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Dear BBUGS Members We’re reaching out to gather insights from our community about the journey to attaining RPEQ certification in geotechnical engineering. If you’ve been through the process or are currently navigating it, we’d greatly value your input. Your experiences—whether positive, challenging, or surprising—will help us understand how BBUGS can better support members pursuing RPEQ credentials and advocate for improvements where needed. The survey should take less than 10 minutes, and all responses will remain confidential. BBUGS may reach out to ask if you'd be open to sharing your story more publicly to help inspire and inform others in our network. 👉https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/Fa47Xs3iyw [...]

Technical Meeting - Blackwater, Blackwater International Coal Centre BBUGS made a return to Blackwater for our second technical meeting of 2025! At this event, Dr Peter Cain shared some of his experience in outburst conditions in a key note presentation. It was a very interesting presentation and we would like to thank Dr Cain again for sharing some of his learnings with the BBUGS community. Yi, Scott, Jeff and Johannes also gave presentations on recent case studies, mining updates and ACARP research findings. BBUGS would also like to thank Mammoth and Ensham Mines for allowing site tours before the meeting. These [...]

Technical Meeting - Moranbah, Black Nugget Hotel BBUGS kicked off 2025 with a well attended Technical Meeting in Moranbah. It was great to see everyone who attended both in person and online. There were some fantastic presentations given given by Ed Steed, Tim Gilroy, Darryl Smith and Adam Lines. These presentations spoke to longwall bolt up and salvage, the history of PDRRs and further understanding of the stress and strata in which we work. A special shout out to Brent Creevey who volunteered his time to take a tour group underground at CDCM. Brent also gave a presentation on the last [...]

UQ EUS Career Fair, 14th March 2025 Engaging with engineering students at The University of Queensland during the UQ EUS Career Fair is always a privilege. It provides a wonderful opportunity to share insights into the unique and rewarding career of a geotechnical engineer in the mining industry. Our committee members, Jon Burton and Ben Yang, had numerous conversations with the students, discussing potential career paths for those studying Civil, Geotechnical, and Mining engineering. Many of our team members come from technical or academic backgrounds and are now managing principal hazards in mining. There's nothing more fulfilling than using engineering expertise [...]

BBUGS wishes to thank every person who attended Suppliers Day in Capella This event continues to provide an excellent environment for knowledge sharing and cohesion between mining companies, contractors, and suppliers to make our industry safer and prosperous. Two very special shout-outs go to those who volunteered to present and, of course, to all our amazing sponsors, without whom these kinds of events wouldn't be possible. We hope you continue to support this wonderful society in 2025 and well into the future. [integrate_google_drive id="6"]

BBUGS/BOHOGS was privileged to participate in the recent University of Queensland's Engineering Undergraduate Society (EUS) career fair. This event offered a prime platform for us to showcase the geotechnical engineering sector, underlining its vital role in the industry's success. Our committee members Edward Steed, Dan Payne, Jon Burton and Ben Yang in meaningful discussions with students, illuminating the innovative and challenging facets of mining and geotechnical engineering. We aimed to spark an interest in these essential sectors among 1st year students and highlighted the abundant career opportunities available to 3rd and 4th year engineering students. This career fair was a fantastic venue for connecting [...]

Technical Meeting - Emerald, Mayfair Tavern BBUGS held our third technical meeting for 2023 at the Mayfair Tavern, Emerald. There was a good turn out both in person and online. BBUGS and BOHOGS attended the second careers day of year at the University of Queensland on the 11th August 2023. Massive thank you to Dave Wallis, Paul Cartwright and Jongwon Park for representing BBUGS. Kestrel Mine held the 5th underground mine visit of the year. Thank you to everyone at Kestrel Mine, and special thanks to Samantha Grimsey and Gabrielle Kassulke for hosting BBUGS. BBUGS would like to thank all our [...]

Technical Meeting - Moranbah Community Centre BBUGS held our second technical meeting for 2023 at the Moranbah Community Centre. It was great to see so many people attend this event in person. Over the last 3 months BBUGS has been engaging university students by hosting a BBQ event at UQ, in conjunction with BOHOGS. BBUGS has also issued a scholarship to Hayden Lumsden for his project:  Evaluating the Performance of Standing Support Solutions in Longwall Underground Coal Mining A big thank you to the presenters who shared their research and expertise with the BBUGS community. A special shout out to Broadmeadow [...]

Tuesday 16th May 2023 BBUGS, together with BOHOGS, are proud to have sponsored a BBBQ networking event for UQ's Mining and Metallurgical Association. These networking events given students a chance to engage with real people from the mining industry and see what a career in geotechnical engineering is all about!