Thread: Ravensthorpe Nickel To Close?

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

Not a mention on this thread so far of BHP sacking 1000 workers at Yabulu (Townsville) nickel refinery, or the 1500 or so (so far) coal miners jobs in Qld. Events do happen outside Sandland, but then, Sandgropers have always had the most parochial outlook of any Australian state.

Only supposed to be 300 from Yabulu??? Where did you get the 1000 figure from. That would be most of Yabulu refinery.
More like 2500 in WA and then the flow on jobs that are lost and that has started already. Expectation are for every mine job lost another 2-3 will be lost downstream and 3-5 will be affected.
It is just such a shame how much heartache has been caused by banks, nor real tangible actions.

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

Well, Yabulu is part of the same division of the same company as Ravensthorpe and handles Ravensthorpe product. I thought it might have been nice if someone had deigned to tell the whole story.

They were informed in the same manner, called to a "safety meeting".

Most of the national stories I have read and most of the local WA stories and reports I have read and heard all mention Ravy, Yabulu and Mt Keith. It is just that the majority of people affected are at Ravy. Nothing like having 10,000 plus people being unemployed in a short time frame in one state for future employment prospects. The Qlders will suffer less as they will have a better chance of finding re-employment quicker than most of us.
O/S staff given 28 days to find another job and all staff 60 days to leave their rented accommodation or company housing.
Brian, I started this post as I was getting asked 20 times a day in the preceeding month and this directly affected me and many of my associates in WA. I do not know people at Yabulu. I feel for them as I feel for all of us over here. It is going to be very tough, not just on us but the whole region. It will depress house and land prices and send a few businesses to the wall and it is just not right that we were lied to for so long. They did not just make the decision on Wed morning as they would like us to believe.
I would have to say people in WA are generally the most tolerant of others in the country. They do have their jibes and there are a few that are serious, but not many. I am not a West Aussie but am accepted here and have been since 1982.
Having travelled Australia I ranked the friendliest states in this order, WA, NT, SA, QLD, Vic, ACT and then NSW (a long way down the list). Have not been to Tassie so can not comment. I am from SA and still put them 3rd. Sorry if this offends people in NSW but it is where we really felt alienated by arrogant, condesending, snobbish people and I am absolutely sure this is not every one. I am only commenting on the general impressions we got.
I feel for anyone made redundant and as usual there is a lot more that could be done. For starter when you buy any stainless steel product ask if it is a nickel based product or a pig iron based product and only buy the nickel based as it is far better quality. I have alrady seen some of the pig iron based stuff start to rust and SS should not rust.
Also how far do you want to take it, Argyle have laid off a heap, Iluka have closed 2 mines and many more closures have occured recently in WA.

Originally Posted by CraigE

Only supposed to be 300 from Yabulu??? Where did you get the 1000 figure from. That would be most of Yabulu refinery.
More like 2500 in WA and then the flow on jobs that are lost and that has started already. Expectation are for every mine job lost another 2-3 will be lost downstream and 3-5 will be affected.
It is just such a shame how much heartache has been caused by banks, nor real tangible actions.

The 1000 was the figure quoted on the TV news when it happened.

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

The 1000 was the figure quoted on the TV news when it happened.

Yep, media exagerating again and understating over here. 800 full time BHP staff Ravy, 300 BHP staff Yabulu (maybe combined is where the 1000 figure came from), 1000 contractors at Ravy (will be a lot more than that) and 300 Mt Keith. Was supposed to be 1800 all up but looks more like 2500 and then the flow on job losses.

Originally Posted by CraigE

Most of the national stories I have read and most of the local WA stories and reports I have read and heard all mention Ravy, Yabulu and Mt Keith. It is just that the majority of people affected are at Ravy. Nothing like having 10,000 plus people being unemployed in a short time frame in one state for future employment prospects. The Qlders will suffer less as they will have a better chance of finding re-employment quicker than most of us.
O/S staff given 28 days to find another job and all staff 60 days to leave their rented accommodation or company housing.
Brian, I started this post as I was getting asked 20 times a day in the preceeding month and this directly affected me and many of my associates in WA. I do not know people at Yabulu. I feel for them as I feel for all of us over here. It is going to be very tough, not just on us but the whole region. It will depress house and land prices and send a few businesses to the wall and it is just not right that we were lied to for so long. They did not just make the decision on Wed morning as they would like us to believe.
I would have to say people in WA are generally the most tolerant of others in the country. They do have their jibes and there are a few that are serious, but not many. I am not a West Aussie but am accepted here and have been since 1982.
Having travelled Australia I ranked the friendliest states in this order, WA, NT, SA, QLD, Vic, ACT and then NSW (a long way down the list). Have not been to Tassie so can not comment. I am from SA and still put them 3rd. Sorry if this offends people in NSW but it is where we really felt alienated by arrogant, condesending, snobbish people and I am absolutely sure this is not every one. I am only commenting on the general impressions we got.
I feel for anyone made redundant and as usual there is a lot more that could be done. For starter when you buy any stainless steel product ask if it is a nickel based product or a pig iron based product and only buy the nickel based as it is far better quality. I have alrady seen some of the pig iron based stuff start to rust and SS should not rust.
Also how far do you want to take it, Argyle have laid off a heap, Iluka have closed 2 mines and many more closures have occured recently in WA.

ditto......
to you Brian on behalf of all Sandgropers!!!!

Wiseman from my ASS more like it!

Now how do i delete that bit Craig said about WA and tolerance.............???????

All "stainless" steels contain chromium. Some contain nickel, some do not. Some "stainless" steels will show rust. The term "Stainless Steel" is a trade name for a cutlery grade patented in early 20th. Century. A more correct term is probably corrosion resistant chromium alloy steels. What do you mean by nickel based and pig iron based? Not all "stainless" steels contain nickel but sure as hell there will be pig iron in them, steel being an alloy of iron and carbon. Perhaps you mean steel made with virgin pig where no scrap has been added to the melt?

It will certainly be difficult for unemployed mine coy. employees to find jobs in North Qld which has just about always been a hot spot for unemployment and low wages. The only major employer in most of North Qld. is the sugar industry. Sugar now, compared to 1959, makes seven times the amount of sugar with half the farmers and two thirds the mills. Mechanical harvesting and bulk handling removed the army of harvest workers, bag handlers and wharfies. The only other major employer in most of the north is tourism. Mine workers generally do not make house maids, waiters and bar attendants.

What was at Hopetoun before the mine? It is a long way from anywhere. If it was just a rural wide spot in the road or a purpose built mining town then what will happen when the mine closes is that it will become another backblocks ghost town like lots of others.

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

What was at Hopetoun before the mine? It is a long way from anywhere. If it was just a rural wide spot in the road or a purpose built mining town then what will happen when the mine closes is that it will become another backblocks ghost town like lots of others.

It was a sleepy little fishing town / a spec on the map / 60 to 200k's from nowhere

What happened there was DECEITFUL ..... A brand new mine that ENCOURAGED a lot of folks to build & invest in the future and give the area a FUTURE




A bit like buying a new car with no warranty ... driving it off the showroom floor // turning the corner off their property ....

And all the doors wheels & drivetrain fell off .... and your just left sitting exposed to the world ..... just holding the steering wheel

Quote:
I feel for anyone made redundant and as usual there is a lot more that could be done. For starter when you buy any stainless steel product ask if it is a nickel based product or a pig iron based product and only buy the nickel based as it is far better quality. I have alrady seen some of the pig iron based stuff start to rust and SS should not rust.

Mate,
I'd prefer to buy quality every time.
Maybe sales people from a mining town might know what metals are what, but unfortunately this thought is a pipe dream until manufacturers are forced to label thier goods with appropriate stickers. IE I had a salesman tell me "this is 18/8 stainless", but when asked to explain, he said said err its good quality, as though I was the dumb one.
Fact is most retailers - and consumers- hardly look past the price tag.