Author: Chloe Coutinho

WA rolls out new Industry Reference Group A new Industry Reference Group (IRG) will provide advice to government on the development of the Western Trade Coast (WTC) as Perth's premier strategic industrial area continues to grow. The group will inform the delivery of common-user infrastructure in the region and consider industry needs in government policy and decision-making. The Western Trade Coast — which covers the Kwinana Industrial Area, Rockingham Industry Zone, Latitude 32 General Industrial Area and Australian Marine Complex —contributes $15b to the WA economy each year and supports...

Miners warn supreme court decision could cost industry millions The Shire of Mount Magnet in WA has won an appeal giving it the right to charge rates on occupied crown land. The decision has flipped a 40-year-old understanding that Local Governments are unable to levy rates on Miscellaneous Licences. Some industry stakeholders worry that the decision by the WA Supreme Court to uphold the appeal in the Shire of Mount Magnet v Atlantic Vanadium 2025 could open the door to a massive financial hit on WA’s resources sector. According to the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) the decision paves the way for councils to lift rates in an area they were previously unable to. “If implemented across WA,...

Bravus cushions Queensland from the ground up Clermont’s littlest locals are playing on safer ground thanks to a helping hand from Bravus Mining and Resources’ Community Grant Program. Bravus Mining and Resources ESG, transformation and reputation head Kate Campbell says the business is delighted to support Clermont Kindergarten and Day Care Centre to buy 22 enormous soft fall mats to increase the use and improve the safety of the kindy’s outdoor play area. “Our Carmichael mine sits just 160km north of Clermont, so the people in the community are...

Draft rehabilitation plan for Hazelwood mine Community members will have a say on the rehabilitation of the former Hazelwood Mine and help shape the Latrobe Valley landscape in Victoria for decades to come. Engie has prepared a draft Declared Mine Rehabilitation Plan (DMRP) for the site, which is now open for public consultation. Engie says the final rehabilitation plans for the site have evolved over several decades and are primarily centred around creation of a full lake in the mine void. A full lake and associated...

High-grade antimony identified in Victoria High-grade antimony sampling results have returned from the Comet discovery at Adelong Gold’s (ASX: ADG) Lauriston gold project, opening up multi-commodity development opportunities. These results provide further evidence of Lauriston’s strong geological parallels to major Victorian gold-antimony systems. This is the first time antimony assays have been systematically undertaken on Comet drill core, despite stibnite veining being observed in core logging. Adelong Gold managing director Ian Holland comments on the results. “The presence of these high-grade antimony zones at Comet, confirmed by sampling undertaken on previous drilling, underscores the strong...

Capricorn Metals snaps up Claw gold project BPM Minerals (ASX: BPM) has entered into a binding agreement to sell its WA Claw gold project to Capricorn Metals (ASX: CMM) for a consideration of $1.5m. Capricorn has paid a $100,000 cash deposit with a further $500,000 cash consideration on completion. Milestone payments totaling $1.5m will also be paid by Capricorn, comprising $750,000 in cash upon the announcement of a JORC compliant mineral resource estimate in excess of 75,000oz of gold on the project and $750,000 in cash upon the announcement of a...

Golden road ahead for Gruyere Gold Road Resources (ASX: GOR) has lifted production to 72,980oz at the Gruyere joint venture in WA for the June 2025 quarter. This follows Gold Fields’ $3.7b takeover bid aimed at consolidating Gruyere. Gold Road anticipates Gruyere’s full year production will be at the lower end of guidance of 325,000-255,000oz. June quarter sales totalled 37,741oz at an average price of $5131/oz with about 2027oz gold doré and bullion on hand for Gold Road.

PLS partnering for better health in the Pilbara With over 800 people affected by epilepsy in the Pilbara region of WA, PLS has invested to help extend Epilepsy Action Australia’s ‘Equip’ program to where it is needed most. In 2024, PLS awarded a community grant to Epilepsy Action Australia (EAA) to help improve access to epilepsy education, resources and support services in the Pilbara region. With support from the company’s community grants program, Epilepsy Action Australia rolled out the Equip program...

Empowering the Hunter region’s next generation Downer has announced a new scholarship for local students studying at the University of Newcastle in NSW aimed at enabling regional communities to thrive. The Downer Empowering Women in STEM scholarship has been established to support female undergraduate students studying science, technology, engineering or mathematics. The scholarship aims to: Develop and attract the advanced skills that will be needed in the future technology-led energy and utilities sectors Support regional female students financially while encouraging them to...

Orica secures Hydrogen Headstart funding Orica (ASX: ORI) has been conditionally awarded $432m in funding to support the operation of the Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub (HVHH) in NSW. The funding has been conditionally awarded under Round One of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s (ARENA) competitive Hydrogen Headstart program. The program supports large-scale renewable hydrogen projects to accelerate the development of Australia’s hydrogen industry, while helping Australia connect to new global hydrogen supply chains. The funding aims to provide partial revenue support in the form...

Study unearths how copper deposits formed An international study has revealed how continental collisions may have supercharged Earth’s richest deposits of copper, a metal critical for clean energy technologies and global infrastructure. RSC principal geoscientist and the University of Western Australia School of Earth and Oceans’ Dr Yongjun Lu was co-author of the study published in Science Advances. Researchers analysed magmatic rocks from the Gangdese belt in southern Tibet — one of the world’s richest porphyry copper provinces. Porphyry copper deposits are the largest copper source globally and form when hot hydrothermal fluids travel through fractured rocks and precipitate copper minerals. “The...