The NSW Government has unveiled its Strategic Regional Land Use Policy, outlining 27 new measures designed to control competing land uses, with a focus on the impacts of coal seam gas mining on land and water resources.

University of Newcastle researchers led by Associate Professor Michael Stockenhuber are exploring more efficient and safer methods of ventilation air methane (VAM) oxidization – a technique used to destroy methane in the exhaust air released from underground coal mine shafts.

BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) has announced it would cease production at its Gregory open-cut mine, which is part of the Gregory Crinum complex  near Emerald, from 10 October 2012.

One of the most senior officers in the Australian Defence Force, Air Vice-Marshal Margaret Staib, has been appointed as the new CEO of Airservices Australia.

 

As Commander Joint Logistics, Air Vice-Marshal Staib planned, coordinated and delivered logistics support for Australian Defence Force operations and exercises overseas and in Australia. She also played a key role in developing and implementing the $2.4 billion logistics reform program, an initiative of the 2009 Defence White Paper.

 

A posting to the United States Air Force at the Pentagon furthered her experience in logistics and procurement. For her work on logistics transformation, Air Vice-Marshal Staib was awarded the United States Meritorious Service Medal.

 

In January 2009, Air Vice-Marshal Staib was appointed as a Member in the Military Division of the Order of Australia.

 

Air Vice-Marshal Staib will take up her position on 15 October.

 

Airservices Australia is a wholly government-owned statutory authority which manages around 11 per cent of the world’s airspace through which more than three million flights carrying 75 million passengers travel each year.

 

As well as providing air-traffic control services, the organisation also delivers rescue and fire fighting services at the nation's major passenger airports.

 

More information about Airservices Australia and its current Board Members is available at: www.airservicesaustralia.com.

The University of Queensland (UQ) has signed a five-year, $1.25 million industry partnership alliance with global miner Vale to build a hub of geomicrobiological knowledge.

Xstrata Coal has announced it will be cutting around 600 positions from its operations, including both contractors and permanent positions. There would also be reduction of some roles at the Sydney corporate headquarters and consolidation of office-based operations in Queensland.

The ACTU has claimed that the rise of insecure work in Australia over the past few decades has made employees less able to speak up for their rights and workplaces less safe.

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research has released the Australian apprentice and trainee statistics for the March quarter 2012.

The National Transport Commission has  released its National Road Safety Partnership Program draft strategy for public consultation, responding to a key action in the National Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020 agreed by ministers in 2011. The strategy recognises the major role that industry can play in improving road safety in Australia.

The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese,  has released the National Land Freight Strategy, a long-term plan for an integrated and multimodal transport system to move goods into and out of major ports and around the country quickly, reliably and at the lowest cost.

A Chief Executive Officer is being recruited by the Queensland Government for the newly formed National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, an independent body based in Brisbane and recognised by all states and territories as the head regulator.

In late 2011, the Centre for Road Safety commenced the development of a new NSW Road Safety Strategy.  This followed from the launch of the National Road Safety Strategy 2011-2020.

Fortescue Metals group has announced it will defer the development of the Kings deposit within the Solomon mining hub and the full completion of its fourth berth at Herb Elliott Port until iron ore prices return to more sustainable levels.

The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, has called for applications for funding under Round Three of the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program over 2012-13 and 2013-14.

Bids have been opened for two new onshore petroleum exploration licences in the Otway and Cooper basins in South Australia.

David Casey has been appointed Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Petrel Energy Ltd.

The NSW Government has released its 20-year vision for the state’s public transport, roads and freight network, incorporating all modes of public transport, roads, freight, cycling and walking.

Winners of the 23rd Annual Australian Freight Industry Awards have been announced at a gala dinner hosted by the Victorian Transport Association (VTA).

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) has threatened to close down the Queensland coal industry by a work ban on mines if the State Government adopts a proposal by the Queensland Resources Council to remove from union safety inspectors the right to close mines on safety grounds.

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