The 22 youngsters were the first instalment of Singleton High Year 9 pupils scheduled to visit the mine over the next month as part of the 2018 Upper Hunter Mining Dialogue School Mine Tours Program.

The students were expertly guided around the entire site by Bloomfield’s environment manager Chris Knight and environmental advisor Chris Quinn.

The tour took in all aspects of the mining process, including the machine workshop, coal loading and washing facility, rehabilitation areas and a bird’s eye view of the mine pit from a lookout.

The dialogue’s School Mine Tours Program offers Year 5 and Year 9 students from across the Upper Hunter the opportunity to visit a local, operating mine and aims to offer a fact-based, first-hand educational experience to teach local students about the impacts and benefits of coal mining in the Upper Hunter.

The dialogue provides the free tours to all schools in the Singleton-Muswellbrook educational catchment and the program uses educational materials and messaging developed by a UHMD working group made up of teachers, community members and industry and local government representatives.

The School Mine Tours Program will be featured at the dialogue’s annual forum to be held at the Muswellbrook Race Club on November 20. 

As well, the forum is offering a networking session between businesses and mining industry procurement representatives.

Community people interested in attending the forum can register at info@nswmining.com.au and full details can be found at www.miningdialogue.com.au