Springfield JV receives key approval for Monty copper-gold project in WA

The Springfield joint venture – comprising of Sandfire Resources and Talisman Mining – has secured the key environmental approval required to begin development activities at Western Australia’s Monty copper-gold project located approximately 10 kilometres east of the DeGrussa mine.

The mining proposal and mine closure approval for the project gives authority to the Springfield JV to begin ground-breaking as well as mining activities at Monty, following the recent contract award of the first major contract for the development.

The first contract award is for civil and earthmoving works – valued at $8.2 million – and was awarded to the Yagahong Alliance which is a joint venture between Geraldton-based Central Earthmoving and the Yugunga-Nya People – the traditional owners of the project site.

Yagahong Alliance will commence construction on a 14-kilometre long haul road from Monty to DeGrussa as well as the box-cut for the underground mine access.

Cutting of the decline portal for the new underground mine is projected to begin in December 2017, with underground development expected to take about one year to access the first ore.

“This is a credit to our Monty development team, the Doolgunna exploration team and our supporting consultants – and continues Sandfire’s impressive track record of rapid and efficient permitting and execution of development projects,” Sandfire’s Managing Director Karl Simich said.

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Source: Australian Mining and Sandfire Resources