Federation Mining’s Snowy River Mine near Reefton is making good progress and has already started the site’s decline development.
Federation Mining is an Australian company set up by Mark Le Messurier and Jim Askew to develop and manage mining projects across a range of regions.
Federation started site work at its Snowy River Mine in early September with local contractors undertaking earth works to set up for the installation of the bridge, roads, water dams, buildings, and workshops, and involved over 50 specialist contractors to complete.
Before the new year, the company appointed a second mining superintendent, Wayne Green, to work back to back with Gavin Forsyth, along with a group made up of jumbo and loader operators, and tunnel operators with a range of skills and experience including charging and services. An electrician has also joined the team.
Prior to the first site works, this operations team reviewed and developed Principal Control and Hazard Management plans prior to submission to WorkSafe. A refurbished jumbo drill arrived on site late last year following its rebuild work in Kalgoorlie. A new Epiroc M2D jumbo arrives in March 2021.
By December 2020 a bridge had been installed; site roads, drainage and wetlands completed; an explosive magazine installed; and the main portal sheet piling for the Decline completed.
Alton Drilling had already started diamond core drilling at the portal site, and the first of a series of holes that will be drilled along the tunnel path. The holes are designed to obtain geological and geotechnical information ahead of mining.
Federation says its team; “caught up with land holders nearby our site to provide them an update on the project and discuss the plan and set up a community contact and complaints line”.
