Short and long-term opportunities have grown in the company’s pipeline, according to a presentation given by chief executive Steve Bizzaca, and the company now boasts a healthy $166 million workbook.

“The workbook remains positive,” he said. “The workbook excludes ‘re-occurring work’, which also continues to be positive.

“The targeted pipeline has significantly increased. Both short and long-term opportunities have grown.

“We will continue deployment of newly acquired capital equipment.”

Of the targeted pipeline, 31% is made up of activity inquiries, while 69% is made up of expected in inquiries in calendar year 2013.

The development contract at Narrabri mine will cease from March 29 – nine months earlier than expected. The job had been contracted to end on December 31.

Delta DSB will deploy some of the affected personnel and equipment to existing projects with other clients outside the Narrabri area and was “already in active discussions with these clients about opportunities for the remaining personnel and equipment”, it said.

Its expectations for the January-June period are set against a framework of current general weakness in the coal industry in Australia.

It remains positive about the future but is aware of the challenges facing the industry and is also facing the risk of the winding down of its longstanding whole-of-mine contract with Boral’s Berrima Medway colliery in NSW.

“Expectations for the January to June 2013 period are set against a framework of current general weakness in the coal industry in Australia,” Bizzaca said.

“A solid second half is forecast with revenue similar to the corresponding period last year. Margins may be pressured downwards compared to the margin achieved in the first half of the financial year.”

Delta SBD’s longstanding whole-of-mine contract with Boral’s Medway colliery is in doubt after New South Wales Planning Assessment Commission approval for the mine to continue to operate was overturned in court.

Boral is continuing operations at its 200,000 tonne per annum Berrima (Medway) Colliery while assessing its response to last week’s NSW Land and Environment Court decision.

Delta DSB has been mining for Boral since 2009. Following the decision, Delta SBD took legal advice in respect of its operations at the mine and said normal operations would continue at Berrima Colliery.

“Delta SBD is working closely with Boral while Boral assesses its future course of action in respect of Berrima Colliery operations,” the company said.