More than 80 teachers from Singleton High School stepped out of the classroom and into the heart of the Upper Hunter’s mining operations on 21 July, as part of two mine tours aimed at deepening the teachers’ understanding of the region’s mining industry.
The tours to Glencore’s Mt Owen Mine and Bloomfield’s Rix’s Creek Mine were delivered as part of the Upper Hunter Mining Dialogue’s School Mine Tours Program which facilitates mine tours for local primary and secondary students from Upper Hunter schools each year.
These tours are the first to cater for teachers only and provided a unique, firsthand look at the modern mining industry through fact-based information and highlighted how mining and education can complement one another.
Teachers gained an understanding of the mining process, from approvals to operations and closure planning. Mine staff showed teachers the life cycle of a mine, with expert insights into geology, geotechnical engineering, and environmental management.
Teachers also observed how advanced technology, including remote communication systems and automated operations, underpins mining from pit to port.
The teachers visiting Rix’s Creek learned about an agricultural enterprise operating on post-mined land and walked through an established rehabilitation site, highlighting the industry’s long-term commitment to rehabilitation and sustainability.
The tour to Mt Owen included a visit to the maintenance workshop where staff showcased the scale and complexity of modern mining equipment.
The tours provided the opportunity for the teachers to visit a key vantage point overlooking the operating pit, and to engage directly with operational staff including geologists, environmental officers and mining engineers.
The Upper Hunter Mining Dialogue extends its thanks to the principal and leadership team at Singleton High School and to the participating mining operations and staff who generously gave their time and expertise to make the tours a success.
| You can find more information about the Dialogue and School Mine Tours at: https://miningdialogue.com.au/ |
