Monto mine start a fortnight away

THE Goondicum Mine near Monto will be operational in two weeks but there is no word from the proposed project at the Selene Mine.

Peabody Pacific was supposed to speak at the Rotary industry dinner but pulled out at the last minute.

However Belridge Enterprises, the company behind the Goondicum Mine, was at the dinner and outlined the next 12 months of the project.

Belridge Enterprises managing director Mark McCauley said the mine would be up and running in two weeks' time and would be a 24/7 operation.

"There will be around 10 trucks a day transporting ore to Gladstone through Monto and Biloela," he said.

Mr McCauley said the employment numbers at the mine were unlikely to go higher than the mid 30s.

"We're employing around 36 mostly local people but there will be spin-off employment for drivers, tradies and other professions linked to the mine," Mr McCauley said.

"But as it is constantly being shipped and mined it equates to a truck every two-and-a-half hours."

The $18 million project will generate 108 kilo tonnes per annum of ilmenite and four kilo tonnes per annum of phosphate rock which will be exported to Japan, Korea and China.