Queensland Mines Rescue Service (QMRS) has completed a complex re-entry and re-ventilation of the Longwall 1 Tailgate at Crinum South, delivering a critical piece of work to support future production plans at the underground mine.
The deployment, which took place on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 June 2025, was initiated at the request of Crinum Mine to safely re-enter and inspect a sealed section of roadway that had not been accessed since the late 1990s. The goal was to return fresh air to the area and allow the mine to work through the tailgate roadways into a new section of the coal seam.
QMRS was tasked with establishing a safe Fresh Air Base (FAB), breaching the seals on both A and B headings, and inspecting the roadways to 7 cut-throughs (c/t), as well as constructing brattice and pogo stoppings to control ventilation flow.
With unknown strata conditions, deteriorated ground, and irrespirable atmospheres expected, four 5-person teams were deployed in rotation, supported by standby crews and two operators at the FAB.
Breaching the seals revealed an atmosphere measuring over 4% CO₂ and just 6% oxygen. Teams encountered extensive silt and mud buildup, reduced roof and floor conditions and difficult ventilation pathways.
Despite the challenges, crews systematically constructed stoppings, rectified communication issues, and advanced ventilation to the 7 c/t mark. While A Heading was largely inaccessible due to silt, B Heading was fully inspected to the end of the available roadway.
Fresh air was confirmed through to the 7 c/t circuit, with QMRS concluding the deployment safely and successfully. The mine will complete the remaining works to access the area beyond.
The operation also marked the first field use of QMRS’s new response trucks, which provided improved equipment storage and deployment capabilities.
Crinum Mine CEO Cameron Vorias and COO Jacob Sorenson formally thanked QMRS for their involvement. In a message shared on behalf of site leadership, Crinum General Manager Underground, Mick Morton, said:
“This was a critical piece of work for the future of Crinum, and it simply wouldn’t have been possible without the support and commitment from the Queensland Mine’s Rescue Service.
“Their mine rescue team truly embodied the values we all strive to uphold. Their professionalism, dedication, and expertise were evident throughout the operation, and we are sincerely grateful for their efforts.”
QMRS is proud of every team member involved and remains committed to supporting the Queensland coal industry with safe, skilled and disciplined underground deployment capability.
