The Queensland Heritage Council has supported the development of Carbine Resources’ Mount Morgan copper gold project, bringing it closer to operation.
The Heritage Council backed the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines’ (DNRM) application to develop the project, located around 40km south west of Rockhampton.
“The Development by the State Application under section 71 of the Queensland Heritage Act 1992” is one of three key regulatory approvals needed for the project, with the heritage approval still subject to a final go-ahead by the minister of natural resources and mines.
The other two regulatory approvals include an Environmental Authority (EA) amendment and a Regional Interests Development Approval (RIDA).
Carbine submitted a draft EA amendment application in early April to the Department of Environment and Heritage protection and lodged an application related to the RIDA in January to the Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning.
Carbine managing director Tony James said the company was “extremely confident” that it would receive all of its approvals.
“This will enable the potential financiers to satisfy any risk concerns that they will have from a social licence perspective and the project can advance to the next stage,” he said.
Carbine also submitted an application for financial support from Queensland Government’s Regional Growth Fund to assist with the project’s development.
Last year, the company conducted a pre-feasibility study for gold and copper tailings mining at the 130-year-old Mount Morgan mine, identifying the potential to recover an average of 31,200oz of gold, 3200 tonnes of copper and 211,000 tonnes of pyrite each year.
The company expects a decision on its development application by mid 2017.