PYBAR begins underground development at Sunday Creek

PYBAR has officially started underground development at the Sunday Creek Gold-Antimony Project in Victoria, marking a significant milestone for both the project and the state’s mining industry.

Located approximately 60 kilometres north of Melbourne, the Southern Cross Gold Consolidated project is the first underground mining operation to return to the historic Sunday Creek goldfield in more than a century. It also represents the first new underground decline to be developed in Victoria in approximately 20 years.

PYBAR secured the contract based on its underground mining expertise and collaborative approach and will develop an underground exploration decline comprising approximately 1,100 metres of decline and lateral development. Once complete, the team will use the decline to establish underground drill platforms approximately 115 metres below the surface, accelerating exploration and accommodating up to 24 drill rigs.

Sunday Creek is a globally significant gold and antimony resource and is expected to become one of the world’s largest pre-development drill-out programs. Antimony is recognised as a critical mineral due to its importance to the global energy transition and the high-tech industry, particularly the semiconductor and defence sectors.

Following completion of the box cut, portal establishment and surface preparation works, the project reached another major milestone recently with the successful firing of the first development round in the Sunday Creek decline.

The achievement reflects the collaborative efforts of the PYBAR and Southern Cross Gold Consolidated teams, who progressed safely and efficiently from contract award to first blast in a remarkably short timeframe.

PYBAR General Manager James Glover said the successful first cut reflected the strong collaboration between PYBAR and Southern Cross Gold Consolidated, as well as the team’s ability to mobilise quickly and safely deliver the next phase of the project.

“PYBAR is delighted to be developing the Sunday Creek Exploration Decline in partnership with Southern Cross Gold Consolidated. We were pleased to mobilise personnel and equipment to site within 24 hours of executing the contract, allowing us to start ground support works for the initial box cut excavation,” Mr. Glover said.

Beyond the project itself, the development is expected to deliver lasting benefits for regional Victoria through local employment opportunities and increased spending across the neighbouring communities of Kilmore, Wallan and Broadford.

As underground development progresses, PYBAR looks forward to continuing its partnership with Southern Cross Gold Consolidated.