Ballarat Gold Mine charged over fatal rock fall
The operators of Ballarat Gold Mine will face court after a rock fall killed miner and dad Kurt Hourigan and severely injured his colleague Connor Smith.
A Ballarat gold mine has been charged following a deadly collapse that killed one miner and severely injured another.
A rock fall in March 2024 at the Victory Minerals’ Mount Clear mine caused the death of Kurt Hourigan, 37, and inflicted life-threatening injuries to Connor Smith, 21, who were performing underground ‘air leg’ works at the time of the collapse.
Mr Hourigan, of Bruthen, was trapped 500m underground and about 3km from the mine’s entrance when he died.
Mr Smith was severely hurt by falling rocks, but was able to be rescued.
Relatives and friends later paid tribute to Mr Hourigan, a devoted dad and keen handyman, and the Ballarat football community rallied in support for Mr Smith while he was fighting for his life.
Another 29 miners involved in the collapse were able to make their way to an underground safety pod.
WorkSafe has charged Victory Minerals Pty Ltd and Carr Mining Services Pty Ltd with two counts of failing to provide or maintain a safe working environment.
It alleges both companies breached the OHS Act by not meeting requirements for ground supports to be installed in the section of the mine where the air leg technique was being used.
It also accuses the companies of failing to supervise workers to ensure proper ground supports were installed during the mine’s development.
The matters will be heard for the first time at Ballarat Magistrates’ Court on December 18.
