Mineral Resources Minister to open Sydney Basin symposium

Sep 26, 2003

NSW Minister for Mineral Resources, Kerry Hickey, will officially open a two-day symposium on Advances in the Study of the Sydney Basin on Monday 29 September at the University of Wollongong.

It is the first time that such a symposium has been held at the University of Wollongong. The symposium is being hosted by UOW's School of Geosciences.

It will bring together Australia's leading experts in the fields of coal mine geology, engineering geology, environmental geoscience, salinity and water geochemistry.

Key topics to be discussed will focus on the role of the Geosciences in coal mining and in the environment in NSW, particularly in the Illawarra.Many papers will present the results of cutting edge research, funded by government and industry, by leading researchers in their respective fields.

Highlights will be papers on methods for predicting and controlling subsidence related to mining under swamps, streams and other environmentally sensitive areas.

Coal industry participants will be particularly interested in the papers presented by authors from the coal industry who will present new methodologies for better understanding and solving problems relating to coal mining. These topics are especially relevant to the Illawarra where the new Dendrobium mine has been the centre of controversy.

Experts from UOW and ANSTO at Lucas Heights will also highlight recent research on salinity in urban areas and metal contaminants in Port Kembla Harbour.

Media please note: At 9am on Monday, the Minister will be welcomed and introduced by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gerard Sutton. The Minister will then give his brief address to symposium delegates. There will be an opportunity for filming/photographs for a short period following his address from 9.15am.

Venue: Communications Centre Building (Bldg 20), Lecture Theatre 1,University of Wollongong.

Further information: Contact symposium convener, Associate Professor Adrian Hutton, on 4221 3832 or Ms Wendy Weeks in the Faculty of Science on 4221 3721.

For more information, contact:

media@uow.edu.au
University of Wollongong
Ph: (02) 4221 5942; fax (02) 4221 3128