North Queensland mine expansion brings jobs gold rush

More than 160 jobs and $50 million in goods and services are up for grabs as a North Queensland gold mine ramps up its expansion efforts.

Speaking today from Bohle-based fabricators Thomas Steel, Resources Minister Scott Stewart said the Ravenswood Gold project would bring on an additional 60 permanent positions and more than 100 construction jobs this year.

“The Ravenswood Gold project is a gold standard of the positive economic contribution a mine can bring to the regions,” Mr Stewart said.

“Just short of two years ago the Palaszczuk Government approved new mining leases and paved the way for the $300 million extension of the Ravenswood Gold Mine.

“North Queensland businesses such as Thomas Steel are seeing the benefits of this supply chain success story as the mine continues to secure a plethora of services from across the north including steel fabrication, concreting, equipment hire and servicing, engineering, surveying, environmental support, tradespeople and even a local coffee roaster.

“And things are looking up with more than $50 million expected to be spent in 2021 as open pit mining ramps up and expansion development continues.”

Ravenswood Gold took ownership of the Ravenswood Gold Mine – located 90km south-west of Townsville – in April 2020.

The mine has secured a 254-person workforce as it undertakes its expansion and has spent more than $50 million on goods and services from businesses in and around Townsville, Ravenswood, the Burdekin and Charters Towers.

Ravenswood Gold’s General Manger of operations Dave Mackay said the company is always looking to support North Queensland businesses.

“We’ve spent almost $50 million in and around north Queensland and there’s plenty more to come,” Mr Mackay said.

“Our local workforce of over 250 people and collaboration with almost 370 businesses in the region helps to strengthen the project and improve resilience in these uncertain COVID-19 times.”

“North Queensland has a lot to offer in terms of technical skills, goods and services to support the region’s resource industry and in turn, the benefits of the mine’s expansion will pay back into the region and the State.”

Domenic Corradini from Thomas Steel said his operation had secured a contract worth more than $10 million to fabricate a section of the processing plant’s leaching facilities.

“This contract is the perfect test for our expanded, new Bohle operation and it further cements our credentials as a leading structural steel fabricator in north Queensland,” Mr Corradini said.

“We’ve been able to further secure the employment of our 150-plus workforce and we’ve increased our Townsville workforce by 20 per cent to help us to meet demand.

Mr Stewart said North Queensland’s robust supply chain would continue to benefit from growing mining projects in the region.

“It is this style of collaboration, innovation and hard work demonstrated by the North Queensland business community which will help lead Queensland’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr Stewart said.