Mine Advice managing director Russell Frith’s presentation, titled Geotechnical Challenges in a Lower Margin Coal Industry, is pertinent given the current environment, BBUGS committee member Jason Emery said.

“This should be well received by all companies in the current environment,” Emery told ILN.

“Russell has nearly 30 years in the mining industry across a range of commodities, having specialised in coal mine strata control since 1985.”

The second presentation will be given by Mark Colwell of Colwell Geotechnical Services in a presentation titled Geotechnical Engineering: The Good The Bad and The Ugly.

“This talk will no doubt get the tongues wagging and ensure a bumper turnout for the event,” Emery said.

Colwell is the developer of CMRR, ALTS2009, ADRS, AMCMRR and ADFRS geotechnical design software in Australia, in a prolific career developing tools to assist mine site personnel.

Other items on the agenda include Ismet Canbulat formally handing over the chairman duties to Michael Melville, Dan Payne receiving his Practitioner of the Year medal for 2012 and Arthur Dybowicz of the BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance delivering a presentation on the recent experiences with pre-driven recovery roads at Crinum Mine.

It will take place at the Moranbah Community Centre