Wheels in motion for Mount Morgan start-up

Heritage Minerals has kicked off early works and engineering design for its Mount Morgan tailings processing and rehabilitation project. The initial construction phase, set to begin in the second half of 2023, is expected to create 250 jobs - led by the successful engineering contractor. Heritage expects operations at the historic gold site to begin from late 2024 and support 150 jobs. Heritage Minerals managing director Malcolm Paterson said contracting was underway for preliminary works on the project. "These forthcoming works include the commencement of early-stage earthworks for a new access road to take heavy traffic out of the centre of Mount Morgan, a drilling program and further work on the water balance model, improvements to the administration buildings and a drain to divert freshwater captured on the site to a freshwater storage as a new way to lessen acid mine drainage that emanates from the site,” he said. He said other early works in 2023 related to the supply and fabrication of steel, an upgraded power line and transformer, engineering for a water treatment plant, and tailings storage improvements. Additional detailed engineering design work continues to progress and expressions of interest closed this week for the primary engineering (EPCM) contract, expected to be finalised in May or June. Operations at Mount Morgan closed in 1990 and the abandoned mine has since been managed by the Queensland Government. The State is backing Heritage Minerals’ plans to breathe new life into the site with support under its Invested in Queensland program and the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility is putting $66 million behind the project. The proposed tailings processing plant at Mount Morgan will treat two million tonnes of tailings a year and a new water treatment plant to be built as part of the project will improve water quality in the Dee River. Heritage Minerals held a community information session at the Mount Morgan School of Arts in February to brief the community on recent activities and is progressing its hiring plans with the support of local stakeholders, led by Advance Rockhampton. Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor Tony Williams said there was a lot of support for the project across the Mount Morgan community. “It was great to see Heritage Minerals engage with locals and provide a detailed overview of their plans to process tailings at the mine," he said. "This will be an important economic driver in our local economy and will mean new jobs and opportunities for Mount Morgan residents. Council is proud to partner with Heritage Minerals to support the project and ensure we see the very best outcomes achieved for our region.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?vTV1mXyacfdQ

Wheels in motion for Mount Morgan start-up

Industry Queensland

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