AUGUST 2026
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INSTITUTE OF QUARRYING AUSTRALIA
AUGUST 2026
BUILDING CONNECTIONS Industry professionals are sharing their knowledge through the Institute of Quarrying Australia’s mentor program.
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QUARRY
12
www.quarrymagazine.com
THE RISE OF THE RENTAL Delta Rent offers Australian quarry operators a flexible way to access modern machinery to tackle jobs of all sizes.
HALLETT LANDS BHP DEAL Hallett Group chief executive officer Kane Salisbury explains how the company reached a landmark agreement with BHP.
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IN THIS ISSUE
AUGUST 2026
VOLUME 35, ISSUE 8
FEATURES 22 Building stronger connections Industry professionals are sharing their knowledge through the IQA’s mentor program.
25 Safety on show in Queensland
The IQA’s Brisbane Branch held its safety and health conference to discuss all things safety in the quarrying sector.
30 Delivering reliable plants Bliss and Reels offers high-quality concrete and asphalt batch plants.
32 Mighty modular solution
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NETWORKS OF SUPPORT
The Victorian Women in Quarrying luncheon was a major success for the sector.
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FOCUSING ON QLD
Queensland MP Dale Last speaks ahead of the IQA National Conference.
Vastum Engineering is bringing highquality crushing solutions to Australia
36 Electrifying cement
A new way forward to reduce emissions in the cement sector has emerged with trials underway in Europe.
38 Gunlake Quarries builds for the future
Gunlake Quarries has invested in Komatsu rigid dump trucks for its Marulan quarry.
40 Regional industry in focus
The Hunter Valley Mining Expo is ready to bring the industry together.
42 Women in Industry winners
Industry professionals took centre stage at the 2026 Women in Industry Awards.
44 Embracing the AI transformation The latest mining innovations could find a new home in the Australian quarrying sector.
28
BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP
Ridge is helping quarries access high-quality plant.
AUGUST 2026
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INSTITUTE OF QUARRYING AUSTRALIA
34
HOW HALLETT WON THE BHP DEAL
Hallett Group have signed an agreement with BHP.
46 Spotlighting excellence in bulk
Tickets are available for the Australian Bulk Handling Expo.
48 Product focus
The latest product releases for the Australian quarrying sector.
AUGUST 2026
BUILDING CONNECTIONS Industry professionals are sharing their knowledge through the Institute of Quarrying Australia’s mentor program.
34
THE RISE OF THE RENTAL Delta Rent offers Australian quarry operators a flexible way to access modern machinery to tackle jobs of all sizes.
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QUARRY
12
www.quarrymagazine.com
EVERY MONTH
HALLETT LANDS BHP DEAL Hallett Group chief executive officer Kane Salisbury explains how the company reached a landmark agreement with BHP.
THE RISE OF THE RENTAL Delta Rent offers quarry operators a flexible way to access modern machinery to tackle jobs of all sizes. See page 12
04 FROM THE EDITOR
10 IQA NEWS
06 FROM THE CEO
50 GEOLOGY TALK
08 FROM THE PRESIDENT
Quarry August 2026 3
EDITORIAL
A LIFETIME OF LEARNING Published by:
T
echnology is evolving rapidly across every industry, and quarrying is no exception. Artificial intelligence has advanced in leaps and bounds and is becoming increasingly embedded in quarrying at all levels. Yet plenty of change is happening quietly, away from the spotlight. Cutting-edge technology tends to grab attention, but there are just as many valuable skills and lessons that can meaningfully improve a quarry site. Because quarries are often in remote locations, maintaining a level of knowledge and staying well informed matters even more. Safety should always come first: not knowing the correct procedures can put yourself and others at risk. Learning to properly care for and maintain expensive, critical equipment is equally valuable in strengthening a site’s self-reliance, but it should never come at the expense of safe practice. Educating and connecting the industry is the Institute of Quarrying Australia’s (IQA) entire purpose. Its training
covers both technical and non-technical skills, spanning regulation, leadership and emergency management, and helps businesses meet their duty of care and competency requirements. Online courses cover a wide range of topics, including effective risk management, safety management systems, incident investigation, and learning from disasters. The IQA also offers onsite training, delivered in the environments teams work in every day. These resources are invaluable. Facilitated by industry veterans, they provide vital information that could save a life, and most sessions also carry continuing professional development (CPD) hours. The full IQA Education program, including upcoming courses and CPD hours, is available at quarry.com.au. William Arnott Editor
379 Docklands Drive Melbourne VIC 3008 T: 03 9690 8766
www.primecreativemedia.com.au Chief Executive Officer Christine Clancy
christine.clancy@primecreative.com.au
CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY IS OFTEN THRUST INTO THE LIMELIGHT, BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF VALUABLE SKILLS AND LESSONS THAT CAN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE A QUARRY SITE.
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Paul Hayes
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paul.hayes@primecreative.com.au E it r William Arnott
william.arnott@primecreative.com.au i t
t E it r
Adam Daunt
adam.daunt@primecreative.com.au ur
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Daniel Williamson
daniel.williamson@primecreative.com.au u i e
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Les Ilyefalvy
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les.ilyefalvy@primecreative.com.au C ie t ucce
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Janine Clements
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janine.clements@primecreative.com.au rt irect r
Michelle Weston u
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T: 03 9690 8766
subscriptions@primecreative.com.au The Publisher reserves the right to alter or omit any article or advertisement
submitted and requires indemnity from
the advertisers and contributors against
damages or liabilities that may arise from
material published. © Copyright – No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any means electronic, mechanical,
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ithout the permission o the publisher.
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Quarry August 2026
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CEO’S REPORT
THE COUNTDOWN IS ON The Institute of Quarrying Australia
Educating and connecting our extractive industry
W
e are now just two months out from the 2026 IQA National Conference on the Gold Coast, 6–8 October, and registration is well underway, with hundreds of delegates booked. The program brings together global and national perspectives and the technical depth our members come for. We are honoured to welcome the Queensland Minister for natural resources and mines, Dale Last, who will give a ministerial address and sector outlook. He is part of a line-up that includes economist Besa Deda on the global and Australian outlook, futurist Michael McQueen on preparing now for what comes next, and a look at what the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games will mean for the infrastructure task ahead and the demand on the quarrying sector. I am also looking forward to facilitating our sector leaders panel. Beyond the sessions there is a trade exhibition, a site tour of Heidelberg Materials’ Wolffdene Quarry, valuable continuing professional development hours, and a social program built to connect, with the IQA Excellence Awards at its heart. Thank you to everyone who put a nomination forward for the 2026 IQA Excellence Awards. Nominations have now closed, the response across the categories has been strong, and our judging panel is now reviewing the field. The awards will be presented at the conference, across the Komatsu Conference Dinner and the Caterpillar Finale Dinner on the final night. Applications for the Young Member Network scholarships, offered through the Australian Institute of Quarrying Education Foundation, have also closed, after a strong
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www.quarry.com.au
response from young members. Each provides $2750 towards registration, travel and accommodation for the National Conference, and recipients will be notified in early September.
MENTORING BUILT ON RESULTS Our second IQA Mentoring Program is now underway, free for members and running over six months. It builds on a strong first year. The 2025 program paired 21 experienced mentors with 29 mentees, and on completion every participant surveyed said they would recommend it to other members, with every mentor and mentee keen to take part again. Several from that first group have returned for this round, among them mentor Dana Dupere and her mentee Erin Andrew. THAT’S SOLID KEEPS GAINING GROUND That’s Solid is showing up right across the sector, in the community and online. Out in the community, more members are taking the campaign to school visits, careers expos, open days and trade shows, distributing That’s Solid flyers in their communities, and more trucks and utes are rolling out in That’s Solid livery. Our think tanks are bringing the sector’s major operators together to get behind That’s Solid and help shape where it goes next, with Holcim, Boral, Heidelberg Materials and Adbri among those at the table, alongside leading suppliers such as Komatsu, Hitachi and Orica. After Brisbane and Sydney, the series heads west and south, with a Western Australia Think Tank in August and a Victorian Think Tank in September, both already drawing strong confirmations. Jane Schmitt Chief Executive Officer Institute of Quarrying Australia
The IQA’s Strategic Plan 2023 to 2026 embodies the following vision, values and strategic priorities: Vision: Thriving communities supported by a sustainable industry Operational Priorities: • Deepen industry participation • Sustainable revenue streams
THE PROGRAM BRINGS TOGETHER GLOBAL AND NATIONAL PERSPECTIVES AND THE TECHNICAL DEPTH OUR MEMBERS COME FOR.
• Highly capable team
• Technological innovation • Effective engagement • Great governance
Strategic Priorities: • Support industry participants with compliance and regulation
• Build a diverse and skilled industry workforce
• Foster strong industry connectivity
IQA Contacts:
For all education, member and branch enquiries: Phone: 02 9484 0577 Email: iqa@quarry.com.au Chief Executive Officer Jane Schmitt President Michael Close
Company Secretary David Cowie
Follow the IQA on our social media pages: IQAustralia
the-australian-institute-ofquarrying/ iqaus
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
CONVERSATIONS WITH MICHAEL CLOSE, IQA PRESIDENT
M
ichael Close continues his series of conversations with the IQA’s valued quarrying community. In this edition, he spoke with Caterpillar’s Greg Mumford about the company’s commitment to the sector and its partnership with the IQA. Michael Close: Caterpillar has been a Platinum Partner of the IQA National Conference for many years now. What is it about the conference and the IQA Conference that keeps Caterpillar coming back? Greg Mumford: Caterpillar is honoured to be a Platinum Partner of the IQA National Conference. The quarry sector is very important for Australia’s development and growth, and we look forward to continuing the long-term relationships we’ve had with members and those in the industry to help drive these advancements. Participating in this event is a great opportunity for us to listen, learn and gain a deeper understanding of the needs and challenges facing the industry. Our participation further demonstrates Caterpillar’s deep commitment to supporting the success of the quarry industry and advancing Australia’s infrastructure. MC: This year Caterpillar is once again hosting the Finale Dinner at the 2026 National Conference on the Gold Coast. What can delegates look forward to on the night, and what does hosting this event mean to Caterpillar? GM: The best part of the evening is bringing us all back together as we share the same passion for the quarry industry and how we can do this work better every year. The time to reconnect, listen, and learn to keep our industry moving forward is what really makes the evening special. Besides great food, conversation and time catching up with each other, we are excited to have one of our Cat next generation medium wheel loaders at the event. I’d highly encourage delegates to take the time to check out the new ergonomically-designed operator cab equipped with the latest technologies, such as our new Cat Payload Assist system to help operators improve work productivity while doing so in comfort.
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Quarry August 2026
MC: The conference theme is ‘Building the Future Today.’ From the perspective of Caterpillar, what does that mean for the quarrying sector and how is Caterpillar contributing to that vision? GM: The theme is emphasising the development of this very important industry by implementing world-class technologies that are available today. Since our founding more than 100 years ago, Caterpillar has been focused on innovation that helps our customers succeed. Since then, we’ve built on that legacy – creating industryleading products, technologies and services that help our customers do their best work and build the world around us. Caterpillar understands first how important safety is for quarry customers. In addition, customers are looking to increase production, reduce costs and introduce new people into the industry. Caterpillar is excited to continue working closely with those in the quarry industry to bring solutions that help enhance safety in quarry operations through our latest technologies like the Cat Detect system which detects when a person is behind a moving machine and alerts the operator to protect workers on the jobsite. MC: Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of the quarrying sector in Australia, and what message would you share with delegates joining us on the Gold Coast in October? GM: The quarry sector has an exciting future in Australia. It’s a future that is more innovative than ever thanks to the digital and technology advancements taking place. Caterpillar looks forward to supporting this transformation through tailored solutions to help increase productivity and improve safety on jobsites. Michael Close, FIQ President Institute of Quarrying Australia
OUR PARTICIPATION FURTHER DEMONSTRATES CATERPILLAR’S DEEP COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING THE SUCCESS OF THE QUARRY INDUSTRY AND ADVANCING AUSTRALIA’S INFRASTRUCTURE.
IQA NEWS
The Institute of Quarrying
Images: IQA
Australia
IQA Education enrolments are tracking well ahead of previous years.
OUT AND ABOUT WITH THE IQA IQA Education enrolments near 800
The first half of the year has been among the strongest in recent memory for IQA Education. Enrolments are tracking well ahead of previous years, approaching 800 so far across more than 150 organisations around the country. June was a standout in its own right, with 125 quarrying professionals taking part across 11 different programs. Much of the growth is being driven by a sector responding to changing expectations and new regulatory requirements. In states such as New South Wales and Queensland, mandated professional development has sharpened the focus on training. The bigger shift sits beyond compliance: more organisations are treating development as a deliberate plan to build capability at every level, rather than a tick-thebox exercise. That shift was on show at ADBRI Penrice Quarry in South Australia, where the IQA delivered training directly on site. Running education in the environments teams work in every day grounds the learning and surfaces practical improvements. One participant called it a great insight into managing slope stability on their own site. The IQA is keen to run more of these on-site partnerships, where operators open their gates as learning platforms for the wider sector. Most IQA Education sessions carry continuing professional development hours, ranging from 1.5 to 4 CPD hours depending on the program. The team is now preparing for the 2026 National Conference on the Gold Coast in October, with the education calendar
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continuing to fill through the second half of the year. The full IQA Education program, including upcoming courses and CPD hours, is available at quarry.com.au.
Steel, fuel and a front-row seat
IQA members got a rare look inside two of Port Kembla’s industrial heavyweights when the Southern NSW region sub-branch hosted tours of the BlueScope Steelworks and Park Fuels. After a safety briefing and PPE fit-out, 50 attendees toured the steelworks by bus, with front-row access to the basic oxygen steelmaking plant and continuous slab caster before watching slabs rolled into coils at the hot strip mill. The group then visited the family-owned Park Fuels terminal, with its 70-millionlitre diesel storage capacity and extensive pipeline and berth network. The day wrapped with a cocktail dinner at Wollongong’s Harbourfront
Restaurant, proudly sponsored by A-FLO Equipment and Park Fuels, with heartfelt presentations from both. A highlight was an update from WIQ coordinator Kerry Sheehan on IQA’s That’s Solid national public awareness campaign. Sheehan showcased Divall’s Bulk Haulage’s involvement, including its branded trucks and participation in local quarry open days and career fairs promoting the initiative. She also shared insights from April’s Young Member Network South Africa study tour.
New IQA Fellows Member
Branch
Vincent Nigro
South Australia
Steve Falland
South Australia
Clint Hart
South Australia
Russell Schmidt
South Australia
Trevor Smith
South Australia
Tristan Throup
South Australia
IQA members got a rare look inside BlueScope Steelworks and Park Fuels.
In s
IQA NEWS
The Institute of Quarrying Australia
UPCOMING COURSES AND EVENTS Event
Date
Time
Location
Managing in the middle webinar
Wed 5th Aug
9:00am – 11:00am
Online
Queensland branch Women in Quarrying Boral Purga site tour and networking event
Wed 5th Aug
10:15am – 2:00pm
The Q – 70 Ipswich Boonah Road, Purga, Queensland
Introduction to quarrying webinar
Fri 7th Aug
9:00am – 1:00pm
Online
Hazard Identification webinar
Tue 11th Aug
9:00am – 10:30am
Online
Northern New South Wales 2026 TRG Workshop, annual general meeting and dinner
Thu 13th Aug
5:00pm – 9:00pm
Coffs Harbour SLSC – 23 Surf Club Road, Coffs Harbour, NSW
Critical control management webinar
Thu 13th Aug
8:30am – 12:30pm
Online
Leading in the AI age
Fri 14th Aug
9:00am – 11:00am
Online
Central Queensland sub-branch golf day
Fri 14th Aug
12:00pm – 7:00pm
Rockhampton Golf Club
North Queensland branch and Far North Queensland sub-branch annual general meeting and dinner
Wed 19th Aug
6:00pm – 9:00pm
North Queensland Club – 241 Flinders St, Townsville
Quarry roads and on-site vehicle safety webinar
Thu 27th Aug
10:00am – 12:00pm
Online
Thu 27th Aug
11:00am – 12:00pm
Online
Fri 28th Aug
6:30pm – 10:30pm
Adelaide Pavilion – Cnr. South Terrace and Peacock Road, Adelaide
Managing conflict and difficult conversations webinar
Tue 1st Sep
9:00am – 11:00am
Online
Queensland branch and Central Queensland subbranch site tour, annual general meeting and dinner
Thu 3rd Sep
2:00pm – 9:00pm
Beenleigh Artisan Distillers – 142 Distillery Rd, Eagleby, Queensland
North Queensland branch annual golf day
Fri 4th Sep
11:00am – 7:00pm
Emmerson St, Town Common
Central West New South Wales sub-branch annual general meeting South Australia branch annual general meeting and dinner
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COVER STORY
THE RISE OF THE RENTAL Delta Rent offers quarry operators a flexible way to access modern machinery to tackle jobs of all sizes.
Delta Rent has been a longstanding partner for the Australian quarrying sector.
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“Our focus is the quarrying and resource sectors; that is who we’re there for,” Delta Rent’s Ash Traeger told Quarry. “Our ability to draw on resources and other capabilities throughout the Delta Group is something that our competitors can’t match, and it means we can become quite embedded in the projects themselves. “That means we can make important contributions to support our customers with their investment.” When it comes to big projects, no project is bigger than the upcoming Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics in 2032. In the Sunshine State, preparations for the key event are already in progress, driven by the need to develop significant infrastructure
over the next five years and by the high demand for quarry and aggregate materials to support these developments. With the benefit of its nationwide presence, Delta Rent has already noted the shift in demand. “Quarries provide the materials that are the foundation for all construction,” Traeger said. “And with the Games, that is really providing the impetus for a strong level of material demand as the build for these facilities and infrastructure gets underway.” A recent report by Oxford Economics, commissioned by Queensland’s Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development, showed just how vital this next period will be for the quarrying sector.
Images: Delta Rent
F
or more than two decades, Delta Rent has been a trusted provider of specialised, high-performance, low-hour heavy plant equipment. To get to this point, upgrades to the company’s fleet were vital. The company needed to meet not only the requirements of its customers, but also regulators and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partners. Operating and deploying this equipment is no small feat. Deploying heavy plant and earthmoving equipment requires specialist skills and operating licences, which often entails accepting high risk and significant capital expenditure. In a sector like quarrying, where small margins are a fact of life, this is not always possible.
Total construction work is set to peak at $58 billion by 2029-30, representing around a 42 per cent increase over current investment levels. Further to this is increasing expenditure on electricity infrastructure ($40.7 billion) and the 2032 Brisbane Masterplan ($7 billion) as well as further spending in the health and education sectors. These shifts are set to further demand in the quarrying sector, with demand for hard rock and sand materials set to peak at 66.1 million tonnes in 2029-30, which would be a 17 per cent increase on the existing record levels witnessed in 2023-24 (56.4 million tonnes). According to the report, this is expected to trickle down to key quarrying markets within Queensland. There is no question in Traeger’s mind that the sporting showcase will transform the quarrying sector twofold: higher demand and greater need for versatile equipment, which is where Delta Rent’s rental model can benefit quarry operations. “It provides our clients with not only flexibility, but importantly, it provides agility,” he said. “They can change the size and scope of their fleet without the capital investment associated with buying machines and plant equipment outright. “Sometimes when you need large equipment for a short period of time, it won’t always be financially viable. So, by leveraging our fleet, customers can supplement their standard fleet or expand it very quickly on an as-needed basis.” Delta Rent has stocked its rental fleet with excavators, dump trucks, dozers, compactors, loaders, graders, water carts, and more from the sector’s leading OEMs, including Komatsu, Caterpillar, Hitachi, Bell, Volvo Construction Equipment, and Yanmar. The company’s philosophy regarding heavy plant and earthmoving equipment is simple: it must be a new-generation model with low hours. This means a high-performing, fuel-efficient model that includes features such as modern telematics and comfortable cabins. This is further supported by Delta’s in-house fabrication service, which enables it to supply specialist accessories and attachments tailored to a project’s requirements. The company also maintains an extensive stock holding throughout the broader group, which helps customers access spare and wear parts and
Delta Rent specialises in providing rental solutions for heavy plant and earthmoving equipment.
Delta Rent supplies hire solutions across Australia.
other services, including a preventative maintenance service. “Efficiencies are becoming really important in the quarrying sector,” Traeger said. “Whether that is efficient fuel consumption or supporting efficient material movement on site, these are the aspects that customers are considering when it comes to equipment. “Telematics has become especially important as operators want to see what material is being moved and whether it is being moved as efficiently as possible. Whether that’s loading, stockpiling or hauling, telematics is playing a key role because when you’re maximising your efficiency, it improves your fuel consumption and makes you more productive as a result.” With its national customer base and the nature of the major projects its customers are
working on, Delta Rent backs its equipment with the full support of the broader Delta Group, as well as a 24/7, 365-day service. When it comes to major projects, such as those in the lead-up to the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032, rapid support can mean the difference between a project meeting or missing its deadline. “Our track record, which has now been proven over a long period of time, shows that we have the capability to support projects of this scale,” Traeger said. “Our record means we have built trust with the sector when it comes to not only providing equipment, but making sure it’s the right equipment with the right advice, to help our customers succeed.” • For more information, visit deltarent.com.au
Quarry August 2026 13
IQA
NETWORKS OF SUPPORT The Victorian Women in Quarrying luncheon shone a light on the positive impact women continue to have on the quarrying sector.
T
he first Women in Quarrying (WIQ) event was a gathering of 24 attendees, which kicked off a national movement to advance gender diversity across the sector. Around 12 years later, the Institute of Quarrying Australia’s (IQA) Victorian branch has seen attendance rapidly grow, with 124 people attending its latest WIQ lunch. IQA WIQ Victoria coordinator Jo Murray said networking events are vital. “A lot of us are in our own little bubbles, at one site,” she said. “It’s not until you attend an event like this and meet other people in similar roles as you that you realise, you’re not alone. “You get to meet other, like-minded individuals and get inspired to try something new.” The day began with a site tour of one of Victoria’s most advanced recycling and construction materials hubs – Alex Fraser’s Western Sustainable Supply Hub. The site transforms concrete, brick, rock, asphalt and glass into high-quality recycled materials that help build greener roads across the state.
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Visitors had the opportunity to see a construction and demolition crushing plant, recycling plant, maintenance workshop, and high recycled content asphalt plant in action The site’s manager Emma Elliott began her career with Heidelberg Materials Australia (then known as Hanson) in 2018 as a weighbridge operator at Axedale Quarry. She quickly progressed into sales administration and operations support roles before moving to Melbourne to join Alex Fraser as an operations administrator, where she streamlined processes and improved efficiency.
The Institute of Quarrying Australia’s (IQA) Victorian branch has seen WIQ attendance rapidly grow.
Her eagerness to learn and progress her career led to supervisory roles and gaining experience in recycling operations, culminating in her promotion to Laverton recycling site manager in 2023. Elliott shared her insights on people-first leadership, team development, and continuous improvement during a panel discussion at the event. Alex Fraser managing director Peter Murphy said events such as the Victorian site tour and lunch were a strong reminder of the work still to be done in the sector. “Events like these that help you get to know your collegiate a bit better are powerful,” he said. “It also helps remind people what the sector is like, including the cold hard facts about what the numbers are in the sector. It highlights what we’ve got to do to improve. “The reality is that the percentage of women in our sector is still far too low, and we’ve all got a lot of work to do to make some progress on that. It’s not complicated stuff; we’ve just got to be better at it.” Elliott was joined by Boral Construction Materials lab technician Taylah Pisani and Heidelberg Materials development
Quarry August 2026
ONTRAC
project manager Rachael Quinlan on the panel. Pisani joined Boral after being made redundant from a previous corporate position and initially had little knowledge of the sector. What began as an unexpected career move quickly became a rewarding and fulfilling path. She has since gained handson experience across a wide range of site operations and shared valuable insights with attendees at the event.
Images: IQA
The day began with a site tour of Alex Fraser’s Laverton recycling facility.
Bonnie Ferguson-Stewart’s keynote presentation delved deeply into her thesis on gender.
Originally from Ireland, Quinlan holds a degree in environmental science from University College Cork and moved to Australia in 2022 to pursue a career in the resources sector. She is passionate about the role quarrying plays in delivering essential infrastructure and is a strong advocate for sector engagement initiatives, bringing valuable insights into career pathways, technical development, and working in a traditionally male-dominated sector.
A highlight of the event was Bonnie Ferguson-Stewart’s keynote presentation, which delved deeply into her thesis, Between a rock and a hard place: Doing gender in the male-dominated extractive sector. Ferguson-Stewart said she started working in the quarrying sector as a weighbridge administration assistant at an independent sand quarry. It is here she developed a love for sand and set her sights on studying maledominated sectors.
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IQA
“I wanted to select a fairly niche group of participants, something small, but something that would yield really rich data,” she said. “Plenty of work has been done across various sectors looking at management and office roles. This work is very important. It’s what I do, and it’s what I love. I cannot stress enough how much I understand the value of the weighbridge, admin, and accounts, and there is a clear gender-preference inquiry into these roles that I absolutely could have studied. “But academically speaking, I wanted to avoid studying managers and office workers like myself, as we’ve had our time in the research limelight for now. Instead, I focused my attention on the blue-collar roles in our sector, referring to our operators, our lab techs, our maintenance workers.” Overwhelmingly, the women in this study reported that many steps have been taken to ensure the inclusion of women continues to progress, and they were very satisfied with their treatment and their places in their businesses. But due to the disproportionate gender ratio in the sector, Ferguson-Stewart found an expectation that these operators adhere to traditional methods developed over the decades. “There are underlying masculine ideals within the quarrying sector that can make it difficult for women to feel comfortable in their bodies at work,” she said.
Emma Elliott was joined by Taylah Pisani and Rachael Quinlan for a panel.
“For example, the majority of personal protective equipment is designed for men, and while some women may prefer the male cut, it’s vital that women at least have the option to select female-cut clothes. “Further to this, when looking at spaces with my interviewees, one major point of difference across all of my conversations came up: bathrooms. “The normalisation of women’s exclusion from this workforce means that many quarry sites are not yet sufficiently equipped to provide women with access to basic hygiene amenities, while some sites are working to create a more inclusive space by installing female bathrooms; many quarries only have men’s or unisex toilet facilities.” These important discussions are why ToThink Engineering sponsored the event.
Alex Fraser transforms concrete, brick, rock, asphalt and glass into high-quality recycled materials.
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ToThink Engineering director Darren Toth said he is passionate about supporting women in traditionally male-dominated sectors. “My mum, who was a teacher, did the same job as the men who got paid more than her,” he said. “I have two daughters, so I want to help create a better world for them to grow up in. “The WIQ Lunch shows people that women have a place in our sector, and it’s part of the reason we take our daughter out of school to attend. “It’s very unlikely that she’s going to work in the quarry sector, but it shows her that women belong in this sort of environment, and that’s important to me. “We need to celebrate the wins that women have had, but we need to keep going. “There’s always room for improvement.” •
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LEADING FROM THE FRONT
Images: Queensland Government
Queensland Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last will give a keynote speech at the IQA National Conference 2026 on the Gold Coast from October 6-8, 2026.
Dale Last is the Queensland Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Minister for Manufacturing and Minister for Regional and Rural Development. Born and raised in country Queensland, Dale has dedicated his career to serving regional communities. Dale joined the Queensland Police Service in 1981 and was awarded the National Police Medal in 1988 for diligent long service to the community. He was appointed Officer in Charge of Townsville Police Station in 2000, leading frontline law enforcement in Queensland’s largest regional centre. Following his service in the Queensland Police Service, Dale was elected to Townsville City Council, where he served as both councillor and deputy mayor. In 2015, he was elected to the Queensland Parliament as the Member for Burdekin. Dale is a fierce advocate for regional communities and rural development. His electorate of Burdekin is home to major resources projects and key transport infrastructure, including numerous mines and the Port of Abbot Point. Dale lives on a small farm at Alligator Creek with his wife, two of his children, and a menagerie that includes two horses and a pet pig called Honey.
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Quarry: Minister, what role does the Queensland quarrying sector play in Australia’s economy and infrastructure pipeline? Dale Last: As I say to everyone - no matter what industry they are in – Queensland is open for business, and the quarrying industry is massive for us here in Queensland. As the second largest sector of extracted resources by volume in Queensland, it rightfully underpins our construction and infrastructure industries. Quarry materials such as sand, gravel and hard rock are essential materials for the construction of housing, large-scale buildings, transport and energy infrastructure and major civil works. The quarrying industry will play a vital role in preparing us to build the infrastructure needed to support our growing state, especially as we look forward to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Employing more than 5000 Queenslanders, the sector produced approximately 47.65 million tonnes of product in 2024–25, averaging just over 50 million tonnes annually in recent years. It contributes more than $3 billion to gross state product. As Queensland’s population grows and infrastructure demand increases, the sector continues to play a critical role in maintaining a reliable and economical supply of construction materials. Quarry: How is the Queensland Government supporting the sector from regulation through to workforce attraction? DL: We are committed to the safety of our workers. Without our workers, there would be no industry. When we came to government, we made a promise to restore confidence in Queensland’s resources safety framework. I commissioned a review into Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) that found the resources safety framework was letting down the very workers it aims to protect.
With the passing of the Resources Safety and Health Queensland and Other Legislation Amendment Bill earlier this year, we have delivered on our commitment to strengthen Queensland’s resources safety framework. This reform delivers a strong, independent and accountable system that protects the 82,000 resource workers in Queensland who deserve to return home safely. We also understand the importance of a stable operating environment for our heavy industries – especially the quarrying industry. Since coming into government, we have been consistent in delivering a coordinated regulatory and policy framework that balances sustainable development with environmental protections, safety and community expectations. We play a critical role in securing long-term resource supply through identifying and protecting statesignificant resources as Key Resource Areas (KRAs). There are currently 166 KRAs across Queensland, safeguarding significant volumes of extractive resources. Meanwhile, our state agencies act as referral bodies on matters including environmental management, transport impacts and infrastructure interfaces. As a government, we understand the importance of workforce attraction and retention for such a critical industry. We support initiatives through safety regulation and skill development pathways that improve workforce experience and growth. Quarry: Queensland has a significant infrastructure agenda over the coming years, including the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. What does this mean for the quarrying sector? DL: Queensland’s infrastructure pipeline will drive sustained demand for quarrying materials over the coming decade. We are building more homes and we know this will result in an increase in demand for quarrying materials, but we’re well prepared.
Our 2026-27 State Budget handed down in June includes a $119.2 billion capital program over four years, with $29.6 billion in 2026-27 alone. This investment across transport, housing, energy and Gamesrelated infrastructure will contribute to a substantial demand for quarrying materials over the next decade. Quarrying materials will play an essential role as we build Queensland into the future and prepare Brisbane to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Quarry: What are your priorities in the Natural Resources and Mines portfolio that will support the future of the quarrying sector in Queensland? DL: As the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, my number one priority for the quarrying industry is the safety of workers. That is why we introduced legislation earlier this year to strengthen Queensland’s resources safety framework and ensure the regulator remains focused on protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of resources workers. Importantly, I want to create the conditions for Queensland’s mining and quarrying industries to thrive. These industries employ thousands of Queenslanders, underpin regional communities and provide the materials that make every major infrastructure project possible.
As a government, we are focused on restoring confidence, reducing unnecessary barriers to investment and sending a clear message that Queensland is once again open for business. We want companies to invest here because they know they have a government that backs jobs, backs regional Queensland and backs the resource sector. We’re focused on ensuring Queensland has access to construction materials. From cement to concrete and gravel – these are the building blocks of Queensland’s future. We want to keep our prosperous quarrying industry operating while maintaining our high environmental standards. It’s incredibly important to us that the industry is underpinned by a clear and efficient regulatory framework. We want to cut red tape and make it easy to do business in Queensland. These ambitions are supported by crossagency coordination and assessment from key State Government agencies to reduce regulatory barriers throughout the approval process. Our Key Resource Areas are also vital to protecting strategically important resources and reduces conflicts between extractive industries and other forms of development. Our priorities are to continue delivering a sustainable and reliable quarrying industry that can meet the needs of Queensland now and into the future.
Quarry: The Queensland Government recently declared the Sugarbag Hill Ultra High Purity Quartz Sand Quarry Project as a prescribed project. What role do you see critical minerals like quartz sand playing in the future of Queensland’s resources sector, and can we expect to see more of these types of projects fast-tracked in the future? DL: Prescribed projects are reserved for developments of strategic significance to Queensland. We are focused on progressing our critical minerals industry here in Queensland. Queensland is home to 51 of the world’s most sought-after critical minerals and our government continues to deliver practical improvements to remove barriers for explorers and new developments. The $515 million Sugarbag Hill Ultra High Purity Quartz project highlights the growing importance of critical minerals to Queensland’s resources sector, with high purity quartz acting as a key input for advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies. This project is expected to create 600 construction jobs and 140 ongoing jobs across North and Far North Queensland. This mining project differs to a traditional quarrying operation and is assessed under a different regulatory framework and requires a mining lease. The declaration of prescribed projects enables a coordinated, whole-of-government assessment approach for developments of
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strategic significance. This provides clarity and consistency in the approvals process while maintaining robust environmental and regulatory standards. Our recent 2026-27 Budget was focused on unlocking Queensland’s critical minerals industry, with $46.1 million dedicated to accelerating critical minerals projects and driving new investment in projects and infrastructure. These minerals are essential for energy, technology, advanced manufacturing and defence supply chains, and the Queensland Government wants to see this industry grow. Quarry: Earlier this year, the Queensland Government issued a call-in notice regarding the proposed Reedy Creek quarry development after receiving 2900 submissions. The proposed Reedy Creek Quarry on the Gold Coast was officially cancelled when Boral formally withdrew its development application in May 2026. How does the Queensland Government plan to ensure a supply of construction materials on the Gold Coast going forward following this announcement? DL: Ensuring ongoing access to construction materials in high-growth regions such as the Gold Coast will always be a key planning consideration for our government. We want to make it as easy as possible to build more houses, upgrade infrastructure and improve the lifestyle of all Queenslanders. We are also committed to working with constituents to ensure we appropriately address their concerns. The deputy premier issued a call-in notice for Reedy Creek because we believe Queenslanders deserve transparency and confidence in planning decisions, as well as certainty about the future of their area. As a result of the call-in notice, the proponent withdrew its application. We listened to the Gold Coast community who were loud and clear that they didn’t want this industrial scale project near their homes, and as a result, the region dedicated as a KRA was swiftly removed following the application withdrawal. The removal of the KRA reflects local sentiment and signals the strong community opposition to any future quarry plans. As a government, we support supply through strategic planning measures, including the identification of new KRAs where appropriate and their integration across planning frameworks. Similarly, industry also plays an important role working with government to
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Dale Last will be speaking at the IQA National Conference 2026.
bring forward new sources of supply to market in a timely that are commercially viable and comply with necessary approvals to meet increasing demand. Our government will continue working with local government, industry and communities to build a quarrying industry that is sustainable and will reliably supply our state as we continue to grow. Quarry: In 2025, the Queensland Government announced Wayne Pennell as the coroner for the resources and mining sector. Why was it important to re-establish this role, and how does this help the quarrying and mining sector? What other initiatives is the Queensland Government undertaking to make the resources sector safer? DL: Re-establishing the Mining and Resources Coroner was a key election commitment for us. We came to office with a focus on prioritising the safety of workers in Queensland’s resources sector. The passing of the Coroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill and the more recently passed Resources Health and Safety Queensland And Other Legislation Amendment Bill prioritises the safety of our state’s resource workers. When we came to government, we said we would make Queensland safer for all. The re-establishment of a dedicated Mining and Resources Coroner strengthens the independent oversight of fatalities in the sector, investigating reportable deaths, establishing facts, and where appropriate, making recommendations. The passing of our Resources Health and Safety Queensland (RSHQ) legislation modernised the governance of RSHQ and will ensure the regulator remains focused on protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of resource workers. Our commitment to the mining, resources and quarrying industries was to strengthen
Queensland’s resources safety framework and advance monitoring and engagement to deliver continuous improvement in safety performance. Quarry: You will open the 2026 IQA National Conference on the Gold Coast in October. Any sneak peek of what your message will be to the quarrying sector ahead of the event? DL: I said it earlier – Queensland is open for business. This is an opportunity for industry to come to our great state and take advantage of the opportunities Queensland quarrying has on offer. My message to the sector is – move to Queensland. Do business here. We have a supportive government, the infrastructure and expertise needed and the future demand to underpin the industry. Come to Queensland and be a part of something special. Quarry: Why do you think industry events like the IQA National Conference are important to attend? DL: I am looking forward to meeting with industry. You get a real understanding of the emerging opportunities and where people think the industry might be heading. It’s a great time to explore new technology and learn lessons from others across safety, environmental management and operational efficiency. It’s important for us to engage directly with industry to support informed policy development and ensure regulatory frameworks are working the way we intended. • REGISTER NOW Join the IQA on the Gold Coast, 6-8 October 2026, for the IQA National Conference. Discounted rates are available for IQA members. For more information, visit quarry.com.au
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BUILDING STRONGER CONNECTIONS Industry professionals are sharing their knowledge and building stronger networks through the Institute of Quarrying Australia’s mentor program.
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wo participants from the inaugural 2025 Institute of Quarrying Australia (IQA) mentoring program, Dana Dupere and Erin Andrew, spoke about their experiences and what they gained from the initiative. Both are back on board for this year’s program. Andrew works at Boral’s Peppertree Quarry as a site supervisor and has been in the sector for three years, having first joined the company through an internship while completing her university studies. Dupere has been the co-managing director of Benedict Industries since 1991, after her parents started the business in 1966, and before it moved into the quarrying sector in 1977. The company has expanded to include five quarries and a waste recycling business, with Dupere handling its sales, logistics, finance, and administration. Quarry: What do you like about being a member of the IQA? DD: The IQA provides a fabulous
training platform that is critical for career advancement, particularly in quarry management. The networking opportunities for members to share their experiences and learnings have been invaluable. If there is something that will help improve safety within the sector, everyone has been really happy to share. EA: I definitely agree. For me, I don’t have any family or friends in the quarrying sector, so I was starting off on my own. But the IQA has been a great support, helping me find my way in the sector and build networks with everyone. Quarry: In particular to the quarrying sector, what is it about the sector that you enjoy in your role? EA: Prior to working in quarrying, I did a few internships in the civil sector, which were effectively the customers of quarries. I think the good thing about quarrying
is that it is fast-paced, and every day is an opportunity to focus on key areas and improve. DD: Being a female in the quarrying sector is unique because there are not many of us, but throughout my career, everyone has been supportive, helpful and respectful. I think I put that down to knowing your business and being an expert in your field. Once your customers and peers realised you knew what you were talking about, they actually embraced it. I’ve loved my time in the quarrying sector. Quarry: What made you want to get involved in the IQA Mentor program? DD: Having a number of young women in our business coming through and progressing in their careers, I realised there was an opportunity to help. When the IQA launched this program, I thought it was a fantastic opportunity to share my knowledge.
Images: IQA
The 2025 program at a glance Fifty mentors and mentees from across Australia took part in the inaugural program. Approximately 84 per cent of participants were matched in active one-to-one mentoring relationships, well above the 70 per cent benchmark recommended by the Mentorloop mentoring platform. Approximately 34 mentoring meetings were logged through the platform, with participants rating their meetings 4.8 out of 5 on average. Every participant surveyed said they would recommend the program to other IQA members. Leadership, people and team management, and technical advice topped the list of skills mentors offered, closely mirroring what mentees most wanted to develop. The program is free for IQA members - offered as a member benefit in both the 2025 and 2026 rounds. The 2026 round The IQA Mentoring Program returned for a second round in July 2026, with a new cohort of mentors and mentees now underway in the six-month, member-only program.
Erin Andrew is a site supervisor at Boral.
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For more information on the IQA Mentoring Program, visit the mentoring page at quarry.com.au
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EA: It’s good to get support from other women in the sector. We do have a fair few women on our site, but I haven’t had a chance to connect with women in more senior roles in the sector. I was really lucky to have Dana as my mentor.
what Dana said, lies in navigating challenges with other businesses in the same area. So, a lot of us are facing the same challenges, and it’s good to discuss them. Also, there are some suppliers involved in the IQA, so you can see new ideas emerging in the sector, and it’s helpful in doing our job.
Quarry: How did you two get matched together for the IQA mentor program? EA: Both mentors and mentees set up profiles. So, we set up a profile and tried to align our interests, specialisations, and the like. It was a good platform to use, and the IQA facilitated that really well. It was also good to have a mentor from the same IQA branch, so both Dana and I were from the southern sub-branch. So, we got to catch up in person at those events from the branch as well, which was good. DD: Being in the same sub-branch also enabled me to introduce Erin to other young women in my company, and they’ve been able to form relationships and reach out to each other, which has been great. Dana Dupere has been the co-managing director of Benedict Industries since 1991.
Quarry: How important is it to have those professional networks in the quarrying sector? DD: I think it has been really valuable. Everyone in our sector seems to move around between different companies, but it can be helpful in the sense that we actually supply sand for concrete for some businesses and then we also buy
aggregates from them, so there is often a two-fold relationship in the sector, and it can be invaluable. EA: Through the IQA, I’ve been able to connect with young people in the sector from across Australia, which has been good. In general, the value of the networks, along with
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Quarry: Would you recommend the IQA mentor program to other people in the sector? EA: Absolutely. It’s a great opportunity, and I’ve had a good experience with it, so I definitely recommend it to anyone considering applying to the program. It’s great having that network. It’s easy to get focused on yourself and try to get your tasks done for the day, but having those people around you to share your achievements with makes your job a lot more rewarding. DD: I thought it would take up a lot more of my time, and I wouldn’t be able to give it enough attention, so it wouldn’t be valuable enough for the mentee. However, having a process to follow provided by the IQA made it easier to get started, and that’s what I would encourage others to do; I would especially encourage others to be mentors. It is so important to get people into this sector, and these types of programs will help support them in staying in the sector, which is incredibly valuable. • For more information, visit quarry.com.au
Australia's quarrying sector comes together on the Gold Coast for three days of expert insights, technology showcases, and unrivalled networking opportunities. a a a you Presentations from sector leaders and international experts 100+ exhibitors featuring the latest quarrying innovations IQA National Awards celebrating excellence across our sector Exclusive site visit to Gold Coast operations Welcome reception and gala dinner in a stunning coastal setting CPD points available
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Experts taking the stage at The Star Brisbane Event Centre to share actionable insights on workplace health, safety, and risk management.
Images: IQA
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SAFETY ON DISPLAY AT THE QUEENSLAND QUARRYING CONFERENCE The IQA’s Queensland Branch held its safety and health conference in June, where more than 220 delegates came together to discuss all things safety in the quarrying sector.
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ueensland’s quarrying sector gathered in Brisbane for the 2026 Queensland Branch Safety and Health Conference, with discussions centred on workforce safety, operational risk management and emerging challenges facing extractive operations across the state. The event was jointly hosted by the Queensland branch of the Institute of Quarrying Australia (IQA) and Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ). Held at The Star Brisbane on 4 June, the conference brought together more than 220 quarrying professionals to examine current safety issues and share practical approaches to improving health and safety outcomes across the sector. IQA chief executive officer Jane Schmitt said she was pleased to see more than 220
The IQA QLD Safety and Health Conference organising committee. From left: Jason Egan, Lionel Smith, Clayton Hill, Blake Ardrey, Bec Farnes and Martin Halliday.
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delegates attend the event and highlighted the importance of the sector’s national That’s Solid campaign. “Our sector is essential but not entirely understood, and that’s where the That’s Solid campaign comes in,” Schmitt said. “The intent is to make sure that the next generation doesn’t see the quarrying sector as outdated, but as a modern skilled essential sector that offers real opportunities, real pathways, and real careers.” The conference program covered a broad range of topics, including organisational culture, risk management, mental health, emergency response and the role of technology in improving site safety. Leadership and workplace culture emerged as recurring themes throughout the day, with presenters emphasising that strong safety outcomes rely on engagement at every level of an organisation, from frontline supervisors through to executive management. Mental health and psychosocial safety also featured prominently, with Employee Wellness Australia founder Stephen Woods encouraging delegates to be proactive in supporting colleagues.
Building connections during the QLD Branch Safety & Health Conference.
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“Look for telltale signs and if you have the opportunity to check in with someone on site, do it,” Woods said. Alongside workforce wellbeing, delegates also explored how technology is reshaping safety management across quarry operations. Presentations examined the growing use of digital tools, monitoring systems and automation to improve visibility of operational risks and support more informed decision making. Speakers said that while technology continues to evolve, its effectiveness ultimately depends on workforce engagement and well-established operational processes. One of the conference highlights was keynote speaker Darren Flanagan, who reflected on his role in the rescue of two trapped miners during the 2006 Beaconsfield Mine disaster. Flanagan, a mining explosives specialist, recounted the technical challenges of safely reaching Todd Russell and Brant Webb after they became trapped nearly one kilometre underground following the mine collapse.
Using more than 70 carefully controlled explosive charges over a 30-hour period, Flanagan helped create a safe passage to the miners while avoiding further instability within the rock mass. His presentation reinforced the importance of preparation, communication and sound decision-making in high-risk situations, with lessons that continue to resonate across both the mining and quarrying sectors. The conference also provided an opportunity for operators, regulators and stakeholders to exchange practical experiences and discuss the evolving challenges in the sector. The Queensland Branch Safety and Health Conference highlighted that improving safety extends well beyond compliance. “This conference is a genuine partnership between the branch and RSHQ, and it keeps growing year on year,” IQA Queensland Branch committee chair Blake Ardrey said. “The turnout shows how seriously our sector takes safety. The conversations don’t stop when the day ends - people take them back to their sites across Queensland, and that’s where the real impact happens.”•
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ENGINEERING
Ridge is helping quarry operators achieve more through smarter and better engineered processing plants.
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rowing up, Ryan Eldridge watched his dad lead by example, demonstrating that you should never put limits on what could be achieved. It’s a philosophy guiding Eldridge as he takes his turnkey solutions business, Ridge, to new heights in the quarrying sector, working with some of Australia’s best-known quarrying businesses, including Alex Fraser, Boral, Holcim and Heidelberg Materials Australia. Eldridge grew up in the quarrying sector, spending school holidays working in his family’s quarrying business. He remembers driving wheel loaders and excavators around the site from an early age, then, as he got older, loading trucks and stockpiling materials, before eventually acting as the site foreman on some of the business’s mobile quarrying projects. While some people stumble into the quarrying sector, for Eldridge, it is intertwined with his
Ridge has worked with Alex Fraser in Victoria.
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family’s history and that is evident in his passion, as he spoke to Quarry. “I think every school holiday I worked in the quarry until university, when I switched to engineering, that was probably the first holiday period I can recall not working in the family business,” he said. “Being in a small family business, we grew up with the mentality of ‘we can do anything’, and my father proved that with his business; he had great employees with a similar mindset, and now that’s how we’re approaching it with Ridge. “We pride ourselves on our process design, product and delivery, which is reflected in each of our projects.” Eldridge spent years after university working on the engineering of crushing and screening equipment for an international company, learning from some of the industry’s most experienced engineers.
Images: Ridge
BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP Ridge owner Ryan Eldridge.
He then applied that expertise to delivering projects within the family business. As Eldridge moved into the plant and project space, he came to a realisation that the barrier to entry for high quality, compliant and functional plant was too high or slow. Major mining companies were investing in modern, cutting-edge plants as a result of higher yields. However, for quarries, the margins were smaller, and the same challenges still existed. The result was that some projects were compromised, clients had to settle for lower standards, critical safety issues were not removed or managed through engineered controls and optimal plant functionality wasn’t achieved. From his time in the family business and his experience in engineering, Eldridge wanted to do something about it.
“Everyone was compromising on what they wanted when it came to a good plant layout, quality engineering and high-quality project execution,” he said. “We wanted to address those issues and deliver a better solution, faster. “We wanted to take all of the pain points that operators felt during operations, maintenance procedures, even safety, and help support them with a well-designed plant that delivers exactly what they need.” Ridge’s entry into the quarrying sector coincided with a broader shift towards stronger safety standards. When Eldridge first entered the quarrying sector, there was no minimum age for working in a quarry. Decades later, the sector has evolved significantly, with a far greater focus on the safety of both employers and employees. This increased emphasis on safety has also influenced the design of modern quarry plants, with operators seeking facilities that are safer to operate and maintain. “When I started in the sector, the goal was to get the job done; now the biggest thing is to get the job done safely while maximising performance,” he said. “Most of the work we do is for the quarrying and mining sectors, and no one within those sectors wants a safety incident, and they are committed to it. “Engineering out safety risks has become a core part of our design brief and something we’re deeply committed to. “Our goal is to deliver plants that are safe to operate and maintain, while also achieving high performance and reliability. Whether it’s a quarry or a mine, every operation wants to maximise uptime, and we design our plants to deliver exactly that.” Ridge delivers complete processing plants for quarries, encompassing crushing and screening plants, conveying systems, bulk materials handling infrastructure, as well as structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering. Projects are delivered through an integrated engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) model, providing a single point of accountability from design through to commissioning and handover. From hard rock quarries to sand production plants, to detailed track mounted plants, Ridge works closely with clients to understand their requirements, operational needs and pain points. This allows the team to develop a tailored solution, while identifying opportunities
to incorporate design improvements that deliver higher performance and operability. Ridge engages in a collaborative process that brings the quarry’s needs to the forefront and is complemented by its ability to take a project from conception to commissioning. It is a by-product of having practical quarry experience: Ridge can understand the quarry’s struggles because team members like Eldridge have experienced it. “We’ve been there before and felt that pain. We’re not a consultant that sits above our clients and provides advice; we’re very much working in partnership with our clients to deliver an outcome,” he said. The results of that approach speak for themselves. Heidelberg Materials Australia engaged Ridge to design and build a turnkey four-stage crushing plant at its Wolffdene Quarry in South-East Queensland, capable of processing 500 tonnes per hour (tph). The project is being delivered under a full EPC model with the plant working as a fully integrated system that combines crushing, screening, conveying, dust extraction and suppression. In Victoria, Ridge has recently delivered a turnkey 250tph three-stage crushing plant as well as a recycled-concrete circuit that can handle up to 400tph and integrate with the existing on-site infrastructure. Elsewhere in Victoria, Ridge designed and built a sand plant in Bacchus Marsh which increased the site’s sand production by 75tph and helped manage the site’s contaminated resources. While Ridge has primarily worked along the east coast of Australia, Eldridge said the company was built to deliver projects nationally. “We see Ridge becoming one of Australia’s leading EPC partners for bulk materials handling infrastructure,” he said. “Our ability to rapidly engineer, procure and deliver complete turnkey solutions gives us a real competitive advantage, and we’re excited to take that capability to clients across the country. We also actively seek out challenging projects, because they push us to think differently, strengthen our capability and create opportunities for our people to grow. “For us, expansion is not simply about working in more locations, it is about building a stronger team and raising the standard of project delivery across the industry. We’ve still got a long way to go, but we’re proud of what we’ve built so far. We’re delivering great projects, building long-term relationships, and earning repeat business from clients who trust us.” • For more information, visit ridgeprojects.com.au
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Bliss & Reels is the Australian distributor for Imer, Marini and Bibko equipment.
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From observing the concrete and asphalt sectors, the team at Bliss & Reels saw many customers prioritising build quality and reliability. Bliss & Reels sales manager David Arndt told Quarry that the market’s signals were clear; customers wanted builds that prioritised durability and could perform day after day in tough Australian conditions. So, the Bliss & Reels team scoured the globe. From international trade shows like bauma to factory tours across Europe and consultation with local operators, the company was determined to bring back
quality solutions that concrete and asphalt operators could rely on. After an extensive search, the Australian-based machinery suppliers signed on as the exclusive Australian distributor for two Italian-based companies: Imer (concrete batch plants) and Marini (asphalt plants).
Images: Bliss & Reels
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hen Bliss & Reels general manager Jared Kesselring and his team were looking to pivot the business, he knew he wanted to work with local operators. This is how the family-owned business came to distribute high-quality concrete and asphalt batching plants across Australia, after originally starting in the steel sector in 1948. “We saw this as an opportunity to enter industries missing high-end, locally supported European technology, which also have natural protection from imports, after seeing our traditional customer base disappearing before our eyes,” Kesselring said.
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“We are only as good as our suppliers, so it was important for us to find the best quality available,” Kesselring said. “Imer stood out to us due to its innovative technology, large range of products, impressive reference list. It is still being a family-owned company where you can still speak to the owner and their equipment is extremely reliable. “With both concrete and asphalt, the machines take a bit of a beating, so they need to be robust. Marini was similar in that they build a very good plant which has been around since 1899, which is something that we value.”
Both had earned their reputations in the European sector for quality products but, importantly, offered extensive versatility in their plants, meaning Bliss & Reels could help small Australian operators through to largescale national operators requiring higher throughput rates. Bliss & Reels’ concrete batch plant range encompasses precast, readymix, wetcast, and concrete production plants, while its asphalt offering spans continuous process, batch process, cold mix, bitumen, and mobile plants. In fact, Bliss & Reels’ last two projects at opposite sides of the country were a small mobile plant delivering 60m3 per hour and a tower plant outputting 180m3 per alley, showing the scale of equipment the company can offer in Australia or New Zealand. “The most important element for us with any product is the build quality. You see a lot of plants now, and the build quality is missing, so we’ve invested in partnering with these great European companies that can deliver on that,” Arndt said. “Through these partnerships, we can offer mobile plants and static plants that come with terrific technology that is utilised in the mixing process, and we can change these plants to suit the customer’s requirements.” The senior management team wanted to ensure they went beyond the product brochure and supported their customers with experts who could provide not just customer support but also technical advice.
Enquiries: aupreorder@dodgeindustrial.com | 0401 860 080
Bliss & Reels supports its customers from initial consultation to post-installation service, including customising the system based on project requirements, production goals, and space limitations, and extending to installation and commissioning services, maintenance, and spare parts delivery. “We stock a large inventory of spare parts, and we also have technicians who are factory-trained on how to install and maintain concrete and asphalt plants,” Arndt said. “They’re on call right around Australia and New Zealand. If there’s an urgent need for them, they’re on a plane and ready to help the customer. We can also dial in remotely.” Bliss & Reels has also expanded its offering to include the recycled materials sector. The company has joined with German manufacturer Bibko to help Australian operators take recycled concrete and process it back into a sellable aggregates product. “That is one of the areas that we see a lot of growth in. Especially for businesses looking at what they can do environmentally to have a greener footprint, turning that recycled or returned concrete into aggregates again is a great opportunity,” Arndt said. Bliss & Reels also supply concrete pipe, block and precast machinery with the ability to support customers through the complete process of transforming aggregates into a finished product. • For more information, visit blissandreels.com.au
CRUSHING
MIGHTY MODULAR SOLUTION Pilot Crushtec and Vastum Engineering have joined forces to bring high-quality crushing solutions to smaller operations.
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The two new options from Pilot Crushtec add to its extensive range of crushing solutions which already includes the Pilot Modular IC50 impact crusher, as well as the proven VS100 vertical shaft impactor. “Without the big financial muscle, these smaller operations are looking for cost effective and reliable comminution solutions – a stepping stone to get them to the next level,” Pilot Crushtec sales manager for Africa Wayne Warren said. Although the machine has been developed with emerging mining operations in mind, many of the same challenges are familiar to Australia’s quarrying sector. Smaller quarries, contract crushing businesses and recycling operations are increasingly seeking equipment that can be installed quickly and scaled as needed. Vastum Engineering director Amir Tadros said the MJ100 addresses a growing requirement among Australian quarry operators for practical solutions and highquality equipment.
Images: Pilot Crushtec
odular processing plants have become an increasingly attractive option for quarry operators seeking to balance production capacity with lower capital costs and faster installation times. As demand grows for equipment that can be deployed quickly and expanded as operations evolve, manufacturers are developing solutions that bridge the gap between small entry-level plants and highcapacity installations. Pilot Crushtec’s response to this is the MJ100 modular jaw crusher, which targets operations producing between 40 and 100 tonnes per hour (tph). The new machine comes to market together with its mobile counterpart, the DynamiTrac J100, which includes the same jaw crusher but it is tracked, completely mobile and features an overhanging screen. The DynamiTrac J100 is a self-sustaining electrically driven compact jaw crusher that comes with an on-board generator and can also be plugged into mains electricity.
Pilot Crushtec has a well-known reputation for producing high-quality equipment.
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“We’re seeing strong interest from customers who need more than a compact entry-level plant but don’t necessarily require the investment associated with a large, fixed installation,” Tadros said. “The MJ100 fills that gap by providing a modular solution that can be installed quickly, relocated if required and expanded as production requirements change.” The MJ100 expands Pilot Crushtec’s modular range into a production category that had previously sat between its existing offerings. Pilot Crushtec South Africa sales manager Charl Marais said the company had identified a clear gap between its 5–30tph modular equipment and larger crushing solutions starting at around 120tph. “Having previously offered Pilot Modular solutions in the smaller 5–30tph capacity range and at the large end of the crushing scale, the MJ100 offers new capabilities allowing us to provide a comprehensive modular solution for crushing needs in the sub-100tph operation,” Marais said. Designed as a foot-mounted modular unit, the crusher has been engineered to minimise site preparation and installation time. Like the company’s broader modular range, the unit requires significantly less civil work than a conventional fixed crushing plant, enabling operators to commission equipment faster and begin production sooner. The jaw crusher features a 700mm by 500mm feed opening and accepts feed material up to 400mm, providing increased capacity over Pilot Crushtec’s smaller MG1335 modular jaw crusher. Hydraulic closed-side setting adjustment allows operators to quickly fine-tune product
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Pilot Crushtec’s static and modular crushing solutions are available in Australia through Vastum Engineering.
sizing across a 30–90mm range, improving operational flexibility when processing different feed materials or producing varying aggregate specifications. The tracked machine also incorporates a 2m³ hopper while maintaining compact transport dimensions of six metres long, 2.3 metres wide and 2.4 metres high. Weighing 11.8 tonnes, the J100S has been designed to reduce transport costs while simplifying delivery to remote or temporary crushing sites. Pilot Crushtec sees the machine as well-suited to applications including slag processing, recycling, and smaller mining operations.
Those same characteristics are likely to appeal to Australian quarry businesses supplying local construction projects or processing recycled construction and demolition material, where compact footprints and operational flexibility are increasingly valued. The launch also comes as Australia’s extractive industries prepare for sustained growth in demand. Resources Victoria forecasts demand for quarry materials will increase from 63.7 million tonnes in 2020–21 to 79.5 million tonnes by 2030, with updated projections indicating the state could require more than 90 million tonnes annually by 2034 as housing and infrastructure activity accelerates. Coupled with Infrastructure Australia’s forecast of more than $1 trillion in national construction activity over the next five years, the outlook is encouraging quarry operators to consider processing equipment that can be deployed quickly, expanded as production grows and relocated as project requirements change. It is this shift towards flexible production that Pilot Crushtec believes the Pilot Modular MJ100 and DynamiTrac J100S addresses, targeting operations producing between 40 and 100 tonnes per hour that require a balance between throughput and lower capital investment. For Australian customers, access to the company’s modular range has also become
easier following Pilot Crushtec’s recent partnership with Vastum Engineering, which now distributes its modular and static processing equipment locally. The agreement brings Pilot Crushtec’s modular philosophy to Australia, combining proven crushing technology with plant designs intended to reduce installation time, improve reliability and minimise project risk. “Many operators are looking for equipment that allows them to respond to changing project demands without lengthy construction timelines or significant civil works,” Tadros said. “Modular plants give customers the flexibility to commission a site sooner, reduce installation costs and begin generating material much earlier than traditional fixed plants.” Tadros said the company’s partnership with Pilot Crushtec ensures Australian customers have local access to proven modular crushing technology. “Pilot Crushtec has built a strong reputation globally for producing reliable modular processing solutions, and we’re pleased to make that technology more accessible to Australian quarry businesses,” he said. “Our role is to work closely with customers to understand their application and ensure they’re investing in a solution that delivers long-term value, not simply additional tonnes per hour.” • For more information, visit vastum.com.au
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CEMENT AND QUARRY PRODUCTS
HOW HALLETT WON BHP Hallett Group chief executive officer Kane Salisbury tells Quarry everything the company went through in the 10 years it took to reach an agreement with BHP.
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Images: Hallett Group
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decade ago, Hallett Group was a small independent quarry and concrete business with big ambitions. The South Australian company had a lofty goal in mind – to grow its business to become the market leader and in time secure a tender with the mining giant BHP. Hallett Group chief executive officer Kane Salisbury said he knew that if the company could get into a position where it could supply BHP, it would say a lot about Hallett Group’s capability to the wider market. If Hallett could meet BHP’s requirements and expectations it can meet anyone’s, which is a great sales pitch for further growth. “BHP are the largest volume consumer of cementitious materials anywhere in South Australia, and Australia for that matter,” Salisbury said. “They’ve got long-life assets that are going to be there for 100 years. Having customers with that sort of longevity, consistent demand and growth aspirations makes them an outstanding fit for us.” That credibility was not earned overnight. Salisbury said Hallett Group had unsuccessfully bid for multiple BHP tenders over the past 10 years, using each attempt to better understand the miner’s requirements while simultaneously expanding its own capabilities. The company steadily increased its cement volumes, strengthened its technical expertise, and invested heavily in research and development, its laboratory capabilities, and pilot through to scale processing infrastructure before finally presenting what Salisbury described as a genuinely competitive offering. In 2026, that ambition has become reality.
Hallett Group and BHP have struck a landmark agreement.
The South Australian company secured what it describes as the country’s largest ongoing cement and quarry product supply contract. As part of the contract, the Hallett Group will supply cementitious materials, lime, and quarry products to BHP’s Copper South Australia operations, including Olympic Dam and Prominent Hill. For BHP, the partnership represents more than another procurement agreement. BHP head of commercial – copper South Australia Bree Sipavicius said the company was continually looking for new and innovative ways to improve its operations. “Hallett Group joins a strong line up of existing South Australian suppliers who work with us here at BHP Copper SA to enable us to produce the copper the world needs right here in South Australia,” Sipavicius said. The contract also provides the volume certainty needed to support Hallett Group’s ongoing investment in cement manufacturing and processing infrastructure.
The company established a dedicated Class C laboratory capable of testing radioactive mine backfill materials, expanded its research capability through university partnerships and invested millions of dollars in pilotscale manufacturing facilities to develop lower-carbon supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). In total, Salisbury estimates Hallett Group invested around $20 million in research, development and technical capability before securing the BHP agreement. “Don’t underestimate just how heavy that investment has been to get to where we are today,” he said. “For our owner Mark Pickard to back the business for a decade without the promise of a single cent in return was a huge commitment. The faith and confidence placed in the expert team we have assembled has paid off,” he said. Those investments now extend beyond supplying traditional cement products.
The partnership closely aligns with the next stage of Hallett Group’s $200 million Green Cement Transformation Project with its Port Augusta facility under construction, which aims to manufacture supplementary cementitious materials from locally sourced industrial by-products including Nyrstar slag from Port Pirie and reclaimed fly ash from Port Augusta. Rather than relying on imported SCMs, Salisbury believes Australia has an opportunity to develop sovereign manufacturing capability while reducing supply chain risk. “About 50 per cent of Australia’s supplementary cementitious materials are imported,” he said. “As we’ve seen over the past six months, global disruptions are becoming more prevalent. Having those materials here locally eliminates a huge amount of supply risk.” Salisbury said Australia possesses enormous, untapped resources capable of supporting a domestic low-carbon cement industry. He said there are hundreds of millions of tonnes of fly ash sitting in ash dams around the country, alongside significant quantities of other industrial by-products that could be processed into valuable construction materials. While recovering those materials requires considerable research, investment and regulatory approval, Salisbury said Hallett Group has demonstrated what is possible.
“We’ve shown the way for other participants around the country,” he said. “It’s not easy and it’s not quick, but Australia has a huge amount of these materials available if we’re prepared to invest in bringing them back into productive use.” The next priority is integrating Hallett’s expanding operations and completing the investments that underpin the new contract. Beyond that, Salisbury said the agreement demonstrates that an independent Australian-owned company can compete successfully against multinational suppliers while helping reshape the country’s construction materials supply chain for a more sustainable future. “We hope to turn that threeyear relationship into a 30-year relationship,” he said. “If we continue to innovate, continue bringing value to the table and help BHP continuously improve, that’s what success looks like. “To all our Hallett team, it has been a long journey to get here and fair reward for the dedication and commitment of our entire team. “I have never been more excited by the opportunities ahead of us as we continue to build on this success with our development of our Port Augusta green cement hub just around the corner.” • Hallett Group will supply cement, lime, and quarry products to BHP’s Copper South Australia operations.
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CEMENT
ELECTRIFYING CEMENT SaltX, Holcim and Paebbl have banded together to forge a new, electric-focused way forward to reduce emissions in the cement sector.
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“By combining Holcim’s expertise with SaltX’s groundbreaking technology, we have an additional lever to decarbonise the entire cement manufacturing process,” Holcim head of operational excellence Ram Muthu said. “Through this strategic collaboration, we can enhance our ability to produce nearzero cement at scale to meet customer demand as the leading partner for sustainable construction.”
The partnership between the two organisations expanded earlier this year when they signed a joint development agreement to develop a fully electrified clinker production process. The terms of the agreement set out technical and commercial roadmaps which would lead to the development of Europe’s first fully electric cement plant by 2028. This includes laboratory research as well as industry validation through testing
Images: Holcim
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hen it comes to net-zero in the cement sector, the terms carbon capture, alternative fuels or clinker substitution may come to mind. But what if there was another way forward for the sector, which is widely regarded as hard to abate when it comes to carbon emissions? Holcim has joined SaltX and Paebbl on a project that could redefine not only how cement is manufactured but also how netzero can be achieved. “The cement industry faces a dual pressure: reduce energy intensity and eliminate carbon emissions at the same time,” Paebbl co-chief executive officer and co-founder Andreas Saari said. “This collaboration shows what it looks like when you tackle both together, electrifying the kiln and turning the captured CO₂ into a carbon-storing [supplementary cementitious material] that pushes the boundaries of carbon efficiency in the concrete mix itself. “We’re thrilled to be part of an aligned consortium committed to bringing an order of magnitude better solution to the market through our joint efforts.” At the crux of the collaboration is an electric production process that also integrates permanent carbon mineralisation, which has moved from concept to commercial-scale trials over the past year. Traditional cement production depends on fossil fuels to reach approximately 1450°C for clinker formation, the main component of cement. Although substituting coal with alternative fuels can reduce emissions, the process remains highly carbon-intensive. This is why SaltX has replaced fossil-fuelfired kilns with its Electric Clinker Reactor (ECR) technology, which it said is a more fundamental solution. The Swedish company’s electric plasma technology uses renewable electricity while simultaneously producing a concentrated stream of carbon dioxide that is better suited for capture and utilisation. The innovation has impressed onlookers in the cement industry, including Holcim, which invested in SaltX in 2025 as part of its broader strategy to support low-carbon cement technologies.
Holcim has partnered with SaltX Technology and Paebbl for the project.
conducted at SaltX’s Electric Calcination Research Centre (ECRC) in Hofors, Sweden. In April 2026, the two companies achieved a breakthrough validation, confirming that they could produce Portland-quality cement clinker using a fully electrified process. Holcim’s cement raw meal was calcined on an industrial scale and subsequently sintered with SaltX’s ECR technology. The sintering process, which demands higher temperatures than calcination, is among the most technically complex stages in cement manufacturing. This presents a significant challenge in shifting toward fossilfree cement. However, these tests show that this step can also be completely electrified. The companies said the outcomes satisfy existing material quality standards and demonstrate a successful proof of concept for completely electrified cement manufacturing. “This marks a major step forward in demonstrating that a fully electrified cement process is not only possible but can be implemented in an industrial setting,” SaltX Technology chief executive officer Lina Jorheden said. “Electrifying both calcination and sintering is key to enabling this shift, and the results demonstrate a new approach to cement production.” Head of Holcim MAQER Ventures Bengt Steinbrecher said the testing had delivered impressive results.
Holcim head of operational excellence Ram Muthu.
“This is a strong validation of their technology and an important step on the industrial scale-up roadmap for future cement production.” The project has received further support from across the industry, including the CET Partnership, which is a program for energy and climate technologies in the European Union. Several other stakeholders are also supporting the project and lending their own expertise in testing and research, including the research institute Rise, NCCBM, CSIR-CBRI, and Université Gustave Eiffel.
Muthu said the funding was validation of the consortium’s hard work to establish proof of concept for this innovative idea. “Our collaboration confirms that partnership is the new leadership, and this award recognises Holcim’s success in bringing the value chain together to accelerate decarbonisation for the built environment,” he said. “With our partners SaltX and Paebbl, we are scaling innovative technologies to fully electrify the production of cement, while also making it a carbon sink.” There is hope that the solution being developed could be deployed in current and future cement plants if it is successfully validated with the current testing, looking to go beyond proving just product quality but also commercial-scale capability of SaltX’s ECR technology. The project is expected to run for three years. “We have already demonstrated that highquality cement clinker can be produced through a fully electrified process,” Jorheden said. “This collaboration brings together leading industrial and research partners across the value chain to demonstrate how electrification and circular carbon utilisation can be integrated at an industrial scale. “Together, we are laying the foundation for a new generation of cement production.” •
DUMP TRUCKS
GUNLAKE QUARRIES BUILDS FOR THE FUTURE Gunlake Quarries has invested in Komatsu rigid dump trucks to support the next phase of its Marulan quarry.
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Images: Komatsu
unlake Quarries forms part of the Gunlake Group, an Australian, family-owned quarrying and concrete company drawing on five generations of industry experience. Since opening its Marulan quarry in 2010, the business has grown into one of Australia’s largest independent quarry and concrete producers. The Marulan operation supplies aggregates, road base, drainage materials and civil construction products to its own concrete batching plants and to external customers across greater Sydney and regional New South Wales. The quarry employs around 80 full-time staff and continues to expand its capabilities to meet growing infrastructure demand and has played a key role in several major infrastructure projects, including the M4 upgrade, Rozelle Interchange, and the Western Sydney Airport development, supplying more than 400,000 tonnes of
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material for the new runway construction. According to Gunlake Quarry manager Sam Ramsay, reliable equipment is critical to maintaining productivity across a quarry of this scale. “With capacity to produce up to 4.2 million tonnes per year, we need machines that can perform every day, safely and reliably, while giving operators confidence when they’re behind the controls,” he said. “We already had a Komatsu PC450LC-8 and PC200LC-8M0 excavator, which kicked off our relationship with the brand. Then when we were looking to refresh our ageing haul fleet, they were very competitive in the market. “But it wasn’t just the purchase price. The quality of the build, the serviceability of the machines and the feedback from both operators and fitters all played a role in the decision to add more Komatsu’s to our fleet,” Ramsay said. The new HD605’s represents a significant technology upgrade for the quarry.
Moving from older equipment to newgeneration machines has delivered improvements in operator comfort, machine monitoring and fleet management. “The comfort levels are much better for operators and systems like Komtrax have given us greater visibility across the fleet, particularly around fuel monitoring and machine utilisation – which is particularly important in the current environment,” Ramsay said. The practical design of the machines has also been well received by Gunlake’s maintenance team. “We get good feedback from our fitters around accessibility to filters, hoses and service points. It’s clear the machines have been designed with serviceability in mind, which makes a real difference when it comes to maintenance.” While equipment performance remains important, Ramsay said the support behind the machines is equally valuable.
The Komatsu HD605 is a line of heavy-duty, off-highway mechanical rigid dump trucks
Quarry August 2026
SCREEN CRUSH & LOAD
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Gunlake Quarries is an Australian-owned hard rock quarry located in Marulan, NSW.
REDUCE MATERIAL DOUBLE-HANDLING. The ALLU M-Series buckets turn your carrier into a high-capacity mobile screener crusher by processing and loading material directly into a dump truck or onto a conveyor while separating unwanted impurities from the rock mass in a single operation.
The HD605 is equipped with a McPherson strut-type front suspension.
“The Komatsu team has been open, honest and easy to work with. Our fleet is still relatively young, so we haven’t had to lean heavily on support yet, but any minor issues we’ve had have been dealt with quickly and professionally.” With the quarry continuing to expand, Gunlake expects additional fleet investment will be required in the years ahead. “The business is consistently growing, and machinery always has a lifecycle,” Ramsay said. “At some point equipment needs to be upgraded or replaced, and based on our
experience so far, Komatsu will definitely be in the mix for future acquisitions.” As more infrastructure projects are announced across NSW, and the demand for materials grows, Ramsay said that this investment for Gunlake is setting them up for their next phase of growth. “Overall, these machines are helping position us for the future. We’re focused on running a safe, efficient and reliable quarry operation, and Komatsu has been a good partner in helping us achieve that.” • For more information, visit komatsu.com.au
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EVENTS The Hunter Valley Mining Expo is rapidly positioning itself as a key meeting point for mining operators.
REGIONAL MINING IN FOCUS The Hunter Valley Mining Expo is ready to bring the industry together under the same roof.
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he Hunter Valley sits at the intersection of a booming construction sector and existing heavy transport infrastructure. Its geology provides the highgrade hard rock, sand, and gravel needed to build major infrastructure for a rapidly growing population. The new Hunter Valley Mining Expo (HVME), scheduled for 19–20 May 2027 at Newcastle Entertainment Centre, has been developed to provide a dedicated forum for the region’s mining sector. Bringing together mine operators, contractors, manufacturers, suppliers and service providers, the event aims to focus on practical solutions. The 2027 event will also mark one of the first major industry exhibitions for LANDCROS, following the company’s transition from Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia in April 2027. While the business enters a new chapter under its new identity, customers can expect the same trusted people, proven equipment and commitment to supporting Australia’s mining industry, now backed by an expanded vision for the future. For Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia general manager of mining Sean Ryan, the event fills an important gap in Australia’s mining calendar. “The Hunter Valley Mining Show is uniquely positioned as the only dedicated mining
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exhibition held in the heart of the Hunter region itself, one of Australia’s most significant and productive mining hubs,” Ryan said. “It brings together key stakeholders including mine operators, contractors, suppliers and industry leaders in the communities where mining plays such an important economic and social role.” The exhibition has been designed around the operational priorities of Hunter Valley businesses. A dedicated Mining Pavilion will also showcase regional suppliers and industry associations. Ryan said those conversations have become increasingly valuable as mining businesses respond to changing market conditions. “Mining businesses continue to navigate a range of challenges, including commodity price volatility, rising operating costs and an increasingly complex regulatory environment,” he said. “At the same time, customers are under pressure to maintain productivity, improve efficiency and meet their safety and sustainability objectives. “As a result, we’re seeing a strong focus on solutions that help reduce total cost of ownership, maximise equipment availability and support more informed operational decision-making.” These priorities will feature prominently in the expo’s conference program, which will
deliver a single-stage agenda centred on operational efficiency, innovation and the future of coal mining in the Hunter Valley. Ryan believes face-to-face engagement remains an important part of that process. The event also provides the ideal platform to introduce LANDCROS to the mining industry following the company’s recent rebrand. “Hunter Valley Mining Expo will be one of our first major opportunities to engage with customers as LANDCROS, and we’re looking forward to showcasing what this next chapter represents,” Sean said. “While our name has changed, our commitment hasn’t. Our customers will continue to work with the same experienced people they know and trust, supported by the same reliable equipment, service and solutions. LANDCROS reflects where we’re heading as a business, while building on the strong foundations we’ve established over many years supporting Australia’s mining industry.” “Events like HVMS create valuable opportunities for face-to-face engagement that simply can’t be replicated elsewhere,” he said. “They allow suppliers, service providers and customers to spend quality time together, gain a deeper understanding of current challenges and have more meaningful conversations about potential solutions.”
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Image: stock.adobe.com/lizcoughlan
“These interactions often lead to stronger partnerships, knowledge sharing and collaborative approaches that benefit the industry overall.” Technology is expected to remain a major theme as mining companies continue investing in automation, equipment monitoring and digital tools that improve productivity while reducing operational risk. Ryan said safety continues to drive much of the industry’s innovation. “We’re seeing growing adoption of technologies that help remove people from high-risk environments, including automation, operator-assist systems, advanced machine monitoring and data-driven maintenance strategies,” he said.
“Real-time fleet management and equipment health monitoring are also enabling operators to make more informed decisions, improve machine availability and reduce unplanned downtime.” He said mining companies are also placing greater emphasis on sustainability, operational efficiency and reducing total cost of ownership through connected equipment and data-driven decision making. Beyond technology, the expo also aims to strengthen the industry’s future workforce. Networking events and dedicated meeting spaces are intended to create opportunities for suppliers, operators and emerging professionals to build relationships across the sector.
Ryan said these opportunities are particularly valuable for the next generation entering mining. “The show provides direct exposure to leading mining companies, suppliers and real-world solutions being used across the industry today,” he said. “For emerging professionals and businesses, it’s an opportunity to build connections, gain insights from experienced industry leaders and see firsthand the latest equipment, technology and innovations shaping modern mining.”• Be the first to exhibit, visit huntervalleyminingexpo.com.au
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EVENTS
WOMEN IN INDUSTRY WINNERS
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omen from across the country met at Doltone House Darling Island Wharf in Sydney to celebrate innovators, trailblazers and change-makers. The Women in Industry Awards recognise the remarkable achievements of women who are breaking barriers, driving innovation and shaping the future of Australia’s industrial sectors. Following a record number of nominations and attendance of more than 350 industry professionals, supporters, and guests at the gala dinner, the 2026 Awards marked the largest event since the program’s inception. In her opening address, Prime Creative Media head of events Molly Hancock praised the high calibre of this year’s nominations and reflected on the growing influence of the awards in championing achievement, leadership, and innovation.
“The quality of nominations received this year has once again been exceptional,” she said. “Every nominee and finalist has demonstrated excellence in their field, a commitment to delivering outstanding results, and a determination to make a positive difference within their organisation, industry and community.” The 2026 Awards featured 15 categories celebrating outstanding achievement across leadership, emerging talent, workplace safety, and excellence in a diverse range of industries. This year’s program introduced four new award categories including Women in Leadership, Marketer of the Year, Excellence in Health and Medicine, and Tradeswoman of the Year, further expanding recognition of women’s contributions across these key sectors.
Images: Prime Creative Media
Industry excellence was on display as Australia’s leading women took centre stage at the 2026 Women in Industry Awards.
The 2026 Awards featured 15 categories celebrating outstanding achievement.
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The Women in Industry Awards serve as an important platform for fostering connection.
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THE 2026 WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARDS WINNERS: • Tradeswoman of the Year- Shannen Jeffery, Newmont • Women in Leadership- Karlie Zec, Tiny Tins • Mentor of the Year- Laura Canning, Komatsu • Excellence in Transport- True Ross, Ross Transport • Excellence in Mining- Brooke Adamson, Newmont • Industry Advocacy Award- Tatiana Delendik, Grundfos Pumps • Rising Star of the Year- 30 years and underCaitlin Barlow, JATEC Transport • Business Development Success of the YearYuan Yuan, Sykes Group • Excellence in Health and Medicine- Dr Sarah Crowe, OOXii • Marketer of the Year- Caroline Luczynski, SMEC • Excellence in Energy- Louise Bishop, Zinfra Operations • Excellence in Construction- Alysse Reedy, Fulton Hogan • Excellence in Manufacturing- Charline Siccardi, Argon & Co • Safety Advocacy Award- Sarah Barnbrook, Away from Keyboard Inc. • Excellence in Engineering- Hoda Ehsani, Fortescue The evening culminated with the presentation of the program’s highest honour,
Laura Canning, 2026 Mentor of the Year.
the Woman of the Year Award, which is chosen from the winners of the 15 nominated award categories. Taking home the premier award this year was Newmont manager of process operations Brooke Adamson. In her speech, Adamson spoke about how honoured she was to receive the award and reflected on the support that paid a pivotal role in her journey. “Like other people have said tonight, there are so many phenomenal women, and also men, that play a key role in mining and industry in general that support women,” she said.
“And without a lot of those sponsors and advocates for myself, giving me the confidence to put my name forward and know I can do it, I wouldn’t be here tonight. So, thank you for this. I am incredibly honoured.” Adamson also took home the Excellence in Mining Award too. Noting in her acceptance speech that she has seen the industry go from “women aren’t strong enough to operate this plant to I would hire 10 of her if I could”, but she said there was “still have work to do”. “It is known that women need to check eight of 10 boxes when applying for a job relative to men who will tick six boxes and apply. We need to encourage women to apply and provide women that they are backed and are doing an exceptional job, help boost confidence, call out behaviours that aren’t aligned with our values, stand beside them. We need to be their biggest supporters and advocates and we need encourage everyone in our industry to do the same,” Adamson said. Beyond recognising outstanding achievements, the Women in Industry Awards serve as an important platform for fostering connection, collaboration and progress across Australia’s industrial sectors. The event brings together women from different industries and career stages, creating valuable opportunities to build networks, share experiences and inspire future leaders.•
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EVENTS
EMBRACING THE AI TRANSFORMATION The latest innovations in the mining industry could find a new home at quarries around the country.
W
hile it was once the realm of science fiction, artificial intelligence (AI) is now being deployed across the mining sector as a practical tool. For Western Australian iron ore miner Hancock Iron Ore, the digital transformation is already well underway. Hancock’s approach to AI has been centred on operational outcomes rather than chasing technology trends. The company is leveraging advanced AI techniques to anticipate equipment failures before they happen and detect and classify track defects on its 344km rail line linking its mine to Port Hedland. Examples like Hancock Iron Ore are helping to illustrate the kinds of real-world innovation that will be showcased across the 2026 Western Australia Mining Conference and Exhibition’s (WA Mining) new Transformative Tech Zone, from 16-17 September. This year’s event will also feature a dedicated Decarbonisation Zone, bringing together companies and technologies
focused on lower-emission mining solutions. Prime Creative Media show director – mining events Rebecca Todesco said the timing of WA Mining’s return aligns closely with the industry’s accelerating transformation. “WA Mining is coming back at a time when the industry is actively transforming,” Todesco said. “The Decarbonisation Zone and the new Transformative Tech Zone are a clear representation of where mining is headed – towards smarter, more sustainable and more efficient operations.” The Transformative Tech Zone will host companies already deploying digital and automation technologies across mining operations, including LEAP Australia, Strata Bot AI and Auxilium One. According to Todesco, the emphasis is firmly on practical applications rather than theoretical concepts. “Attendees won’t just see what’s possible; they’ll see what’s already being implemented across the sector,” she said.
WA Mining will also feature a dedicated Decarbonisation Zone.
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“This is about practical solutions that companies can adopt now to stay competitive.” That message closely mirrors Hancock Iron Ore’s internal technology strategy, which has seen the company establish a dedicated digital innovation team that is working alongside operational and engineering personnel to identify where AI can deliver practical improvements across the business. One of Hancock Iron Ore’s early breakthroughs was the development of its in-house AI language model, which later became RoyBot, a secure internal AI platform capable of analysing reports, retrieving production data and assisting workers with operational insights. AI is now being integrated across multiple parts of Hancock’s business, including rail and wheel defect detection, predictive maintenance, stockpile analysis and process plant optimisation. For Hancock Iron Ore, successful digital transformation depends as much on people as it did on technology itself. That people-first approach has included internal AI literacy programs and employee-led innovation initiatives, ensuring operational teams remain directly involved in shaping how the technology is used across the business. For WA Mining, those kinds of realworld case studies are exactly what the Transformative Tech Zone aims to bring into focus. As quarries continue to balance productivity, safety and decarbonisation pressures, the sector’s next competitive edge may increasingly come from how effectively it integrates digital technologies into everyday operations. • Book your ticket today. Visit waminingexpo.com.au
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As the only national quarrying publication and the official journal of the Institute of Quarrying Australia, you’ll always be up to date with the latest developments in industry news, technology and events with Quarry Magazine. It’s quick and easy to subscribe to our monthly print issues, our annual Suppliers Directory and our weekly eNewsletter. Don’t miss out!
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JULY 2026
ITY
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D PR
THE INSTITUTE OF QUARR YING AUSTRALIA
CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY CJD Equipment showca ses what makes the Volvo K Series wheel loaders such a good fit for quarry operato rs.
MIXING IT UP IN SA Liam Berneville-Claye is having a crack at develop ing his business from the ground up in South Australia.
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PARK FROM PIT TO explains Rob Corkery vital quarry how a once formed has been trans multipurpose into a major facility. recreational
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TION NEXT GENERA SCREENING CRUSHING AND trotech’ of ‘elec A new wave g how nisin is revolutio generated, electricity is umed. stored and cons
ROCK
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OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF
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OFFICIAL JOU
THE AUSTRALIAN EDGE Multotec has invested in local manufacturing to improve support for the Australi an quarrying sector.
EVENTS
SPOTLIGHTING EXCELLENCE IN BULK Tickets are now available for one of the most anticipated events in the Australian bulk handling calendar. Images: Prime Creative Media
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n exceptional field of submissions have highlighted the innovation, leadership, and excellence that drives Australia’s bulk handling sector. The focus now turns to the sector’s biggest night of celebration, with tickets on sale for the 2026 Australian Bulk Handling Awards, taking place on 16 September 2026 at ONE23 Rooftop, Melbourne. Held on the opening day of the biennial Bulk Handling Expo, the awards bring together leaders, innovators, suppliers, operators and emerging professionals from across the sector to recognise the people, projects and organisations setting new benchmarks for excellence. “Each year, the Bulk Awards showcase the incredible talent, innovation and commitment that exists across Australia’s bulk handling sector,” Prime Creative Media head of awards and conferences Caitlyn Douglas said. “We look forward to bringing the sector together to celebrate this year’s finalists and winners while providing an opportunity for professionals from across the sector to connect and strengthen sector relationships.” The evening is one of the bulk handling sector’s premier networking events.
The 2024 program ran alongside the MHD Supply Chain Mercury Awards.
Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with customers, suppliers and peers from across the supply chain in a relaxed setting, making it an ideal occasion to build new relationships, strengthen existing partnerships and celebrate shared achievements. The event also provides a valuable opportunity to recognise businesses and individuals driving progress across the sector. From operational excellence and technological innovation to safety, sustainability, and leadership, the awards highlight the achievements that are shaping the future of Australia’s bulk handling sector. As Australia’s only dedicated awards program for the bulk handling sector, the event continues to bring together the people and organisations leading change.
“After the 2024 program ran alongside the MHD Supply Chain Mercury Awards, we’re excited to welcome the Bulk Awards back this year as a stand-alone event,” Douglas said. “The bulk handling sector has made huge strides over the past few years, particularly around safety, automation, sustainability and efficiency. There’s been a real shift in how the sector is embracing innovation and tackling challenges head-on.” The 2026 awards program will introduce a range of new categories designed to better reflect the evolving landscape of the sector and provide more opportunities for recognition within it. • For more information, visit bulkhandlingawards.com.au
The Bulk Awards showcase the talent, innovation and commitment that exists across Australia’s bulk handling sector.
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HUNTER VALLEY MINING EXPO
The Inaugural Hunter Valley Mining Expo Coming May 2027
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Brought to you by the organisers of
Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Broadmeadow, NSW 19-20 May 2027
PRODUCT FOCUS STEEL BUILT FOR WEAR
To submit new product and equipment releases, email: les.ilyefalvy@primecreative.com.au
packages to be completed either in fabrication workshops or on-site. This
SSAB, a global steel company, offers a dynamic range of special steels,
is particularly relevant for quarry and mining operations where minimising
including its Hardox, Strenx, and Toolox brands.
equipment downtime remains a priority.
SSAB’s Hardox range has been developed specifically for these
Materials that extend service intervals, reduce maintenance demands and
applications, providing wear-resistant steel for equipment operating across
support lighter equipment designs are likely to remain a focus for both
quarrying, mining, and raw material handling.
original equipment manufacturers and operators seeking to maximise
Rather than relying solely on increased thickness to improve durability, the
productivity in abrasive environments.
range combines hardness and toughness to withstand abrasive wear while maintaining structural integrity.
For more information, visit ssab.com
The portfolio includes multiple grades designed to suit different operating conditions, allowing manufacturers and operators to select materials based on the balance of abrasion, impact loading and fabrication requirements. Hardox 500 Tuf, Hardox 550 and Hardox 600 are commonly specified for components including excavator buckets, haul truck bodies, hoppers, feeders, crusher liners and transfer chutes exposed to continuous wear. According to SSAB, wear-resistant steel can extend component service life while reducing the frequency of repairs and planned maintenance. For quarry operators, this translates into longer intervals between shutdowns and fewer component replacements over the life of a machine. The company also notes that, in some applications, upgrading from conventional abrasion-resistant steel to Hardox 500 Tuf can significantly increase equipment service life under sliding wear conditions. Beyond wear resistance, the material’s mechanical properties allow manufacturers to reduce plate thickness in selected applications without compromising durability. A lighter structure can increase payload capacity in haulage equipment while lowering the overall weight of buckets, dump bodies and transport vehicles. The material is also intended to simplify fabrication and maintenance. Hardox plates are designed to be cut, formed and welded using
Image: SSAB
conventional workshop processes, enabling repairs and replacement wear
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ENGINEERED FOR SAFETY AND HEAVY DUTY PERFORMANCE Built to withstand harsh operating conditions, mounted spherical roller bearings help maximise uptime and minimise maintenance. Installing mounted bearings has traditionally required precision, experience and time. Dodge Industrial’s Safety Mount range of mounted spherical roller bearings is designed to change that, delivering a shaft-ready solution that simplifies installation while improving safety, reliability and uptime. Built around a patented push-pull adapter mounting system, Dodge’s
Image: Dodge Industrial
safety mount bearings arrive pre-assembled and pre-lubricated, eliminating the need for specialised tools, brute force or subjective calculations. An integrated mounting and dismounting system uses leverage to achieve a secure shaft fit, while predetermined internal clearance ensures consistent installation every time. The design also focuses on long-term performance. An outer-ring riding steel cage operates at half the speed of many conventional alternatives, reducing wear and extending bearing life. A tapered adapter sleeve minimises shaft damage while providing superior holding power,
To maximise service life in harsh operating environments, Safety Mount
complemented by a proprietary inner ring that maximises shaft contact
incorporates a mechanically retained Trident triple-lip seal to resist contamination,
for improved axial retention.
with an optional labyrinth seal available for high-speed and high-temperature
Available in bore sizes from 30mm to 170mm, the Safety Mount
applications. The range is also compatible with OPTIFY Intelli-Lube automatic
bearings feature high-capacity, double-row spherical rollers that
lubrication systems and is sensor-ready for remote condition monitoring, giving
optimise load-to-speed capability while accommodating dynamic
operators the tools to reduce maintenance, extend bearing life and keep critical
misalignment. The bearings are compatible with standard commercial
equipment operating longer.
shaft tolerances and can be field converted between expansion and
For more information, visit dodgeindustrial.com
non-expansion configurations.
ENGINEERING BETTER MATERIAL FLOW
A single rotating shaft and removable cutting
WAM Australia has developed a suite of solutions
compact cylindrical design enables installation
designed to address common quarry sector
in loading and discharge lines, hoppers, and
challenges, covering the complete process from
screw conveyors.
bulk bag unloading and material conditioning
For higher-capacity applications, the DLP lump
through to conveying and final filling.
breaker provides a twin-shaft alternative.
Each product is designed to integrate into larger
Installed beneath silos or hoppers, the machine
material handling systems while targeting a
breaks apart friable lumps before they enter
specific stage of the production process.
downstream conveying equipment, helping
One of the first steps in many operations
maintain a more consistent feed and reducing the
involves unloading flexible intermediate bulk
likelihood of blockages in subsequent processing
containers (FIBCs).
stages.
The SBB-HFF high-flow-rate FIBC discharger
Once conditioned, materials often need to
is designed as a stationary unloading system
be transferred between different stages of
capable of handling a range of bag sizes and
production.
material types.
The CAO tubular trough screw conveyor has been
Its sealed loading interface helps minimise dust
developed for enclosed conveying of powdery and
release during discharge, while a petal-shaped
granular materials while limiting residue build-up
flow aid system is intended to improve the
and preserving particle size.
a closed-loop bulk handling process that supports
emptying of difficult or compacted materials. The
Available in light and medium-duty configurations,
weighing, filling, and material containment while
modular design also allows accessories, including
the modular conveyor can be configured
reducing manual handling requirements.
lump breakers, and programmable control
with multiple inlet and outlet arrangements
Together, the five systems demonstrate an
systems, to be added where required.
and various drive options depending on
integrated approach to bulk material handling.
Where stored materials have compacted during
application requirements.
Rather than focusing on a single processing stage,
transport or storage, lump reduction becomes the
At the end of the handling process, the RBB FIBC
the equipment addresses the complete material
next critical step.
filling system provides an integrated solution for
journey, from unloading and flow conditioning
The LBC lump breaking feeder valve is designed
loading bulk bags.
through to conveying and final packaging.
to gently separate agglomerated materials without
Designed to accommodate different FIBC sizes
excessive particle degradation.
and filling requirements, the system forms part of
blades allow operators to configure the equipment
Image: WAM Australia
for different material characteristics, while the
For more information, visit wamaust.com.au
Quarry August 2026 49
GEOLOGY TALK
Images: River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation
ANCIENT QUARRY’S 7000 YEARS OF HISTORY
River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation member Melissa Johnson commencing the archaeological excavation at Sugarloaf Hill.
New archaeological research has uncovered evidence of Aboriginal mining of stones in South Australia’s Riverland.
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collaborative project between researchers from Flinders University and the River Murray and Mallee Aboriginal Corporation has presented the first comprehensive chronology for an Aboriginal quarry in the Riverland, demonstrating that mining activity at Sugarloaf Hill extends back approximately 7000 years. The quarry contains extensive deposits of silcrete and chert, two hard, fine-grained sedimentary rocks valued for their ability to produce sharp edges when flaked. These materials were used to manufacture stone tools and weapons and formed an important resource for Aboriginal communities throughout the Murray-Darling Basin. According to the researchers, silcrete and chert outcrops occur within a relatively narrow section of the Murray River corridor between Berribee in north-west Victoria and Overland Corner in South Australia, making Sugarloaf Hill one of several strategically important geological sources in the region. Artefacts manufactured from Riverland stone have been identified well beyond this corridor, indicating widespread exchange networks. Lead author from the Archaeology
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discipline at Flinders University Dr Craig Westell said establishing the chronology was a significant milestone. “The key outcome from our research has been establishing a plausible timeline for the mining of these materials at Sugarloaf Hill,” he said. Researchers found evidence that mining began during the mid-Holocene. The chronology aligns with archaeological evidence for expanding trade networks, increased use of grinding stones, oven mounds and cemeteries throughout the wider region, suggesting growing social and economic connections between Aboriginal communities. While Sugarloaf Hill contains relatively few large knapping floors, nearby campsites and midden deposits include abundant stone artefacts manufactured from locally sourced material, reinforcing the quarry’s importance as a raw material source. The geological context was equally important to the investigation. Researchers documented the exposed sedimentary sequences surrounding the quarry, allowing them to relate mining activity to landscape evolution through time. This combination of archaeological and geological evidence provides a framework for interpreting other quarry sites across the Riverland. Dr Westell said studies elsewhere in Australia had transformed understanding of Aboriginal quarrying practices.
“Chronologies established at quarries elsewhere in Australia have provided valuable context for this essential aspect of Aboriginal life and an appreciation of the sociocultural and political systems embedded in it,” he said. “We believe similar outcomes can be achieved in the Riverland through further integration of ethnohistorical, archaeological and contemporary community views.” The researchers argue that the findings fill a longstanding geographical gap in archaeological knowledge of the southwestern Murray-Darling Basin. Co-author and Flinders University deputy director of the ARC centre for transforming human origins research Professor Amy Roberts said the relationship between the original custodians and the river will continue to thrive. “The relationships that Aboriginal people share with their ancestors, the river and land shaped connections and responsibilities to country and ultimately systems of traditional land ownership,” Roberts said. “Stone quarries are an essential part of this inheritance.” Previous work has demonstrated Aboriginal occupation in the Riverland dating back almost 30,000 years, but evidence for quarry development and stone procurement has remained comparatively limited. •
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