Copper mine proposed for Yorke Peninsula to employ hundreds of people for more than a decade, proponents say
A gold and copper mine planned for the Yorke Peninsula would operate for more than a decade, and employ 430 people.
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Rex Minerals’ Hillside copper mine proposed for the Yorke Peninsula would cost $585 million to build and employ more than 400 people for more than a decade, the company says.
Adelaide-based Rex on Tuesday released an updated feasibility study for the proposed copper and gold mine, south of Ardrossan.
The study indicates that a mine producing 35,000 tonnes of copper and 24,000 ounces of gold per year, for 12 years, would cost $585 million to build, and employ 500-550 people during construction and 430 during operations. The payroll over the life of the mine would exceed $500 million with $170 million in state royalties paid, the company said.
The State Government last week approved the Program for Environment Protection and Rehabilitation for the project, and the company said it would now move ahead with trying to source financing.
Rex managing director Richard Laufmann said the project had excellent credentials.
“Hillside remains one of Australia’s largest undeveloped open pit copper mineral resources and contains two million tonnes of copper and 1.4 million ounces of gold,'' he said.
“Located not far from Ardrossan on the Yorke Peninsula – a fantastic address with access to local workforce, township, accommodation, existing infrastructure and less than two hours’ drive from Adelaide.’’
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The project has met with opposition from some in the community who believe that it will destroy valuable farming land and is too close to the coast. The mine would take 20 months to build, Rex said.
A larger-scale project was originally costed at $900 million, which was later reduced to $480 million before this latest update.
