also known as ESI, will be tasked
with delivering the project, with the company's Asia Pacific managing
directors Stuart Parry saying the batteries are the way of
the future.
Speaker 8 (10:27):
These batteries will be delivering affordable overnight energy. It needs
to be reliable. People need the lights to stay on.
These batteries can deliver up to fourteen hours of energy.
They are environmentally friendly and able to be manufactured and
last up to twenty five years.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
The state government says the emerging industry could contribute up
to one point three billion dollars to the economy, as
well as generate more than nine thousand clean energy jobs
by twenty thirty. Battery components will be sourced from right
across the state, which the government says will support businesses
and create jobs.
Speaker 7 (11:01):
When this plant is fully operational, it would produce enough
energy storage each and every year to power a city
the size of too Woman. That's the size of the
batteries that we'll be coming out of here.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Yes, I has to deal with Stanwell Power Station near Rockhampton.
That'll see it supply ten of the batteries, which are
the size of shipping containers as part of the pilot program.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
It's been a great week for our local rugby league
players who represented the Queensland Country against City last weekend.
The men's and women's teams both had wins. Gibbee players
Amy Atkinson and Jake Leach probably still have the winners
medals around their necks. I caught up with Amy this
week to find out what beating the City Slickers means
to her.
Speaker 9 (11:45):
Yeah, it was awesome, Bruce. It was pretty tight game,
so at halftime tied up at for all. Going back
on in the second half, we knew that it wasn't
going to be an easy second half, but we stuck
it out and got there late in the game, so
really please that and then to see the boys go
on and get a convincing win as well, it was
really great for the Queensland Country sides.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
What were your thoughts straight after the final sorrow and
you've won twelve eight, you've beaten City. What were you thinking?
Speaker 9 (12:13):
I was probably in a little bit of shocked personally.
I think the gravity of the whole selection in the
team didn't really hit me up until we're about to
run on and you sort of think about what it
means to be playing for Queensland Country and playing on
that sort of stage. But we were just so happy
for the group, so happy for the team. All the
other girls. I know how hard they works and how
much that jersey meant to them as well. So I
(12:34):
was just absolutely thrilled for the team that we were
able to get it done. Then the one word that
we took into the game was to be humble, and
so we weren't sort of celebrating until it was certain.
So when that siren went off, we just yeah, we're
overjoyed and.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
It was a sort of like origin with you know,
Queensland seemed to be underdogs New South Wales always talking
themselves up and particularly in the media is always thinking
New South Wales is going to win every game. Did
you go into it sort of feeling a bit like
an underdog?
Speaker 9 (13:02):
Yeah, I think there was a little bit of a
sense of us being the underdogs. We don't always get
the same opportunities that the girls or the people in
the metro areas do, so we sort of had that feeling.
But we made sure that we were going to go
in with the fight and regardless of the outcome, we
knew that we'd come away with our heads held high.
So I think they probably underestimated us a little bit.
I saw some articles from the QRL yesterday and the
(13:25):
City Girls had said sort of that they might have
taken us bit easy, but unfortunately that's just too bad
for them, and we worked hard. So I think we
deserve the result that we.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Got, given that you had a win, were you still
humble after the game as well towards the opposition?
Speaker 9 (13:40):
I'd like to think so. I mean, it was certainly
a tough game. It wasn't an easy win, and that
is only to the credit of the Queensland City Girls.
So it's also just an amazing opportunity for both teams
to be out there playing at KO Stadium and unfortunately
one of the Queensland City girls was suffered quite a
significant injury during the game with her And yeah, I
(14:01):
always remember the sportsmanship that's involved in the game, and
I think that's something as people from the country that
we take a lot of pride in is our sportsman ship.
So always being humble in victory.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
As well, and a nice surprise for you as well,
I understand. Tell me about that before the game. You've
got a shock announcement.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (14:18):
So on Saturday, the coach, John buttergig he asked me
to be one of the vice captains and I gladly accepted.
That's not something that I was expecting, but certainly a
massive honor to be recognized with our leadership role in
a team at that level is Yeah, it's just absolutely huge.
But I think regardless of titles and things like that,
(14:38):
the credit just goes to all the girls on the team.
Like we came together, only had a limited time in camp,
and to bond as quickly as we did, I think
is just testament to the attitude and their personal characteristics
that the girls brought to the team.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
What do you take away from the lead up to
the game, being vice captain, going out and winning a
really tough contest against probably more favored rivals. What do
you make of it? What do you get out of it?
Do you think?
Speaker 9 (15:02):
I think for me, one of the things to take
away was, and this also came from some of the
guest speakers we were lucky enough to have in camp
as well, Troppy Close is just to absolutely seize the
opportunities that are in front of you. So whether that's
on the field during the game, in the lead up off,
just take as much in as you can and don't
let an opportunity go by thinking I wish I could
(15:24):
have or I should have done this, Like, don't leave
anything out there and just make sure you seize every moment.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
That's pretty cool to have John buttergig as your coach,
a origin player, and Chris Close in the first team
and men of the match I think, and just a
legend of the game.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (15:38):
We were so lucky with some of the guest speakers
that we had that were brought into camp not only
for US girls, but they spoke to the men's team
as well. We also had Adrian Boles in camp as well,
so yeah, we were really lucky to be able to
hear from some of those guys and have them draw
on their experiences and all coming from country backgrounds, it
was really special for us to stories before playing the game.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
Congratulations to all the Queensland Country players on their great wins.
That's all for this week. If you want to hear
this episode again or find previous ones, look up iHeart
White Babe Burnett on the iHeartRadio app or your favorite
podcast app.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Tune in again next week for more local, trusted and
free news.
Speaker 7 (16:19):
Ihab wide Burnette
I welcome to iHeart White Bay Burnett, your local news fix.
I'm Bruce Atkinson joined by Jy Moss. Coming up today,
we update you with the latest on the possibility of
a coal mine near Bundy, the Gibbee Bypass party slammed,
an Australia first battery facility moving ahead, and big wins
for our Queensland Country rugby league players.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
First up, let's take a look at developments this week
with the company wanting to explore for coal are stone
to throw from Bundy.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
We've got primate agricultural land and we need to protect
that at all costs. I'm not against mining, however, we're
the fruit bowl of Australia and we really need to
make sure that we're maintaining what the expectations of our
region are. We're clean and green and we really want
to keep ourselves that way.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
That's Bunderberg Mayor Helen Blackburn speaking in response to news
the state government looks set to reject an exploratory permit
for a cocin coal mine just five kilometers from the
city CBD. State Development Minister Grace Grace announcing this week
her preliminary view is the application by a Fox isn't
in the public interest. The company has until November fifteen
(01:03):
to provide further submissions. The community is holding its breath.
The government rejected the application in twenty twenty two, but
it was overturned by the Supreme Court last year. Council
of Blackburn welcomes the government's latest stance.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
We'll just have to live with this shadow in fin item.
That's difficult for the community because we really need some
certainty about our future. People that live where the MDL
is suggested will be, they really need the certainty about
their properties. I mean, it affects property values, it affects
people's lives and their homes and puts at risk this
agricultural land that we really value. So I think it's
(01:39):
important that it comes to a finalization for the community
as well as for Fox Resources. I mean, this is
a really long drawn out process that's been going on
now since twenty twenty and I think, you know, we
definitely need to try to find a sensible end point.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Fox Resources executive director Bruce Garlic says the company is
seeking to drill five holes for exploration purposes along with
technical studies. He says it'll have minimal impact and we'll
comply with the highest environmental and regulatory standards. Mister Garlic
says the company recognizes the importance of protecting the region's
key agricultural and other industries, and there'll be no impact
(02:16):
on the aquifer used for local water consumption. The mayor
isn't convinced.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Fox Resources will make whatever statements they need to make
to try to give us some comfort. Unfortunately, it does
little for the community and the comfort that they need
to feel. We understand that it may just be some
boreholes to Fox Resources, and that may give them a
platform to be able to sell on their company. That
would be worth a lot more should they be able
to get the coking coal that they are thinking that
(02:42):
we have under the ground. But if this were to
go ahead, and if they were to on sell to
someone who was a larger mining corporation, that would then
see trucks on our roads, the deterioration of the roads,
the dust, the deterioration of our agricultural land. So whilst
they might try to make some assurances to us, we're
not there with blindfolds on. We understand that this would
(03:04):
be jobs and that this would be industry and it's
heavy industry. It's industrial, dirty industry and we don't want that.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Local sugar cane and soybean farmer Duty Plais describes herself
as a strong advocate for water supply and the Bundy
region for a long time well.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
Fox Resources have made plenty of empty claims about not
impacting the aquifer in our region, but when we called
for them to release their report a hydrology report on that,
there's been nothing forthcoming. So without our hydrology report to
prove that they won't have any impact on the aquifer,
farmers in our area can only assume that Fox Resources
(03:42):
activities could be a threat to our underground water supplies
and given how important they are to the high value
agriculture in our area, we're not willing to take the
risk on some empty promises from a coal mining company
based in Western Australia.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
And while the possibility of mine is hanging over their heads.
Judy Plath says farmers can't commit to investing in their properties.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
At the end of the day, irrigated agriculture employees over
eight thousand people in the Bunderberg region. We're putting nearly
a billion dollars into the Queensland economy with irrigated agriculture
in our region. So for the certainty and peace of
mind of our farmers and the people that work for
farmers in our region, it's important the Minister makes a
(04:27):
final decision to reject the coal mine once and for all.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
The state government is coming under fire for holding a
party to celebrate the opening of a section of the
Bruce Highway which hasn't yet opened. Gimpy residents were invited
to the events on August seventeen to celebrate the work
on the unfinished Gimpy Bypass. Transport Minister Bart Melish, the
local labor candidate, and a senator were among the attendees.
Local LNP ANDP Tony Perrott says the expense can't be justified.
Speaker 5 (04:57):
Well, certainly an out lean wish amount of money that
was spent. It was just extraordinary that you could spend
over three hundred thousand dollars on a five hour event
that didn't even open the Bruce Highway. So obviously we're
talking about the Gimptey Bypass and the work that's been
going on there for some time. But to spend that
sort of money when there are greater priorities in the
(05:18):
Gimpi region just demonstrates just how out of touch not
only the minister, but this labor government are when it
comes to priorities within the Gimpei region.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Tony Parrot uncovered the cost of the event in response
to a question to the Transport Minister. He says, it's
nothing more than a photo opportunity during an election campaign.
Speaker 5 (05:35):
There was certainly a lot of concern that was raised
directly to me side of this event, because businesses came
to me, community organizations that had been the Australa side
that weren't given an opportunity to be part of this
event were raising concern and suspicion about what was going on.
But to find out that more than three hundred thousand
dollars had been spent for a five hour event, or
sixty thousand dollars an hour, even surprised me. The fact
(05:56):
that they would spend that much on something that really
didn't mean that much for the locals.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
He says. The event managers preferred businesses from outside Gimpe.
Speaker 5 (06:06):
The Gimpy Lyons Group wanted to hold an event, a
cycle event out there. They wrote to the minister they
had denied. I made further reps to the Minister to
get them get into allow this event. That would have
been a wonderful community event, something that wouldn't have cost
the government anything and that would have been probably celebrated
and supported more than what that event was. So it's
(06:26):
disappointing that businesses and community groups have missed the opportunity
and the government needs to look have a good hard
look at themselves which respect these things and make certain
that they prioritize the important issues with road maintenance and
road construction across our region.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Tony Perrott believes the money could have been better spent elsewhere.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
You know, we've seen speed reductions on the Mary Valley Highway,
we've seen speed reductions on the tincam Bay Road, on
the Widgi Road, all the name of safety, and that
money would have been much better spent dealing with some
of those safety concerns rather than dropping speed limits to
deal with those, actually fix the issues that are actually
on those roads, and the Minister and the government are
(07:07):
well and truly aware of those issues.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Meanwhile, the Premier, Stephen Miles has defended the event and
its cost.
Speaker 6 (07:14):
It is important that they communicate with communities what they
are doing and how that will have an impact on them.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
And as far as the money being better spent elsewhere.
Here's the Premier again.
Speaker 6 (07:25):
Well he don't get much Bruce Highway for three hundred
and eleven thousand dollars. But I'll let Teama answer for
their community engagement activities.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Intermedia release. The government initially claimed three thousand people attended,
but later in a Facebook post said it was almost
five thousand. The Transport Minister Bart Melish says he's advised
local business participation was at the forefront of preparations for
the community event and on the day local suppliers were
engaged to assist.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
After the break, we'll update you with the latest news
on Merrabor's battery facility.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
I iha by Burnette. Welcome back to iHeart Wide Bay Burnett.
I'm Jay Moss, joined by Bruce Atkinson. Merra Borough is
set to become home to Australia's first commercial battery manufacturing facility.
The state government provided an update on the project on
(08:19):
Tuesday this week which we'll see batteries being produced at
the large scale facility by next year.
Speaker 7 (08:24):
Today is a first for Merrabara, for the Fraser Coast,
for Queensland and Australia. Today, I'm so pleased to announce
that mehra Bara will be the home to Australia's first
manufacturing plant called grid scale Batteries. This is a really
important day, not just for Merribara and the Fraser Coast,
(08:46):
but it is an important day for Queensland.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick
speaking there on site in Merrlborough West, he says the
facility will build iron flow batteries which allow for longer
duration energy story of up to fourteen hours.
Speaker 7 (09:02):
Our government has a vision for the future of Queensland
and that includes a vision for our state, a vision
that includes being the home of battery manufacturing, and today
we bring that vision to life.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Upon completion, which is slated for mid twenty twenty nine,
the factory will be the first of its kind in
the country and provide up to two hundred and seventy
three full time jobs.
Speaker 7 (09:26):
This is bringing the manufacturing story back home to Queensland
and that's something we've just been so passionate about as
a labor government.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
The Queensland Government's investing twenty five million dollars in the project.
Forty million is coming from a private UK based investment fund.
Speaker 7 (09:42):
The new batteries that'll be produced here will do a
number of things. Firstly, they'll be able to produce clean,
cheap power for Queensland. They'll also be able to store
to store power when the sun isn't shining and the
wind isn't blow for use at a later time. But
very importantly, this facility and the batteries it will manufacture
(10:06):
will help support local jobs. These are new technology jobs
manufacturing jobs for Mehrabara and this region.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Energy Storage Industries also known as ESI, will be tasked
with delivering the project, with the company's Asia Pacific managing
directors Stuart Parry saying the batteries are the way of
the future.
Speaker 8 (10:27):
These batteries will be delivering affordable overnight energy. It needs
to be reliable. People need the lights to stay on.
These batteries can deliver up to fourteen hours of energy.
They are environmentally friendly and able to be manufactured and
last up to twenty five years.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
The state government says the emerging industry could contribute up
to one point three billion dollars to the economy, as
well as generate more than nine thousand clean energy jobs
by twenty thirty. Battery components will be sourced from right
across the state, which the government says will support businesses
and create jobs.
Speaker 7 (11:01):
When this plant is fully operational, it would produce enough
energy storage each and every year to power a city
the size of too Woman. That's the size of the
batteries that we'll be coming out of here.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Yes, I has to deal with Stanwell Power Station near Rockhampton.
That'll see it supply ten of the batteries, which are
the size of shipping containers as part of the pilot program.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
It's been a great week for our local rugby league
players who represented the Queensland Country against City last weekend.
The men's and women's teams both had wins. Gibbee players
Amy Atkinson and Jake Leach probably still have the winners
medals around their necks. I caught up with Amy this
week to find out what beating the City Slickers means
to her.
Speaker 9 (11:45):
Yeah, it was awesome, Bruce. It was pretty tight game,
so at halftime tied up at for all. Going back
on in the second half, we knew that it wasn't
going to be an easy second half, but we stuck
it out and got there late in the game, so
really please that and then to see the boys go
on and get a convincing win as well, it was
really great for the Queensland Country sides.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
What were your thoughts straight after the final sorrow and
you've won twelve eight, you've beaten City. What were you thinking?
Speaker 9 (12:13):
I was probably in a little bit of shocked personally.
I think the gravity of the whole selection in the
team didn't really hit me up until we're about to
run on and you sort of think about what it
means to be playing for Queensland Country and playing on
that sort of stage. But we were just so happy
for the group, so happy for the team. All the
other girls. I know how hard they works and how
much that jersey meant to them as well. So I
(12:34):
was just absolutely thrilled for the team that we were
able to get it done. Then the one word that
we took into the game was to be humble, and
so we weren't sort of celebrating until it was certain.
So when that siren went off, we just yeah, we're
overjoyed and.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
It was a sort of like origin with you know,
Queensland seemed to be underdogs New South Wales always talking
themselves up and particularly in the media is always thinking
New South Wales is going to win every game. Did
you go into it sort of feeling a bit like
an underdog?
Speaker 9 (13:02):
Yeah, I think there was a little bit of a
sense of us being the underdogs. We don't always get
the same opportunities that the girls or the people in
the metro areas do, so we sort of had that feeling.
But we made sure that we were going to go
in with the fight and regardless of the outcome, we
knew that we'd come away with our heads held high.
So I think they probably underestimated us a little bit.
I saw some articles from the QRL yesterday and the
(13:25):
City Girls had said sort of that they might have
taken us bit easy, but unfortunately that's just too bad
for them, and we worked hard. So I think we
deserve the result that we.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Got, given that you had a win, were you still
humble after the game as well towards the opposition?
Speaker 9 (13:40):
I'd like to think so. I mean, it was certainly
a tough game. It wasn't an easy win, and that
is only to the credit of the Queensland City Girls.
So it's also just an amazing opportunity for both teams
to be out there playing at KO Stadium and unfortunately
one of the Queensland City girls was suffered quite a
significant injury during the game with her And yeah, I
(14:01):
always remember the sportsmanship that's involved in the game, and
I think that's something as people from the country that
we take a lot of pride in is our sportsman ship.
So always being humble in victory.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
As well, and a nice surprise for you as well,
I understand. Tell me about that before the game. You've
got a shock announcement.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (14:18):
So on Saturday, the coach, John buttergig he asked me
to be one of the vice captains and I gladly accepted.
That's not something that I was expecting, but certainly a
massive honor to be recognized with our leadership role in
a team at that level is Yeah, it's just absolutely huge.
But I think regardless of titles and things like that,
(14:38):
the credit just goes to all the girls on the team.
Like we came together, only had a limited time in camp,
and to bond as quickly as we did, I think
is just testament to the attitude and their personal characteristics
that the girls brought to the team.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
What do you take away from the lead up to
the game, being vice captain, going out and winning a
really tough contest against probably more favored rivals. What do
you make of it? What do you get out of it?
Do you think?
Speaker 9 (15:02):
I think for me, one of the things to take
away was, and this also came from some of the
guest speakers we were lucky enough to have in camp
as well, Troppy Close is just to absolutely seize the
opportunities that are in front of you. So whether that's
on the field during the game, in the lead up off,
just take as much in as you can and don't
let an opportunity go by thinking I wish I could
(15:24):
have or I should have done this, Like, don't leave
anything out there and just make sure you seize every moment.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
That's pretty cool to have John buttergig as your coach,
a origin player, and Chris Close in the first team
and men of the match I think, and just a
legend of the game.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (15:38):
We were so lucky with some of the guest speakers
that we had that were brought into camp not only
for US girls, but they spoke to the men's team
as well. We also had Adrian Boles in camp as well,
so yeah, we were really lucky to be able to
hear from some of those guys and have them draw
on their experiences and all coming from country backgrounds, it
was really special for us to stories before playing the game.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
Congratulations to all the Queensland Country players on their great wins.
That's all for this week. If you want to hear
this episode again or find previous ones, look up iHeart
White Babe Burnett on the iHeartRadio app or your favorite
podcast app.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Tune in again next week for more local, trusted and
free news.
Speaker 7 (16:19):
Ihab wide Burnette
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