UOW engineers go underground to visit regional mines

Apr 14, 2005

A group of third year University of Wollongong mining engineering students recently had the chance to explore a number of metal mines in Orange and Cobar as part of a course on metalliferous mining methods.

The group, accompanied by Associate Professor Naj Aziz from the school of Civil Mining and Environmental Engineering, spent the first day of the excursion visiting Newcrest Gold Ridgeway underground mine near Orange, which produces five million tonnes of ore annually.

Mr Geoff Dunstan (second from right in photograph), a former UOW student and now a Senior Mining Engineer, hosted the group and provided a mining lecture before taking the students underground to inspect the mining operations.

The group then travelled to Cobar where they spent two days visiting CSA, Endeavour and Peak Gold Mines where the coal mining methods differ significantly from the Illawarra region.

The students were also encouraged to seek summer vacation employment at the different mines in order to assist the industry's severe shortage of new graduates entering the mining field.

A number of UOW graduates who are now in senior positions at different mines were involved in hosting the visits. They included Mr Tom Simpson, Mr Daniel Howard and Mr John Dogatardi.

Head of UOW's School of Civil Mining and Environmental Engineering, Professor Brian Uy, said that the school is helping to strengthen ties with regional communities.

“The school is very proud of its achievements in training and supplying graduates for regional communities throughout the country,” he said.

-RP