Suppliers Day and AGM

The annual suppliers day and BBUGS AGM was held in Capella this year, in conjunction with BOHOGS. This year say a number of new and innovative products come onto the market as well as some key learning from incidents within the industry.

A big thanks to the following presenters, and their respective companies, for their presentations and case studies. Your contributions to BBUGS and the geotechnical community are greatly appreciated.

  • Richard Campbell, Blackrock Mining Solutions – StrataLock-The Next Generation of Non-hazardous Low-temperature ground consolidation materials
  • Simon Velasquez, Groundprobe – Measuring Geological Response to Controlled Blasting Near a Tailings Dam
  • Kent McTyer, DSI Underground – Nut Defect Testing Data-What was learned?
  • Jordan Wilson- Goonyella Lowwall failure
  • Lance Steel, Maptek – LiDAR applications for Pit Slope Monitoring
  • Liz Elphick, CM&G – Decoding polyphase sediments using small-scale deformation structures.
  • Shan Naude, IDS- Hexagon MineMonitoring – Total Open Pit Monitoring solutions
  • John Hislop, Strata Worldwide – Company Overview/Quality and Technical Testing Methods

The BBUGS AGM reflected on the successful year we had as a society, notably the Careers fair at the University of Queensland and hosting the ACARP project update day in Moranbah.

A video promoting a career in Geotechnical Engineer was finalised this year. Feedback from the community and university students has been promising and will hopefully inspire a new generation of engineers into the field.

BBUGS is continuing to engage with BPEQ in regards to questions raised by our community:

  • What are the career paths to registration for persons with common bachelors degrees, e.g. mining engineering, geology, civil engineering, engineering geology, etc? ​
  • Where post-graduate study is required. What courses are acceptable? ​
  • Are there modifications to existing courses that could smooth the path to registration? ​
  • Would there be potential for the development of a specific coal mine geotechnical engineering post-graduate course that would satisfy the requirements for registration for those without a BEng degree? ​
  • Would there be the option to develop a pathway based around structured on the job supervision / mentoring coupled with formal CPD?

BBUGS Presentation of the Year

BBUGS would like to congratulate Terry O’Sullivan, Centennial Mine, for winning presentation of the year, as voted by the BBUGS community. Terry’s presentation, titled “Geotechnical Challenges at Springvale Mine”, was initially presented at a NUGS meeting and was invited by the BBUGS council to present at on of our technical meetings. Terry gives a comprehensive overview of the ongoing geotechnical challenges at Springvale mine and some of the strategies they have implemented to manage the challenging conditions.

Congratulations to our runners up Matthew Wakeford, Anglo American,  “Advancements in longwall automation for managing strata”  and Dr Ian Gray, SIGRA, “ACARP Project Number C59065: Longwall Rock Mechanics in Massive Strata”

Geotechnical Practitioner of the Year

Congratulations to Michael Melville, who has been voted the BBUGS Geotechnical Practitioner of the Year for 2022. Michael’s was nominated by many of his peers and colleagues for his contributions to the industry, including:

  • Has been involved in the coal mining industry for many years now (2004)​
  • Involved with BBUGs previously holding the position of Treasurer, Chair, Vice Chair ​
  • The award winner has presented on multiple occasions to the BBUGs and other industry conferences​
  • Innovated the collection, processing and analysis of geotechnical data with a software database​
  • Has been a mentor for a lot of junior geotechnical engineer and is currently a guest lecturer at UQ​
  • Currently involved at UQ with a project using Machine Learning for modelling of underground coal mines​
  • Above all consistently displays the BBUGS values of professional courtesy, honesty, humility, and service to the geotechnical fraternity.

Attendance Awards

This year we have four members who attended all the events (either online or in person). A massive thank you on behalf of BBUGS to Dan Payne, Bob Coutts, Paul Buddery and Peter Chern.

Long Service Awards

In recognition of extended service (+ 5 years) to the BBUGS committee, BBUGS have gifted Dan Payne and Richard Campbell with Miner’s Lamps. ​