Northparkes Mines has welcomed Chase Dingle as its new Community, Environment and Farms Superintendent.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Chase started the role, his first with CMOC and Northparkes, after having lived in Sydney for two years.
“Most recently I headed up a compliance team in the Sydney Metropolitan area for the Department of Planning and Environment,” he said.
“The bulk of the work there was on growing infrastructure projects.
“Before that I worked in the coal industry, this is my first metalliferous mine.”
Chase, his partner Madeliene Overett and their two young children Kai (2) and Hudson (6 months) moved to Parkes late last year.
“The week I was scheduled to start, Hudson was born nine weeks early,” Chase said.
“So our arrival was somewhat delayed. Maddy stayed in Westmead hospital with him for six weeks.
“Everyone here was very accommodating. I suppose that just cemented that we had made the right decision.
“And even through such a challenging time I was still liking the work and that hasn’t stopped.”
Chase said Northparkes have combined the Community and External Relations Portfolio with the Environmental and Farms.
“My qualifications are in the environment space but for the last several positions I have utilised both roles,” he said.
“I am very blessed to have a very supportive and very competent team. I am constantly pinching myself with how lucky I am to have this opportunity.
“Coming from and working on a number of more challenging mine related projects it’s not always the way - where the community over time has built trust in an operation like they have here in Parkes.”
Chase said Northparkes operate a cropping program around the mining operations and look to continue their support of the local agriculture industry.
“We run a mixed farming operation which includes wheat, canola, barley and some pulse grains,” he said.
“The company is very supportive of our approach and our farming operations which support our social licence to operate because it helps us appreciate what our neighbours are going through and encourages dialogue.
“It’s a lot easier to have a starting conversation around, and a better appreciation for, what they are going through and we experience that first hand.”
Chase said he and his family are very happy in Parkes.
“The region just provides so much,” he said.
“It’s such a strong, supportive community.
“Everyone is very active and the cost of living is so good here you get that real life-balance.”