Coal mine planning has been selected as the central topic at the conference, to be held from February 4 to 6, 2004, at the University of Wollongong.

The conference will provide a forum for the exchange of ideas between mine operators, engineers and researchers in the underground coal mining industry.

A half-day workshop is organised for the afternoon of February 4, by the NSW Department of Mineral Resources to deal with issues related to "Coal Mine New Legislation". Details of the workshop are yet to be released.

The first paper to be presented by Bruce Alan, BHP Billiton, will look at strategic planning into the future. BHP Billiton representatives Peter Whittall, Mick Weeks and Wendy Tyrrell will also present papers on topics covering the Dendrobium mine, planning for mine closures and environmental aspect of mine planning. BHP Billiton’s Rod Doyle will join together with SCT’s Winton Gale to look at the successful use of a stress relief roadway at Appin colliery.

Graeme Rigg, Minarco, will discuss mining constraints impacting on the Wyong mine development.

Under the subsidence banner, Mike Wold and SK Choi will present a paper from CSIRO on hydro-geomechanical mechanisms of mine subsidence and the influence of surface topography. Ross Seedsman, SG, will look at design mine layout in sub-critical extraction.

Covering gas will be Anglo Coal’s Bruce Robertson, who will speak on managing issues of spontaneous combustion, gas and ventilation. CSIRO’s SK Choi will discuss the use of a reservoir simulator as a production forecast and gas management tool, as well as the study of mechanisms of coal and gas outbursts using a new numerical modelling approach.

CSIRO representatives will also look at innovative techniques for detection and control of underground spontaneous combustion of coal.

Three papers will be presented on ventilation, including a look at case studies from simulating mine fires in coal mines and their effects on mine ventilation systems; the flexible rates coal mine stopping; and applications of Teklfex, a thin sprayable liner.

Faulted ground will be covered by IMC and Anglo Coal who will look at longwall mining through faults at Moranbah North.

Papers will also be presented of roof support including coverage of an investigation into the extent and mechanisms of gloving and unmixed resin in fully encapsulated roof bolts.

For further details visit http://www.uow.edu.au/eng/conferences/coal2004/ or contact Naj Aziz: naj@uow.edu.au or James Cook: james_cook@uow.edu.au