Bill Haylock’s career spans more than 45 years in the resources and environment sectors, but his story is about more than just time in the field. From the early days of helping companies secure land and navigate complex approvals, to leading projects on both the private and public sides, Bill has always been driven by a curiosity for how land shapes opportunity.
Along the way, he discovered a passion for solving the challenges that sit at the heart of land management. That path eventually led him to create PX4 Software—a way to bring together everything he had learned into a tool that could make land management more transparent, smarter, and more accessible. In this series, Bill shares his journey in his own words.
From Mining Lease Services to Environmental and Licensing Professionals
The original business was called Mining Lease Services (MLS). In time I realised it was too specific and eventually changed it to Environmental and Licencing Professionals. I was just not providing tenement management services. I was also providing MLA and mine site environmental advice.
My first professional marketing brochure included a caption, “Cutting the Red Tape.” This message was very powerful at that time.
A Gold Rush Opportunity in Queensland
The starting of the business coincided with a “Gold rush.” Please note this was sheer luck on my behalf. Numerous Western Australian companies were flocking into Queensland looking for gold.
My business took off with clients in the Ipswich coal fields, The Gemfields, Mt. Isa region and most of the gold fields.
Within months the business was up and running. Before I knew it, I needed help.
Building the First Team at MLS
My first employee was Alan Thompson, a draft person. My second was an ex-bank johnny, Michael Binnington, and my third was a receptionist and admin, Odell Oestaagh.
It was Michael that helped me transform the business. Between leaving the bank and joining MLS, he had undertaken a programming course in a language called paradox.
Michael, firstly convinced me we need some desktop computers. Almost no businesses at the time let alone government departments had computers.
Having done Fortran four at Uni, I realised the potential power of the office computer.
Managing Mining Lease Data Before Software
It was at this time I ran and managed all of the mining lease and mining claims on another A3 lined book with columns and rows.
There was a mass of data, background info, and most importantly due dates for renewals payments and other obligations.
This coupled with the huge influx of new clients and their tenements, Michael turned to me and suggested that together we could create our own software that could undertake many of these tasks and help provide security of the clients’ tenements.
Creating the Mining and Exploration Management System (MEMS)
I scoped out the workflows and salient dates and actions, Michael did the coding.
We created the Mining and Exploration Management System (MEMS). This would have been one of the first electronic tenement/claim management systems in the world.
The PX4 Software Journey Concludes
The creation of MEMS marked the transition from consultancy to software innovation laying the groundwork for what would eventually become PX4 Software.
From early land management experience, to mine rehabilitation, to regulatory insight inside the Queensland Mines Department, this final chapter completes the PX4 Origins journey.
Read Part 1: Origins of PX4: Bill Haylock – My Journey Into Mining & Land Management
Read Part 2: Mine Rehabilitation and AMD Cleanup at Mount Emmons, Colorado
Read Part 3: PX4 Software Origins, Part 3: Where Mining Lease Challenges Sparked a New Direction
Discover how PX4 Software simplifies complex land and regulatory challenges. Request a demo today.
