Business
19 March, 2025
Administrators slammed as buyers emerge for Dajarra mine
Robbie Katter says the administrators of the Ardmore mine have been too quick to shut it down.
A number of potential bidders are expected to throw their hat in the ring for Dajarra’s Ardmore phosphate mine, however, Member for Traeger Robbie Katter says he is concerned the administrator is more interested in getting a quick return than saving the mine.
“I’ve got a built-in paranoia with administrators – I’ve seen hard evidence of administrators cashing in on a mining business when there were legitimate purchasers ready to keep the operations going,” the MP said.
“I saw it in Charters Towers with the Thalanga mine and the administrators swiftly moved in, sold everything off and handed back the leases to the government so that no one had a chance of resurrecting the mine.
“The outcome for the people of Queensland was really bad.
“And I was in Cloncurry (on Monday) talking to major stakeholders and I’ve been talking to people on the ground in Dajarra and it feels as though the liquidators are making moves to do precisely the same thing – sell everything up without exploring options to purchase.
“There doesn’t seem to be any regulation or requirement for the government to intervene in this process to make the administrator restore mining operations.”
North West Weekly understands that a number of potential buyers will put together a proposal to the administrator of the Ardmore phosphate mine, which was run by Centrex and its subsidiary Agriflex.
John Park and Joanne Dunn of FTI Consulting were appointed as voluntary administrators and want non-binding offers this week.
North West Phosphate director John Cotter would not confirm if he was putting in a bid.
However, he said he was keen to make sure that “mum and dad” businesses owed money were treated well because he needed those businesses to be strong so they could supply his fledgling Paradise South phosphate mine.
“Their suppliers are our suppliers,” Mr Cotter said.
“They have fleet now available that we could use. They have expertise that we can use.
“If they’re suffering financially, then that means they can’t service us, so if we can look at ways of extending credit terms and other things, then we’ll do that.”
Cloncurry Shire mayor Greg Campbell said the council would happily meet with any prospective buyer and offer support.
“But the bottom line is that if a new buyer comes and they’re not fully committed to being sustainable – don’t come,” he said.
Cr Campbell said he hoped that local businesses would be the first to get the support of a new buyer.
“These are real, genuine local businesses that employ local people, pay their rates and pay their employees,” he said.
“They’re the ones that I feel sympathy for because they’ve done what they were asked to do, they’ve done it well, and then they’re not paid.
“And I dare say the executives of the company probably got paid.”