Introduction For mining, infrastructure and public sector projects in New South Wales, understanding the environmental approval pathway is an important part of project planning. One of […]

If you’ve spent much time in open cut coal, you’ve probably seen a plan that “worked on paper” right up until the dump ran out of capacity early, an access was delayed, the landform fell short or the truck loads didn’t reconcile. In lots of cases, the common denominator is swell.

The 'NSW Resources Regulator' has released a significantly updated Rehabilitation Cost Estimation (RCE) Tool to improve the accuracy, transparency, and defensibility of mine rehabilitation cost calculations. The tool, introduced on 31 October 2025, became mandatory for all Mining Title rehabilitation cost estimates submitted alongside Forward Programs from 2 March 2026. The Resource Regulator has provided extensive guidance materials, including tutorials, and has planned a staged transition to support industry wide transfers from old RCE systems.

Less rework. Faster review cycles. Better decisions. Mine planning is not only about interpreting geology and building schedules. A big part of the job is managing information properly so the plan can be executed effectively and efficiently. When your data is organised, consistent, and traceable, you spend less time chasing files, fixing avoidable errors, or explaining basic changes and more time making the decisions that move tonnes safely and efficiently.

Amidst the rise and fall of commodity prices, copper has remained a dependable asset, thanks to its widespread applications in the fields of Electronics, Electrical, and Telecommunications due to its very high thermal and electrical conductivity, and in the fields of Automotive, Construction (including tubes, pipes, fittings, etc.), Marine, and Architecture due to its soft, malleable, corrosion-resistant, and ductile characteristics and its ability to combine with other metals to form an alloy.

Gold is undeniably one of the hottest topics in today’s mining. Despite the drop in value for many other mining commodities, such as lithium, nickel, and coal, to name a few, the gold price has continued to soar to record highs. It comes as no surprise that a significant amount of effort is being put into evaluating gold projects – new, current, and even those that were once deemed unattractive from a project value perspective. In our latest blog, we explore the factors that make gold mining projects attractive and the challenges that may prevent a project from getting over the line despite the continued rise in gold prices.

In the age of sustainability, the mining industry is undergoing a quiet but significant transformation. Traditionally seen as a linear process – extract, process, discard – mining is now being reimagined through the lens of the circular economy. At the heart of this transformation lies an unlikely hero: mining tailings and by-products. These once-overlooked residues are now being repurposed into valuable resources across various industries, including construction, agriculture, and battery production, transforming waste into wealth and reducing the environmental footprint of mining.

In today’s mining landscape, where operational efficiency, cost control, and environmental compliance are more critical than ever, mine planning is a high-stakes task. Whether it's reworking haulage routes, recalibrating schedules, or ensuring compliance with dumping constraints, the ability to adapt and optimise is essential. In our latest blog, we explore how the right tools and expertise can turn even the most complex mine planning challenges into opportunities for long-term performance and value.

As demand for critical minerals surges, attention is turning to the vast, untapped resources lying beneath the ocean. Once the realm of science fiction, deep-sea mining is edging closer to commercial reality, bringing with it both promise and profound challenges. Our latest Atlantech blog explores the key forces shaping this emerging frontier.

Women have been steadily increasing their presence in the NSW mining industry over the past decade, though they remain underrepresented compared to their male counterparts. As of 2022, women comprised approximately 20% of the Australian mining workforce, with a slightly higher representation in NSW. This marks a significant improvement from earlier years when female participation was even lower.

From tracking property boundaries to mapping subsidence, spatial data is everywhere – and it’s changing fast. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) help us make sense of that data, offering powerful tools for visualisation, analysis, and decision-making. Having the right tools is essential to get the most out of any spatial dataset, and this comes in the form of GIS software such as QGIS, ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Pro, or MapInfo.

This blog reflects on a common but often unspoken experience among project professionals – the disconnect between what success looks like on a dashboard and how it feels during project delivery.

Securing a social license to operate (SLO) is essential for mining companies aiming to maintain public trust, environmental responsibility, and long-term viability. Our latest environmental blog explores the role of social licenses in both Australia and Indonesia–two of the world’s top coal producers–and compares how the two nations engage with communities, manage environmental impacts, and balance regulatory demands with economic growth

Trucking operations are the backbone of efficient mining and logistics industries. Whether moving ore, coal, or construction materials, a well-structured trucking model ensures smooth operations, minimises costs, and enhances productivity. This blog will explore the fundamental principles of trucking, including truck configurations, rolling resistance, haulage scheduling, and truck number calculations.

Australia faces a significant waste management challenge, with approximately 76 million tonnes of waste produced annually. As the population grows and urbanisation increases, managing this waste efficiently has become a pressing issue. In November 2024, the New South Wales Government acknowledged that Greater Sydney is on the brink of a waste crisis, and without action, landfill capacity is predicted to be exhausted by 2030. This blog, authored by Atlantech Environmental Consultant Nina Rotton, explores Australia's evolving waste management landscape. It highlights policies, case studies, and innovative technologies aimed at reducing landfill reliance and promoting sustainability.

Whether you are a mining engineer working in the mine planning/studies team, or a mining consultant carrying out a mining study, this checklist will assist in ensuring that the deliverables are produced at a high standard by putting checks in place at each step along the process. The checks involve prompts about whether a certain procedure has been carried out or not. Non-compliance to any procedure must be provided with a justification or must be followed up with the manager or client. Over the years, he’s observed how a company’s attitude toward this balance can significantly impact its success – or failure.

From mine rehabilitation to biodiversity offsets, an effective seed procurement strategy is critical for harnessing optimal seasonal conditions and meeting future revegetation requirements. In this article, Atlantech Senior Environmental Consultant, Dean Woods, provides fundamental considerations to help you stay ahead of your revegetation goals.

In the mining industry, the balance between managing operating costs and meeting leadership expectations is a challenge that has persisted since Guy Simpson – now Atlantech’s Technical Services Manager, Western Australia – began his career back in the late 1980s. Over the years, he’s observed how a company’s attitude toward this balance can significantly impact its success – or failure.

If you’re a landholder looking to improve biodiversity on your land, you may be wondering what Biodiversity Stewardship Agreements are, how they are funded, and how they are monitored. In the following article our Senior Environmental Consultant Dean Woods provides a quick overview.

In the dynamic world of open cut mining, effective dig design is pivotal for ensuring the safety, efficiency, and productivity of mining activities. For engineers tasked with creating and maintaining long-term, medium-term, and short-term dig designs, the challenge lies in balancing numerous factors to achieve optimal performance while adhering to regulatory and environmental standards. As Atlantech Senior Mining Engineer David Shirley explains, unlike initial mine design – which focuses on feasibility and high-level planning – dig design within the operational phase requires a detailed approach that adapts to ongoing conditions and operational realities. In the following article, David lists fifteen key considerations for operational dig designs in open cut mining.

Construction, extraction of minerals, and farming are essential to a country's development. Nevertheless, these activities can result in land clearing and the loss of habitat with potential harm to Australia’s flora and fauna. As Atlantech Graduate Environmental Consultant Jonathan Kool explains, it is therefore an ecologist or fauna spotter catcher’s priority to provide a best-practice approach for preventing and mitigating ecological effects while helping to re-instate habitat with salvaged material or nest boxes.

In the dynamic landscape of modern mining, autonomous haul trucks are revolutionising efficiency and safety standards. Equipped with innovative technology, these vehicles excel on long, flat haul routes due to their ability to operate with precision, predictability and consistency. This article by Atlantech Senior Mining Engineer David Shirley delves into the distinct advantages of flat routes for autonomous haul trucks, while highlighting their comparative performance in uneven loading areas verse human-operated trucks.

What are Per- and Poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and how are they affecting human and animal health, and our planet? These substances are found in items we may be using everyday (like our clothes, food packaging, and even sunscreen) and because they are highly water-soluble, they’re absorbed by the human body quite easily or transported through the environment. In the following blog, Atlantech Environmental Consultant Nina Rotton details the risks of PFAS, current Australian management practices, and explores a real-life case study involving the RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales.

Mining engineering leader, Atlantech Technical Services Manager (Western Australia) Guy Simpson has more than 30 years’ global experience in both underground and open-pit mining across operational and technical disciplines. In this insightful article Guy shares valuable lessons learned at a mine where the pursuit of production over engineering ultimately crippled the mine’s sustainability.

Atlantech Senior Mining Engineer David Shirley is extremely familiar with the real-world implications between drilling and blasting operations at mine sites and the impacts on the community and environment. As David explains, it is a close and intertwined relationship where all aspects must be carefully managed to minimise the impact on the environment and local communities.

In our latest blog, Atlantech Graduate Environmental Consultant Jonathan Kool explores the engineering concepts and environmental aspects of the Williams River and how it supplies drinking water for people in the Lower Hunter Valley region of New South Wales.

In our latest blog, Atlantech Senior Environmental Consultant Samantha Hovar provides a guide about the standards and guidelines impacting environmental audits in the New South Wales (NSW) landscape.

Mining is a complex and high-risk business, so it makes sense to harness digitalisation and the Internet of Things (IoT) to improve safety and productivity. It is for this reason that the industry continues to be highly innovative in the digital age, even pioneering unchartered territory for the benefit of other heavy industries. In our latest blog, Atlantech Founder and Managing Director Mansour Nasrollahzadeh breaks down how the digital age is assisting miners.

Atlantech’s experienced engineering team members consistently improve on their knowledge and skill sets in the mining and resources industry. This ensures we can deliver best in practice services to our clients. Most recently our Principal Mining Engineer Dean Sorley was impressed by industry presentations at the AusIMM Iron Ore Conference in Perth. In our latest blog, he shares some well-researched and thought-provoking insights and provides some advice for miners about how preparing for economic efficiency in reaching net zero can help with future challenges.

Remote sensing is a powerful tool already benefiting a broad range of professional companies in sectors including agriculture, city planning, and mining. Wherever an industry uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing is a more advanced process that increases the capability of any GIS user. Atlantech Environmental Graduate Joshua Pawson explores the use of remote sensing in mining in more detail.

The closure of a mine can be the result of various factors, including technical challenges, writes Atlantech Senior Mining Engineer David Shirley. Reasons for mine closures may include adverse political settings, declination of demand for the commodity, unfavourable geological factors, and naturally, full exhaustion of the resource.

Healthy biodiversity is essential for the future of our planet and fundamental for the future quality of life of all Australian living things. Its importance was highlighted in 2015, in the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, which was adopted by all United Nations member states. Goal 15 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals is devoted to “protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss”.

Project studies are needed throughout the lifecycle of a mining project – from first exploration to mid-life strategic reviews and portfolio optimisation. As Atlantech Principal Mining Engineer Dean Sorley explains, an effective project study process allows companies to allocate suitable resources to the project pipeline. This develops suitable projects into high quality mines, while rejecting unsuitable projects as early as possible.

Collecting native seed is one of the first steps in a long lasting – yet extremely beneficial – process of making plant materials available for rehabilitating mine sites. Collecting and storing copious quantities of seeds from local species involves a variety of logistical and ecological challenges, as well as ethical ones. We asked Atlantech Senior Environmental Consultant, Samantha Hovar, about the best practice principles for collecting native seeds and what the considerations are.

To be a leading project manager there are skills and qualities that are essential to the role. And in mining, such leaders are supporting their teams in a fast-paced and continually changing environment, thanks to the digital, electrification and renewable technology age. Mining project managers are required to wear a range of hats from being a mentor, to co-ordinating projects with other engineering disciplines, preparing cost estimates, and managing resource levels. They also need to be prepared to travel. It’s an exciting career, in an industry that is critical for the world’s population and economies.

Geographic information System (GIS) software is used by many of us in our current everyday lives – whether we realise it or not. If your satellite navigation system alerts you of traffic jams on your way to work, or you’ve used the web to see earth visuals, then chances are you’ve been exposed to GIS software. In the mining and resources sector, GIS is becoming a highly desirable tool for data management thanks to technology and internet accessibility improvements. Due to these improvements, GIS has replaced old map-analysis processes like paper maps and database technologies. The technology significantly improves productivity, efficiency, and safety. A GIS management structure that is well designed, implemented and supported is critical to the success of environmental management in mining, writes Atlantech Graduate Environmental Scientist Jonathan Kool.

Traditionally, mine rehabilitation success has been based on creating simplistic, safe and stable landforms which grow some form of vegetation such as pasture, native grasses, trees or even forestry trials. Now there is a relatively new approach that creates complex landforms that mimic nature, and it is fast becoming a requirement in modern mining development consents (particularly in New South Wales). The well-regarded approach is called natural land from design which is predominately GeoFluv™ (natural landform design) and it is taking mine restoration to new heights in a way that stakeholders and communities can be proud of.

When it comes to selecting the right equipment in open pit mining, bigger is not necessarily better. And the initial mobile equipment fleet selection is one of the most important as it will help determine the development of ramp gradients, cross-sections, the electric power network, and other factors ...

To be truly environmentally and socially responsible when opening a mine, you also need to have a plan in place for how you are going to close it when the time comes. Mining operators are increasingly beginning to think about mine closures sooner, even prior to mine commencement, thanks to the introduction of tools such as the ICMM Closure Maturity Framework, writes Atlantech Director and Environmental Lead, Jason Desmond.

Put simply, Industry 4.0 or Mining 4.0, refers to the fourth industrial revolution due to the progress of internet and satellite navigation. There are those that dismiss Industry 4.0 as a marketing buzzword, however we believe it is a helpful phrase to explain the shift from the past three revolutions of mechanisation, electrification, and information technologies.

Mining doesn’t have to leave a big hole in a community’s life once its useful life is over. There are many creative ways in which mine void transformations can benefit the whole community, writes Atlantech Director and Environmental Lead, Jason Desmond.

If you’ve never heard of Power BI before you’re not alone. If you do know about it, you’ll probably know that it is one of the most useful tools you can have in your mining business, particularly when integrating renewable power to your site’s operations. Power BI is a helpful tool to analyse data and make important business decisions. Like every software platform though there are advantages as well as disadvantages. Knowing about these can help you decide whether to implement it or seek another tool.

Demand for autonomous haulage systems (AHS) in the mining industry is on the rise with miners looking to AHS for efficiency, safety, and maintenance improvements in their mining operations. In mining, autonomous means a very controlled process which is all about reducing variability and making everything work as it should.

The first step in the mining cycle – drill and blast (D&B) – is arguably the most important step to perform correctly. When done incorrectly, it is a hard and expensive lesson for a mine to recover from. A holistic approach built on integrated solutions, is key to optimising a mine’s productivity and profitability...

The first step in the mining cycle – drill and blast (D&B) – is arguably the most important step to perform correctly. When done incorrectly, it is a hard and expensive lesson for a mine to recover from. A holistic approach built on integrated solutions, is key to optimising a mine’s productivity and profitability...

While technology-enabled transformation shows great promise in the mining industry, some companies are still struggling to adopt digital advancements. These companies often forget two other important steps when adopting new technology. These are ...