Austral Resources Australia has suspended the mining and hauling campaign at its operations, 110km north-west of Mount Isa, where 376mm of rain has fallen over four days.

It is among a cluster of northern mining operations impacted by wet conditions in the North-West Minerals Province.

29Metals’ Capricorn Copper operation, 120km north of Mount Isa, has also suspended mining activity and has indicated it may take three or four weeks to come back online.

The rainfall events in North-West Queensland have also impacted New Century Resources operations at the Century mine and Karumba port facility, with mining suspended.

Austral Resources Australia managing director and chief executive officer Dan Jauncey said yesterday the wet conditions had blocked access to the company’s Anthill copper mine via McNamara Rd.

But he said the operation was well positioned to deal with the event, with contractor Thiess 12 per cent ahead on its Anthill project mining schedule and measures to deal with water on site performing well.

“The team have worked tirelessly over the last six months in preparation for a big wet and right now, touch wood, everything is doing as it should,” he said.

The company’s Mount Kelly processing facility has continued to plate copper cathode.

In an announcement to the market today, Austral reported that the Anthill ROM had 157,000 tonnes of ore stockpiled – sufficient to sustain the March haulage schedule.

Related: Rain hammers North-West Qld mining operations

The company also has about 40,000 tonnes of broken ore stocks in the Anthill West Pit which has been mostly unaffected by the rain event.

Austral said safety of staff and contractors, along with continuing water/environmental management, remained its highest priority.

Rain in the area is now easing, with the Bureau of Meteorology reporting that the heaviest falls in that region overnight were at Julius Dam, with 54mm in the 24 hours to 8.30am today. The Century mine area recorded 2mm in that time.

The focus has shifted to the Central West, with totals around around the 50-80mm mark in the Longreach, Winton, Blackall and Barcaldine area.