MINE OF INFORMATION: Charles Kensit, Rhys Webber, George Baldry and Hamish Bell (driver) give one of the simulators a go in the feature exhibit pavillion. Photo JUDE KEOGH 1016field23
MERE hours into day one of the Australian National Field Days, the feature pavilion was packed.
Cadia Valley Operations raised the bar for what is arguably the best feature exhibit the field days has seen.
Field days committee president Robert Armstrong said the exhibit was up there.
“It’s one of the better ones by a long shot,” he said.
Visitors to the pavilion were greeted by a sea of people dressed in high visibility gear all eager to direct the eye to the twenty different features.
From exploration to health and safety, heritage and Cadia kids club activities, this exhibit has it all.
Visitors can experience life inside an underground mine, and by noon yesterday 216 people had been through the virtual tour.
General manager Tony McPaul was pleased with the level of interest in the exhibition.
“The bit I think is the most exciting is the virtual reality tour,” he said.
“It gives people a chance to see what’s underground, a chance they wouldn’t normally get.”
Mr Armstrong said Cadia were invited to be a feature exhibitor. Cadia had been asked two years previously but Mr McPaul said they didn’t feel as though they were prepared.
“It [the exhibition] gives Newcrest the opportunity to explain what they do in a safe environment,” Mr Armstrong said.
“They’re the biggest landholder in the area and the response has been fantastic.”