Beaconsfield inquest hears of engineers' concerns
Posted
The Beaconsfield mine inquest has seen an external engineer's report warning about conditions on the level where a miner was killed and two others trapped.
Larry Knight died in the a rockfall in April 2006.
Peter Farifield's consulting group was hired by Beaconsfield Gold in early 2005 to review whether it was feasible to extend mining to new depths.
He is testifying at the inquest this morning and said seismic activity generally increases at deeper levels.
His report, released in late 2005, says the 925 level where the fatal rockfall happened had an elevated level of seismic activity.
The report also says conditions 'in the mine's middle stope, including the 925 level, were not as good as the lower stope and there was occasional support damage requiring rehabilitation'.
Mr Fairfield also examined a diagram of the 925 level and agreed its support pillar appeared to be getting smaller as mining progressed.
