The five day trip took in both underground and open-cut coal mining at the Ulan Coal Mines north of Mudgee, followed by a unique opportunity to inspect the underground copper/gold Lift 2 operation, 800m deep at Rio Tinto’s Northparkes Mine. The students arrived at Northparkes the week before commissioning of Lift 2 was scheduled to take place, and so were able to inspect, first hand, many of the facilities which will be either inaccessible or restricted access once production commences. The third major site inspected was the gold/copper Cadia Valley Operations of Newcrest, located near Orange. Here the students visited both the Open-Cut Mine and the adjacent underground Ridgeway Mine. At all mine site visits, the students also spent time inspecting the associated milling/processing plants where product ore is liberated and concentrated; together with other surface infrastructure and environmental management activities.

• This was the first extensive 1st year trip by UNSW students and likely to become a regular fixture, based on the success this time.
• The trip was conducted during the student vacation period, and was on a voluntary attendance basis, and yet attracted 100% of the 1st year student population.
• Much of the organisation of the trip was conducted by the students themselves, including raising over $6,000 of industry sponsorship towards the cost of the trip. The support of the following sponsors is gratefully acknowledged by both the students and the management of the School of Mining Engineering: NSW Minerals Council, Minerals Council of Australia, Xstrata Coal, Jennmar, Atlas Copco, Mine Site Technologies, Joy Manufacturing, Orica, DBT Australia.
• The co-operation and assistance from the three host mine sites is also acknowledged – especially in willingly accommodating such a large group.
• Apart from all of the new knowledge and awareness gained by the students, they all had a lot of fun along the way!
  
  Bruce Hebblewhite