How long was beaconsfield

On Anzac Day , rockfalls caused by seismic activity would trap three miners almost a kilometre underground. Larry Knight was killed, while his co-workers Brant Webb and Todd Russell were rescued after 14 days, their re-emergence above ground creating a sensation, inspiring a television miniseries, a musical and even a song by US rockers Foo Fighters.

The mine would close in , in part due to the gold price — with a history and heritage centre at the site still open and drawing tourists. NQ Minerals chair David Lenigas said while there were "no guarantees in life", he was "99 per cent" sure it would happen. Mr Lenigas said the company believed an estimated , ounces of gold worth more than a billion dollars was for the taking — but much would need to happen before then.

Asked about safety at the site, Mr Lenigas said the mine operated very effectively from , the year of the rescue, to , but had closed because it became unviable due to the "gold price and operating costs". He said a new tunnel would connect to the existing decline metres underground, allowing larger, more modern equipment to be used.

Mr Lenigas said "if the gold price holds up" he envisaged "five to six years of mine life", with around to people employed during the mine's construction phase. Beaconsfield newsagent Vicki Thomas said "anything that brings money and jobs into the area would be great".

West Tamar Mayor Christina Holmdahl said when what she described as "the disaster" happened, there was "a view Beaconsfield would die". Butcher Dean Hinds said a restart at the mine "would be very, very handy". With a population of just over 1,, Beaconsfield has changed since , something Dean Hinds can attest to. Grant Schuhmann, the mine's site supervisor, said he had been "keeping an eye on the place". He said he "spent 12 years underground" before operations stopped in Asked if he had any concerns over safety at the mine, Mr Schuhmann said he believed the new owners to have "good mining experience".

If gold mining begins again, he said he would sign on for sure, with many people also "keen to go back".

As Australia and the world waited, it was another torturous week before an escape tunnel finally reached the men and they walked free, smiling and pumping their fists in the air, on Tuesday, May 9. Dozens of workers failed to provide proof of their first inoculation to the mining giant. Best of shopping Premium Membership. In the know quiz. Finance Business Mining Beaconsfield miners struggling 10 years after disaster TEN years after the two Beaconsfield miners walked free, they still struggle to escape their two weeks underground.

Megan Palin. The earthquake caused a rockfall in the mine shaft, leaving three miners unaccounted for. For the next 14 days Mrs Seen would spend more than 15 hours a day at the church providing support for hundreds of the community, while Mr Webb and Mr Russell were stuck in a cage no bigger than 1.

The next day, rescuers began blasting the rock in hope of finding the bodies of the two trapped. By 9pm, the church was full of locals.