PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed gold developer Cortona Resources has cleared the final hurdle in the development of its Dargues Reef gold mine, in New South Wales, after reaching an agreement with the final group of objectors to the project.
The objectors to the Dargues project were originally seeking an order from the Land and Environment Court that the approval of the mine be refused. The litigation was set to start on February 1, and was listed for eight hearing days.
However, tlist of crushing plants in indiahe Land and Environment Court has now been requested to grant a project approval for the mine by amending the Ministerial approval in accordance with the agreement reached between the parties.
&lcrushed stone gravel in kenyadquo;We are very pleased to have reached agreement with The Coastwatchers Association and the South East Region Conservation Alliance, marking the resolution of the second group of outstanding appeals against the stone crushing mechanismdevelopment approval,” said Cortona MD Peter van der Borgh.
“Under this agreement, the court would be invited to approve the mine, subject to amendments to the Minister’s project approval. This agreement also captures the earlier agreement which Cortona reached with Eurobodalia Shire Council, which saw it withdraw its appeal in December 2011.”
Van der Borgh noted that while the Court always had the discretion to either refuse or grant the approval, Cortona was looking forward to the Court’s final determination within the next week.
“The end of legal action will remove a lengthy period of uncertainty, allowing Cortona to finalise its remaining permitting requirements to develop the project and proceed with the development of Dargues Reef for the benefit of shareholders and local communities.”
The Dargues Reef deposit is expected to be the first operating mine for Cortona, delivering some 50 000 oz/y of gold over an initial mine life of six years. Production was set to start in the first quarter of 2012.
The project will comprise an underground gold mine, a run-of-mine pad, temporary waste rock emplacement, a crushing facility, processing plant, tailings storage facility and associated infrastructure.