Water spat at Werris Creek coal mine

A University of NSW study claims Whitehaven Coal's Werris Creek coal mine in New South Wales is at least partially responsible for the drying-up of farmers' water bores, and the miner's groundwater models and field investigations were limited in their ability to predict future impacts from the project, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

The UNSW study has prompted the Department of Primary Industries Water (DPIWater) to commission a review of the work, a move that has been seized upon by farmers campaigning against the much larger Shenhua Watermark coal mine proposed for a site about 20km away.

Mining contractors think laterally to cut costs

Services companies like Macmahon Holdings have been put under pressure as mining companies responded to challenging market conditions by squeezing margins and reducing available work, according to the Australian Financial Review.

Though it is too early to quantify the impact of new rosters on Macmahon's bottom line, CEO Sy van Dyk said the novel approach was working well for the company and had received "a spectrum" of reactions from those affected.

BHP's Mackenzie bound for Brazil to face flooding fallout

BHP Billiton CEO Andrew Mackenzie will fly to Brazil today to face the fallout from a failure at an iron ore operation that resulted in two dams bursting and flooding villages on Friday morning, sparking fears of a string of casualties, according to the Australian Financial Review.

At least two people are reported to be dead and about 25 missing, including 13 mine workers.