Mount Isa business owner’s innovation means new opportunities in mining
December 6, 2024
MOUNT Isa businessman Adrian "Popey" Pope could be onto the next major advancement in mining after acquiring a significant engineering company based in Melbourne.
In the past, mining companies have been forced to purchase parts overseas, but Adrian Pope and Andrew Clingeleffer of B&S Engineering are looking to change that, making it possible to produce mining machinery and technology here in Australia.
At a press conference alongside KAP leader and Member for Traeger Robbie Katter, Bob Katter and the B&S Engineering team shared new opportunities to expand Australia's already substantial mining efforts.
"Initially, the attraction of B&S is it's been long established in the industry, its capabilities are second to none. It's in the top two per cent for manufacturing capabilities in Victoria. We bought the technology for the mining industry to this facility, and we started manufacturing our new prototype drifters (rock drills)," Mr Pope explained.
"I spent my early years in mining. Mining is about drilling a hole, putting explosives in it and blowing the wall out. Drilling is at the heart of mining," Mr Katter said.
Australia's mining industry could experience a boom once word gets out about Mr Pope's new drifter.
"Now, Adrian's got a variable drifter – so every time you go from sandstone to hard rock, you don't have to take the thing to pieces; it'll adjust itself," Mr Katter explained.
"The importance of this breakthrough is considerable – we're one of the great mining countries on Earth. We're not small boys on the block here, and this is an area where we've got an advantage and we're going to press home that advantage and you're seeing that taking place here today thanks to Andrew and to Adrian."
The importance of local manufacturing is not lost on Mr Pope, saying, "We've purchased this factory to control costs internally. It was really a no-brainer for us to come down this road. If COVID taught us anything, it's that we don't manufacture enough in Australia.
"I'm very passionate about what we do here in Australia, and to be able to create more jobs and do things locally in the manufacturing industry has been absolutely magic."
The variable drifter, along with other technological and industrial advancements and opportunities provided by B&S Engineering, would decrease expenditure and reduce delays – bolstering the capacity of the North West Minerals Province, where much of Australia's resources are.
Robbie Katter concluded by saying, "It's pretty exciting to see this all come from someone who was a jumbo operator in the mining industry, who's now owning and designing these manufacturing processes and machines – the parts for those same jumbos he worked with back at the beginning.
"It's a pretty exciting time. With efforts like this, we can start winning the war back and creating manufacturing capabilities in Australia once again."
ENDS
Bob: “Back in my day, we used an automatic gate opener.” Wendi: “I have one. The gate just automatically opened for me.”
Bloody Alex and his inner-city trendy accent… It’s pronounced “Boulia” ya drongo!
AUSTRALIA NEEDS TO BETTER USE OUR GREAT MINERAL, AGRICULTURAL AND LAND WEALTH Australia is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Our mineral resources are vast. Our agricultural potential is huge. We have millions of hectares of land unutilised or under-utilised. Australians should be swimming in wealth …. NOT drowning in debt. Successive governments have slowed our economy to a grinding halt in a ruthless pursuit of a WOKE agenda. A REVOLUTION is coming… Australians are starting to fight back against the corporate and political elite that have sold and squandered our great Nation. It’s about time that government starts governing for the betterment of Australians or GET OUT and let the independent fighters that TRUELY represent their electorates and Australia have a go!!!!
Everyday, wonderful and courageous men and women of our police forces put their personal safety to the side to protect Australians. Most make it home… some, tragically, do not. Today we remember and pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
In Mount Isa the answer is the same as Brisbane…. When Bob asks people “What would you do if you were the PM of Australia?” Overwhelmingly the answer is reduce migration levels. When the media runs stories of ISIS brides returning, mass murder at Bondi, machete crime in Melbourne… Australians are concerned…. Our cities are being stuffed with people who have no intention to contribute to our society... no want to integrate... they reside in large ethnic enclaves.. some migrate through lawful channels, many abuse the student and family dependent visa systems. Every year about 1 million more people come into Australia than leave… we are swamped. We want our country back.
Absolutely.. in the north we are controlled by a government based in the south east corner that is closer to Sydney. In the last 6 months we have lost yet another seat in Parliament to Brisbane... the Olympic Games extravaganza is costing more than the entire annual State budget... they have all the infrastructure, services and resources... we have potholes, patchwork road works, overstretched hospitals and police. For the North to be the powerhouse of this nation’s economy we need some autonomy so we can start the projects, build the infrastructure and create the wealth.
Thanks to the folks in Einasleigh, and Mayor Barry Hughes for having me yesterday in town and giving me my riding instructions! It wasn’t that long ago that most of the area was underwater. If ever there were an argument for a separate state— this is it. I don’t know of a million people anywhere in the world that are ruled by a government over 1,000 kilometres away or 2,000 kilometres away. Nowhere in the world does that exist. But when you are a small, isolated rural community, you are forgotten. The bridges are too low and they go under water all the time, the roads are too low and they go under water all the time, so there’s little replenishment of supplies. So there is work to be done. Thanks to publican Tayla for the chips and gravy, holding down the fort, taking care of the kitchen, bar and kids while her husband Braydon is away (winning most of the titles in NQ rodeo/campdraft/regional grand finals in Townsville!).
Finally commonsense has prevailed and the trucks are back on the road delivering essential supplies to some of Australia’s most remote and vulnerable communities. Massive thank you to Hawkins Transport for providing this essential service for so many years and tenaciously fighting to ensure its’ continuation. Fellas, I take my hat off to you. Great job
The Albanese government’s attack on backpackers is illogical at best and, at worst, just down right stupid. Overwhelmingly the pathway to permanent migration is through the student visa scheme and not backpackers. In our regions backpackers pick our fruit, pour our beers, clean our hotel rooms and make our coffees… they spend monies earnt exploring our wonderful country. Very few stay and those that do integrate into our communities. Backpackers must be encouraged and welcomed into Australia … they are NOT and should never be considered to be part of the backdoor migration cohort. They’re just here for a good time… not a long time. And for that I thank them for coming here, doing the work, spending the money and having the adventure.
In the north we can pay up to 4 times the cost for insurance as is paid in the rest of Australia. 20% northern homes are uninsured (more than double Australia’s average). Of the homes that are insured 83% are under insured - meaning that insurance won’t cover rebuilding costs. THIS IS NOT JUST CONCERNING… THIS IS A NATIONAL EMERGENCY. Further exacerbated by the Federal government tightening the purse strings on much needed disaster funds. We need legislation change to get more insurers offering affordable insurance in the north. That is why the cyclone reinsurance pool was introduced... That is what government should be doing.
