Major questions are being asked about the safety of a mine after the collapse killed one worker, seriously injured another and left dozens trapped for hours.
Father-of-two Kurt Hourigan, 37, was one of 31 miners trapped 500 meters underground during a Ballarat gold mine collapse Wednesday around 4:30 PM.
He died after becoming trapped under the rubble next to another miner. His body was retrieved around 5:20 am on Thursday.
The other injured miner was picked up by rescue teams and airlifted to Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital after suffering life-threatening lower body injuries.
The remaining 29 miners were able to find their way to an underground safety capsule during the collapse and were rescued around 11 p.m.
Ronnie Hayden, the Victorian secretary of the Australian Workers Union (AWU), said Hourigan’s death “could have been prevented” and questioned the mine’s safety procedures.
Major questions are being asked about the safety of the Ballarat gold mine after 37-year-old Kurt Hourigan was killed in a cave-in on Wednesday afternoon
Speaking to the media on Thursday afternoon, Mr Hayden said union members were ‘angry’ that the mine had used the risky technique of ‘air-laying’.
The mining method uses a manually operated drill that fires compressed air and water to break open a rock face.
The portable device was often used to mine thin veins of gold, but has since been phased out at some mines due to a greater risk of injury as miners face the walls of the mine shaft.
Mr Hayden said the miners were working under ‘unsecured ground’ as they used the technique to ‘create a tunnel in which they could hunt for gold’.
“They shouldn’t have done that job in that mine.”
He further claimed that AWU members had raised concerns about air leakage “and it seems to have fallen on deaf ears.”
The union boss issued a sharp warning to others using the “cheap, dirty way of mining”, saying they are “at risk” of a similar outcome.
“Mining today is (largely) done using large machines with workers far away from the (rock) face and unsupported ground,” he told The Project.
“Using an air leg, two men hold a large drill with one leg… and it’s physically mining.
Mr Hayden compared the method to ‘using a pickaxe’ and said it was ‘just something that shouldn’t be happening today’.
He added that the union would “work hard to ensure that industrial manslaughter laws are enforced.”
The collapse left Mr Hourigan and another miner (21) trapped under the rubble, while 29 others were evacuated to a safety capsule about 500 meters underground (pictured, the mine).
The 21-year-old was brought to the surface hours later and taken to a Melbourne hospital with life-threatening injuries to his lower body.
Mr Hayden said the Ballarat Gold Mine had stopped using airlaying before being reintroduced by new owners Victory Minerals in December 2023.
“It is with great sadness that we confirm that one of our own has passed away,” a spokesperson for Victory Minerals said.
“Our deepest sympathies and thoughts are with his family and all our people at this time.
“Our absolute priority is to support the well-being of our team members and their families and loved ones as we all cope with this tragic news.”
Victory Minerals also rejected claims that it had recently fired its top safety official.
‘No safety professionals working underground in the mine were laid off in the recent restructuring. In fact, we have expanded the professional safety resources within the underground,” the company spokesperson said.
‘The roles and responsibilities of the redundant business management role have been transferred to the Health, Safety, Environment and Community Manager, who reports directly to the CEO.’
All operations at the mine have since been halted as a report is prepared for the coroner and the state’s workplace health and safety regulator, WorkSafe, investigates the incident.
WorkSafe director Narelle Beer said safety concerns raised prior to the incident will form part of the investigation.
“If there is any prosecution as a result, then that case will be prosecuted accordingly,” she said.
“We really want to understand how we can ensure that a tragedy like this never happens again.”
A rockfall at the Ballarat gold mine in 2007, which was operated by different owners, left 27 miners trapped underground for hours before being pulled to safety.
The mine’s former owners were notified after another collapse in 2021 led to 600 tonnes of rock falling in areas where miners had worked just hours before.
Australian Workers Union Victorian branch secretary Ronnie Hayden has called for Victoria’s workplace death laws to be ‘taken into effect’ in lieu of the 37-year-old man’s death
Mr Hayden claims AWU members at the mine (pictured) raised concerns that a risky mining practice employed at the mine ‘fell on deaf ears’
The technique known as ‘air laying’ involves miners standing meters away from the wall and manually operating a drill that fires compressed air and water at the rock face.
Hourigan’s death sparked an outpouring of grief shared by loved ones, friends and colleagues.
He is remembered as a devoted father of two and an enthusiastic handyman.
“Silly dog, I still can’t believe you’re gone. I have always looked up to you,” his brother Reece wrote on Thursday.
‘Thank you for all the good and bad memories we shared together. I love you so much brother.”
Another loved one Stephanie Coleiro added, “Our brother, our best friend, our son Kurt… we are so broken here without you.
‘You were the best friend I could ask for. All the good and dumb advice. The hugs when I’m crying my eyes out or just because I’m sitting with me and have a stump on the couch.
“Our children loved you so much, as you loved them. I love you and miss you so much buddy.’
A close friend wrote: ‘The best partner anyone could ask for, you can never be replaced and I will miss you every day.’
Mr Hourigan’s social media is full of photos of him spending time with his young children during the school holidays and DIY projects he has been working on around the house.
Just a week ago, the proud dad shared photos of his children enjoying a beach holiday at Lake Tyers in Victoria’s Gippsland region.
Miner Kurt Hourigan was remembered as a proud dead man who enjoyed spending time with his young children and was the best partner anyone could ask for
All operations at the mine have since been halted while representatives from Worksafe Victoria (pictured) investigate the deadly disaster
WorkSafe investigators will take into account previous safety concerns and decide whether charges should be laid against the mine’s owners, Victory Minerals
The state’s premier, Jacinta Allan, described the collapse as a terrible accident.
“If advice emerges that could strengthen laws, we stand ready to do that work and support workers in every sector who deserve the right to get home safely from work every day to their families and loved ones,” she said.
Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King said it was too early to have a good idea of what caused the incident.
Tania Constable, CEO of the Minerals Council of Australia, said safety is the most important issue facing the industry.
“This tragic event reminds us of the need to always put safety above all else,” she said.
The mine’s website states that it has an extensive network of tunnels and operates deep beneath buildings, streets and homes.
Ballarat Mayor Des Hudson said the miner’s death was devastating news.
“We are a very resilient community,” he said.
‘There will be great concern and support from the local community for those involved.’