05 February 2010
Clermont Mine inundated with job applications
Rio Tinto Coal Australia has revealed its newest Queensland coal mine has attracted more than 10,000 applicants seeking employment in the mining industry.
This week approximately 208 candidates were shortlisted and assessed for a total of 52 roles at the Clermont Mine, which will become operational this year.
The roles were advertised in December 2009 and called for a mix of people with experience and those who are new to the industry.
General Manager of the Clermont Mine Project, Dave Lamb, said around 7,000 applications were received just for these 52 roles.
"Rio Tinto Coal Australia is a large employer in this state, and we know from first hand experience that employment in the mining industry is very keenly sought after," Mr Lamb said.
"We have been recruiting for Clermont Mine since 2007, and in that time well over 10,000 applications have been received.
"These statistics alone show that there must be many disappointed people in the community who would like to be employed in this sector.
"Once operating on a 24/7 basis, Clermont Mine will employ around 380 people."
Mr Lamb said Rio Tinto Coal Australia is an equal opportunity employer, and actively encourages women and Indigenous candidates to apply.
"We aim to have the best workforce we can recruit and candidate selection is merit-based. We also actively encourage locals to apply as we support local employment wherever possible, so if two applicants are equal and one is living residentially or chooses to live residentially, then they will be the preferred candidate. Already there are 116 employees - almost 40 per cent of Clermont Mine's permanent staff - living in the local region, plus many, many more locally-based contractors. "
These latest operator positions will be starting in April, with a progressive rolling start date into May.
General Manager Operations - Clermont Region, Andrew Cole, said employees at Rio Tinto Coal Australia's Blair Athol Mine were not being automatically transferred to the Clermont Mine.
"Employees at Blair Athol Mine are being asked to apply and go through the same recruitment process as everyone else," Mr Cole said.
"At the end of the day, while the Clermont Mine Project is recruiting and is soon to become operational, Blair Athol Mine continues to operate and will still need a workforce this year, next year and through to 2016 when the mine will close."
Media Enquiries: Alison Smith 07 3361 4223 / 0438 787 038