Mount Morgan Tailings Processing and Rehabilitation Project
Heritage Minerals is planning to breathe new life into the Mount Morgan site by reprocessing old tailings and rehabilitating the area.
December 2022
Resources
Mount Morgan, QLD
Heritage Minerals will breathe new life into the Mount Morgan site, using a $66 million NAIF loan to build a tailings processing plant and associated infrastructure, which will allow for rehabilitation of the site.
Proponent Background
Heritage Minerals is a technology company renowned for its expertise in processing gold tailings found in abandoned mines. Using exclusive proprietary technology, the company excels in recovering valuable metals and undertaking cost-effective environmental restoration.
With its innovative approach, Heritage Minerals addresses the economic challenges associated with treating low-grade tailings. Combining world-class technology with extensive operational experience, the company revitalises projects that may have seemed unviable.
Heritage Minerals is dedicated to designing and executing inventive strategies for complex projects. The company's commitment to environmental and social responsibility underscores its role as a conscientious problem solver.
Project Overview
Mt Morgan is located in Queensland and was the largest gold mine in the world at its peak in the early 1900s. Over its lifespan, the mine yielded approximately 262 metric tons of gold, 37 metric tons of silver and 387,000 metric tons of copper.
Operations at Mount Morgan closed in 1990 and the abandoned mine has since been managed by the Queensland Government, which is also providing financial support to the project through the Invested in Queensland program.
The recovery of gold and copper from tailings will help meet increasing demand for the resources required for the clean energy transition, while also improving environmental outcomes for the region and industry.
Public Benefit
An independent economic analysis has shown the project will provide significant benefits worth $849 million to northern Australia.
Related Links
Indigenous Engagement
- The Gangulu people
Mount Morgan, located in Central Queensland, lies on the traditional lands of the Gangulu people. The Gangulu hold a deep cultural, spiritual, and ancestral connection to country, encompassing the lands, waters, and natural features of Mount Morgan and its surrounds. This connection is reflected through ongoing cultural practices, oral histories, and the protection of significant cultural heritage sites. The region features diverse terrestrial ecosystems, including eucalyptus woodlands, riparian corridors, and freshwater systems that sustain both biodiversity and cultural values. While Mount Morgan is inland, its waterways connect to larger catchments that influence downstream marine environments. The Gangulu people continue to play an important role in environmental stewardship, working to protect sacred sites and uphold cultural responsibilities across their traditional Country.
Indigenous Engagement Strategy Commitments
- Ongoing engagement with the Gangulu Traditional Owners.
- Targeted relationships to progress First Nations employment pathways with workplace mentoring and professional and cultural support.
- Support First Nations procurement opportunities through a project specific supplier database, simplified procurement processes, participating in business forums and early tender briefings to boost local First Nations supplier involvement.
- Scope opportunities for local Traditional Owner rangers and service providers.
- A minimum 5% First Nations employment target with a goal of 18%, alongside specific strategies aimed at First Nations women and youth.
- Ongoing workplace mentoring, skills development, flexible policies, and regular monitoring through an evaluation plan on the Indigenous Engagement Strategy (IES).
Indigenous Engagement Strategy Outcomes
- Heritage Minerals are yet to commence reporting on their Indigenous Engagement Strategy commitments.
