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Local, national and world experts will discuss new technology and stringent safety methods in rapid-development mining at a seminar tomorrow.

The First International Seminar on Safe and Rapid Development Mining, organised by the Australian Centre for Geomechanics (ACG) based at The University of Western Australia, will explore significant innovations in the industry.

Its themes include risk and safety, ground support and rehabilitation, development blasting, equipment and automation, development cycle time, and cost-optimisation.

UWA's Winthrop ACG Professor of Geotechnical Engineering Phil Dight said the latest technologies reflected the industry's willingness to further improve safety while maintaining productivity.

"We've just come through a fantastic boom," Professor Dight said.  "The seminar will help to answer the question of how do you stay in business and make it worthwhile.  It's all about safety and productivity."

Rapid development mining involves the uptake of projects within a short time-frame with the benefits of the latest technologies and practices, especially those that advance workers' safety.

ACG has pioneered some of the new technologies, including the High Energy Absorption (HEA) Mesh that shores up the walls of underground mines.  The HEA Mesh was invented by ACG Director, UWA Professor Yves Potvin, who won the 2008 Inventor of the Year Award in the Ready for Market Category.

ACG is a pioneering force in providing the mining industry with world-class geotechnical research.  Its projects promote safer mining practices, increased operating efficiencies and meeting community expectations for sustainable development.

Professor Dight said one paper would explore using elective power to reduce the carbon footprint.  Further developments would look at geothermal, solar and nuclear power to reduce this footprint.

The conference will be held from 8am on Wednesday, May 6 to 5.30pm on Thursday, May 7 at the Novotel Langley Hotel, Perth.  More than 20 technical papers will be presented.  The seminar will be preceded by the CSIRO Automation Concepts in Mining Development Headings Workshop and the ACG's International Forum on Development Productivity.

For further information, go to https://www.srdm.com.au/

Media references

Josephine Ruddle (ACG Marketing Manager)  (+61 8)  6488 1864  /  (+61 4) 09 118 003
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716