Mine warden investigates Yallourn collapse
INTERNATIONALLY recognised geotechnical specialist Tim Sullivan has been appointed as the Mining Warden leading the independent inquiry into the cause of the Yallourn mine wall collapse in November last year.
Sullivan is an Adjunct Professor of Geotechnical Engineering at the University of New South Wales and Principal of Pells Sullivan Meynink Pty Ltd, Sydney.
He has specialist expertise in slope stability and stabilisation and mine dewatering and drainage.
On 14 November the northern wall of TRUenergy’s Yallourn mine collapsed resulting in the Latrobe River flowing into the mine pit.
The collapse resulted in the Latrobe River having to be diverted and a reduction in coal production at the mine.
Following the collapse and the diversion of the Latrobe River, two investigations into the incident were announced.
The first is being undertaken by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and their findings will be fed into the Mining Warden’s Inquiry.