Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said the 20-year lease was for Laneway Resources to develop its Agate Creek project, 40km south of Forsayth. 

“Laneway Resources plans to hit the ground running on the Agate Creek Project, teaming up with Maroon Gold Pty Ltd to allow work to start immediately,” he said.

“Agate Creek Mine will be powered by 20 local jobs in the first phase of the project.

“This is projected to increase to 80 jobs in Phase Two of the project, when an onsite processing plant is added to increase the mining output from 100,000 tonnes to 700,000 tonnes per annum.”

“As part of their mining lease application and Native Title agreement, mine owners Laneway Limited, have committed to employing local residents, and will offer training and business opportunities for Traditional Owners the Ewamian People.

The news follows an ASX statement from Laneway last month announcing high grade drilling results at the site, with several intersections exceeding 100 g/t gold and grades of up to 564 g/t gold.

Laeway Chief Operating Officer Scott Hall said it was a strong validation of the Agate Creek project both the high-grade deposit and the broader group of concessions.

"There are several highly compelling targets at Agate Creek which we would like to follow up," Mr Hall said.

It follows a strong 12 months for local gold exploration and continuing high gold prices. Gold exploration expenditure increased to $61.7 million in 2017-18 – up 21 per cent on the previous year.

Forsayth is in the Gulf-Savannah region, 300 km south-west of Cairns. In its gold rush heyday, it was known as the “poor man’s goldfield” because prospectors didn’t need expensive equipment to search for gold.

A small part of the Etheridge Goldfields, local legend has it that gold was discovered by a Tom McEvoy, who struck a reef while sinking a post hole. 

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