Southern Cross Gold Opens Sunday Creek Decline for Antimony Drilling
Southern Cross Gold has begun underground drilling at Sunday Creek to test antimony and gold feasibility, targeting 500 jobs and $5.5B in economic value.
Key points
- Southern Cross Gold opened an exploration decline at Sunday Creek to begin underground drilling for antimony and gold.
- The project supports 100 current jobs and is projected to create 500 ongoing roles and $5.5 billion in economic value.
- Victorian government reports a 40% reduction in project approval times since the 2024 roadmap implementation.
Southern Cross Gold has initiated underground drilling at its Sunday Creek project in Victoria by opening an exploration decline. This operational milestone allows the company to begin testing the technical feasibility of establishing a combined antimony and gold mine, marking a significant step from early exploration to potential development.
The project currently supports approximately 100 local employees. According to figures cited by the Victorian State Government, full development of the site is projected to sustain 500 ongoing jobs and contribute over $5.5 billion to the state’s economy during its first decade of operation.
Victorian critical minerals roadmap update
This operational progress coincides with the release of the Victorian Critical Minerals Roadmap Update 2026, which outlines state strategies to attract investment and advance new projects. Energy and Resources Minister Jaclyn Symes stated that Sunday Creek exemplifies the potential for such ventures to drive regional employment and industrial growth within the state.
The government has identified deposits of antimony, rare earths, zircon, and titanium in Victoria, all of which are essential for renewable energy technologies, battery production, and advanced manufacturing. The roadmap aims to leverage these resources to secure long-term economic benefits for regional communities.
Regulatory efficiency and investment trends
Since the implementation of the 2024 roadmap, the Resources Victoria Approvals Coordination unit has reported a 40% reduction in project approval times. This regulatory streamlining is designed to accelerate the timeline from exploration to production, making Victoria a more attractive destination for mineral sector investors.
The state government has also approved two major mineral sands projects and is conducting further investigations into additional mineral opportunities. As reported by Australian Mining, these initiatives are part of a broader effort to map new geological data over the next 12 months, providing investors with clearer visibility on the state’s mineral resource base and potential project pipelines.
