• New mining innovation hub opens in the Goldfields
• McGowan Government funding of $600,000 supports CRC ORE

The McGowan Government has welcomed the launch of a new mining innovation hub in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

Located at the Chamber of Minerals and Energy’s office, the hub was founded by Curtin University’s WA School of Mines, the Minerals Research Institute of WA and the Cooperative Research Centre for Optimising Resource Extraction (CRC ORE).

The Minerals Research Institute of WA invested $600,000 from the McGowan Government towards the CRC ORE, which contributed to designing and establishing the new hub.

The hub will address some of the mining industry’s biggest challenges in the Goldfields, such as limitations on knowledge and technical resources in the region.

It will also test and develop novel ways to optimise the extraction of precious minerals and ensure WA retains its credentials as a world leader in the minerals industry.

Other hub partners include METS Ignited (an Industry Growth Centre funded by the Australian Government), the Chamber of Minerals and Energy, Central Regional TAFE and the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

A hub director and the establishment of an advisory committee for the hub will be announced in due course.

Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston said, “The McGowan Government is committed to supporting the resources sector and this mining innovation hub will help boost economic prosperity in WA.

“Creating and maintaining jobs for Western Australians is our number one priority and this hub will offer workers development training from Australia’s best scientists, engineers and mining experts.

“The hub will increase the focus on bridging new science and technology for the mineral sector, and increase the attractiveness of doing minerals research in WA.”