The official opening of the complex was on Friday and also attended by Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche and Mastermyne managing director Tony Caruso.

It will provide valuable immersion training to help bridge the skills gap for employees new to the industry.

Anglo American Metallurgical Coal human resources head David Diamond said the company had donated mining equity to the facility and its current operations had already utilised the existing Myne Start facility in Mackay for new employee training.

“The new Brisbane facility is conveniently located close to the key southeast Queensland source market for Anglo American’s Bowen Basin projects and we are proud to have donated the underground mining equipment that will be used to upskill the industry’s future underground experts,” Diamond said.

“We are looking forward to exploring new ways to grow our relationship with Myne Start as they develop new pathways into the underground coal sector for future employees.

“As we look to resource our future underground operations, access to such an innovative facility to train our people will help us achieve Anglo American’s goals of a safe, diverse and highly capable workforce.”

Diamond said the Brisbane complex – located in the suburb of Pinkenba – would be a key piece of infrastructure for training underground miners of the future.

Total full-time employee numbers at Mastermyne stood at 1012 in February – a net increase in workforce numbers of 23% in the six months to December.