Engineering in the Galilee Basin
The Galilee Basin is one of Australia’s largest untapped coal reserves, located in Central Queensland west of the Bowen Basin. Operations in the region connect mines to export terminals via dedicated rail corridors, and the automation and control systems on that infrastructure are operationally critical.
Our principal engineer Dennis Murphy has direct project experience in the Galilee Basin, including hands-on work with train loadout automation systems, one of the most operationally critical control systems on a coal export operation.
Train loadout automation
Train load-out is the final step in a coal mine’s export chain, and the control system that manages it has to be both precise and reliable. Getting the loading rate, wagon fill accuracy, and sequencing right directly affects throughput and the mine’s ability to meet train schedule requirements.
Train loadout automation involves coordinating conveyor speeds, loading bin gate control, train positioning systems (using wagon counters or radar), and weigh-filling logic to accurately fill each wagon to its target weight. The system also needs to manage the interface with the train crew, signalling systems, and the broader conveyor system upstream.
This is specialist commissioning and control work that requires an engineer who understands the material handling process, not just the PLC. Dennis has commissioning experience across multiple train loadout applications in coal mining operations.
The Galilee Basin opportunity
As Galilee Basin operations mature and expand, the demand for experienced OT engineers familiar with the region and the specific infrastructure challenges of large-scale greenfield coal mine commissioning will grow. Beetle Engineering is positioned to support this work from our Mackay base.