The Tasmanian Liberal Government warmly welcomes today’s re-opening of the Avebury nickel mine.
The re-opening of the mine after a 13-year hiatus will be a huge boost to the West Coast and provide State-wide benefits.
Mining and minerals processing is a key pillar of the Tasmanian economy, providing almost two thirds of our export earnings and supporting more than 5,000 jobs.
And, with the world rapidly moving towards a renewable energy future, demand for key and critical minerals from Tasmania such as copper, nickel, tin, zinc and tungsten is set to grow.
With mining at Avebury already underway, new operator Mallee Resources has recruited 150 staff to date, with this expected to increase to around 200 workers by the end of the year.
The re-opening of the mine has led to new opportunities for local businesses as they supply Avebury with equipment and services, creating more jobs.
More jobs in the region also leads to flow on benefits for the community including more children in local schools, more groceries being bought at the local supermarket or servo and more counter meals being bought from local pubs.
Today’s re-opening is the latest in a run of good news for the sector including the start of work on King Island’s Dolphin tungsten mine, signing of an option agreement between Mt Lyell’s current owner and New Century Resources to acquire the operation, and a record mineral exploration spend and royalties take.
I congratulate the whole team at Mallee Resources for their determination and vision in bringing the mine back to life and thank them for their commitment to Tasmania.
With demand for Tasmanian minerals increasing and supported by our renewable energy credentials, the future is bright for mining and minerals processing in Tasmania.