‘Ground Control in Mining - Technology and Practice’, will be the inaugural event of the Australasian Mining Rock Mechanics Society and will be held at the University of New South Wales from 11-12 November 2003.

The conference will also discuss mine site problem solving and safety and explore new ways of meeting mining industry needs.

“Ground control is a perennially vital aspect of mining operations and one in which practice developments have enormous benefits for the mining industry as a whole,” said conference co-convenor Professor Bruce Hebblewhite, Head of the School of Mining Engineering at UNSW.

“Our focus on the practical aspects of ground control will, we believe, help meet a long-felt and major need.”

Highlights of the packed program include papers on new satellite radar technology for subsidence monitoring; caving management and monitoring for coal and metalliferous mines; future issues for geotechnical professionals in the light of the Northparkes disaster findings and other industry trends, and inrush management.

The Australasian Ground Control in Mining Conference, ‘Ground Control in Mining - Technology and Practice’, is aimed at all mine managers, site operators, consultants, researchers, geotechnical engineers and engineering geologists, planners, technical services managers and technical support staff with a special interest in mining geomechanics and ground control.

It is organised jointly by the UNSW School of Mining Engineering and the Eastern Australia Ground Control Group (EAGCG). It will be preceded by a one-day EAGCG workshop and annual general meeting, on November 10, and followed by a choice of tours to coal and metalliferous mines west of Sydney on November 13.

For further information: agcm@unsw.edu.au or www.mining.unsw.edu.au