ACMER, the Australian Centre for Minerals Extension and Research, became a unit of the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) at the University of Queensland in September 2006, and is one of nine Centres/Divisions of SMI.  Since 1994, when the precursor to ACMER, ACMRR (the Australian Centre for Minesite Rehabilitation Research) was established under the directorship of Professor Clive Bell, and from 1998 through to 2002 as the Australian Centre for Mining Environmental Research, the Centre has been a major provider of technology transfer and collaborative environmental research for the benefit of the minerals industry.  Additionally it has played a significant role in recent years (when it became the Australian Centre for Minerals Extension and Research) in assisting the minerals industry to meet and address the challenges of sustainable development. 

ACMER is able to draw upon a diverse range of skills from the six Centres located within the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) and SMI Central itself. These Centres are:

Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation (CMLR)
Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM)
Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry (CWIMI)
Minerals Industry Safety and Health Centre (MISHC)
The Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC)
WH Bryan Mining Geology Research Centre (BRC)

Since 1994, the Centre has conducted a total of 127 short courses, training courses and workshops on a broad range of topics both within Australia and internationally, and has been well supported by industry and government in that time.  Industry and government have benefited from the Centre’s courses on issues such as acid drainage, cyanide management, water management, mine environmental management and rehabilitation, native seed biology, mine closure and community engagement.  The Centre has also provided a valuable contribution to industry through the conduct of 33 major research projects on a range of topics including final void use and mine water management, acid drainage prevention and remediation, tailings management, waste rock dump stability and ecosystem reconstruction. Three of these research projects are continuing under the management of the Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation.

ACMER’s objectives are:

• To undertake an professional development and education program, for industry and government and the community, involving training courses and workshops that focus on the development of capacity building in the practical application of sustainable development principles (developed by the International Council for Mining and Metals, ICMM, and elaborated in Enduring Value, the Australian Minerals Industry Framework for Sustainable Development); and
  
• To communicate outcomes of topical national and international research through workshops, short courses, training courses, publications, newsletters and ACMER’s website.

ACMER Contact Details

Postal:
ACMER
The University of Queensland
St Lucia  QLD  4072

Courier:
ACMER
Level 5, Sir James Foots Building
University of Queensland
St Lucia  QLD 4072

Phone: +61 7 3346 4502
Fax: +61 7 3346 4507             
Email:  info@acmer.uq.edu.au
Web: http://www.acmer.uq.edu.au

Mr Ron McLean
Technology Transfer Manager
Phone: +61 7 3346 4503
r.mclean@acmer.uq.edu.au

Mr Bruce Barrie
Education and Training Coordinator
Phone: +61 7 3346 4130
b.barrie@acmer.uq.edu.au

Mrs Leigh Goss
Administrative Assistant
Phone: +61 7 3346 4054
l.goss@acmer.uq.edu.au

Brigitte Braddock
Course Coordinator
Phone: +61 7 3346 4502
b.braddock@acmer.uq.edu.au

Emer Prof Clive Bell and Dr Owen Nichols will be involved with ACMER on a part-time basis.  For their details please contact ACMER.