Managing Director, Craig Stegman announced on Friday that Northparkes Mines has received approval from Parkes Shire Council to build the Centre of Excellence at its operations.

“Construction of the $13 million training centre and associated support facilities will commence shortly and is due for completion around July this year, “ Mr Stegman said.

“The development of the Training Centre is a key way in which Northparkes will contribute to Rio Tinto’s underground strategy through sharing our knowledge around safety, people, technical expertise and technology.

“Through the training centre, we will be training mining engineers and operators from all over the world in the area of block caving.

“Northparkes was Australia’s first underground block cave mine and has been using this mining method or almost 15 years.

“During that time we have acquired a great deal of knowledge and expertise which we hope to share with Rio Tinto’s underground operations to accelerate their learning in this area.

“The advantage that our students will have is that they will have the opportunity to work in our underground mine while they are studying and will gain first hand, the technical expertise of Northparkes’ block caving specialists.’

Mr Stegman said the first students (who will be from Mongolia) are due to arrive in March to study post graduate courses in block cave underground mining.

The proposed facility will provide training for a maximum of 40 people with an average group size of 10 to 20 people.

Mr Steven Campbell (Director Planning and Environment) informed council of the development application (DA) at the most recent Parkes Shire Council meeting.

“This is a DA that is both pleasing and of interest to the Parkes community,” Mr Campbell said.

`The plan is for the facility to be located on site and adjacent the main entry to Northparkes Mines.”

Mr Campbell said the DA proposed construction of a 1200 metre squared training centre including offices, simulation area, storage rooms, cinema, amenities and a crib.

The DA also includes construction of a 454 metre squared heavy vehicle training centre that will also include viewing and smaller training rooms and amenities, plus construction of a 27 space car park and new access off Northparkes Lane.

Mayor Ken Keith described the DA as a really good development.

“This has the potential to establish Northparkes as a training centre both nationally and internationally,” he said.