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NEWS

Gold Road chair Cheryl Carolus and her Gold Road counterpart Tim
Netscher mark the opening of the Gruyere mine, 200km east of Laverton

Gruyere on the open road

by Michael Washbourne

ustralia’s most significant gold discovery of the past nearly five-decade long career.
Adecade is now officially an operating mine. “I have worked in the mining industry around the world for the
Gruyere was officially opened on December 3, a little more past 45 years and the most exciting thing about this industry
than six years after Gold Road Resources Ltd’s persistent for me is that we get to build big things in remote places,
team of geologists was finally rewarded for almost a decade of thereby making a positive contribution to the community at
exploration efforts in an untapped region about 200km east of large,” Netscher said.
Laverton, Western Australia. “I have been privileged to be associated with delivering many
Gold Road founder Russell Davis and his long-time associate new mining projects around the world, but none has been as
Ziggy Lubieniecki, who is credited with the Gruyere discovery exciting or as impressive than this new giant mining complex
alongside Justin Osborne and Kyle Prentice, were among in this very remote location.
more than 100 guests at the official opening of a mine which is “This is one of the largest gold mines built and commissioned
forecast to produce 300,000 ozpa for at least the next 12 years. worldwide over the past decade and you don’t get much more
Former Gold Fields Ltd Australasia vice-president Richard remote than this.”
Weston, who brokered the landmark JV that underpinned First gold from Gruyere was poured on June 30 and the
Gruyere’s development, was also in the audience as WA mine was reportedly on track to churn out the guided 75,000-
Minister of Mines and Petroleum, Hon Bill Johnston MLA, who 100,000oz from its first six months of production.
unveiled the customary plaque which will be placed outside
Ramp-up to steady-state production is progressing ahead of
the mine’s administrative offices.
schedule, according to Netscher, who added the project was
There was a clear sense of pride among all Gold Road and delivered on both time and budget.
Gold Fields personnel in seeing a shiny, new mining operation
“In today’s environment, successful delivery against these
emerge from what Gold Road chairman Tim Netscher
three metrics [on time, on budget, fit for purpose] is an amazing
described as “a dusty, semi-desert landscape”.
achievement,” he said.
For Netscher, who joined Gold Road in 2014 shortly after a
“However, the part that I am most proud of is that the project
maiden resource of 3.84 moz was announced for Gruyere, the
has been sustainably delivered. Safety performance has been
mine opening marked one of the most special moments of his
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