Austral Resources is continuing to progress the restart of its Rocklands copper operation in North West Queensland, with a 4.75MW SAG mill expected on site next month and refurbishment works remaining on schedule and within budget.
The company has appointed GR Engineering Services to complete engineering design and construction of front-end modifications at the processing facility, while confirming existing infrastructure can support a planned processing capacity of 3Mtpa.
Austral is now moving into a phase that will be closely watched by the supply chain, with demolition activities accelerating ahead of the SAG mill installation and mobilisation for earthworks and civil construction expected to begin in Q3 2026.
The company is also assessing opportunities to repurpose existing equipment across the site, including pumps, screens, hoppers and associated infrastructure, as part of a simplified and capital-efficient processing circuit.
At the same time, mining is underway at the Flying Horse and Mount Clarke deposits, supplying oxide ore to the Mount Kelly processing facility while exposing future sulphide feed for processing at Rocklands.
For businesses servicing Queensland’s resources sector, the project highlights the opportunities emerging through mine restarts, plant upgrades and expansion projects across the state’s growing copper industry.
Projects such as Rocklands will form part of the discussion at the Connecting Copper & Gold Forum Queensland in Gladstone on 2 July, where Austral Resources Non-Executive Chairman David Newling will join project leaders and industry representatives to discuss project development pathways and future opportunities for the supply chain.
