Bradken has launched Bradken SmartRoller™, a digital system that continuously monitors excavator undercarriage roller temperature in real time via remote sensing. By tracking temperature trends as a proxy for wear progression and issuing early alerts, the system allows operators to schedule proactive roller replacement rather than waiting for failure. The approach targets higher excavator uptime, more stable undercarriage performance and lower lifecycle costs for high-hour fleets in abrasive conditions.

Regis Resources has won a Federal Court challenge over its McPhillamys gold project in New South Wales, with the court declaring invalid a Commonwealth heritage protection declaration that had halted development. The 14 October ruling sends the project back to federal Environment Minister Murray Watt for redetermination, reopening the approvals pathway for the planned open-pit operation near Blayney. Geotechnical and mine planning teams can now resume work on pit design, waste rock emplacement and associated infrastructure, pending any new heritage conditions.

Alkane Resources has intersected gold–copper mineralisation about 1km below the former Proprietary open pit at Peak Hill, NSW, in 1651m diamond hole PHD084, which cut altered zones with low-grade mineralisation interpreted as a continuation of the Peak Hill epithermal system. The company is weighing a follow-up deep drilling campaign targeting this down-plunge potential beneath the historic open pit. For geotechnical and mine planners, any future underground concept will hinge on rock mass conditions at >1km depth and interaction with the existing pit wall and backfill.