Organisers IIR said delegates were from almost every longwall in Australia, making the conference the ‘must attend’ event of the year.

To be held at the Cypress Lakes Resort in the New South Wales Hunter Valley from October 25-27, it will once again prove to be an excellent event to network within the Australian longwall industry, plus a number of companies have decided to take exhibition stands.

Australia’s most successful longwall operators will speak about how they have saved money, increased production, and improved safety. The international case study is the world shortwall record holder, No. 3 Mine, Matla Colliery, South Africa.

The program covers a range of topics, including operational efficiency case studies, safety and strata control, new mine installations and technical innovation.

Speakers include:

Chris Silver, Production Manager and Heine Booysen, Mine Manager, No. 3 Mine, Matla Colliery, South Africa

Glen Lewis, General Manager, Eastern Underground Operations, Xstrata Coal

Bob Miller, General Mine Manager, Springvale & Angus Place, Centennial Coal

Chris Strawson, Group Geotechnichal Engineer, Anglo Coal Australia

Ray Johnson, General Manager, Tahmoor Coal, Austral Coal

Greg Pawley, Operations Manager, Xstrata Beltana No I Mine

Darren Nicholls, Manager Underground Operations, Baal Bone, Xstrata

Phil McNamara, Longwall Superintendent, United Colliery, Xstrata

David Benson, Ventilation / Gas Drainage Co-ordinator, BHP Billiton – Westcliff Colliery

Tim Hobson, Mine Manager, Kayuga, Anglocoal

Guy Mitchell, Manager – Underground Strategy and Development, BHP Coal

Mick Kelly, Mining Manager, CSIRO Exploration and Mining

To register for Longwall 2004, contact IIR on 02 9923 5090, or email info@iir.com.au

For sponsorship and exhibition stands contact IIR sales manager Roger Reilly on 02 9923 5067 or email rreilly@iir.com.au