The regional workshops are the second of a series being organised by Gary Gibson, on behalf of the ACARP Roadway Development Task Group (RWDTG).

The workshops will feature updates from members of RWDTG on the current strategies for improving roadway development, future directions, results of the December benchmarking study and the key findings of a civil tunnelling and underground metalliferous review (also to be featured in the March edition of Australian Longwall Magazine).

The RWDTG members presenting include BMA’s Guy Mitchell at Mackay, Xstrata’s Glen Lewis at Pokolbin and Centennial’s Bob Miller at Penrith.

United development coordinator Jim Richardson and Ultimate Mining’s Matt Ryan will speak on the implementation of the Ultimine Development Process Control System at United.

This will be followed by the roof and rib support practices under adverse ground conditions experienced by Springvale and presented by Angus Place development coordinator Kyle Egan.

From a supplier point of view, Ground Support Services’ Peter Gray will update attendees on the self-drilling bolt.

Back at mine level, Dendrobium’s Troy McDonald, Mick Parsons and David Oliver will present on operating within constraints at the Dendrobium mine.

Xstrata underground group engineer Paul Gill will speak about the development of the ABM25, post Crinum, and Beltana development coordinator David Gibson will present on benchmarking continuous haulage systems and developments at Blakefield.

Grasstree development coordinator Peter Shephard will talk about heading gateroad development systems at Grasstree and the reasons behind it.

At an OEM level, Joy Mining Machinery’s Brant Wright will update attendees on the new Joy Roadway Development System.

Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies researchers David Reece and Patrick Humphries will also give an update on the Longwall 15 Project.

The workshop is open to all those involved in roadway development including operators, trades, team leaders, ERZ controllers/deputies, development coordinators and engineers, superintendents and mine managers.

Further workshop details can be obtained from Gary Gibson at gary@yarrowlumla.com.au