In an era of advanced underground automation and high-tech dust suppression systems, one of the most effective solutions for a pervasive mining problem—stope dust—has emerged not from a manufacturer, but from a loader operator’s workshop.
For Superintendent of Mine Planning Anne-Marie Ebbels, the expansion of BHP’s Prominent Hill operation isn’t just a technical upgrade—it’s a strategic shift in how the mine approaches longevity, productivity and sustainability.
Ventilating one of Australia’s deepest underground builds was never going to be easy—but with ingenuity, modelling and a few oversized fans, Murray Jamieson made it work.
As the mining industry pushes deeper and demands faster, safer, and more cost-efficient development methods, tunnel boring machines (TBMs) are emerging as a compelling alternative to traditional drill and blast (D&B) techniques.
At the 2025 AusIMM Underground Operators Conference in Adelaide, one of the most compelling conversations wasn’t about new technologies or production targets—it was about rethinking how safety is integrated into mine design from the ground up.
