Delegates arrived from all mining districts in New South Wales, as well as a significant contingent from Queensland.

Presenters included mine managers, mine technical services managers, senior mechanical and electrical inspectors from the department of Mineral Resources, geotechnical engineers and OEM managing directors.

The categories covered by the papers included mining systems, ground control, major hazards ventilation, risk management, legislation and emergency response.

Whilst the seminar has traditionally been an industry seminar, of interest to those working in and associated with the coal mining industry, it was structured this year to meet the requirements of the MMAA CPD (continuing professional development) system.

The CPD system is being introduced this year and has the support of the minerals councils and inspectorate in both NSW and Queensland. The MMAA have implemented the structured system on continued professional development to fill the current void of regulation and pre-empt an imposed system policed by a regulator.

To qualify as a statutory mine manager, candidates are required to have three years experience and complete an oral examination conducted by a panel of their peers, in addition to successful completion of a written examination.

Once the qualification is obtained, certified professional status is continued through participating in the CPD process, including committing to the code of conduct, completing certain amount of hours in various fields and participating in technical sessions.

The papers presented at the MMAA seminar covered the full range of categories required by the CPD system and delegates attending for the two days accumulate 12 CPD hours out of the average annual requirement of 15 hours.

MMAA president John McKendry said the comment which best reflected feedback from delegates on the seminar was, the challenge next year would be to meet and maintain the same standard.

The 2005 CPD seminar is to be held at the same venue on April 29 and 30.