The mine at Stawell has announced today that has moved into care and maintenance mode. Fortunately this decision includes a commitment to ongoing exploration. The owner company, Canadian company Kirkland Lake, is hopeful that mining operations may be resumed if exploration efforts are successful. Unfortunately for the local community and for the economic health of the broader district, this has resulted in the jobs of around 140 to 150 people will immediately become redundant. 15 to 20 people will remain to monitor the environment and continue exploration. The mill and pumps will be kept in operational condition in the event of a restart.
This is obviously a dreadful Christmas present for the individual families involved, but it is also a significant blow for the economic health of the district. The mine at Stawell had been established on the back of profitable mining in the area dating back to the mid to late 1800’s.
Acknowledged that mining operations do not go on forever, however, they certainly do have the potential, while in operation, to significantly improve the economic health of very many families, the immediate local area, and also contribute quite noticeably to the economic health of the State. For the benefit of all, I hope they are in a position to decide to resume operations in the near future …