Queensland is ramping up its bid to be a global critical minerals hub, with Resources and Mining Minister Dale Last using the Queensland Mining Expo in Mackay to stress long-term policy stability and regulatory certainty as the state’s key advantage. Last is targeting new investment across copper, vanadium, rare earths and high‑purity alumina, building on existing coal and gas infrastructure, established rail-to-port corridors and regional processing centres. For miners and contractors, the message is that approvals, tenure security and supporting infrastructure will be geared to de-risk multi-decade critical minerals projects.

Motion has redesigned a remote coal mine train loadout system with advanced electro-hydraulic control, replacing a mechanically driven gate that produced violent, uncontrolled movement each loading cycle. The new system uses proportional hydraulic valves, position feedback on the gate, and programmable logic control to modulate opening speed and travel, cutting impact loads on the structure and rolling stock. Operators report safer access around the loadout, more consistent wagon fill accuracy, and reduced unplanned downtime from structural fatigue and mechanical failures.

Minerals 260 has advanced its Bullabulling gold project near Coolgardie, Western Australia, into a new phase targeting first gold in late 2028 and growth beyond the current 6.2‑million‑ounce mineral resource estimate. The program combines infill and extensional drilling on the main Bullabulling Trend with regional exploration across newly consolidated tenure to test additional shear‑hosted gold targets. Workstreams now also include mining studies and project approvals to bring the open‑pit operation to production readiness on a similar timeframe to other large-scale WA gold projects.