Queensland has approved a 21‑year extension of Stanwell’s Meandu thermal coal mine, enabling access to about 200 million tonnes of additional coal reserves. The project secures ongoing supply to the adjacent Tarong and Tarong North coal‑fired power stations, which together generate roughly 20 per cent of Queensland’s electricity. For mine planners and geotechnical teams, the decision signals two more decades of pit development, overburden management and slope stability work in the South Burnett coalfield.

QME 2026 will return to the Mackay Showgrounds as Australia’s largest regional mining gathering, combining a full-scale equipment and technology exhibition with structured networking and deal-making. Organisers are positioning the event less as a static display of trucks, drills and processing kit and more as a hub for supplier–operator collaboration, with dedicated business development sessions and evening networking drinks. For contractors, OEMs and mine operators, the emphasis on in-person relationship building signals continued value in regional trade shows alongside remote procurement and digital vendor engagement.

Victoria has created a Mineral Sands Agricultural Land Restoration Working Group to bring together mineral sands operators, farmers, researchers and government agencies to advise on critical minerals development in farming regions. The group will focus on rehabilitation and soil restoration standards for projects such as VHM’s Goschen mineral sands development in north-west Victoria, one of Australia’s largest rare earth and zircon deposits. Outcomes are expected to influence mine planning, topsoil handling, backfilling strategies and post-mining land capability assessments across the state’s agricultural basins.