A state-of-the-art training centre is set to enhance mines rescue capabilities and reduce response times for incidents in the Bowen Basin mining hub.
Anglo American and Exxaro have leased an 18-hectare parcel of land to Queensland Mines Rescue Service (QMRS) in a prime location in Moranbah.
The new facility will be situated on the corner of Railway Road and Moranbah Access Road, opposite the planned site for stage 3 of the Resources Centre of Excellence.
This strategic location is expected to significantly improve the mining industry’s preparedness and response capabilities in the region.
Dan van der Westhuizen, CEO of Anglo American Australia, highlighted the importance of this development, stating: “This marks a pivotal moment for the industry’s preparedness and response capabilities in Moranbah and will help place the town at the forefront of mines rescue training excellence.”
The new training centre is expected to bring several advantages to the mining community:
- Reduced Travel Time: QMRS CEO Tim Jackson highlighted that the Moranbah location would result in less road travel for many rescue crews, improving efficiency.
- Expanded Training Capabilities: The lease allows QMRS to expand its footprint for both surface and underground mines rescue training.
- Maintenance of Crucial Skills: The facility will support the training needs of 450 volunteer underground team members and 50 volunteer mine inertisation unit team members, who require skill maintenance every two months.
- Compliance with Legislation: The centre will help meet the legal requirement for 5 per cent of a mine site’s workforce to be trained by an accredited corporation like QMRS.
QMRS has finalised plans for the Moranbah site, with hopes to submit a development application in 2025.
The new facility is expected to largely replicate the organisation’s bespoke centre at Boonal.
Anglo American has demonstrated a strong commitment to emergency readiness in Queensland’s coal mining industry.
The company’s Moranbah North mines rescue team recently won the national underground competition, while teams from Grosvenor and Moranbah North mines competed in the International Mines Rescue Competition in Colombia in September 2024.
Van der Westhuizen expressed hope that the new facility would inspire more people to volunteer with local rescue teams, emphasising the importance of emergency preparedness both in the workplace and the community.
This development reinforces Moranbah’s position as a key mining hub in the Bowen Basin and underscores the industry’s ongoing commitment to safety and emergency response capabilities.
