Gold mine forges ahead
A THREE- YEAR extension to the life of a Ravenswood gold mine has been welcomed by the Charters Towers community.
In a statement by the Australian Stock Exchange this month, operator Resolute Mining revealed the mine’s life had been extended by three years to 2032.
Acting Mayor of Charters Towers Regional Council Sonia Bennetto said the announcement was good news for the region.
“It’s great to see some assurance of job security for people,” Cr Bennetto said.
“Resolute, to their credit, they are highly conscious of providing long- term employment to the people of Ravenswood.”
The Resolute Mining project consists of the Mt Wright mine, an underground gold mine, and Nolans East, an open cut mine.
Plans are in place to restart mining at the Sarsfield and Buck Reef West pits.
The mine has 280 employees with a further 100 construction jobs to be created over three years.
Resolute Mining managing director and chief executive officer John Welborn said the Ravenswood operation had been an integral part of the business for more than a decade.
“Our performance at Ravenswood over this period has been exceptional,” he said.
“We have a strong history of operational experience based on open pit and underground mining.
“Our team has shown agility and skill in managing both a highly successful and unique underground operation and large scale open pit mining.”
Mr Welborn said he was proud Resolute’s “imagination and tenacity” had been rewarded in defining a long- term future for the asset.
In its announcement on the Ravenswood Expansion Project Update, the company revealed all major project approvals were in place for the acceleration of the Buck Reef West open pit part of the project.
In its update, the company said stage one of mining the pit could start in July next year.
Cr Bennetto said that with so much history in Ravenswood, Resolute Mining had been “highly communicative” of its plans.
“In Ravenswood, they are very proactive and highly consultative in regards to the heritage of the town,” she said.
“They realise there’s a fine balance and they really do place value on the heritage of the town.”