Queensland Rail’s North Coast and West Moreton rail lines have fully reopened following the completion of major maintenance upgrades.

Queensland Rail Head of Regional Scott Cornish said crews in collaboration with local contractors had safely delivered important track, signal and rail bridge improvements in the last few weeks.

“At Alligator Creek we had crews pull apart and put back together an entire rail bridge with stronger, concrete piers, improving the structural stability of the bridge and making it safer and stronger,” he said.

“On the West Moreton line, summer preparation was in full swing with the completion of culvert renewals to ensure waterways can withstand wet weather across Columboola, track reconditioning and resleepering at Laidley and rail welding to reduce track buckling between Gowrie and Macalister.

“Timber sleepers were replaced with concrete and new rail was laid, improving track reliability and allowing services to travel at higher speeds and through warmer weather conditions.” (Image above – work at Alligator Creek, 40km north of Rockhampton).

Anglo American expects to have final binding offers coming in for its metallurgical coal portfolio in November.

In May, the London-based miner revealed plans to shed its steelmaking coal mines as part of a wider strategy ‘to unlock value’ as it fended off a takeover bid by BHP.

Anglo chief executive Duncan Wanblad told the Financial Times Mining Summit in London last week that the company should be able to conclude that process just before the end of the year.

He also told the summit the most recent assessment at Grosvenor mine showed the damage from the underground fire that erupted in late June had been ‘limited and the ore bodies seem to be very much intact’. “The imagery we have got from the underground area is very encouraging,” he said.

Anglo American owns the Moranbah North, Grosvenor, and Aquila underground mines, as well as the Capcoal and Dawson open-cut sites in the Bowen Basin.

Cloncurry region miner True North Copper has announced that chief financial officer Craig Gouws has resigned from the company for personal reasons.

Mr Gouws has agreed to assist the company in the interim by being retained as a consultant on an as-needs basis while it searches for a new CFO.

The State Government has named Heidi Roberts as the Commissioner for Resources Safety and Health, while Rob Djukic is now the permanent chief executive officer of Resources Safety and Health Queensland after acting in that role.

Resources and Critical Minerals Minister Scott Stewart said Ms Roberts had helped lead reform in relation to the response to Black Lung disease in coal mine workers.

“She brings a wide range of experience to the vital position which will work across the resources industry to ensure safety is everyone’s top priority,” he said.

Etheridge Shire Council Mayor Barry Hughes is the new chair of the North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NWQROC).

Cr Hughes is taking the helm of the group of the 11 local governments of the North West following his election at NWQROC’s annual general meeting last week in Julia Creek. 

“I am acutely aware of the importance of economic development to sustain the communities and industries across the vast region of North and North-West Queensland,” Cr Hughes said.

“I believe collaboration and partnerships are vital across local government jurisdictions to capture and leverage opportunities on matters such as strategic road upgrades, water infrastructure development, tourism networks and the like. This will ensure that a higher socio-economic profile is attained for the wider region.”

McKinlay Shire Council mayor Janene Fegan was returned as NWQROC deputy chair and treasurer.