Underground coal mine collapse at Sojitz Gregory Crinum near Emerald

New details have emerged about a mine collapse, which killed a 60-year man and trapped another for hours, may have unfolded near Emerald in Central Queensland.

New details have emerged as how a mine collapse which killed a 60-year man and trapped another for hours may have unfolded.

CFMEU Queensland District vice president Shane Brunker said the two men were in a man basket when the mine caved in.

“I’m not 100 per cent sure on what duties they were performing,” he said.

“I’ve been informed that they were just installing new roof bolts as they were making their way back into the mine, but that hasn’t been confirmed yet.”

He said that water may have damaged layers of rock at the mine.

“The mine is in re-opening mode, so there are very limited numbers on site: it’s only got the two drifts, and there’s water in the rest of the mine, so they’re in the middle of dewatering the pit, ready to hopefully around Christmas time or just after Christmas to start producing coal,” Mr Brunker said.

“This is an old working area. This is where the belt road, where the conveyor belt used to bring all the coal out of the mine.

“The pit has been closed for 14 years, and it was flooded with water, so you don’t know what that’s impacted on the strata.

“The company had to submit risk assessments to the Mines Department before they could even start re-entering the mine, so there’d be a complete review done of all those contingency plans before they go any further.”

Emergency services were called to the Sojitz Gregory Crinum Coal Mine on Lilyvale Road near Emerald about midnight. Picture Steve Vit

He called it a “sad day” given that this Sunday would be the 100 year anniversary of the Mount Mulligan mine disaster that killed 75 men.

Mr Brunker said it was too early to say exactly what caused the Crinum collapse.

Work has been halted at the site, and up to 50 workers from the mine met with Sojitz CEO Cameron Vorias at a meeting in the gymnasium of Emerald State High School on Wednesday afternoon.

Afterwards, he said: “I just wanted to express to all of our miners that regardless of whether you’re with Mastermyne or you’re a Sojitz person, we are all one, and we will join in our deepest of sympathies to the family.”

“When I alerted each of the other managers of the incident, we immediately pulled up operations and spoke to all of the mine workers at those sites, and took them through what we knew at the time.

“It was a very sombre event.”

He said he called on workers to “reflect on an incident of this sort of nature for your own family”.

“In a time of this sort of tragic incident, it’s made me think a lot more about even safety around the home,” Mr Vorias said.

“But what I ask them to do is take the time, because we’ve shut down the operation, take the time to reflect, and think about your own family. And think about how the family of this particular individual is feeling right now.

“We will obviously give our utmost 100 per cent support to ensure that the authorities can get the most amount of information they can to make a conclusion about how it happened and what happened.”

Earlier union officials declared the mining collapse an “absolute tragedy”.

Emergency services were called to the Sojitz Gregory Crinum Coal Mine on Lilyvale Road near Emerald. Picture Steve Vit

Emergency services were called to the Sojitz Gregory Crinum Coal Mine on Lilyvale Road near Emerald about midnight Wednesday.

Paramedics assessed a 60-year-old man for critical injuries, however he died at the scene.

A a 25-year-old man suffered crush injuries to his legs and pelvis and was trapped underground for more than four hours before emergency services were able to pull him out.

He was flown to Rockhampton Hospital by RACQ CapRescue in a serious but stable condition. He remained in hospital in a stable condition on Wednesday evening.

A third person was taken to Emerald Hospital in a stable condition following a medical event. He has since been released.

The CFMEU, along with many other politicians, have demanded there be a full investigation into the devastating incident.

CFMEU Mining and Energy Queensland president Stephen Smyth said his condolences and thoughts went out to the family and friends of the deceased and injured miners.

“It sends a ripple effect throughout the industry,” Mr Smyth said on Wednesday.

The latest tragedy comes 18 months after the last mine fatality on January 12, 2020 when tyre fitter Donald Rabbitt died after he was trapped under a piece of heavy machinery at Curragh Coal Mine, near Blackwater.

“We’ve had a period where we haven’t faced loss of life,” Mr Smyth said, however acknowledging five workers were injured in the Grosvenor mine disaster on May 6, 2020.

Mr Smyth said “everyone feels it” when it comes to mine incidents.

“People go to work to work not to die in any industry,” he said.

“Not to return home is an absolutely tragedy.

“The workplace shouldn’t be like that.”

Mr Smyth said the matter was currently under investigation and he hoped “to know a bit more in the coming days”.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said her thoughts were with the miner’s family following the tragic incident and promised an investigation.

“I’d like to pay my respects to a coal miner who died in tragic circumstances near Emerald overnight,” she said.

“I offer my condolences to his family.

“I can assure Queenslanders this matter will be the subject of a thorough investigation by Resources Safety and Health Queensland.”

Resources Minister Scott Stewart said early investigations suggested a rockfall from the roof of the mine caused the disaster.

He praised the “professionalism” of Queensland Mines Rescue Service and emergency services in responding to the incident.

Mines inspectors arrived on site early on Wednesday morning were now investigating the “nature and cause of the incident”.

“Any loss of life on our mine sites is unacceptable, and it is my expectation the Queensland Mines Inspectorate and Resources Safety and Health Queensland will investigate this incident thoroughly and with diligence,” Mr Stewart said.

“I extend my heartfelt condolences … to the family, friends, and co-workers of the man who has passed away, and I hope for a full and speedy recovery for the man who was injured.”

Work had only begun at the mine this year after it had been mothballed in January 2016.

The miners were undertaking maintenance and remedial works to bring the mine back up to standard to begin coal production again.

It is understood they were doing roof support works and a roof fall in the conveyor drift occurred.

The drift runs from the surface down into the coal mine as the conveyor belt comes out of the coal mine onto the surface.

Operations at the mine have been suspended until further notice.

The incident also caused a power outage across the road at the Kestrel Coal Mine wash plant.

The power was out from 11.44pm to 1.27am due to automatic network protection system.

The Gregory Crinum Coal Mine is located about 60km north east from Emerald, and is a hard coking coal operation.

Sojitz Blue, subsidiary of Japanese corporation Sojitz Corporation, purchased the shelved Gregory Crinum mine from BMA in March 2019 for $100 million.

It was reported in September 2020 the company would employ up to 200 people at the underground mine site.

Production has not yet begun at the mine and the plan is to produce 1.4 million tonnes per year once fully ramped up.

The Gregory open cut mine side of the operation restarted in 2019 with a workforce of 300 staff.

Sojitz has a focus on local workers, with most of the miners living in Emerald and Capella.

CFMEU representatives are also on their way to the scene, with Mining and Energy Queensland District president Stephen Smyth saying he was shocked and saddened to be informed of the roof collapse at Crinum underground mine overnight.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased mineworker,” Mr Smyth said.

“We thank mines rescue and first responders for their attendance at the scene.

“Union inspectors are attending the site and will undertake a thorough, independent investigation.”

Operations at the mine only just began at the Crinum mine earlier this year.

Mastermyne Group Limited was awarded a $600 million contract in June to operate the mine.

Managing Director Tony Caruso the incident was a tragic event.

“Our immediate thoughts are with the family, friends and workmates of our employee,” he said.

“Our employee’s family has been notified of the incident and the company is providing them with our support and assistance.

“Counselling services have also been made available to all Mastermyne staff and others impacted by the incident.

“The safety and wellbeing of our staff is one of our core values.

“The cause of the incident will be thoroughly investigated.

“Relevant authorities have been notified and have commenced investigations into the cause of the incident.

“Mastermyne is providing its full co-operation with the investigations and mining operations have been suspended until further notice.”

Senator Matt Canavan, Queensland Resources Council Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane and Member for Gregory Lachlan Millar at the Gregory Crinum Mine.

Capricornia MP Michelle Landry has shared her sentiments.

“My thoughts are with the mine workers, their family, friends and work colleagues. Thank you to our emergency services for the work that you’re doing,” she said.

Queensland Senator Murray Watt said thank you to the emergency services for their work.

“Such sad news out of CQ this morning. Sending my best wishes to the workers, their families and friends.”

Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke said the news is terrible.

“Thinking of his family and his two colleagues who were injured,” he said.

Member for Gregory Lachlan Millar said his thoughts and prayers were with everyone involved.

“I thank our rescue services for the work they have done in this stressful time,” Mr Millar said.

“I think this is a reminder that the mining industry can be very dangerous sometimes.

“We just have to make sure we put in the right measures to make it a safe environment.

“Everybody that goes to work should feel like they are going to come home.”