The federal government is investing in four projects under the METS Ignited Growth Centre Bowen Basin Cluster program. 

 

Combined with industry contributions, the total value of the projects was more than $1.1 million, Queensland Resources Council CEO Ian Macfarlane said.

 

"It's been a stellar week for Mackay, hosting the Queensland Mining Awards, a bumper Queensland Mining and Engineering Exhibition, and the announcement from the Palaszczuk government of progress on establishing the $3.6 million Mackay Resources Centre of Excellence," he said.

 

"The QRC congratulates the Mackay-based Resource Industry Network on its role in helping secure these investments. The QRC looks forward to working with RIN and both the federal and state governments to make full use of Mackay's mining strengths, and most importantly create more jobs."

 

Macfarlane said mining technology was an area in which Australia was truly a world leader.

 

"Mackay is an ideal location to invest in new projects that will maintain our international competitiveness, given its proximity to our high quality coal fields and the concentration of industry expertise," he said.

 

"It's particularly good news that one of the investments will be in an underground simulator that can get people job-ready faster so they can take advantage of the great careers in the resources sector.

 

"The world wants our resources, so we need the skilled workforce to make sure we can take advantage of the booming global demand."

 

Under the Growth Centres model, Australian government funding is matched by industry investments.

 

Recipients of the funding included Mastermyne's MyneSight training facility in Mackay, which is set to develop and establish a simulated underground mine for training and research, at a cost of $785,000.

 

Federal Resources Minister Matt Canavan, who visited the MyneSight facility with Jobs and Innovation Minister Michaelia Cash, said demand for coal was strong and that was helping support more jobs in the coal sector. 

 

"There are 1400 vacancies across the coal industry today," he said.

 

"So it's important to help train future coal miners, and MyneSight's underground mining simulator in Mackay will reduce training times by 30%.

 

"The Coalition is backing our coal sector, investing $200,000 into MyneSight's facility."

Another recipient of funding is a Macdonald Cordell/Aurecon consortium that is developing a $200,000 project is based on the commercialisation of a spray product for conveyor belts to reduce carryback when fine dust from the products falls off belts.