Morning Star mineshaft at Bung Bong Hill to be excavated in Terry Floyd search

The final dig of a mine shaft that could be concealing the remains of a boy who disappeared 48 years ago will finally be completed after a long-awaited state government cash injection.

Daryl Floyd at the memorial for Terry. Picture: Alex Coppel

The brother of a suspected child homicide victim is expected to finally complete the excavation of a mine shaft where he believes the remains of his loved one are buried.

This week the state government contacted Daryl Floyd, brother of suspected murder victim Terry, to tell him they have agreed to honour a six-year promise to bankroll the final stages of the project.

The Herald Sun understands the government will cough up $35,000 this month to complete complex excavation works at the Morning Star mineshaft at Bung Bong Hill.

It comes 48 years after Terry Floyd, 12, disappeared while waiting for a lift from Avoca to his Maryborough home.

A picture of Terry Floyd taken in 1975. Picture: Floyd Family

The 12-year-old disappeared while waiting for a lift from Avoca to his Maryborough home.

Police believe he was abducted and murdered but they have been unable to find his remains.

It remains one of the state’s most haunting cold cases, which brother Daryl has taken upon himself to solve.

In 2017 Premier Daniel Andrews spoke with Mr Floyd, promising that the government would fully fund the remaining excavation of the filled-in gold mine Terry’s body may have been dumped in.

Bushfires, Covid and red tape have hampered the process.

This week’s breakthrough came after the Herald Sun reported in January Mr Floyd’s anguish over the stalemate with the government.

Mr Floyd said it was “incredible news” to know the project would be completed.

Mr Floyd (left) brought in sniffer dogs to help find his brother’s remains. Adele Jago and her dog called Chilli, Nathan Ward and Chris D’Arcy with his dog called Boof. Picture: Alex Coppel.

“I am absolutely ecstatic and incredibly grateful for the government to make this possible,” he said.

“We are very keen to get this final chapter of Terry’s search finalised.”

A government spokeswoman said: “We support Mr Floyd’s dedication and tireless efforts to search for his missing brother, as well as those of the many Victorians assisting him.”

Former Justice Party MP Tania Maxwell said it was a “day of celebration”.

“I have worked closely with Daryl to highlight the lack of funding provided to assist with the digging of a mine in Victoria,” Ms Maxwell said.

“I have to say that Police Minister Anthony Carbines MP was responsive in our discussions and respectful of my advocacy.”

Prior to 2017 Mr Floyd poured in hundreds of thousands of dollars from his own pockets to conduct searches of the mine.

Last year he brought cadaver dogs from Sydney to the area in a desperate bid for results.

A $1 million reward is currently in place for information that solves Terry Floyd’s disappearance.

The investigation is ongoing.