Applications have opened for Queensland’s 2026 mine rehabilitation scholarships, targeting emerging researchers working on post-mining land use, tailings management and progressive rehabilitation of open-cut and underground sites across the state. The programme is expected to support projects on issues such as acid mine drainage control, cover system design for waste rock and tailings, and long-term stability of backfilled pits under Queensland’s tightening rehabilitation and financial assurance regime. For consultants and operators, the scheme signals future regulatory and technical priorities for closure planning and geotechnical design.

Sunrise Energy Metals has completed the feasibility study for its Syerston scandium project in New South Wales, positioning the deposit as a potential large-scale, long-life source of scandium for global alloy and battery markets. The study confirms mine and process plant designs tailored to scandium recovery, including hydrometallurgical treatment of lateritic ore and downstream refining to high-purity scandium oxide. For engineers, the project signals future demand for scandium-bearing aluminium alloys and solid oxide fuel cell materials, with supply security moving from by-product to dedicated primary production.

Mineral Resources’ mining services division posted a record first-half result, with volumes and revenue boosted by strong external demand and ramp-up activity at the Onslow Iron project in Western Australia. The business expanded crushing and processing contracts across multiple iron ore hubs, while deploying additional mobile crushing plants and higher-capacity haulage fleets to lift throughput. For contractors and mine operators, the performance signals continued appetite for outsourced crushing, screening and haulage, particularly on large-scale Pilbara-style iron ore developments.