Thousands of people are directly employed in the QLD coal mining sector. Thousands of people are also indirectly employed through local businesses in the coal mining towns. Coal Australia is spreading the message that without mining all of those jobs will be gone.
Josh Carneiro is a Senior Environmental Advisor with New Hope Group.
His first job in mining was in the heart of Queensland’s coal mining industry and he saw firsthand just how crucial the industry is not only to the economy of the small towns, but also to every person living in it.
“I studied geology back in India and then came to Australia to complete my Masters in Environmental Management. Once I graduated, I accepted a job in Emerald. I stayed there for six months before transferring to Mackay,” he said.
After three and a half years in that role undertaking environmental reporting, monitoring and working in the rehabilitation and mine closure space, Josh accepted a job at New Hope Group in their corporate office in Brisbane.
“I think living in central Queensland was the best thing I did at the early stages of my career because it taught me a lot of technical and people skills. As an environmental scientist it helped me understand exactly what was happening on the ground and translate that into reporting.
“It gave me a different perspective, and the skills developed as part of that role helped me transition into a Brisbane based role.
“Working in those regional communities was wonderful. What you get out of being on site is second to none, especially in the environmental space. The experience cannot be duplicated; you need to go out and get your hands dirty.”
Josh added that by working in those regional mining communities, he was able to see firsthand how important mining was to those towns and the people in them.
“Eventually renewables or alternative sources of energy are the future, but there is a long way to go until we can transition into it.
“The coal mining industry is very important from that point of view but also for what it does for regional communities. Those communities are dependent on the coal mining industry – its well-paying jobs, and the local businesses and economies are dependent on that financial contribution,” he said.
Josh believes that often a lack of education about what he does leads to a misunderstanding of the industry as a whole.
“Yes, there are environmental impacts associated with mining, but as part of the environmental approvals process, these impacts are evaluated and inform decision making if a Project can proceed. We need to ensure we are compliant with approval conditions and management plans.”
Josh believes education is key when it comes to the coal industry, even just a basic understanding.
“I don’t think people understand the benefits of what coal actually does in our day-to-day lives. The education piece needs to be tailored to different audiences, not just within our industry, its for those who don’t work in the coal mining space too.
“Coal Australia is a great initiative because it provides a voice for regional communities and the industry in general. They are also putting the coal industry out there and trying to provide a basic understanding not just about the benefits of the industry but how it impacts us on a daily basis.
“So, get behind Coal Australia, and our industry,” Josh said.
| Josh’s story isn’t unusual, it’s a story that we hear from so many people living and working in coal mining communities right across Australia. Reach out if you want to share your story or join the coal community and help forge Australia’s future at www.coalaustralia.com |
