23 September 2010
The world’s largest exporter of thermal coal, Xstrata Coal and
leading engineering, architectural and environmental consulting
companies, GHD, have been recognised for excellence in engineering
for their project Managing Rail Safety over Longwall Coal
Mining at Tahmoor Colliery at the 2010 Engineering Australia
Excellence Awards (Newcastle Division). Xstrata Coal and GHD were
integral members of the project’s Rail Management Group.
The project won the Excellence in Project Economy and
Ingenuity award as well as four other excellence awards for
the Northern NSW region at the ceremony, which was held on
September 10 at Newcastle City Hall.
The longwall mining technique used at Tahmoor
Colliery was recognised as an innovative management system that
enabled longwall coal mining to be carried out safely beneath an
operating passenger and freight railway at Tahmoor, in the NSW
Southern Highlands.
Manager of Environment and Community at
Xstrata Coal’s Tahmoor Colliery, Ian Sheppard said, “The systems
and technologies successfully developed and implemented for this
project have been the culmination of a sustained period of research
and development over many years. The outcome has demonstrated that
coal mining operations can be undertaken in complex environments
when supported by rigorous applied science and modern engineering
systems.”
GHD Newcastle Manager Tasos Katopodis
commented, “This award is a tribute to the dedication and
innovation of the joint team, consisting of Xstrata Coal, GHD and a
range of other partners, in delivering a real first for the
engineering community – a safe and sustainable method for mining
beneath existing and operating rail infrastructure.
“The technical advancements of this project
leave a legacy to the rail and coal industries not only within
Australia, but also globally,” Tasos added.
For more information please contact Kane
Dowsett