Topics covered include mining methods, strata reinforcement and ground control, rock bolting, mining machinery and automation, mine gases and outburst control, mine communication, mine fires and mine management.

Adrian Moodie and Tony Southerland will be presenting a paper on geotechnical considerations for longwall top coal caving at the Austar mine, while Ian Gray will discuss hydraulic sluiced longwall mining without supports.

Russell Frith will explain the fundamentally flawed aspects of dead load suspension design for roadway roof support.

On equipment automation, Chris Cook of the University of Wollongong will reveal the latest information on automated roof support for heading development, and Jan Nemcik and Ian Porter will reveal more secrets of roof gutter stabilisation with glass fibre reinforced polymer skin.

There are several papers on underground communication systems. Brian Nichols and Tony Napier will give a presentation on an integrated approach to improving safety and efficiency through communications tagging and collision avoidance systems. Dennis Kent will talk about digital networks and applications in underground coal mines, while Gary Einicke from the CSIRO will give a presentation on optically powered underground coal mine communications.

There are several papers on various aspects of mine gas drainage and outburst control, with several notable papers originating from China. Dennis Black will be presenting on actions to improve coal seam gas drainage performance, while M Liu and H Mitri will discuss the evaluation of outburst potential at Sihe coal mine. Cambridge Classen will discuss issues of goaf inertisation and sealing utilising methane at the Mandalong operation.

On mine ventilation, John Rowland will speak about his experience on ventilation surveys, modelling/execution and suggested outputs. On mine dust and atmosphere control, Ting Ren will examine a newly developed water mist-based venturi system, while Brian Plush will reveal the results of his dust monitoring and control efficiency measurement in longwall mining.

On mine fires and spontaneous combustion, Basil Beamish will air his thoughts and present his latest research successes.

The conference is jointly organised by the University of Wollongong mining group, the Illawarra branch of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), and the Mine Managers Association of Australia.

Several mining companies and associated industries are sponsoring the event, including BHP Billiton’s Illawarra Coal, Peabody Australia, Anglo American Metallurgical Coal, Becker Mining Systems, Minova Australia, Jennmar Australia and Sigra.

There will also be industry exhibitions at the event.

The final program will be uploaded on the conference website www.coalconference.net.au.