Great Divide Mining Ltd (ASX:GDM) has welcomed strong community interest in the Challenger Gold Mine, with crowds of locals and visitors attending a series of events held in Adelong over three days.
The program commenced with a Community Information Evening that filled the Adelong Community Services Club to standing room only, highlighting the level of interest in the return of mining to a district built on gold since the 1850s.
Federal Member for Riverina, Hon. Michael McCormack MP, attended the Open Day and acknowledged the rapid progress at Challenger.
“The Challenger gold mine has gone from a mothballed site to first gold pour in under six months using a clean, chemical-free process of recycled water and gravity only,” Mr McCormack said.
Great Divide Mining has commenced clearing the site of commercial grade mineralised mining waste which has accumulated from previous years of activity and processing this material.
Visitors gathered at the Adelong Mining Museum for breakfast before touring the mine site, with the park area filled throughout the morning as people travelled from as far as Wagga Wagga.
“This project promises to bring jobs and plenty of flow-on benefits, including local purchasing, to the community of Adelong,” Mr McCormack said.
As a recommissioned brownfield site, Challenger has been developed with a focus on minimising environmental impact, including the use of recycled water and the production of saleable construction-grade sand as a by-product, resulting in no mining waste.
Snowy Valleys Council Mayor Julia Ham welcomed the return of mining activity and its support for local businesses. “A new business in Adelong, supporting locals and businesses,” Mayor Ham said.
Chairman Paul Ryan said the project demonstrated the value of bringing historic sites back into production. “Every brownfield site recommissioned means we’ve protected another piece of the environment,” Mr Ryan said.
The Open Day also drew strong support from the local community, including well-known Adelong identities and families with long connections to the district’s mining history.
“Great to have an icon of the community like Kay Hull visit Challenger,” Mr Ryan said.
Great Divide Mining thanks the Adelong Mining Museum, Snowy Valleys Council and the broader community for their support in making the events a success.
Great Divide Mining’s CEO, Justin Haines said, “It’s clear that mining done right — caring for both the community and the environment — will be supported by the local community.”
For further information:
Justin Haines, CEO
e justin.haines@greatdividemining.com.au
m +61 (0)418 876 420
Great Divide Mining Ltd (ASX: GDM)
Great Divide Mining is an Australian Gold, Antimony and critical metals miner, explorer, developer and producer with five projects across 17 tenements (including two in application). GDM’s focus is on operating producing assets within areas of historical mining and past exploration with nearby infrastructure, thus enabling rapid development. Through a staged exploration and development programme, GDM intends to generate cash flow from its initial projects to support further exploration across its portfolio of highly prospective tenements.
