Public feedback is now open on Strategic Minerals Corporation’s environmental authority application for the $400 million Big Vein South open-cut gold mine.

The project area comprises four existing mining leases across 2281ha sitting about 100km north of Richmond and 380km west of Townsville.

The project will produce up to 1.95 million tonnes per annum of run-of-mine (ROM) gold ore, to be processed on site to produce up to 100,000 ounces of gold doré per annum.

Gold doré bars will be flown out for refining, according to details published as part of the EA application.

The project is located in the Woolgar goldfield, where Strategic Minerals Corporation (a QGold subsidiary) has been exploring for more than three decades.

The company holds an existing environmental authority for exploration and low-risk mining activities across the Big Vein South mining leases.

It is seeking a new site-specific environmental authority under Queensland legislation, along with approval under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, to progress the Big Vein South project into the construction and operations stage.

Related: Boost for major Qld gold and coal projects

The project has been declared a prescribed project, granting the Coordinator-General the authority to streamline approvals and fast-track its progress.

With production targeted to commence in 2028, it is expected to support up to 984 jobs at the peak of construction and about 380 during operations.

The environmental authority application is open for public comment until October 23.