Mining Milestone Or Forgotten Legacy? Former Engineer Questions “First” in Mining Innovation

A recent government announcement celebrating the deployment of a new highwall mining system in Central Queensland as an "Australian-first" has been challenged by former mining engineer Russell Buckley, who says such systems were operational in the state over 30 years ago.

The milestone involves the HW300 Highwall Miner at Vitrinite’s Vulcan South mine near Dysart. In March of this year, Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last praised the technology, highlighting its safety, environmental, and economic benefits.

“The HW300 Highwall Miner is a major leap forward for safety, efficiency and environmental impact reduction,” Minister Last said.

Vitrinite Chief Operating Officer Michael Callan added the system was the result of six years of research.

“Today (March 14, 2025) marks the culmination of six years of research on the high-wall mining method, the HW300 unit and our resource conditions.”

“We're very proud to have the first dedicated unit in Australia and give this extraction method the dedicated focus it deserves,” Mr Callan said.

Mr Buckley, however, presents an alternative view based on firsthand experience.

Buckley was first involved in the introduction of highwall mining to Australia in the early 1990s, working on the JOY Addcar system, installed at Oaky Creek Open Cut in 1993.

“I supervised construction and commissioning of the first JOY Addcar system at Oaky Creek, and I have a celebratory ‘first production’ piece of coal dated 31/10/93.

“The system later operated at Collinsville, achieving mining depths up to 400 metres.”

He said the system was well-suited to Queensland’s complex terrain.

“Due to the geology nature of the ‘Hills and Hollows’ caused by the ice age glaciers in the mountains and anything up to 10 seams of coal being left in the ‘Hills’ the system was very effective in recovering otherwise environmentally difficult resources.”

Buckley recalled the environmental restoration standards he observed in the U.S. during that time.

“The environmental restoration standards in these states of the US astounded me when I was there as they were many years ahead of Australia.

“We seem to be catching up now when looking at the work happening at Newlands.

"It was possibly about 12 months between when they started in the States till it actually went to work in Australia,” Mr Buckley added.

As the only Australian involved, Buckley spent three months in Pennsylvania ensuring the equipment met local standards.

“I spent 3 months at the JOY main and subsidiary offices and workshops in Pennsylvania in 1992/3 ensuring the JOY equipment complied with Australian standards,” he recalled.

“The new CAT HWM300 system at Vitrinite is not the first highwall mining system in Queensland or Australia,” he said.

“It may be the first CAT HWM300 but that is all it is.”

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Russell Buckley, a former mining engineer, spent several months in the United States, where he later helped oversee the construction and commissioning of Australia’s first highwall mining system. Photo credit: Hannah McNamara

A similar Addington system to the one that was at Oaky Creek and Collinsville. Photos supplied

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