The year 1979-80 has given those associated with the Mining Industry in New South Wales a preview of the problems and the promise of the years ahead.
The planning done during the last two years has been crucial to the development of all forms of mining in New South Wales throughout the nineteen-eighties.
The coal industry is facing enormous challenges and huge capital expenditure, in which the State Government will also be heavily involved to the extent of investing some hundreds of millions of dollars on infrastructure required throughout New South Wales.
Recognizing the paramount importance of coal mining, the Government has established the Coal Resource Development Committee. Composed of representatives from the State Public Service, the Joint Coal Board, private coal interests and unions, the committee will co-ordinate all aspects of the management and development of the State’s coal resources. A sum of $50 million (1979 values) has also been allocated for coal exploration during the next ten years.
New mine safety legislation, which has been the subject of total consultation with all sections of the coal industry, will be introduced in the 1981-82 financial year.
Efforts to ensure safe mining practices for the miner must always remain one of this Department’s highest priorities but its activities are not of course limited to legislation. Its inspectorial staff are continuously engaged in the maintenance of safety and health in the mining industry and they are supported by specialist research, investigatory and testing services based at the Department’s Chemical Laboratory at Lidcombe and its Testing Centre at Londonderry.
In the latter, Australia’s first Explosion Gallery was completed this year at a cost of $200,000. This major installation will simulate explosions in underground mines and enable a close study of explosion phenomena; it also has an extensive range of facilities for testing, experiment and safety training activities.
The disastrous explosion which occurred at Appin Colliery on 24th July, 1979, claiming the lives of fourteen miners, was the worst coal mine disaster in New South Wales for fifty-eight years. The fourteen fatalities caused a sharp reversal of the strongly declining trend recorded in annual totals for some years, emphasizing again the paramount importance of constant attention to every aspect of mine safety.
The construction of a major new metalliferous mine at Elura in central New South Wales has been commenced by the Electrolytic Zinc Co.; production of silver-Iead-zinc-ore is expected to begin in 1983 and to achieve an output of a million tonnes a year.
To encourage the search for oil and gas in New South Wales, this Department has prepared packages of geological information on areas in the ClarenceMoreton Basin and the Darling Depression which have created considerable interest. A comprehensive assessment of petroleum potential will be made by companies to whom exploration rights have been awarded.
In conclusion, the mining industry as a whole deserves to be congratulated for its significant contribution to the battle against unemployment by adding over 1,000 employees to its workforce. I record my appreciation for the service rendered during the year, and the continued loyalty of the officers of the Department. G. M. MAXWELL, Under Secretary, Department of Mineral Resources
