Dugald River mine feeds jobs boon for North Queensland

Published Wednesday, 10 May, 2017 at 06:00 PM

Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines
The Honourable Dr Anthony Lynham

Jobs are set to begin flowing for Cloncurry, Mount Isa and Townsville, with the $1.4 billion MMG Dugald River zinc mine starting recruitment for the first of hundreds of jobs.

Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham today welcomed the boon for local jobs in the North. 

“More than 40 positions are currently being advertised for jobs in maintenance, plant and process operators, and service crews, and these roles are essential to the next step of MMG’s operations near Mount Isa,” he said.

“These jobs are just the beginning, as it is anticipated that MMG Dugald River will employ up to 400 site based staff when the mine is fully operational.

 “MMG has a focus on local employment from communities such as Cloncurry and Mt Isa.

“And it is not just the state’s North West which is set to benefit, with locals from Townsville with the relevant skills and experience also able to apply.

“MMG has identified Townsville as the FIFO commute base for their additional workforce requirements.”

MMG Ltd’s project, 85 km north-east of Mt Isa has “prescribed project” status and is due to start production in the first half of next year.

Dugald River is one of the world’s largest and highest grade known undeveloped zinc-lead-silver deposits with a resource of 53 million tonnes. At peak production of 160,000 tonnes of zinc a year, it would be one of the world’s top 10 zinc mines

Dr Lynham said the MMG Dugald River announcement was just one piece of the good news for jobs in Townsville following the appointment of Watpac as the major contractor for the North Queensland Stadium.

Early works on the $250 million North Queensland Stadium are scheduled to start in the second half of this year, creating up to 750 jobs.

Watpac is set to meet business leaders at the quarterly Townsville Industry Breakfast on June 6 and will start releasing trade packages in coming months.

ENDS

Media contact: Benjamin Mulcahy 0419 562 389