Miner has head in the air attitude
Mine worker Donald Hunt believes climate change is real, renewable energy “is the way of the future” and governments need to do more to help make it cheaper and easier. The 41-year-old moved to the NSW mining town of Cobar, where, in 2007, he started at the CSA copper and silver mine owned by Glencore.
Mr Hunt left to work in Wagga Wagga, closer to where his two sons lived with his ex-wife, before returning in 2017 and has not looked back despite working almost 2km underground seven days a week for 12 hours a day before taking seven days off.
He now operates an electric-powered loader that is set to become an integral part of the mine’s operations.
“It doesn’t use diesel, it’s all battery powered, I think it’s got about 27,000 lithium batteries in it,” Mr Hunt said.
The mine mirrors renewable energy decisions made by Mr Hunt outside of work, including to put solar panels on his home. “It’s the way of the future,” he said.