Two Townsville metals refineries continue to operate through the disruptions caused by intense rainfall in North Queensland.
The Korea Zinc-owned Sun Metals employs more than 350 staff and contractors at its plant, which sits on the coast south-east of the city.
The Bureau of Meteorology has reported falls of 170 mm in the area over the past 24 hours. It follows reports of more than a metre of rain over the weekend. The average February rainfall for the city is 301.9mm.
A severe weather warning is current for areas from Tully to Ayr.
Main image: Sun Metals zinc refinery Townsville
The Sun Metals site had experienced the impact of this weather event, along with the Townsville community, the company said.
“The safety of our people and our community is our number one priority. At this stage we remain operating, however, we will continue to monitor the situation with each development.”
Glencore-owned Copper Refineries (CRL) sits across from Sun Metals on the western side of the Bruce Highway in the suburb of Stuart and employs about 180 staff.
Staff at CRL have been advised to follow safety advice from authorities managing flood conditions in Townsville.
A Glencore spokesman said staff were getting to the CRL operation and they were filling essential roles.
Copper concentrate is smelt in Mount Isa and railed to Townsville as anode copper plate for refining to 99.9 per cent pure metal.
Anode is also imported through Townsville Port for refining on a toll basis.
Possible heavy falls are predicted in Townsville until Wednesday and showers for the remainder of the working week.
