More mining jobs for Castlemaine Goldfields

Tuesday, 2 August 2011

Over 150 people are expected to be directly or indirectly employed by gold mining in Ballarat according to Castlemaine Goldfields managing director Matthew Gill.

The company’s operation at the Ballarat Gold Mine has begun crushing some of the 3500 tonnes of ore mined so far and, as planned, the first gold bullion is expected to be produced in September. The gold processing plant, kept idle and on care and maintenance since early last year, underwent a minor refurbishment over the past two months. Commissioning successfully commenced last week, ahead of schedule.

Castlemaine Goldfields plan to run a day shift this month, to bed the process in so the newly recruited plant operators can learn the process under the guidance of more experienced operators. The Ballarat processing plant will then begin operating 24 hours a day, three to four days a week next month.

Mr Gill said about 100 people currently worked “in and around” Ballarat on the gold mine project, but more jobs were on the way.

“On the Castlemaine Goldfields site, we’ve currently got about 60 people but that will increase to about 100 by Christmas, Mr Gill said. “All up, it will probably increase to about 150 or 160 jobs.”

Castlemaine Goldfields bought Ballarat Goldfields in March last year for $4.5 million after it proved to be a liability for former owner Lihir Gold. The company immediately concentrated on the mine’s northern sections, with initial assay results in July last year finding minerals much higher up the mine than expected.

This is great timing given the current high gold prices and sentiment for this precious metal.