The conference, which is scheduled for February 8-10, will be held at the University of Wollongong in New South Wales.

The conference has become a unique forum for the interaction between industry professionals, researchers, and technology developers, who share the common interest of making mining and tunnelling safer workplaces, according to Aziz.

“We are looking for papers on innovation technologies in ground control, instrumentation, mine gases, mine outburst, mining induced seismic activity, mine geology, mine fires, mining planning, longwall mining and new methods of mining, mine subsidence, mine management, mine contracts and risk management,” he said. “We are also looking for papers on other underground construction and tunnelling in civil construction.”

Abstracts can be submitted online by visiting the new and dedicated website http://coaloperatorsconference.net.au. The deadline for abstract submission is August 26, 2016.

Sponsorship opportunities exist for mining companies, manufacturing organisations, research and consulting services to promoting their products and services. Opportunities also exist for offering pre or post conference workshops relevant to the mining and geotechnics aspects of ground control and mine safety.