SRDM 2009, held in Perth, Western Australia in May 2009, provided a timely opportunity to address many of the pressing issues associated with the design and implementation of safe and rapid development.
The potential benefits of incremental improvements in development mining are significant to the mining industry. The seminar provided opportunities to learn from development mining practices around the world.
The Australian Centre for Geomechanics intends to run a series of three seminars; Australia, South Africa and Canada. To be held in collaboration with Dick Stacey (University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa) and John Hadjigeorgiou (Université Laval, Canada).
Seminar themes:
- Risk and safety
- Ground support and rehabilitation
- Development blasting
- Equipment and automation
- Development cycle time and cost optimisation
- Vertical development: shaft and raises
Operator training was also addressed with particular reference to the use and placement of shotcrete.
More than 70 delegates attended the First International Seminar on Safe and Rapid Development Mining. | 
Editor: Phil Dight
