Gold exploration company Southern Cross Gold met with Goulburn Options last week to learn about a unique partnership where Goulburn Options would help in the production of mining consumables.
A morning tea was held on Tuesday, November 15, and participants toured Southern Cross Gold’s working exploration shed, where field teams and geologists analyse core samples.
Southern Cross Gold identified the NDIS as an innovative way to produce products needed for its gold exploration business locally.
Goulburn Options will become an independent business supplier making consumables — products necessary to Southern Cross Golds business that must be produced regularly.
One of those consumables is core blocks, which are small wooden blocks that are used for writing notes and drill hole information.
Goulburn Options chief executive officer Melinda Burgess said Goulburn Options was excited about the partnership that would offer vocational training and skill development.
“We have been able to purchase new equipment for our participant programs from a donation from Southern Cross and thoroughly enjoyed the tour of their workplace and morning tea,” she said.
“It’s a great opportunity for our guys who are very passionate about their woodwork.”
Southern Cross Gold managing director Lisa Gibbons says she was thrilled that Goulburn Options also saw the partnership as an opportunity.
“It frees up our guys’ time .. and creates a nice diversity and local employment opportunities,” she said.
Other projects are also being explored, including further manufacturing production options, a vehicle maintenance project, the repair and recycling of pallets, maintenance of the shed site and a creative project painting sound barriers for the site.
Southern Cross Gold has projects at Klonbinane, Redcastle near Heathcote and Rushworth, making Seymour a central point for the business.
It is hoping to be a trailblazer for positive interaction with the community in the mining industry.