Emergency response crews across Victoria will head to Costerfield and Heathcote this weekend to take part in the Victorian Mine Rescue Competition.
The event is organised by the Minerals Council of Australia (Victoria) and sponsored by Resources Victoria.
With marked growth over the last three decades, the Victorian Mine Rescue Competition is now an important part of the state’s mining industry emergency response preparation.
Teams and spectators will engage in realistic, high-pressure rescue scenarios, providing a training and networking opportunity for all involved.
To be held between 28–30 March, this year’s event will see teams compete in simulated scenarios testing their underground rescue, firefighting, first aid and technical rope rescue skills.
Mandalay Resources’ Costerfield gold mine, one of the state’s largest mines that produced almost 55,000 ounces of gold in 2024, will host the event.
This year’s participants will include the Fosterville, Stawell, Cadia Valley and Cowal gold mines, as well as the Cornwall coal mine.
Scenarios open for public viewing:
- Fire-fighting – Heathcote, corner of Station and Chauncey Streets
- Skills – Barrack Reserve
- Road crash rescue – Splitters Creek, Reef Track, Costerfield
- Rope rescue – Barrack Reserve
- Breathing apparatus – Barrack Reserve
Last year’s Victorian Mine Rescue Competition was held in Bendigo at Agnico Eagle’s Fosterville gold mine, and the Central Deborah gold mine.
Cornwall coal mine from Tasmania won best overall at the event, followed by the Victorian Ballarat gold mine in second place and Mandalay Resources Costerfield operations in third place.
The competition first started in 1993 at the State Coal Mine Reserve at Wonthaggi with the local disaster response organisations holding a rescue exercise in the old mine. Three teams were invited to participate: Stawell and Benambra mines from Victoria and Woodlawn mine from New South Wales.
From these humble beginnings in Wonthaggi, the competition has become one of Australia’s leading mine rescue events.
Subscribe to Safe to Work for the safety news that matters most to the Australian mining industry.