The blueprint includes almost $40 million worth of measures and was announced last week by State Minister for Mines, Anthony Lynham.

The initiative was supported by local development group MITEZ, as well as the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC). 

Mr Katter did not discredit the blueprint and the value of its investment, granted that exploration is “key to the future” of the province. 

Yet it was a long-term strategy, Mr Katter said. 

“We still get mines now preferring roads to the rail and we still have got enormous risks facing us in terms of energy prices to the mines,” he said. 

MITEZ president David Glasson supported the blueprint and said it likely would encourage explorers and junior miners to increase their activities in the search for hidden deposits. 

Mr Glasson also understood that the state government would invest a further $5 million to assess current infrastructure such as rail, water and energy, and to focus on facilities shared among mining companies. 

New sources of deposit were needed to be found as existing mines were running out. Assets such as concentrators, smelters and refineries needed a large amount of ore and mineral concentrates to function, he said. 

“We will continue to push the key enablers, Energy, Water and Transport as the top priorities whilst the blueprint is being actioned,” Mr Glasson said. 

AMEC’s chief executive Simon Bennison said; “the discovery of new mineral deposits will underpin regional investment and jobs and AMEC looks forward to continue working with the State Government  to discover the full potential of the North West.

“The mineral potential for the North West is already well recognised and now explorers will have an even greater chance to discover what further riches the region contains.”