Golden opportunity brings jobs to North Qld

A rush of jobs is on the cards for North Queensland with the go-ahead for the $167 million expansion of Resolute Mining Ltd’s mine at the historic gold town of Ravenswood.

Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland Coralee O’Rourke welcomed the final milestone for the expansion that will extend the life of the mine and ensure 280 existing jobs continue.

“I particularly want to recognise Resolute for its commitment to employ people from within 150 km of Ravenswood which means jobs for locals in Charters Towers, Ayr, Home Hill and Townsville,” she said.

“This investment could extend the mine’s life by 13 years and will mean 100 new construction jobs in the region.”

The expansion project is a prescribed project, which allows the independent Coordinator-General to help Resolute navigate government approvals and cut red tape.

The mine expansion is a long-life large scale return to open pit mining at the Sarsfield and Buck Reef West deposits

Mrs O’Rourke said the Premier’s number one goal was to create jobs and opportunities for Queenslanders.

“The State Government is absolutely committed to creating jobs for Queenslanders and this is an example of working with industry to achieve this,” she said.

Resolute’s existing Mount Wright underground mine is due for closure next year. The expansion proposes a long-life large scale return to open pit mining at the Sarsfield and Buck Reef West deposits.

The company’s recently-completed feasibility study confirmed the return to open pit mining could extend the mine life to at least 2029, and increase average annual gold production from the current level of around 100,000 ounces to more than 120,000 ounces.

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