Origin Coal Seam Gas

News for the community.

• 3 rd Sep 10

  Register now for Community Driver Training

  Origin mightn’t be able to smooth out the bends, or keep the roos off the road. But they can help make it easier for you to gain the skills you need to drive more safely and confidently on country roads.

  Origin, together with RACQ and the Queensland Police, are launching the new Origin Caring About Road Safety (CARS) Community Driver Training program, and they’re offering it at a special subsidised rate.

  From October, limited places are available for the Origin Caring About Road Safety (CARS) Community Driver Training Program in Dalby, Chinchilla, Tara, Miles and Roma for local community members, including TAFE and college students, Provisional (P Plate) Licensed Drivers and their supervising drivers.

  A full day course will cost you only $75 (subsidised from $383)*. Places are filling fast!  To book, call RACQ on 3361 2382.

  *Participants must bring their valid Queensland Licence on the day and meet all legal requirements to drive.

• 2 nd Sep 10

  Beef, Bells & Bottletrees

  Get set for a hive of activity within the Miles District during the month of September!  The Beef, Bells & Bottle Tree Festival is a month long biennial event and with so many activities planned you are guaranteed to have some serious family fun. Events for the month include Street Parade, Art Exhibitions, Sports day, Community BBQ, Blue light Disco, Bull sales and a fun run, to name but a few.

  Origin is very proud to be a major sponsor of this year’s street parade and carnival day on the 11th September, as well as providing the live band entertainment “Platinum Crush” for the Community Barbecue on the 18th September.

  This year Origin will be supporting the Cancer Council at their market stall on carnival day. Look out for Origin’s marquee, to get your personalised ‘happy snaps’ photo strip souvenir at their photo booth station for a gold coin donation to the Cancer Council.

  Origin and the Cancer Council are looking forward to seeing you during the main carnival weekend and at events throughout the month. Download the program here.

• 2 nd Sep 10

  Get the Facts

  As part of Origin’s commitment to provide open and honest information to the communities in which they operate, we have recently embarked on a new “Get the Facts” advertising campaign.

  In addition to this campaign, our website is being frequently updated as questions and issues arise. Take a look at the FAQ page, you are likely to find answers to the questions that are most important to you. Cannot find an answer? Simply fill in the “ask a question form” and we will endeavour to get back to you within two working days.

  Keep an eye on your local papers over the coming weeks to view the ads, as always if you would like to discuss anything, please feel free to pop into your local Origin office for a chat. Information, factsheets and advertisements can also be found on our Videos and factsheets page.

• 3 rd Aug 10

  Origin tackles road safety

  Country Queensland is vast and with large distances between towns, even the most experienced drivers can find driving challenging. There are many factors to consider, roads are often narrow with gravel edges and have varying speed limits so it is important that we maintain the suggested speed limits and always drive within our abilities.

  With ever increasing activities on our country roads, Origin understands the need to take time out to think about road safety; and we have come up with a couple of ways to help spread the road safety message locally.

  This year we are proud to announce they are partnering with RACQ to launch a new Driver Training program in Miles, Tara, Chinchilla, Roma and Dalby. From August 2010, Origin’s Caring about Road Safety (CARS) program will provide student Learner Drivers with a practical driver training half-day course for a subsidised cost of $40 (normally $320). The training counts towards the Learner’s log book hours and is conducted on local roads.

  Later in the year we will be launching the program to the broader community, including TAFE and college students, P plate drivers and supervisors of young drivers. Practical driver training and theory will be provided, covering areas such as fatigue management and rural driving.

  Places are filling fast; to secure a spot for the Schools program please contact your school. Community members are able to book through RACQ on 3361 2382. For more information, check out the CARS driver training page.

  Lastly, Origin has been working together with the Queensland Police Service to bring you a brochure featuring tips for safer driving on our roads in country Queensland. If you would like a copy of the brochure, you can download a copy or find them at Tourist information centres in Miles, Roma, Mitchell, Charleville and St George. Copies can be found in all motels and caravan parks in Roma as well as Origin offices and local Police stations.

  Top tips for driving safely in country Queensland:

  Rest regularly
  At least 15 minutes for every 2 hours driving

  Watch out for heavy vehicles
  Some vehicles can be up to 55m long, so allow plenty of distance when overtaking

  Let family and friends know your travel plans
  Be sure to let someone know if your plans change

  Watch out for wildlife
  Native animals are often seen near roads

  Consider undertaking additional driver training
  Enhance defensive driving skills to better prepare you for varying road conditions.

• 3 rd Aug 10

  Landowners visit Talinga

  

  Last month saw Origin’s Stakeholder team invite a group of local landowners to take a tour of our Turinga and Rockwood facilities near
  Chinchilla.

  This tour was a first for the Talinga gas field operations, presenting a great opportunity for our near neighbours to get a firsthand look and appreciation of the site development and progress to date. The tour was a great success and builds on Origin’s Spring Gully Origin of Gas tour, which has so far seen 300 interested locals join in.

  The tour invites local community members and stakeholders to gain a practical insight into coal seam gas exploration and production
  and includes a tour of our world class desalination water treatment plant. The overall aim is to ensure a better understanding of Origin’s operations and how they can co-exist with the environment as well as dispel myths and misconceptions about the industry.

  All are welcome to attend. If you are interested in taking the Origin of Gas tour please call 1800 526 369 and we will be more than
  happy to assist in booking you in.

• 2 nd Aug 10

  Local office update

  You’ve asked for more points of contact with CSG companies, and now Origin can give you the choice of visiting us at either of their Gladstone, Roma, Miles or Chinchilla offices.

  The end of May saw the opening of our Australia Pacific LNG project centre in Gladstone. This centre serves a dual purpose as an office for project employees and an education centre for the Gladstone region on the Australia Pacific LNG Project. In addition, growing staff numbers in Roma has meant we have been able to relocate our office to the Condon Treasure Building at 93 Arthur St, Roma.

  Lastly, our new Miles Office on 105 Murilla Street is in the final stages of fit out and is almost ready for occupation; and we look forward to announcing an opening date in the very near future.

• 8 th Jul 10

  2010 Community Skills Scholarships Announced

  This year, for the very first time, we invited first year trainees as well as apprentices to get involved and make a difference in the future of their community. Recipients were announced at a special presentation dinner in Miles on the 7th July in front of friends, family and local businesses.

  A total of eleven apprentices and eleven trainees were awarded the scholarship, bringing the total number of recipients since the start of the program to fifty-one. Scholarships are awarded to develop a broad range of skills, not limited to the oil and gas industry skill set.

  Scholarships also provide funding to employers and apprentices, and help keep young people living and working in local communities to help to address skills shortages. Recipients receive a series of payments, up to $13,500 as they progress through their training as well as a bonus cash payment, should they stay on with their employer for a year following completion of training. Financial support makes it that little bit easier to purchase tools relevant to their trade and also helps to keep families, communities and support networks together and strong.

  In addition to the financial support, Origin Community Skills Scholarship recipients are able to gain access to the Skills Scholarship Network – a series of training courses and networking sessions to develop life skills and build a peer support network. Origin volunteers and local businesses come along to share their knowledge and experiences at these sessions. Visit our skills scholarship page to find out more about this popular program.

• 30 th Jun 10

  Australia Pacific LNG Gladstone Project Centre now open

  The Australia Pacific LNG Project chalked up a significant milestone on Wednesday 26 May when Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh, officially opened the Gladstone Project Centre.

  Australia Pacific LNG is a coal seam gas (CSG) to liquefied natural gas (LNG) project that is a 50:50 joint venture between Australian based Origin and oil and gas producer ConocoPhillips. The project will stretch from the gas fields in the Surat and Bowen Basins, along a 450km pipeline, to an LNG facility on Curtis Island, off Gladstone.

  Origin has a long history of being an integral part of the communities in which it operates here in Queensland. The opening of this office symbolises our commitment to being here for the long run. The centre will have a dual purpose; as an office for project employees as well as an education centre for the Gladstone section of the Australia Pacific LNG Project.

  At the opening of the centre, Origin’s Managing Director, Grant King, spoke of the companies’ long history and significant investment in Queensland and said the new Gladstone centre symbolises a natural step in the evolution of the industry in Queensland as one of the states’ largest and most important export industries.

  Inside the centre you will find an array of information in the form of factsheets, videos and demonstrations, explaining the CSG to LNG process from start to finish; we even have an example of an LNG ship tank on site.

  Come in have a chat and view the wide range of information available. We encourage school groups to join in on the experience. The centre is located at 84 Goondoon Street, Gladstone and is open Monday to Friday between 9am to 4pm.

  

  

  

  
  

  

  

  

  
  
  
• 3 rd Jun 10

  Out and about in May

   

  

  This year Origin proudly supported the spectacular fireworks display for the Roma Show as well as the fabulous family entertainment at the Wallumbilla, Wandoan, Taroom, Chinchilla and Miles shows. Check out the below calendar of upcoming events that we are pleased to be supporting.

  If you would like to seek sponsorship of your local event, please click here to fill out an application form.

  Queensland Angus Forum in Roma	9 June
  Taroom and District Fishing & Restocking Club Annual Fishing Carnival, Glebe Weir	12 & 13 June
  Chinchilla Branch ASHS Futurity Campdraft	12-13 June
  Hannaford Campdraft	12-13 June
  ACA Youth Camp	3-4 July
  Origin Skills Scholarship Dinner	7 July
  Origin of Gas Bus Tour	12 July
  Cobb & Co Country Trail Ride	20-22 August

• 3 rd Jun 10

  Getting to know Jess

  

  Name: Jessica Buldurs – 2009 Origin Community Skills Scholarship Recipient
  Apprenticeship:  Spray painting
  Company: GT Smash Repairs, Roma
  hat has the Origin Skills Scholarship meant to you? The scholarship has enabled me to stay local and complete my trade rather than moving elsewhere.
  What will the scholarship money of $13,500 go towards? I’m hoping to spend it on tuition fees and warm work clothes.
  What’s your average day consist of at work? An average day for me consists of preparing (sanding and blocking) vehicles, then painting, then snicking and buffing.
  Has the program helped in other ways too? Yes, the Origin networking sessions have really helped me in the tips and advice I have received.
  What is your favourite band? Green Day.

  The successful 2010 Skills Scholarship applicants have now been selected and will be announced at a presentation dinner in Miles on July 7. More than 100 applications were received. 

  You can read more about some of our Origin Community Skills Scholarship recipients and watch their videos here.