Regan will talk on the coal mine health and safety regulatory and enforcement approach in NSW.

Regan will be joined as a keynote speaker by the chief inspector of Queensland mines Andrew Clough who will be talking about mining legislation – the Queensland perspective.

Conference papers will address a variety of topics on modern coal mining operations. More than 45 high-quality peer reviewed papers are to be presented covering both underground and surface mining.

The conference will cover topics of particular relevance to current mining safety issues. There will be papers on mine ventilation, mine fires, risk management, emergency preparedness and decision making processes. The Hazelwood mine in Victoria fire will be the subject of a paper.

The subject of ground control and rock bolting will feature in the conference with special emphasis on the latest development in bolting reinforcement technology, in the light of the increased variations in cable bolt configurations and designs in Australian mines.

The emergence of polymer based spray on-liner coatings to support mining excavations as a replacement for wire mesh will receive a special attention. This innovative technology has in recent times attracted significant interest and there will be a number of papers on the product research and applications.

Other topics include mine subsidence, mine gases, outburst control, coal geology, and longwall mining production and productivity.

This conference is jointly hosted by the University of Wollongong’s mining group, the Mine Managers Association of Australia along with the AusIMM Illawarra Branch, and the organisers are hoping for broad participation during paper presentation.

Visit http://www.coalconference.net.au for online conference registration, sponsorship, product exhibitions, and past conference papers.